2026 Graaskamp Center Spring Board Dinner and Conference
Thursday, April 16 – Friday, April 17
Strategic Shifts: Investment Opportunities in a Changing Commercial Real Estate Landscape
Where are the next real opportunities in commercial real estate as capital, technology, and user demand reshape the rules? Join us April 16–17 at the Chicago Club for the Graaskamp Center Spring Board Conference, Strategic Shifts: Investment Opportunities in a Changing Commercial Real Estate Landscape. Over two days, leading investors and operators will explore how evolving market forces are redefining strategy, underwriting, and capital allocation across the industry.
The conference convenes 150+ senior real estate leaders at a moment when the traditional categories of office, retail, industrial, and multifamily are being reexamined. As capital expands into data centers, life sciences, senior housing, and other needs-based sectors, investors are rethinking how risk is priced, how assets are structured, and how long-term value is defined. This year’s program explores how capital is being reallocated to manage volatility, capture opportunity, and build resilience in a rapidly changing market.
Board members and their guests receive complimentary registration. The dinner and conference have sold out for the past ten years so register soon if you plan to attend. If you’re interested in registering for this event, please email either Genie Trewyn (genie.trewyn@wisc.edu) or Lee Gottschalk (lee.gottschalk@wisc.edu).
Agenda
Thursday, April 16 | |
|---|---|
| 5:30 pm | Reception |
| 6:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 – 7:10 pm | Opening Remarks: Jacques Gordon, Director, James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate |
| 7:15 – 8:00 pm | Dinner Keynote Presenter: Karen Murphy, COO of the Chicago Bears |
| 8:00 pm | Informal Networking – TBD |
Friday, April 17 | |
|---|---|
| 7:45 – 8:30 am | Networking Breakfast |
| 8:30 – 8:40 am | Welcome and Remarks Jacques Gordon, Director, James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate |
| 8:40 – 9:30 am | Keynote Presenter: Emi Adachi, Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Investment Research, Heitman |
| 9:30 – 9:45 am | Networking Break |
| 9:45 – 10:45 am | Session 1: Beyond the Big Four: The Blurring Lines Between Core and Alternative Real Estate The traditional boundaries between office, industrial, retail, and multifamily are increasingly blurred as demographic shifts, technology, and changing user needs give rise to broader, needs-based categories such as Living, Working, and Experiencing. Asset types once viewed as niche or alternative are now being integrated into core portfolios. In this session, industry leaders discuss how these evolving classifications are reshaping investment strategy—from underwriting and risk assessment to positioning across the capital stack. Panelists will explore how equity and debt are being structured for these assets and what the redefinition of “core” means for capital allocation in today’s commercial real estate market. Moderator: Fred Cooper, Founder, Fin River Advisors LLC Panelists: • Geoff Regnery, Partner, Co-President, and Co-Global Head, Investor Solutions Group, Harrison Street Asset Management or Rob Korslin, Managing Director, Harrison Street (invited) • Julie Thick, Managing Director and Market Manager, JP Morgan • Peter Stelian, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Blue Vista (invited) • Kimberly Adams, Managing Director, Clarion Partners (invited) |
| 10:45 – 11:00 am | Networking Break |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Session 2: Powering AI: Data Centers, Capital Allocation and CRE Strategy Artificial intelligence is accelerating demand for data centers and redefining digital infrastructure as a core component of commercial real estate. Fueled by hyperscaling, data-hungry applications such as cloud computing, e-commerce, the 5G and AI, data centers have become essential to how modern economies operate. This panel examines how these forces are reshaping site selection, power and water constraints, development economics, and capital allocation. Industry leaders will discuss where data centers fit within CRE portfolios, how investors are underwriting risk and return, and what the rapid expansion of this asset class means for markets, utilities, and long-term real estate strategy. Panel session coordinators: Jacques, Aaron, Sarah Moderator: Kevin Brennan, Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Principal, Brennan Investment Group Panelists: • Sean Reynolds, Senior Managing Director; Co-Head of Midwest Data Center Services, JLL • Michael Borchetta, Director, Harrison Street • Steve Weikal, Lecturer, Researcher, and Industry Chair, Real Estate Technology Hub |
