Bringing the real estate world to Ithaca
Every week, every semester, the Cornell Real Estate Distinguished Speaker Series attracts global industry leaders to campus to share insights and discuss important issues in the field. Speakers also explore current projects, tips for career advancement, and the paths that led them to success. Many students cite this exclusive opportunity to interact with recognizable figures from the industry as one of the most valuable aspects of the program.
Speakers include:
- Fund managers, developers, investors, bankers, and others who talk about their segments of the industry
- Experts on current topics ranging from changes in global capital markets to green city development, new investment opportunities, financing, and structuring strategies
A question-and-answer session typically follows the formal presentation, and conversation continues at a reception following the seminar. The Cornell Real Estate Distinguished Speaker Series is a required course for three of the four semesters of the Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate.
2019 Fall Speaker Series
- September 5: Toby Bozzuto, The Bozzuto Group
- September 12: Matt Mitchell, ILR ’97, SteepRock Capital LLC
- September 26: Scott Walsh, AAP ’99, Lendlease
- October 3: Aly-khan Merali, MMH ’06 , Turnberry
- October 10: Evens Charles, Frontier Development and Hospitality Group
- October 17: 37th Annual Cornell Real Estate Conference
- October 24: John Lewis, ILR ’98, Harbor Bankshares Co
- October 31: Michael Dang, MMH ’07, Anpha Holdings, M.I.K. Corporation
- November 7: Lisa Colacurcio, Gemdale USA
- November 14: Sajan Hansji, SHA’04, J Street Hospitality
- November 29:Paul McPhearson, Kerzner
- December 5: Michael Sellman, Calatrava Grace
2019 Spring Speaker Series
- January 31: Jeffrey Resetco, Greystar
- February 7: Seth Singerman ’99(SHA) , Singerman Real Estate, LLC
- February 14: Rick Latella, Cushman Wakefield
- February 21: Michael Dang ’07(MMH), Anpha Holdings
- February 28: David Philp ’84(SHA), Canyon Group
- March 7: Karl Mistry ’04(MPS), Toll Brothers
- March 14: Alan Riffkin ’88 CALS, Lazards
- March 21: Daniel Sax ’12(RE MPS), Sensi Properties
- April 11: Darian Wright, Brookfield Properties
- April 25: Erica Henning’96(A&S),”97(MPA), ApexOne Investment Partners
- May 2: TBA
2018 Fall Speaker Series
- August 30: Spencer Levy ’92 (ILR), CBRE
- September 6: Derek Olsen ’92 (Hotel), CHM Warnick
- September 13: Joe Levine ’02 (Hotel), Mercer Street Partners
- September 20: Prashant Arul Raj ‘00 (MPS RE), Guggenheim Partners
- September 27: Barry DiRaimondo ’85 (MBA), Steelwave
- October 4: Matt Shore, DRA Advisors, LLC
- October 11: TBA
- October 18: 36th Annual Cornell Real Estate Conference
- October 25: Richard Baker ’88 (SHA), Hudson’s Bay
- November 1: Julie Romey ’99 (MPS RE), Keyser Marston
- November 8: Bruce Menin, Crescent Heights
- November 15: Jim Dow ’91 (A&S), St. Bride’s Managers US
- November 29: Art Adler ’78 (Hotel), JLL Americas
2018 Spring Speaker Series
- February 1: Toby Bozzuto, The Bozzuto Group
- February 8: Kirk Goodrich ’90 (CHE), Monadnock Development and Nick Lembo ’75 (AAP), Monadnock Development/ Monadnock Construction
- February 15: Tammy Jones ’87 (A&S), Basis Investment Group
- March 8: Troy Daniel, Thackeray Partners
- March 15: Joshua Eisenberg ’06 (AAP), JD ’00, Urban American
- March 22: Douglas Gottschalk, EY
- March 29: Alumni Panel
- April 12: Daniel Zelson ’88 (A&S), Charter Realty and Development Corp.
- April 20: The Third Annual Titans of Real Estate
- April 26: Ken Himmel ’70 (Hotel), Related
- May 3: Richard Baker ’88 (Hotel), Hudson Bay Company
2017 Fall Speaker Series
- August 31: Mark Fogel, Acres Capital
- September 28: George Conti ’93 (Hotel), Iron Mountain
- October 5: Don Reid, Sustainable Living Innovations
- October 19: Sylvia Melikian, MBA ’76, MacFarlane Partners
- October 26: John Cokinos ’95 (Hotel), RBC Capital Markets
- November 3: Jonathan Rose, Jonathan Rose Companies
- November 9: Martin Stern ’68 (Eng), CBRE
- November 16: Laura Benner, Colony NorthStar
- November 30: Paul Macpherson, Kerzner
2017 Spring Speaker Series
- January 26: Ben Bernstein ’06 (Hotel), RedSky Capital
- February 2: Jeffrey DiModica, Starwood Property Trust
- February 9: Tim Mayopoulos ’80 (A&S), Fannie Mae
- February 16: Lou Marquet, Leyland Alliance
- March 2: WX Panel
- March 23: David Rodgers, MBA ’88, Park Bridge Financial
- March 30: Young Alums Panel, TBA
- April 13: Andrew Benioff, MBA ’04, Llenrock Group
- April 20: Susan Dollinger ’67 (ILR) via WebEx, Citigroup
- April 27: Steve Benjamin ’80 (Eng), MEng ’81, MBA ’82, Stromiga Real Estate Development
- May 4: Michael Gross ’97, WeWork
2016 Fall Speaker Series
- September 1: Tom Vecchione ’86 (AAP), Design Director, Workplace Strategist, Principal, Gensler
- September 8: Kate Bicknell ’99 (AAP), Senior Vice President, Forest City Ratner
- September 15: Ben Butcher, Chief Executive Officer, STAG Industrial
- September 22: Alex Klatskin, General Partner, Forsgate Industrial Partners
- September 29: John Livingston, P ’12, Chief Executive Officer, AECOM
- October 6: Ben Rowe ’96 (Hotel), Managing Partner, Khp Capital
- October 20: Aref Lahham ’86 (Eng), Managing Director, Orion
- November 3: Rick Latella, P ’10 and ’12 and Eric Lewis, Cushman Wakefield
- November 10: Jeffery Horowitz ’86 (CHE), Global Head of Real Estate, Gaming and Lodging, Corporate and Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- November 17: Chris Albanese ’86 (A&S), President, Albanese Organization
- December 1: Tom Murcott, Executive Vice President, Gale International Korea-US