Fiala nominated as ICSC chair

NEW YORK The International Council of Shopping Centers has announced that Mary Lou Fiala, president and coo of Regency Center, Jacksonville, Fla., has been nominated by the ICSC board of trustees to serve as the association’s chairman for the 2008 to 2009 term.

Fiala has been an active member of ICSC for 11 years and has served on ICSC’s board of trustees for the past five years. She is also only the third woman to chair ICSC in the association’s history.  

"With experience on both the retailing and development side, Mary Lou’s background is ideal to serve as the head of our association in the coming year,” said Michael P. Kercheval, ICSC's president and ceo.  "As the retail real estate industry continues to face challenges domestically and internationally, our members need to know how to embrace those challenges for all angles.  Mary Lou broad knowledge base and vast industry knowledge makes her uniquely qualified to articulate and guide this process as head of the world's largest retail real estate association.  I, along with our board of trustees, look forward to working with her during her chairmanship."

Fiala joined Regency Centers in 1998, bringing more than 18 years of retail and management experience to the company. In her role as president and coo, Ms. Fiala is responsible for the operational management of Regency’s retail centers nationwide.   Prior to working with Regency, Fiala served as managing director of Security Capital Global Strategic Group.