CBPA NAMES ROB CORD BOARD CHAIR 

July 10, 2023 - California Business Properties Association (CBPA), a pro-business legislative advocacy association, announced commercial real estate industry veteran Rob Cord has been elected Chairman of the Board for the 2023 term.  

“I have known Rob for many years as we worked side-by-side on behalf of the multiple constituents across commercial real estate in California,” said CBPA President & CEO MatthewHargrove. “His expertise, management experience, and leadership will be critical to leading our board in our consistently expanding agenda at CBPA.”  

A 27-year member of the association, Cord has extensive board leadership experience previously serving as the president of BOMA Sacramento, two-terms as president of NAIOP San Francisco, a three-term chair of BOMA California, a 20-year board member of CBPA, and the interim regional council chair and TRI-County chair of the American Cancer Society. Cord is simultaneously the Government Affairs Chairperson for ICSC NorCal.  

“I am honored and energized to take on the role of volunteer board chair to advance the work of the association with the prestigious members of the association working to advance business initiatives in California,” said Rob Cord.”In my capacity as Chairman, I am committed to continuing the important vision of my good friend Rex Hime, the founder and Chairman Emeritus of CBPA whose passing we mourn this year.” 

CBPA has served as the voice of the commercial real estate industry in California for over 50 years, representing more than 10,000 professionals across the office, industrial, and retail real estate sectors. The organization is currently playing an active role in a variety of statewide policy issues, including redevelopment, the adaptive reuse of commercial buildings, and infrastructure streamlining.  

Cord’s real estate experience began in the San Francisco Bay Area, including leadership roles starting with Equitec Financial Group, Grubb & Ellis Company, TRI Commercial, CBRE, Kennedy Wilson, Cassidy Turley, Voit Real Estate, and CBC Advisors. Following the sale of CBC to Colliers, Cord formed AREAS where he and his team of professionals manage a portfolio of properties throughout the Western United States.  

Additional endeavors include his partnership in Foothill Partners and IC Rebuild, both focusing on adaptive reuse development for the betterment of community and human flourishing, while maintaining sound financial fundamentals. Cord is also a partner in an institution operational review practice performing pre-audit reviews for state universities.  

Cord held a lead role in supporting the amendment to Title 24 lighting controls, legislation preventing drive-by ADA claims and the ongoing fight on split real estate taxation along with a myriad of bills annually.