At Kimco Realty Corp. (NYSE: KIM), employees play an integral role in shaping a workplace culture that prioritizes engagement, inclusion, and shared progress. Through initiatives such as the KIMunity Councils and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Kimco fosters an environment where employees at all levels can help advance the company’s corporate responsibility programs and positively impact their local communities. Additionally, with over a decade of experience in sustainability, Kimco continues to make progress in the space.
“Corporate responsibility is a constantly evolving field, and we take an active approach in understanding and shaping the future,” says Tamara Chernomordik, vice president of corporate responsibility at Kimco.
Kimco’s industry-leading efforts in employee-driven initiatives and sustainability were recently recognized with Nareit’s 2024 Leader in the Light Award in the retail category, honoring REITs that exemplify excellence in sustainable investment, operational responsibility, and governance transparency.
Engaging Employees Through KIMunity Councils and ERGs
Kimco’s approach to employee engagement includes inviting its employees to participate in KIMunity Councils and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These initiatives provide employees with formal opportunities to collaborate, support one another, and socialize topics they care about most, all helping to further shape and strengthen workplace culture and corporate responsibility efforts.
The KIMunity Councils focus on key cultural pillars, including Culture & Belonging, Wellness, Giving & Volunteerism, and Workplace Sustainability. Complementing the work of the KIMunity Councils, Kimco’s ERGs, provide additional spaces for connection. These groups include Emerging Professionals, Empowering Women to Lead, LGBTQ+, Military Veterans and Support (STARS), Multicultural, and Working Parents and Caregivers ERGs.
According to Kimco’s most recent Great Place to Work survey, 93% of employees reported strong engagement and collaboration across teams, a testament to the impact of these initiatives. Kimco has earned Great Place to Work certification for seven consecutive years and has been recognized as a recipient of Best Workplaces in Real Estate, Best Workplaces in New York, and Best Workplaces for Millennials, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Equality 100 Award for 2025.
A Personal Perspective on Corporate Responsibility
For Chernomordik, sustainability has been a guiding principle from an early age. Her father, an ethnobotanist, spent his career studying the relationship between people and native plants, often traveling to places like Micronesia, Belize, and India for conservation and community-based projects. As a child, she accompanied him on these expeditions, gaining firsthand experience in environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
“That experience gave me a deep appreciation for sustainability and community impact,” Chernomordik says. “It’s a perspective that I bring to my work at Kimco, where open-air shopping centers serve as essential community hubs, supporting local businesses and fostering social connection.”
Looking Ahead: Advancing Sustainability & Community
Kimco remains committed to continuing its corporate responsibility efforts, with a strong focus on sustainability and community impact. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, including a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (from a 2018 baseline) and a long-term goal of achieving net zero emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2050. Additionally, Kimco is working closely with tenants to measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions. In June 2024, they fulfilled their $500 million green bond, further driving sustainable investment in eligible projects.
Building on its commitment to community engagement, Kimco continues to support initiatives that enhance social impact. Through the efforts of the Giving Council, Kimco has increased volunteerism through annual drives, instituted a year-round 2 for 1 match on employee donations to registered 501(c)(3) organizations, and coordinated the annual Season of Giving, which includes employee nominated donations to local organizations. The Milton Cooper Trailblazer in Real Estate Award, which Kimco launched in partnership with ICSC in 2023, continues to provide annual scholarships to 10 students pursuing careers in retail real estate.
"Our long-term success is rooted in our ability to foster an engaged workforce and contribute meaningfully to the communities we serve. By strengthening our sustainability commitments and expanding opportunities for employee participation, corporate responsibility and business growth go hand in hand," Chernomordik says.
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