About the Biennial Conference and Reunion
A Reunion Celebrating WREAA's 50 Years of Impact and Connections
A Reunion Celebrating WREAA's 50 Years of Impact and Connections
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA), the Biennial Wisconsin Real Estate Conference and Reunion brings together the powerful network of alumni and friends of the top-ranked University of Wisconsin–Madison Real Estate and Urban Land Economics Program. In addition to delivering focused, in-depth insights on key industry trends, this year’s event will include a special celebration of WREAA’s 50th anniversary. Join us in honoring five decades of leadership, connections, and support that have advanced the program and built its dynamic alumni network.
Keynote Sessions
What's Next?
CRE in a Time of Disruption
CRE in a Time of Disruption
Michael J. Acton
Managing Director
AEW Capital Management
AEW Capital Management
2030: The Future of Innovative Developments
Nikki Greenberg
Real Estate Futurist
Former Head of Technology
Strategy for QIC
Former Head of Technology
Strategy for QIC
What 1929 Reveals About the Next Global Meltdown
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Author
1929 and Too Big to Fail
1929 and Too Big to Fail
Graaskamp Real Estate Visionary Award Presentation and Fireside Chat
Dan Ryan
Recipient
Co-President
Regional Market Director
San Diego
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
Regional Market Director
San Diego
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
Jacques Gordon
Moderator
Director
Graaskamp Center for
Real Estate
UW-Madison
Graaskamp Center for
Real Estate
UW-Madison
Don't miss out. Register soon!
Register by August 29, 2025 for the Early Bird Rate.
We look forward to seeing you there!
We look forward to seeing you there!
Speaker Program Co-Chairs
Louis DeFino, Nuveen Real Estate
Tim Slater, McWhinney
Tim Slater, McWhinney
Schedule
Thursday, September 11, 2025
10:00AM-4:00 PM
Biennial Badger Golf Outing
9:00 AM-10:00 AM - Registration and Warm-Up
10:00 AM - Shotgun Start
10:00 AM - Shotgun Start
12:30-3:00 PM
Design Forward: A Tour of Madison's New Multifamily Icons
Meet at 12:30 PM at Baker's Place Apartments, 10 S. Paterson Street, Madison, Wisconsin
Join a walking tour of two standout additions to Madison’s multifamily landscape: Bakers Place by Neutral and One 09 by Quad Capital Partners. These design-forward developments feature elevated finishes and aesthetics inspired by boutique hotels and luxury condos. Bakers Place blends a historic 1908 bakery with Madison’s first 14-story mass timber tower, while One 09 brings fresh, contemporary style to downtown living. The tour includes insights from both development teams and Jason Ilstrup, President of Downtown Madison Inc., who will share updates on the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan (“Madison LakeWay”). This tour is co-organized by Kendra Stensven (BBA 2000/WREAA Northeast Regional Director) and Jonathan Weerts (BBA 2000).
Join a walking tour of two standout additions to Madison’s multifamily landscape: Bakers Place by Neutral and One 09 by Quad Capital Partners. These design-forward developments feature elevated finishes and aesthetics inspired by boutique hotels and luxury condos. Bakers Place blends a historic 1908 bakery with Madison’s first 14-story mass timber tower, while One 09 brings fresh, contemporary style to downtown living. The tour includes insights from both development teams and Jason Ilstrup, President of Downtown Madison Inc., who will share updates on the Lake Monona Waterfront Master Plan (“Madison LakeWay”). This tour is co-organized by Kendra Stensven (BBA 2000/WREAA Northeast Regional Director) and Jonathan Weerts (BBA 2000).
Meet near the OGG Residence Hall, at the corner of W. Dayton and East Campus Mall.
3:00-7:30 PM
By Invitation
VIP Reception
Details Provided on Invitation
This exclusive networking event will celebrate WREAA's board and regional leadership as well as the generosity of its annual corporate partners.
Sponsored by:
3:30-4:30 PM
Ladies' Tea
Monona Terrace Convention Center
Participate in this women's event that will celebrate and build upon the UW Real Estate connections among alumni, students and guests.
