WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024 Alumni Memorial Union | Marquette University
REDEFINING REAL ESTATE: The Interdisciplinary Approach to Real Estate Challenges
The Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership’s 13th annual Real Estate Strategies Conference was held on May 1st, 2024, focused on the theme “Redefining Real Estate: The Interdisciplinary Approach to Real Estate Challenges.” With nearly 500 people in attendance, this conference explored the unique and groundbreaking strategies used by leading figures across various sectors of the industry, including investment, development, law, and construction. This conference also announced the launch of the Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership, made possible by a remarkably generous gift from alumni couple Perry and Sheila Vieth.
Highlights included:
Keynote John "JT" Thomas, Vice Chairman with Healthpeak, discussing the firm's recent multi-billion merger with Physicians Realty Trust, including how he came to become close with Tommy Thompson (former Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, governor of Wisconsin, and chairman of Physicians Realty Trust)
Student speaker Ava Villarreal delivering a phenomenal presentation not only about student activities, but also the first-ever public overview of the Real Estate Asset Program's successful portfolio acquisitions to date ($1.35m equity deployed across six transactions).
Panel of beloved and fascinating community leaders discussing how they have "redefined real estate" through their own highly unique career paths and interdisciplinary focus, including Barry Mandel, DeShea Agee, Gina Stilp and Bill Loftus.
Dr. Michael Lovell, President of Marquette University announcing a major gift from Perry and Sheila Vieth establishing the Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership at Marquette, combining the strengths of three colleges - business, engineering and law - and Perry discussing why they made the gift and their excitement about what's possible in the Vieth Institute's future.
Four of the university's top leaders, including the provost (Dr. Kimo Ah Yun) and deans of business (Tim Hanley), engineering (Dr. Kris Ropella), and law (Joseph Kearney), sharing the stage to talk about their excitement around the Vieth Institute and the opportunities ahead for impact.
Shaka Smart, head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball team, and student-athlete and men's basketball team member Stevie Mitchell (also a student in REAL 4002 - Real Estate Finance in spring 2024) as closing keynotes discussing the importance of culture, including their mantras of "Relationships. Growth. Victory." and how these can apply to anyone.
