For more information, contact Trisha Riggs at 202/624-7086 or email: [email protected]

WASHINGTON (July 1, 2011) – Peter S. Rummell, principal of the Rummell Company in Jacksonville, Fla., is the new chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global non-profit research and education institute with nearly 30,000 members worldwide dedicated to responsible land use. Rummell, a longtime ULI trustee and former chairman of the ULI Foundation, is serving on a voluntary basis for a two-year term that begins today and ends June 30, 2013.

As ULI evolves in the post-recession environment, Rummell will encourage a strategic approach to outreach that includes a greater emphasis on relevance to the next generation of land use practitioners, reaching nontraditional stakeholders outside the design and development disciplines, and showcasing innovative, game-changing work.

He is taking the helm of ULI at a pivotal time for the industry, which faces great change related to demographic, economic, and environmental issues; and for the institute, which is adapting to the shifting needs and preferences of members operating in a radically different environment. “In times of transition, it’s important to know who you are and where you are going,” Rummell said. “And, you have to deliver in a way that exceeds expectations.”

A member of ULI since 1983, Rummell, 65, began his 40-year development career working at the Sea Pines Company in Hilton Head, S.C. for industry legend Charles Fraser, who taught him the value of building in a way that enhances the surrounding environment, and of seeing potential where others cannot. He would later apply these lessons as president of the Disney Development Company and chairman of Walt Disney Imagineering, where he guided major developments including Celebration, Fla., a community widely regarded as exemplary of pedestrian-oriented design and connectivity; and as chairman and chief executive officer of The St. Joe Company, known for its nature-conscious approach to development, including several resort communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Rummell believes strongly in long-term planning, and in settling only for high quality – two courses of action that will guide his leadership of ULI, particularly as the institute seeks to expand its impact and influence. According to former ULI Chairman James J. Chaffin, who worked with Rummell at Sea Pines, Rummell’s ability to think long term and his unwavering commitment to top quality will serve him well as ULI chairman.

“ULI is a very dynamic, expanding organization; it is 75 years old and full of tradition. Yet, it is in need of creative, outside-the-box thinking to face the challenges of meeting the market opportunities and drawing a larger geographic and demographic mix. Peter brings this to the organization,” said Chaffin, chairman of Chaffin Light Management LLC in Okatie, S.C. “He is the right individual at the right time for ULI.”

Former ULI Chairman Todd W. Mansfield worked for Rummell at the Walt Disney Company from 1986 to 1997. “Peter is a strong leader. He is an unconventional thinker who typically sees patterns and opportunities before others,” said Mansfield, principal of Mansfield Company LLC in Charlotte, N.C.

According to Rummell, one of the ULI’s great strengths is its ability to bring together land use professionals from around the world to share knowledge and local experiences, making the institute effective locally at a global level. This will be particularly beneficial for the institute going forward, he noted. “This is a time when everyone is open to change, because everyone has had to change the way they do business,” Rummell said. “We’re in a flexible environment right now, so we have some space to make real, positive, substantive changes in community building. ULI has a strong brand. There is an international need for what we offer, and people are ready to listen to us.”

Rummell’s long involvement with ULI, combined with his vast land use expertise, will be an invaluable asset as the organization continues to evolve, noted ULI Chief Executive Officer Patrick L. Phillips. “Peter obviously ‘gets’ ULI; he’s a recognized leader in the business, especially at the intersection between the creative and pragmatic aspects of real estate development and investment. The staff and I are really excited about this next chapter in ULI’s leadership story,” Phillips said.

Rummell has served in numerous capacities at ULI, including service as the chairman of the jury for the ULI J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development and as a jury member for the ULI Gerald Hines Student Urban Design Competition. He is a member of the advisory board for the ULI Daniel Rose Center for Public Leadership in Land Use, and serves on the ULI Foundation Board of Directors, and the ULI Recreational Development Council.

An active member of the ULI North Florida district council, Rummell co-chaired the ULI Florida Initiative on Regional Collaboration, which was created in 2003 by ULI with the institute’s Florida district councils to promote more regional collaboration throughout the state on issues related to land use and urban planning.

Note to editors and reporters: To arrange an interview with Peter Rummell, contact Trisha Riggs, vice president, ULI Communications, 202-624-7086, [email protected]

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute (uli.org) is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.