As I write this column, I am about to embark on a summer vacation to the beach. My plans include waking at the crack of dawn to beat the traffic. It reminds me of past vacations that I used to have with my family when we drove across the country to see historic landmarks or visit relatives. I'm sure you have fond childhood memories of riding in the back of the family station wagon or even buckling your own children in the mini-van and hitting the open highway.

With these family vacations, there were always a few "Clark Griswold vacation" moments that no one expected. Such as car malfunctions, food poisoning or, everyone's favorite headache, lost reservations.

However, these moments are usually the times that bond your family together. Similarly, many REITs have bonded together during both good and bad times to form a family.

Portfolio sat down with Charles Ratner, Forest City's president and CEO, who told us that he is committed to the Forest City family. "Many of us at Forest City, related or not, have been together for decades, and have accomplished what none could do alone," he says.

Turn to "Charles Ratner: Family Ties Bind at Forest City" to read more on the company values and accomplishments. Turning to another family-founded operation, Tom Cousins formed Cousins Properties in 1958 with his father. Now, nearly 50 years later, the REIT is well regarded as a development-focused company with 50 percent of its asset base devoted to construction projects, land held for future commercial development and residential land development.

The executive team has grown into a powerhouse of REIT expertise with chairman emeritus Tom Cousins and Tom Bell, Dan Dupree, Craig Jones, Joel Murphy and Bruce Smith leading the company to reap great rewards. To read more on this opportunistic REIT, turn to "Great Expectations."

Erin Corcoran
Managing Editor