CRE Finance Council to Host Annual Conference in New York This June
Industry conference features Colin Jost, Spencer Levy, Julie Ingersoll, and Allie K. Miller as keynote speakers
NEW YORK, May 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) will bring together once again the commercial real estate finance industry's foremost leaders at its Annual Conference, taking place June 8–10, 2026, in New York City. Widely recognized as the largest gathering of senior CRE finance leaders, the event features three days of timely market insights, high-value networking, and forward-looking discussion.
As the recognized voice of the commercial real estate finance industry, CREFC represents lenders, investors, servicers, issuers, and the full range of professionals powering the commercial real estate debt markets. CREFC plays a vital role in shaping industry standards, delivering trusted research and data, providing education, and advocating for policy and regulatory issues critical to market participants and the industry.
CREFC's Annual Conference provides an opportunity for candid, real-time dialogue among industry leaders. Attendees will gain perspective from senior executives whose experience spans multiple market cycles, offering clarity on the forces shaping commercial real estate assets and the commercial real estate debt markets.
"CREFC's Annual Conference comes at a pivotal moment for commercial real estate finance," said Lisa Pendergast, President and CEO of CREFC. "This is where the industry comes together to exchange insights and better understand how evolving market dynamics are influencing CRE investment, lending, and servicing strategies. There is simply no substitute for being in the room."
In addition to CREFC's seven industry-sector forum sessions, the conference will feature a robust lineup of sessions addressing the most pressing issues facing the industry, including:
- In the Thick of It: Downstream Impact on the Servicer Playbook
- Borrower Perspectives: CRE Market Realities and Opportunities
- Disrupting the Debt Market: Private Credit's Expanding Role in CRE
- Modernizing Securitization: Key Developments to Watch
- Government Impact on the Business of CRE and Its Asset Classes
- Industry Leaders Roundtable
The program will also feature four high-profile keynote speakers offering distinct perspectives on leadership, innovation, markets, and change.
- Colin Jost, co-anchor of Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" and host of Netflix's new season of Pop Culture Jeopardy!, will deliver a keynote session blending humor, storytelling, and audience engagement. A longtime SNL writer and performer, Jost brings a unique lens on culture, communication, and current events shaped by his career in comedy and media.
- Spencer Levy, Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor for CBRE, and Julie Ingersoll, Chief Investment Officer, Americas Direct for CBRE Investment Management, will open the conference with a keynote on the state of the market. Levy and Ingersoll will share perspectives on transaction volumes, cap rate movements, and where opportunities are emerging amid today's complex financing landscape.
- Allie K. Miller, CEO of Open Machine and a leading AI advisor to Fortune 500 companies, will present a keynote focused on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence across industries. Her session will provide a practical AI-first playbook, helping organizations move from experimentation to meaningful implementation across strategy, operations, and decision-making.
Pendergast added, "From the continued evolution of private credit to the role of technology and policy in shaping our markets, this year's program reflects the full breadth of issues influencing the commercial real estate finance industry. CREFC has always been defined by the strength and engagement of its members, and this event reflects that spirit."
In addition to its programming, the Annual Conference will recognize outstanding contributions to the industry and the association made by CREFC members. CREFC will present its Founders, Woman of Distinction, and '20 Under 40' awards, celebrating leadership, innovation, and the next generation of talent in commercial real estate finance. The organization will also announce its new Board leadership, including members of its Executive Committee and Board.
Event Details:
When: June 8-10, 2025
Where: New York Marriott Marquis |1535 Broadway |New York, NY 10036
Program:
About CREFC
The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) is the trade association for the over $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry with a membership that includes more than 400 companies and 19,000 individuals. Member firms include balance sheet and securitized lenders, loan and bond investors, private equity firms, servicers, rating agencies, and borrowers. For over 30 years, CREFC has promoted liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in the commercial real estate finance markets, and acted as a legislative and regulatory advocate for the industry, playing a vital role in setting market standards and best practices, and providing education for market participants. For more information, visit www.crefc.org.
SOURCE CRE Finance Council
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