Nation's Preeminent Commercial Real Estate Leaders to Convene at the College of William & Mary School of Business

Mason School of Business will host Reinventing Real Estate Symposium November 3rd and 4th

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary will host "Reinventing Real Estate" November 3-4 at Alan B. Miller Hall in Williamsburg, VA, with several of the nation's most prominent commercial real estate leaders.

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The conference will tackle some of the toughest questions in today's brisk real estate climate. The event will feature notable speakers who have distinguished themselves by meeting and overcoming challenges of the commercial real estate industry.

"Reinventing Real Estate" will focus on the paradigm change necessary within the industry, and the creative adaptation necessary to move forward.

K. Dane Brooksher, the retired Chairman of the Board of Prologis will serve as moderator of the conference. In coordination with the conference, Brooksher will be the Mason School's first Laurie and John Andrews Executive in Residence for the 2010-11 academic year.  Prologis is a leading global provider of distribution facilities. For more information, www.prologis.com .

"For centuries, The College of William & Mary has played a pivotal role in the story of this country, producing leaders across the public and private realms.  It is fitting that we host this real estate conference at William and Mary because the industry was as important to the culture and commerce of this country in its early years as it is now," said Brooksher.

Central to the Mason School's educational mission is a belief in 'revolutionary thinking'. The conference speakers were selected based on their innovations, or revolutionary ideas and actions, in the commercial real estate industry. Their presentations will focus on the need for the next generation to take the same bold actions at a critical juncture in the industry.

Dr. Benjamin B. Bolger, MBA Real Estate Professor at William and Mary, remarked upon the importance of the "Reinventing Real Estate" theme, "The real estate community is confronted with an unusually rigorous economic environment where results-focused creativity and innovation are needed in order to thrive.  How we adapt to dynamic change, confront complex constraints, and leverage new opportunities is important and must be considered at a very practical level.  Our conference will provide an excellent venue for an unvarnished conversation about our exposure to risks and how we can more effectively step forward while being surrounded with a minefield of uncertainties."

"Reinventing Real Estate" seeks to answer those and other strategic questions facing the industry today. The expansive speaker list includes prominent authorities such as:

Carlos Evans, VP Eastern Division Commercial Banking at Wells Fargo

Carlos Evans is an executive vice president and group head of the Eastern division of Wells Fargo National Commercial Banking. Based in Charlotte, N.C., he also serves on the Wells Fargo Management Committee. Commercial Banking provides loan, treasury management and deposit products for middle-market businesses with annual sales between $10 million and $750 million.  www.wellsfargo.com

Kenneth A. Himmel, President and CEO of Related Urban

Mr. Himmel is the developer for one of the world's most innovative and respected urban mixed use buildings being the Times WarnerCenter, a 2.8 million square foot development in New York City. www.related.com

 Glade Knight, Chairman of the Board of Apple R.E.I.Ts.

The Apple R.E.I.Ts are one of the largest owners of high quality hotels in the nation. The firm is aligned closely with the Marriot and Hilton brands, being a very significant owner and operator of both products. www.applereitcompanies.com

Pamela Liebman, President and CEO of the Corcoran Group

Ms. Liebman is one of the most respected voices in residential real estate in the United States. As CEO of The Corcoran Group she leads a large firm that focuses on residential housing in some of the most dynamic markets on the east coast of the United States. www.corcoran.com

 J. Allen Smith, CEO of Prudential Real Estate Investors

Mr. Smith is the CEO of P.R.E.I., one of the largest real estate investors in the Unites States and throughout the world. P.R.E.I. invests across the globe in a variety of different real estate platforms.

www.prudential.com/prei

Youguo Liang, Managing Director of Investment Research at Prudential Real Estate Investors

Mr. Liang is the very capable and insightful director of investment research for P.R.E.I. He is widely published and his analysis is widely sought after in the industry. www.prudential.com/prei

"At the Mason School, our commitment is two-fold: ensuring that our students are not only extremely well prepared but also highly in-demand by companies and organizations across the market and around the globe. This conference will both enhance our students' understanding of the world of commercial real estate and provide networking opportunities for them with the best minds and leaders in that business," said Mason School of Business Dean Lawrence B. Pulley. "I am especially grateful for the efforts of our School of Business Foundation Board member and Partner of Roseland Property Company, Daniel W. Aston, for his key role in making this incredible opportunity a reality for our students," Dean Pulley added.

Real estate professionals from the region will be invited and charged for admission. It is open to all interested students free of charge, but will require registration to attend.

More information: http://mason.wm.edu/re.

Download a hi-res version of the Reinventing Real Estate logo: http://mason.wm.edu/news/images/2010/re_logo_hi-res.jpg

As the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and educational home to many early American leaders, The College is revered as the "alma mater of a nation." Its Mason School of Business embraces the entrepreneurial spirit with a revolutionary approach to business education that focuses on innovation through its personalized, experiential model. At its core, the Mason School is a welcoming community and invites energetic thinkers with a will to lead in creating a strong sustainable economy and thriving society.

The Mason School of Business has focused on bringing innovation to the William and Mary Campus. Most recently the Mason School of Business was honored by Saatchi and Saatchi as the first school to implement their D.O.T. Sustainability Initiative. Additionally, Mason hosts yearly accounting, consulting, and marketing symposiums featuring the nation's most distinguished firms. In October 2010, it will launch the Alan B. Miller Center for Entrepreneurship and will host NYT Business Columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of Too Big To Fail in February 2011.

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SOURCE The Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary