As the #1 ranked real estate program by U.S. News & World Report, 2025, the Wisconsin Real Estate Program continues to set the standard for industry engagement and experiential learning. This spring semester has been particularly dynamic, with students participating in an array of co-curricular activities designed to bridge the gap between academics and the professional world. From national treks to career fairs and development tours, these experiences provide invaluable exposure to market trends, top industry leaders, and real-world deal-making.
Whether networking with alumni in Denver, touring landmark developments in Milwaukee, or engaging with thought leaders in the classroom, our students are making the most of every opportunity to expand their knowledge and professional networks. With a curriculum that extends beyond the classroom, these applied learning initiatives play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of real estate leaders.
February 21: Graaskamp on the Road-Orange –Atlanta
The Graaskamp on the Road Roundtable Series was hosted in Atlanta on Feb. 21. The gathering featured an engaging, informative keynote presentation from Brian Bailey, Senior Policy Advisor in the Supervision, Regulation, & Credit Division, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. With experience spanning finance, development, and private equity, Brian offers unparalleled insights into the evolving real estate landscape.
With a capacity crowd in attendance, key topics explored at the event included economic trends, real estate values and market dynamics, banking sector health, population shifts, and regulatory changes
February 25: Spring Real Estate Club Career Fair
The Graaskamp Center hosted a Career Fair February 25 at the Gordon Event Center for companies to meet with our talented young real estate professionals. Our students are eager to contribute to the industry through internships, entry-level, and mid-level positions. They came prepared, asked insightful questions, and showed a genuine drive in taking next cateer steps. The event hosted 35 top employers and over 150 students.
Several employers shared how impressed they were by the level of engagement and thoughtful questions many students asked to understand a company’s mission and culture.
To all the employers who joined us—thank you for investing your time in our students. Your willingness to connect with and mentor the next generation of professionals is invaluable!
Thank you to Gin D. for doing a great job as Career Fair Coordinator and we’re grateful to all volunteers who helped make this event possible: Aidan Capes, Abby Sindelar, James Herold, Jack Kaiser, Ethan Gomez, Shane Faulkner Logan Nyborg, Will Ross and Real Estate Club Advisor Gregory Reed, Associate Director of the Graaskamp Center.
February 28: Milwaukee Field Trip
Wisconsin Real Estate students took a field trip to Milwaukee on Feb. 28 to explore landmark developments and connect with top industry leaders. The trip, led by Tim Carr and Wisconsin School of Business chaperones Ashley Hale and Mike Schlicting, was a perfect blend of education, networking an real-world exposure.
Highlights from the Milwaukee trip include:
- Coffee and Bagels with MLG Capital
- Tour of the Bishop’s Woods affordable housing proejct by Lincoln Avenue Comunities
- Discussion on specialized real estate investments and healthcare real estate investment strategies with Healthpeak Properties
- Lunch with Northwestern Mutual Real Estate and some of thier alumni analysts
- Exclusive tour of Asceent MKE, the world’s tallest mass timber building
March 5-7: Denver Real Estate Club Trek Highlights
Between March 5th and march 7th, the Wisconsin Real Estate Club traveled to Denver, Colorado to network with industry leaders and explore the city. Members gained valuable market insights and deepened their industry knowledge while networking with alumni and fellow members.
- WREAA happy hour – Networking with local alumni at Wynkoop Brewing
- Walker & Dunlop – Market overview discussion with Lynn Pearson (MBA,’06), Justin Nelson (BBA, ’05), and George Hanlon highlighting current trends in the Denver area
- KSL Capital Partners – Presentation on Hospitality and Tourism investing by alumni Ryan Bruders (BBA, ’16) and Tori Johnson (BBA, ’21)
- Financial House – an insightful tour of Class A office space hosted by Tom Ohlson and Penfield Belton of Great West Property Service and Jack Nadeau and Jared Maio of Sagard Real Estate
- Cherry Creek Redevelopment – An inside look on a future mall redevelopment with Developer Jenny Jacobs of East West and alumnus Denis Curran (BBA, ’09) of the project’s LP investor, Ascentris
- US Bank – Presentation on CRE Lending by alumni Tim Brunow (BBA, ’02), Reagan Tallmadge (MSRE, 2024), and Jack Laudon (MSRE, ’21) followed by a networking happy hour co-sponsored with WREAA
- Prologis – Discussion of industrial asset investment with Annika Baur (MSRE, ’24), Jason Bost, and Stephanie O’Neil with breakfast and coffee
- Downtown Denver Walking tour – an enlightening exploration of the city lead by CU Denver Urban Planning Designer Ken Schroeppel
Thank you to everyone who made this trip a success! Special thanks to Kyle Nickel (BBA, 2019) and Tim Slater (BBA, 2013) for helping to organize the trip with Real Estate Club Co-Presidents Will Ross and Mitchell Carroll. Thank you to Chad Messer (MBA, 2015), Kevin Brinkman and Dan Metzger (BBA, 1998) for also helping with the trek.
March 7: Graaskamp on the Road-Orange County (Newport Beach)
In early March, Wisconsin Real Estate graduate students took a trip across the country to connect with alums, board members and industry leaders at our Graaskamp on the Road Roundtable at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. Featured presenter Ryan Miller, Senior Analyst at Green Street’s Market Analytics, delivered a fantastic real estate sector outlook. Attendees asked excellent questions about the impact of the new administration, geopolitical factors, and the future of retail, office, and industrial properties.