Sponsored by:
4:00-5:45 PM
Career Kickstart
WREAA Alumni / Student Speed Networking
WREAA Alumni / Student Speed Networking
Monona Terrace Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B
Get ready to build connections that count! In this fast-paced, high-energy session, UW real estate students will rotate through brief, timed introductions with attending alumni. It’s a chance for students to sharpen their elevator pitches, gain exposure to a range of career paths, and leave a lasting impression before graduation. Alumni, in turn, have the opportunity to meet emerging talent, share insights, and support the next generation of industry professionals. Whether you’re making your first connection or your fiftieth, this session is all about opening doors and expanding networks. Registration required.
5:45-7:15 PM
Welcome Reception
Monona Terrace Rooftop Center
Rain Backup Exhibit Hall A
Rain Backup Exhibit Hall A
Sponsored by:
6:00-7:00 PM
Photo Booth with Bucky
Monona Terrace Convention Center
Rain Backup Exhibit Hall A
Rain Backup Exhibit Hall A
Sponsored by:
7:30-9:30 PM
Alumni Banquet
The Exhibit Hall A, Monona Terrace Convention Center
Golf Awards
WREAA Update from WREAA Board President, Katie Bergen (BBA 2009)
Past President's Award presentation to Michael Zelin (BBA 2001)
Presentation of the Distinguished Real Estate Alumni Award
WREAA Update from WREAA Board President, Katie Bergen (BBA 2009)
Past President's Award presentation to Michael Zelin (BBA 2001)
Presentation of the Distinguished Real Estate Alumni Award
Sponsored by:
8:40-9:20 PM
Fireside Chat with Graaskamp Real Estate Visionary Award Recipient
Dan Ryan, Co-President & Regional Market Director – San Diego
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
The Exhibit Hall A, Monona Terrace Convention Center
Every two years the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association selects a recipient for the Graaskamp Real Estate Visionary Award, recognizing the successes and contributions of an individual or firm to the real estate process. Each recipient has demonstrated an ability to successfully integrate both a business and social ethic within the real estate process. Instituted by James Graaskamp, the biennial award was first presented forty years ago and continues as a legacy to the spirit and tradition of the Wisconsin Real Estate philosophy.
Moderator:
Jacques Gordon, Director, Graaskamp Center for Real Estate
Jacques Gordon, Director, Graaskamp Center for Real Estate
Sponsored by:
9:20-9:40 PM
UW Marching Band
Sponsored by:
9:50-11:00 PM
5th Quarter Reception
Monona Terrace Convention Center
Community Terrace
Community Terrace
All attendees are invited to this lakeside post banquet gathering that will immediately follow the conclusion of the banquet. On Wisconsin!
Sponsored by:
Friday, September 12, 2025
All Friday events take place at Memorial Union, on the UW-Madison Campus
7:15 AM-12:15 PM
Networking Breakfast and Registration
Shannon Hall Lobby
Sponsored by:
8:20-9:30 AM
Economic Update: What's Next? CRE in a Time of Disruption
Michael J. Acton, CFA| Managing Director | AEW Capital Management, L.P.
Moderator: Jaime Fink, Senior Manager Director, JLL
Moderator: Jaime Fink, Senior Manager Director, JLL
Shannon Hall
Sponsored by:
9:30-9:45 AM
Update from UW Madison Real Estate Program
Jacques Gordon, Director, Graaskamp Center for Real Estate
Shannon Hall
9:45-10:10 AM
Networking Break
Shannon Hall Lobby
Sponsored by:
10:15-11:15 AM
Concurrent Panel Sessions
Building Global Supply Chains for a World of Constant Disruption
Play Circle Theater
Amid global disruptions, businesses are redesigning supply chains for greater flexibility, reliability, and speed. Experts will discuss lessons learned from recent challenges, including the impact of global trade wars, nearshoring, and regionalization, while exploring how technologies like AI and automation are reshaping logistics and driving demand for industrial real estate. The session will also highlight how these shifts are influencing the future landscape of industrial property investment and development.
