CoreNet Global Member Profile -- Richard Abboud
"CoreNet Global Helps Members Find Solutions To
Obstacles Affecting Business Today"
"We provide creative and effective capital solutions for corporate real estate," says Richard A.
Abboud in describing the mission of Forum Leasehold Partners, Inc. President of the Toronto-based
company, Abboud demonstrates this level of dedication and achievement to all of his professional
interests, including his commitment to CoreNet Global. Currently he serves as Vice President at
Large for the Toronto Chapter and is Chairman of the Toronto 2003 CoreNet Global Summit Partnership.
"CoreNet Global has helped us to develop a much clearer understanding of the challenges that face
the corporate space user," says Abboud, whose company invests in and develops single-tenant
buildings along with a corporate real estate brokerage division.
"By broadening its membership base, the new association is headed toward becoming a truly global
organization," notes Abboud, a native of Montreal, who enjoys traveling and is very proud to
call Toronto his home.
A former IDRC member who joined in 1991, Abboud's leadership experience encompasses co-chairing
the Membership Committee, as well as serving on the Board for the Toronto Chapter. In a global
capacity, he has served on the Global Leadership Board of IDRC for two years, from 1999 to 2000.
Abboud made significant contributions to the success of the 1995 IDRC World Congress held in
Toronto, which had 1,500 delegates in attendance. It is this same commitment of time and energy
that went into the Toronto host group's effort to attract the 2003 CoreNet Global Summit to the
city. This event will be the first of its kind to be held in Canada, and the third CoreNet Global
Summit in North America since the integration of IDRC and NACORE.
The Toronto 2003 Global Summit Partnership, Inc. was formed to act as Host Organizing Committee
for the event. As Partnership Chairman, Abboud plays an integral role in facilitating the
extensive local preparations for the event. The summit has been a focus for a large team comprised
of local senior executives, and committee volunteers totaling more than 100 members.
Abboud stresses the value of leadership experience, and the importance of leadership development
programs focused on training for global, regional and chapter volunteers.
Ideally, leadership development provides members with meaningful forums for discussion of issues
affecting business today. "Leadership as a quality and skill has become an additional dimension
both in terms of helping CoreNet Global to advance the profession we're in, but to do more with
our jobs on behalf of the organizations we serve. The corporate real estate industry is in a state
of flux trying to meet internal clients' rapidly changing needs, so this is more necessary than ever,"
he says. Abboud predicts the drive to extract more value from the delivery of internal client services
will continue to grow stronger at least until we return to a more stable economic environment in which
companies are more prepared to commit capital to infrastructure.
"Particularly in these economic times, CoreNet Global is extremely valuable," he concludes.
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