GEORGE A. SCHMIDT, Esq. was named Executive Vice President of Development, General Counsel and Secretary in January 2012. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer. Schmidt has served as Executive Vice President since 1999 and as General Counsel and Secretary since 1996. He served as Senior Vice President of the Company from 1996 until his promotion to Executive Vice President of the Company.
Schmidt has over 25 years of experience in the practice of commercial real estate law, including six years as Assistant General Counsel of DeBartolo Realty Corporation, a NYSE-listed real estate investment trust, prior to joining the Company in May of 1996. Schmidt is a member of the Ohio, Texas, Columbus (OH) and American Bar Associations and is a member of ICSC and NAREIT. Schmidt has been a lecturer on shopping center leasing, legal, development and corporate governance issues for the American Bar Association, ICSC and Ohio University.