Kelley, who will serve as vice president of sales and strategic development, comes to Real Estate Media from an 11-year stint at Commercial Property News, where he served as publishing director of the magazine and, prior to that, as director of its conference group.

Gerald D. Schein, vice chairman of Real Estate Media, has been named conference chair. Schein has been with the firm and its predecessor company for more than 40 years. For much of that time he was president and publisher of Real Estate Forum, moving to his current position with the 1999 sale of the company to an investment fund managed by what is now Wasserstein & Co.

According to Kelley, the new initiative will fill an important void in the industry's ability to learn and network at conference settings. "The overriding objective of the Real Estate Media Conference Series will be to produce quality conferences and networking events that provide maximum value for sponsors and attendees," Kelley states. "These are still challenging times for the economy in general and the real estate market in particular, so the need for solid, timely information and high-level networking is key. I plan to draw on my experience and contacts to create events that will bring together the highest-caliber speakers with top executive-level attendees in a way that has been done in the past but is not being done right now.

"The programs will also create increased exposure and opportunities for all Real Estate Media properties--including GlobeSt.com, Real Estate Forum and the regional magazines--Real Estate New York, Real Estate New Jersey, Real Estate Chicago and Real Estate Southern California," Kelley adds.

President and CEO Jonathan A. Schein notes that there will be a strong--and unique--reciprocity in the interaction of the various products. "We're going to achieve what other publishers have only attempted," states Schein. "We're going to be taking a whole new approach to the concept, and our combination of print and online products will allow us to market and support the effort more effectively. We have no doubt that the new initiative will firmly establish us as the Number-One source for news and information in the commercial real estate industry."

For information on the Real Estate Media Conference Series, Email Rich Kelley or call 212-929-6900.