MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 16, 2023) — United Properties reaffirmed its commitment to social and environmental responsibility today with the formalization of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and guiding principles. The company also promoted Janelle MacLean to the role of ESG manager last year, expanding on her extensive involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and ESG within the commercial real estate industry.
Over the past year, MacLean has begun spearheading the growth and development of United Properties’ ESG strategies, working in close collaboration with company leaders to help identify and measure ESG practices, risks and opportunities.
“United Properties has been on a path to make a bigger and better impact on the communities where we live and work through strategic initiatives such as charitable giving, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability efforts,” says Matt Van Slooten, chief executive officer, United Properties. “In just a short time, Janelle has been instrumental in building on these efforts with the goal that we ensure everything we do is influenced by our core ESG principles.”
MacLean chairs the company’s ESG Advisory Group, in addition to UNITED Together, the company’s DEI committee. She also led the development of six ESG focus groups for green building certification, electric vehicle (EV) charging, vendor and supplier diversification, solar, governance and policy, and marketing and communications. The focus groups, comprised of internal experts, examine the company’s approach to each area and identify ways to update, refine and fill in gaps. MacLean is also leading a company-wide benchmarking project which will track and monitor the energy, water, waste, greenhouse gas emissions and ESG capital of each building operated by United Properties. This information will then be used to set reduction goals across properties.
“Our goal is to have ESG considerations incorporated in every practice and department at United Properties,” says MacLean. “And we’re taking concrete steps to realize our vision. Through our focus groups and benchmarking projects, we’re identifying best practices for how we build and operate our buildings in an efficient and responsible manner.”
MacLean brings over 15 years of well-rounded commercial real estate experience to her new role. She joined United Properties in 2018 as a senior investment analyst, where she performed investment analyses and partnered with asset management for both the operating and development portfolios. Prior to this, MacLean served as an asset manager at both CSM and Welltower. She has experience in asset management, property management and operations.
“My diverse experience in commercial real estate means that I know how different departments will be impacted by certain requests or initiatives,” adds MacLean. “We’re committed to being thoughtful about how we can create win-wins for all of us as we work toward a more equitable, sustainable future.”
MacLean is an active member of the Real Estate Racial Justice Committee, Racial Equity in Real Estate Stakeholders, Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative (CREDC) and serves on the board for ROHO Collective. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of St. Thomas and her Real Property Administrator (RPA) designation.
Learn more about United Properties’ ESG initiatives at uproperties.com/esg.
About United Properties
United Properties has been creating deep roots in the commercial real estate industry for more than 100 years. The company imagines new possibilities in real estate to help enrich communities and create lasting legacies. United Properties provides market expertise for ground-up development, redevelopment and acquisitions of value-add and stable investments. The company invests in and develops office, industrial, retail, mixed-use and senior housing properties. United Properties is owned by the Pohlad Companies and is headquartered in Minneapolis, with offices in Denver and Austin, Texas.
