News Release

Six Members of the United Properties Construction Group Receive Stormwater Control Certification

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 14, 2008) – Six members of the United Properties Construction Services group recently received certification through the University of Minnesota Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program, a program designed to reduce the pollution and damage caused by stormwater runoff.

Construction managers Brandon Abrahamson and Gerhardt Gleige earned certification in Design of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans, while field managers Eric Myhra, Mark Dongoske, Steve Nelson and Tom Carlson earned certification in Erosion/Sediment Control Site Management.

Partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the University of Minnesota Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program offers comprehensive training for inspectors, project managers, contractors and designers working on construction sites.

“Erosion, although a natural process, tends to increase during construction activity. The increased erosion and other pollutants from construction sites are often harmful to the lakes and water resources in the communities around the construction activity,” said John Chapman, a program instructor and administrator.

In their commitment to environment-friendly construction practices, the entire General Contracting division of the Construction Services group recently attended a workshop on stormwater control, where they examined industry regulations and learned about alternative construction methods.

“The construction industry is becoming more environmentally active. In the past, you’ve recognized areas of potential fault after storms. Now you identify them before and make sure there are proper controls in place,” said John Boben, vice president – Construction Services. “Our goal is to stay on the cutting edge of the latest and greatest tools available.”

About United Properties
United Properties Construction Services offer clients a full-service construction partner while being a part of United Properties, a diversified commercial real estate company with nearly 500 employees providing real estate services around the country. Construction Services includes general contracting, tenant improvement and construction management. In addition to construction services, the company specializes in brokerage, property management, development and investments. Based in the Twin Cities, United Properties is located on the web at www.uproperties.com.

About the University of Minnesota Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program
The University of Minnesota Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program provides training to designers, supervisors and installers of construction storm water pollution prevention practices.  Construction sites in Minnesota are required to have practices that reduce the impact of erosion and pollutants from construction sites. The program, which is part of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, offers several one and two day-long courses in erosion and sediment control practices at different locations throughout Minnesota.  More information can be found at www.erosion.umn.edu.

Media Contacts
Martha Nevanen
Vice President, Marketing Communications
952-893-7539
mnevanen@uproperties.com

Jessie Folkens
Sr. Communications Consultant
952-837-8516
jfolkens@uproperties.com