Moderator:
Louis DeFino, Director, Industrial Acquisitions, Nuveen Real Estate
Panel Members:
Graydon Bouchillon, Global Head of Industrial Sector, Nuveen Real Estate
Scott Marshall, Chief Customer Officer, Prologis
Adam Tyler, Vice Chair - Capital Markets, Cushman & Wakefield
Louis DeFino, Director, Industrial Acquisitions, Nuveen Real Estate
Panel Members:
Graydon Bouchillon, Global Head of Industrial Sector, Nuveen Real Estate
Scott Marshall, Chief Customer Officer, Prologis
Adam Tyler, Vice Chair - Capital Markets, Cushman & Wakefield
Sponsored by:
10:15-11:15 AM
Navigating Tight Money and Shifting Markets:
Capital Markets at a Crossroads
Capital Markets at a Crossroads
Shannon Hall
With tight credit, shifting asset values, and investor caution reshaping the landscape, this panel will explore how capital is moving across sectors and geographies, how underwriting standards are evolving, and what it takes to raise capital in today’s volatile environment. Experts from across the capital stack will share strategies for navigating today’s risks and positioning for future opportunity.
Moderator:
Katie Johnson Bergen, Investor Relations, AEW Capital Management
Panel Members:
Mark Bartmann, Managing Director - Head of Real Estate, Aksia
Jeremy Goldberg, Managing Director, StepStone Group
Jason Rothenberg, Head of Real Estate, State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Katie Johnson Bergen, Investor Relations, AEW Capital Management
Panel Members:
Mark Bartmann, Managing Director - Head of Real Estate, Aksia
Jeremy Goldberg, Managing Director, StepStone Group
Jason Rothenberg, Head of Real Estate, State of Wisconsin Investment Board
11:15 AM-12:15 PM
What 1929 Reveals About the Next Global Meltdown
Andrew Ross Sorkin, Author and NYT Columnist
Shannon Hall
In 1929, his most ambitious work since Too Big to Fail, New York Times journalist and CNBC Squawk Box co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin delivers a riveting, character-driven narrative about the most dramatic market collapse in history—and the men whose unchecked ambition, secrecy, and greed nearly brought capitalism to its knees.
Drawing on years of original reporting and never-before-seen material—private diaries, internal memos, courtroom transcripts—Sorkin connects the dots between past and present. He reveals how the emotional logic, systemic fragilities, and mythic personalities of 1929 are echoing once again in today’s markets—and how a new crisis could be closer than we think. But this is no history lesson. In a world defined by crypto manias, meme stocks, AI-fueled speculation, and the return of shadow banking, Sorkin makes a chilling case: we’ve seen this movie before. And we may be watching the sequel unfold right now—this time against the backdrop of fragile political systems and eroding public trust, both on Wall Street and around the world.
Drawing on years of original reporting and never-before-seen material—private diaries, internal memos, courtroom transcripts—Sorkin connects the dots between past and present. He reveals how the emotional logic, systemic fragilities, and mythic personalities of 1929 are echoing once again in today’s markets—and how a new crisis could be closer than we think. But this is no history lesson. In a world defined by crypto manias, meme stocks, AI-fueled speculation, and the return of shadow banking, Sorkin makes a chilling case: we’ve seen this movie before. And we may be watching the sequel unfold right now—this time against the backdrop of fragile political systems and eroding public trust, both on Wall Street and around the world.
Sponsored by:
12:20-1:45 PM
Alumni Luncheon
Great Hall
Sponsored by:
12:50-1:45 PM
2030: The Future of Innovative Developments
Nikki Greenberg, Futurist
Great Hall
Sponsored by:
1:45-2:45 PM
Concurrent Panel Sessions
Retail Real Estate Opportunity: Stories from the Front Line
Play Circle Theater
Join us for an exclusive panel discussion featuring industry leaders Brad Hutensky, Joel Staffilino, and David Gordon as they share frontline insights on today's retail real estate investment landscape, covering evolving investment strategies across grocery-anchored centers, power centers, lifestyle centers, and the rising unanchored strip center thesis. Our experts will dive deep into current capital market dynamics, tenant expansion & leasing trends, and geographic opportunities while providing their outlook on cap rates, valuations, and emerging opportunities in the retail sector over the next 12-18 months.
