The Minnesota chapter of NAIOP, the national commercial real estate development association, has appointed Duane Arens as director of public policy.
It will be Arens' job to oversee the group's legislative and public affairs program for the 700-member association of developers, investors, owners and property managers.
He joins NAIOP from Connexus Energy, the state's largest energy cooperative, where he was director of economic and community development. Prior to that, he served on Gov. Arne Carlson's staff, and held positions with the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, AT&T, and the Minneapolis and U.S. Chambers of Commerce.
Arens has also taught at the University of Minnesota, and is a director of several non-profit organizations.