| 12:00 – 1:30 pm | Luncheon: Interactive Table Conversations on CRE Trends Join us for a lively luncheon designed to spark real conversation. Each table will focus on a timely commercial real estate topic, guided by a topic leader to kick off discussion and keep ideas flowing. Bring your perspective, compare notes with peers, and dive into the trends shaping our industry right now. |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm | Session 3: Retail Renaissance: Why the Sector Is Strong Again — and What Comes Next Retail is once again emerging as a healthy and resilient sector in commercial real estate. Experience-driven formats, strong suburban demand, and renewed institutional interest are driving high occupancies and steady performance across well-positioned assets. In this session, industry leaders explore what’s fueling retail’s resurgence—from essential neighborhood and strip retail to mixed-use destinations that blend dining, entertainment, residential, and medical uses. Panelists will discuss adaptive reuse, technology, disciplined development and why retail is reclaiming its role in diversified CRE portfolios. Moderator: Beth Rosen, Vice Chair, Ripco Real Estate Panelists: • Domenic Lanni, Co-Founder and Principal, L3 Capital • Lauren Holden, Managing Director and Head of Retail, Blackstone (invited) • Talia Loewenstein, Senior Director of Real Estate, Alo (invited) |
| 2:30 pm | Closing Remarks Jacques Gordon, Director, Graaskamp Center |
Keynote Presenters and Featured Speakers
Dinner Keynote Presenter Karen Murphy
Conference Keynote Presenter: Emi Adachi
Panelist: Domenic Lanni
Panelist: Michael Borchetta
Sponsorship Opportunities
Join Us as a Conference Sponsor and Reinforce Your Brand as an Industry Leader!
- Make connections. Share ideas. Get inspired. Engage with leading minds from every corner of the real estate industry and connect with senior real estate leaders from across the U.S. who share your passion for shaping the future of the built environment.
- Reinforce your brand as a global industry leader by supporting a best-in-class conference and the Wisconsin Real Estate Program, consistently ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report (2026) for the fourth consecutive year and #6 Real Estate MBA, 2026.
- Elevate your visibility and influence with exclusive exposure to an invitation-only audience of 150 key industry decision-makers, alongside top Real Estate MBA and MS students—the next generation of real estate leaders.
Available Sponsorships
April 17th – Reception and Dinner
$2,500 Dinner Reception, (3) complimentary registrations
$5,000 Dinner, (4) complimentary registrations
$2,500 Dinner Keynote, (3) complimentary registrations
April 18th – Conference
(2) complimentary registrations – Sponsored by Brennan Investment Group
(3) complimentary registrations – Sponsored by CIBC
$1,500 Networking Break, 3 opportunities available; (1) complimentary registrations
$1,500 per Panel: 2 opportunities available; (1) complimentary registrations
- Nearshoring Panel
- Senior Housing Panel
- Data Centers
- CEO Panel
- $2,500 Conference Keynote, (3) complimentary registrations
We would be happy to customize a sponsor package for your organization based on your desired level. Bottom of Form
Thank You to our Sponsors!
Registration Information
Board members receive complimentary registration and may invite one guest at no charge.
This event fills quickly so we encourage you to register soon if you plan to attend. Register now!
Dinner and Conference Location
All events take place at the Chicago Club.
The Chicago Club
81 E Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60605
Parking
Parking options near The Chicago Club:
- Grant Park Public South Garage: https://www.millenniumgarages.com/grant-park-parking
Location: If driving Southbound on Michigan Ave, the entrance will be accessible from the left
lane between Jackson and Adams. If driving Northbound on Michigan Ave, the entrance
will be from the left lane just after Van Buren Street.
Staff on Duty: None Self-Park - Park One: http://www.park1chicago.com
Location: Northwest corner of Van Buren and Wabash, with the 24hr entrance on Wabash.
Staff on Duty: 24 Hours. - LAZ Parking: https://www.lazparking.com/local/chicago-il
Location: Southeast corner of Van Buren and Wabash, with the 24hr entrance on both Van Buren and Wabash.
Staff on Duty: None Self-Park
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