DALLAS—A favorable business climate with a diverse employment base makes Dallas an investor's playground.

It's a central theme for Steve Pumper, executive managing partner, capital markets and asset strategies at Transwestern, who will moderate “Institutional Investment Insights,” the opening panel at RealShare Dallas on September 1 at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Dallas.

“How are institutional investors perceiving Dallas, and is there any carry-over [to Houston's oil-market uncertainty]?” Pumper rhetorically asked last week in a phone call with GlobeSt.com. “I personally think we're in a great position.”

With Dallas emerging as a global destination for capital—ranking No. 7 on a recent list of Top 10 global cities for commercial real estate investment—the secondary market has seen an increase of nearly 15 percent in investor interest.

Pumper will discuss these topics and more with fellow panelists Brad Davey, senior vice president Clarion Partners; Greg Kraus, managing director Invesco; Ryan McManigal, vice president KBS Realty Advisors; Kevin Westra, regional director Northwestern Mutual; and Rick Zalatoris with UBS.

While Pumper is reluctant to focus too much on energy—at its peak, only 7-8 percent of the Dallas market was in energy—he does plan to explore how each panelist's firm strategizes in uncertain cycles, in terms of submarkets and main sectors such as multifamily, industrial and retail.

“The city's favorable business environment and great labor force really carries the day,” Pumper says.

For registration and other information about RealShare Dallas, click here.