"Chicago is at an interesting time in the real estate market," says Rich Kelley, RealShare Conference series director. "People are not sure what's going on and what will become of the market, so it makes an event like this more important and valuable from an educational standpoint. More importantly, the conference is a chance to network and form a foundation to do business together."

Kelley says one thing that will differ from last year is a new addition to the conference lineup. Mimicking ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," the day's itinerary will include "PTI Chicago-style" with Steve Stratton of Staubach and Kent Swanson of the John Buck Co., who will go back-and-forth on a variety of pertinent topics to Chicago's real estate market and business community. "Points will be made quickly and succinctly, because PTI will cover a lot of ground in 15 minutes," says Kelley.

Although specific points will be revealed exclusively to conference attendees, topics throughout the day will address Chicago's market conditions, which have been following macro trends. In the multifamily/condo sector, questions remain as to whether all the units being built will be absorbed, while in the office market, modest job growth and double-digit vacancies are leading to sluggish results. In the industrial and investment markets, however, activity remains at an all-time high.

The town hall meeting, which will cover these hot-button issues in the Windy City CRE industry, will be moderated by Chris Connelly, managing director with CB Richard Ellis. Panelists will include: Greg Moyer, senior vice president/managing director, Marcus & Millichap; Tony Pricco, vice president, McShane Corp.; Steve Smith, managing director, Jones Lang LaSalle; James Turner, senior vice president, LaSalle Bank; and James Whittington, executive vice president and managing director, U.S. Equities.

Concurrent sessions during the event will discuss the demographics and developers behind the condo conversion craze; the investment sales market; the current state of the industrial market growth; the outlook for leasing, investment and development; a forecast on the suburban market; and debt and equity capital markets.

The conference will also feature the popular, "Inside the Real Estate Mind." A man synonymous with industrial real estate in Chicago, John J. Gates, Jr. will speak his mind on the Chicago industrial market, and what life was like at the firm he co-founded and headed for 22 years, CenterPoint Properties Trust. The one-on-one discussion will be hosted by Michael G. Desiato, editor in chief, Real Estate Forum.

The day will wrap up with a networking luncheon featuring focus group roundtables. For more information on the event, and how to register, click here.

Instant Insights /

CRE Leaders Prepare For Deal-Making Event

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