From the Director's Desk

Spring 2013

Dear Colleagues, Associates, and Friends:

We had an entering class of nearly 30 new students in fall 2012 and several more entering in spring 2013 bringing our enrollment to about 60 students - making us one of the largest graduate real estate programs in the country. 

Despite difficult times, for the fifth year in a row the Institute raised and distributed over $125,000 in scholarship funds to deserving students.  The Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Future Women Leaders in Real Estate Initiative, the Northern Builders Scholarship for Future Leaders in Industrial Real Estate, and the Roldan Scholarship are all supporting multiple students.  We are accepting applications for fall 2013 through June 30, 2013.

On November 1, 2012, the Annual Real Estate Gala was a grand success at the Four Seasons.  Our Lifetime Leadership Awardee was Alvin L. Gorman, Charirman, Power Construction Company and our Keynote Speaker was Peter C. Roberts, CEO, Americas, Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.  We had a sold out event with over 400 attendees and launched the new Gorman Fund for Excellence in Real Estate education to support extra learning, research and teaching resources for our faculty and students. 

On November 29, 2012 we formally dedicated the new Urban Retail Professional Development and Research Center in the new Wabash Building.  Ross Glickman and his partners brought over 30 Urban Retail Properties employees who were joined by co-founder Marshall Bennett to cut the ribbon.  The Center has been furnished with sustainable materials and provides an expanded set of student resources.

We are planning a full calendar of spring industry events including a Fogelson Forum, a Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Networking event, and others.  The Real Estate Club is regularly meeting and will be sponsoring participation in another real estate competition.  We want to thank the many professionals and Advisory Board members who are volunteering as Mentors for our students and sponsoring internships.  

Please see other areas of this web site for details on the many other activities underway at the school.  And mark your calendars now for the November 7, 2013 GALA.

Regards,
Jon B. DeVries, CRE, AICP
Director, Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate