LAS VEGAS (May 20, 2007) — The trustees of the International Council of Shopping Centers,
Inc. (ICSC) are pleased to announce that the Council has presented three shopping center
professionals with its Distinguished Service Award: Yvonne Court, Ph.D., partner and head of
retail, research and consultancy, European Research Group, Cushman & Wakefield, London,
U.K.; the late Robert L. Sorensen, Jr., SCSM, former vice president, regional centers, The
Irvine Company, Irvine, Calif., and George J. Walsh III, Esq., partner, Thompson Hine LLP, New
York, N.Y. The awards, which recognize the special contributions of distinguished leaders in
the shopping center industry, are given during ICSC’s annual Spring Convention, held May 20-23,
2007, in Las Vegas. [Editor’s note: Headshots are attached.]
Yvonne Court, Ph.D. – Dr. Court received the ICSC Distinguished Service Award for her work
as a member of the ICSC European Advisory Board and North American Research Advisory Task
Force. Additionally, Dr. Court received this award by acting as a frequent speaker at ICSC
meetings, a contributing writer to ICSC research publications and as a faculty member at the
European Retail Property School. Dr. Court also has distinguished herself as an active
member and past chair of the European Research Group. She has been a member of ICSC since
1999.
Dr. Court has a wide range of experience in both academic and private sector property
research, having been involved with a broad variety of projects on a pan-European and global
basis.
Projects that Dr. Court has recently managed include retail property consultancy studies
throughout Europe, particularly in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Hungary,
Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, USA and
Asia. These have involved projects for leading retailers, developers and investors,
including English Partnerships,Bellway Homes, Bouwfonds MAB, Multi Development, Land
Securities, Sonae, ING, DeTe Immobilien, Chartwell Land, Sovereign Land and Wilson
Bowden.
Dr. Court has also worked in close co-operation with pan-European and global retailers and
retail financial services operators considering expansion, such as Foot Locker, Lego, Tommy
Hilfiger, Pepe Jeans, Diesel, Estee Lauder Group, The North Face, Sbarro, H3G, Disney Stores,
TK Maxx, Harley Davidson, Game Stores, The Gap, Ikea, RBS and Deutsche Bank. She has also
completed work for the UK Department of Trade and Industry on retailing and franchising in
central Europe as part of a major campaign to encourage British retailers to invest in the
region.
Robert L. Sorensen, Jr., SCSM – Mr. Sorensen received the ICSC Distinguished Service Award
for his work as a chairman of the Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM) Committee, a CSM
Committee member, dean of the ICSC University of Shopping Centers School of Asset Management,
instructor for the ICSC University of Shopping Centers, and Fall Conference chairman. Mr.
Sorensen distinguished himself as a frequent moderator, panelists and speaker at ICSC
conferences and conventions. He had been a member of ICSC since 1980.
George J. Walsh III, Esq. – Mr. Walsh received the ICSC Distinguished Service Award
for his work as chairman of ICSC’s Law Committee; as well as for his work as a faculty member
for many of ICSC’s educational programs. Additionally, Mr. Walsh earned this award for his work
as a member and past co-chair of the ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference Program Planning
Committee and co-chair for the New York Law Symposium.
Mr. Walsh also distinguished himself as a frequent moderator, panelist and speaker at ICSC
conferences and conventions. He has been a member of ICSC since 1979.
In presenting the awards, ICSC President Michael P. Kercheval said, “All these individuals
have given selflessly toward enriching the quality of ICSC by virtue of outstanding service as
program committee chairs, faculty members, speakers and leaders in the shopping center
industry. We are honored to have them as members.”
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers is the premiere global trade
association for the shopping center industry. Its 70,000 members in over 92 countries include
shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and
brokers, as well as academics and public officials.