Networking Breakfast

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Breakfast Workshop: Multifamily & Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions & Due Diligence

The due diligence process is an extremely important and also challenging aspect of investing in multifamily, mixed use and commercial property. If it’s not conducted thoroughly you could end up with a bad deal and a potentially huge loss in your investment.

• What are the common pitfalls when acquiring multifamily and commercial property?
• What are the top red flags you should look for in commercial leases of the target property?
• What do you need to know about anti-harassment regulations and enforcement?
• How do you avoid litigation and what are the best practices should litigation arise?
• What common strategies may help in negotiating the purchase?

Get answers to these questions and more during the “Multifamily & Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions & Due Diligence” workshop.

Workshop Leader:

• Kara Rakowski, Partner, Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman

Speakers:

• Allison Lissner, Partner, Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman
• Noelle Picone, Partner, Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman

Welcome Remarks

Morning Keynote

Keynote:

• MaryAnne Gilmartin, CEO, L&L Mag

Changing the Face of Real Estate: Development & Construction Trends

E-commerce, changing demographics & lifestyles, wellness & sustainability, rising interest rates, smart technologies, labor constraints, and an affordable housing shortage are just a few of the many opportunities and challenges forcing change in development and construction. No doubt, 2019 will be a transformative year in real estate, and a growing number of women executives are leading the way. Join us to hear from top women in development and construction who have their fingers on the pulse of the latest trends, as they lead their organizations into the next cycle of real estate development.

Questions to be addressed include:

• How do you see Amazon’s new HQ in LIC affecting new development opportunities in NYC?
• What innovations, such as micro-units, modular construction, mass timber or beyond are you pursuing?
• What are your strategies for working with skyrocketing construction costs, union and non-union labor?
• How do you best take advantage of Opportunity Zones before the window closes?
• Where are you looking for new development sites? How does NYC compare to opportunities elsewhere?

Moderated by:

• Laurie Stanziale, Partner, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin

Panelists:

• Kate Bicknell, Head of NY Development, Oxford Properties
• Megumi Brod, SVP – Development, Rockefeller Group
• Hope Knight, President & CEO, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation
• Shazia Shahid, SVP – Development, Midwood

Room at the Top: Organizational, Industry & Social Leadership

While the number women taking leadership positions in real estate has been increasing, there is still much room for improvement, with only about 10% of C-Suite roles held by women and a persistent pay gap for those who do occupy such roles. Outside the C-Suite, leadership takes many forms, from civic leadership to mentoring others, as well as thought leadership to guide the industry as it transforms and addresses key challenges. Join us to hear from top women as they discuss leadership in all its forms as well as paying it forward through mentorship.

Questions to be addressed include:

• How do you define leadership, and how do set your leadership goals?
• What do you see as the key success factors to become a master at organizational leadership?
• How important is social / civic leadership to you? What areas do you focus on, and where is more leadership needed?
• Given today’s state of the market, what are you doing to help transform your area of the industry? What industry-wide challenges are you trying to solve?
• In what ways were you mentored, and how do you mentor today? What tips would you offer up-and-coming professionals and executives?

Moderated by:

• Betsy Feigin Befus, General Counsel, National Multifamily Housing Council

Panelists:

• Terri Adler, Managing Partner, Duval & Stachenfeld
• Helena Durst, Principal, Durst Organization
• Elizabeth Judd, President, Konover Commercial
• Alisa Mall, Director of Investments, Real Estate & Natural Resources, Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Joanne Podell, EVC, Retail Services, Cushman & Wakefield
• Donna Preiss, Founder & CEO, The Preiss Company

Networking Break

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Real Estate Revolution: Emerging Trends in Innovation, Finance & Technology

Innovation in commercial real estate is accelerating. A once sleepy industry averse to change is rapidly embracing technology as never seen before. At the same time, external events and trends are forcing change, creating unprecedented challenges and opening the door to new opportunities. In all areas of finance, operations, investment and development, new trends are surfacing that are poised to disrupt and create a new cohort of successful entrepreneurs and real estate players. Join us to hear from top women at the forefront of innovation in their organizations and the industry, to dive into some of the most relevant trends emerging today, with a special discussion of today’s hottest emerging trend: Opportunity Zones.

Questions to be addressed include:

• What are the key emerging trends that you see having the greatest impact upon your work and the industry?
• How is technology being embraced in your business? Where are you investing in new technology initiatives, and what outcomes do you expect?
• How do you see development and operation of properties changing due to recent and emerging technology and demographic changes?
• In what ways are you leading change in the transformation of cities and neighborhoods into more efficient, affordable and livable communities?
• How are you taking advantage of Opportunity Zones? How do they work and what is needed to make use of them?

Panelists:

• Nancy J. Goldsmith, Managing Director, Operations, Bozzuto Management
• Johanna Greenbaum, Planning & Development Director, Sidewalk Labs
• Jill Homan, President, Javelin 19 Investments
• Clare Newman, Chief of Staff and EVP, Brooklyn Navy Yard
• Carol Rosenthal, Partner, Fried Frank

Movers, Shakers & Dealmakers: Real Estate Finance & Investment Strategies

Deal volume and investment activity peaked several years ago, and the frothy days of 2014 and 2015 are behind us, ushering in an era of high asset prices and slower deal flow. No longer can you confidently point to a single asset class or geographic area as a major area of opportunity. The market seems picked over, creating challenges for those involved in acquisitions, investments and lending, and yet smart money stays active. Join us to hear from top women who lead investment, financing and lending activity for their respective firms.

Questions to be addressed include:

• What are you doing to stay active today? Where are you sourcing new deals?
• What are some examples of recent deals you have done that exemplify the state of the market and highlight the opportunities available today?
• Debt funds seem to be the business-model-de-jour for many equity shops; how do you view this trend? How is it impacting the lending landscape?
• How important are Opportunity Zones to your firm? How are you getting involved? Will OZs spur new levels of investment and development?
• With interest rates continuing to rise, troubles in the stock market and continued political and global uncertainty, how do you see the real estate finance market playing out over the next year?

Panelists:

• Gena Cheng, Managing Director, USAA
• Katie Kennedy, Vice President, Capital One
• Inna Khidekel, Partner, Capital Markets Group
• Sharon Liss, Managing Director, Sugar Hill Capital Partners
• Christina Lyndon, Managing Director, U.S. Real Estate, Angelo Gordon & Company

Networking Reception

Peer-to-Peer Roundtable: Multifamily Leaders Roundtable

This by-invitation-only roundtable brings together leading women in multifamily development, investment & management, with their peers for candid discussions around shared pain points and solutions.

Peer-to-Peer Roundtable: CRE Leaders Roundtable

This peer-to peer roundtable brings together leading women in CRE with their peers for a candid conversation addressing industry challenges and solutions.

Peer-to-Peer Roundtable: Organizational Leaders Roundtable

This exclusive roundtable brings together women in C-Suite positions (CEO, president, managing partner, etc.), with their peers to explore solutions to challenges unique to their high-level roles within the company.

Peer-to-Peer Roundtable: Development & Construction Roundtable

This candid, peer-to-peer roundtable brings together women in real estate development and construction to delve into the difficult challenges faced today and possible solutions to chronic issues.