We are grateful to Michael Brennan, former Graaskamp Executive Director, and Brennan Investment Group for their generous 3-year sponsorship of Graaskamp on the Road Roundtables. Their support fuels not only these events but also funds an annual $10,000 for Wisconsin Real Estate graduate students..
March 13: Innovator Award Ceremony with Sarah Wick
All of us at the Wisconsin Real Estate Program were thrilled to honor Sarah Wick, Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing at Related Midwest, as this year’s recipient of the Innovator Award! This annual award recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of the Wisconsin Real Estate Program—someone who turns visionary ideas into reality, inspires others to think creatively, and pushes the boundaries of innovation in the industry.
Over the past 12 years, Sarah has played a leading role in the redevelopment of Chicago’s historic Lathrop Homes, transforming it from a neglected site into a vibrant and sustainable community along the Chicago River. Her commitment to affordable housing and urban revitalization reflects the values we celebrate with this award.
With 100+ students in attendance, Sarah’s presentation was engaging, and inspirational. Thank you to Nick Millot (BBA ’12), and Wilson Ding (BBA ’21) for joining the discussion. It’s so valuable for our students to see young alumni making their mark, especially in the important field of affordable housing. Thank you to Paul Aylesworth for moderating the discussion and to Gregory Reed for his support as Advisor of the Wisconsin Real Estate Club.
March 22-30: March 22-30: Real Estate Grads Take on Paris & London for a Global Market Adventure
A group of Wisconsin Real Estate Graduate students has jetted off to London and Paris for an immersive deep dive into two of the world’s most dynamic real estate markets. From exclusive site visits to high-level meetings with industry leaders, they’ll gain firsthand insights into the contrasting property landscapes of the UK and France. Beyond the boardrooms and construction sites, they’ll also soak in the history, architecture, and culture of these iconic cities.
Stay tuned for a full trip report—you won’t want to miss it!
April 11-12: Graaskmap Center Spring Board Dinner and Conference
Connect, share ideas, and be inspired at this fun, engaging and informative conference that brings together over 150 real estate leaders from across the U.S. Discover cutting-edge insights as we bridge the expertise of industry and academia to learn about current and future trends in all sectors of real estate. View the full agenda here.
Seats are limited, so secure spot for you and your guest today! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in real estate. Board Members and thier guests receive complimentary registration.
How will real estate evolve in 2025 and beyond? Join top industry leaders at the Graaskamp Center Spring Board Conference for an insider’s look at the innovations, strategies, and policy changes shaping the future of the industry.
Key Highlights
- Dinner Keynote: Christopher Kennedy, Chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc. & Former President of Merchandise Mart Properties
- Conference Keynote: Jeff DeBoer, President, Real Estate Roundtable, on the impact of the new Trump administration and industry updates from Washington.
Panels Will Cover:
✅ AI-driven analytics revolutionizing real estate decision-making
✅ Navigating risk management in an era of uncertainty
✅ Urban market headwinds & commercial property repositioning
✅ The intersection of technology, sustainability & investment strategies
View the full agenda here.
April 17-18: Chicago Field Trip for Undergraduates and Women in Real Estate (WIRE)
A group of 30 undergraduates and the Women in Real Estate (WIRE) Club will embark on a fantastic trip to Chicago. The two groups have some separate site visits and tours but will convene together for a networking recaption hosted by the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA).
April 25: Applied Real Estate Investment Track (AREIT) Board Meeting
AREIT, the nation’s first graduate program of its kind, provides Wisconsin Real Estate graduate students with hands-on experience managing a live $2 million portfolio of real estate investment trusts (REITs). Guided by the Isthmus Fund Board of Advisors—composed of senior REIT investment professionals— Wisconsin Real Estate graduate students develop real-world client-manager relationships while navigating the complexities of public securities investment. Throughout the year, they receive direct mentorship and strategic insights from industry leaders.
On April 25th, the two sttudent teams will share their portfolio’s performance and lessons learned from the school year. Each team is grateful for the year of learning and humbly thanks the board, AREIT Alumni, and Graaskamp faculty for providing a positive learning experience for all.
May 1: Graaskamp on the Road – Dallas – Register Now!
We are pleased to invite you to a networking luncheon and presentation at the Park House in Dallas on Thursday, May 1st. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders in a dynamic and fun setting; expand your network; exchange ideas with peers; learn valuable market insights; and prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Jack Fraker is President, Global Head of Industrial & Logistics Capital Markets for Newmark. He is responsible for driving Newmark’s industrial & logistics business, primarily capital markets but also leasing. Throughout his career, Fraker has been a consistent top national producer in industrial & logistics sales, representing some of the country’s largest corporations, global investors, pension fund advisors, REITs, and corporate tenants. Fraker has personally completed over 1,800 industrial & logistics capital markets transactions totaling 1.5 billion square feet | $85 billion in more than 60 U.S. cities, Mexico, Europe, Japan, and South America. He has also advised on approximately 12,000 acres of development sites and over 300 office/industrial leasing assignments. As a partner with other firms prior to Newmark, Fraker was cumulatively involved in over 3.3 billion square feet and $220 billion in various projects. Fraker earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.
May 10: Commencement
June 3-4: PREA Conference – Hosted by the Graaskamp Center & Chicago Booth School of Business
The Graaskamp Center is proud to co-host this annual Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) Conference with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in Chicago! Stay tuned for more information.