Moderator:
Michael Nieder, Senior Director, JLL Capital Markets
Panel Members:
David Gordon, Vice President of Acquisitions & Dispositions, Essential Growth Properties
Brad Hutensky, Founder & CEO, Hutensky Capital Partners
Joel Staffilino, Head of Investments, Bridge33 Capital
Michael Nieder, Senior Director, JLL Capital Markets
Panel Members:
David Gordon, Vice President of Acquisitions & Dispositions, Essential Growth Properties
Brad Hutensky, Founder & CEO, Hutensky Capital Partners
Joel Staffilino, Head of Investments, Bridge33 Capital
Sponsored by:
1:45-2:45 PM
Housings New Playbook:
Multifamily, Build-to-Rent, and the Evolution of Residential Investment
Multifamily, Build-to-Rent, and the Evolution of Residential Investment
Shannon Hall
Join industry leaders for a dynamic panel on how developers are navigating today’s housing market—from responding to slowed multifamily construction and rising costs to identifying the next growth markets. Learn how build-to-rent strategies and innovative technologies are shaping the future of housing to better meet evolving demand and affordability challenges.
Panel Members:
Kyle Brasser, V.P. & Regional Project Partner, Lincoln Avenue Communities
Austin Pagnotta, Director, Student Housing Core Spaces
Kristina Lynn, Senior. Director, Housing & Alternative Investments, Nuveen Real Estate
Kyle Brasser, V.P. & Regional Project Partner, Lincoln Avenue Communities
Austin Pagnotta, Director, Student Housing Core Spaces
Kristina Lynn, Senior. Director, Housing & Alternative Investments, Nuveen Real Estate
2:50-3:45 PM
Concurrent Industry Forums
The concurrent property type forums are offered to provide conference attendees with a more interactive and targeted networking experience. Available sessions include the multifamily, office, industrial, retail, and alternative sector forums. Each discussion will be led by two fellow real estate Badgers who will facilitate group introductions and an interactive conversation amongst the participants. Select forum at registration.
Alternatives Forum
Multicultural Greek Council Room, 4th Floor
Moderators:
Alissa Adler, Colliers
Gretchen Miller, Weitzman
Alissa Adler, Colliers
Gretchen Miller, Weitzman
2:50-3:45 PM
Industrial Forum
Festival Room, Lower Level
Moderators:
Zach Zanolli, Longpoint
Jeff Grabowski, EQT
Zach Zanolli, Longpoint
Jeff Grabowski, EQT
Sponsored by:
2:50-3:45 PM
Multifamily Forum
Playcircle Theater, 2nd Floor
Moderators:
Dan Price, MLG Capital
Doug St. Onge, PGIM
Dan Price, MLG Capital
Doug St. Onge, PGIM
Sponsored by:
2:50-3:45 PM
Office & Retail Forum
National Panhellenic Council Room, 2nd Floor
Moderators:
Charlotte Du, Nuveen
Charlotte Du, Nuveen
3:45-5:00 PM
Closing Networking Reception
Sponsored by:
WREAA Annual
Corporate Partners
Corporate Partners
Event Sponsors
Patron Sponsors
Conference Information
Accommodations
Madison Concourse Hotel
1 W. Dayton Street
Madison, WI
Room Rate:
Double Queen: $209
Governor's Club King: $249
The block will be released on August 10, 2025, or when the block has been filled.
Hotel FAQ
1 W. Dayton Street
Madison, WI
Room Rate:
Double Queen: $209
Governor's Club King: $249
The block will be released on August 10, 2025, or when the block has been filled.
Hotel FAQ
Conference Venue on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Monona Terrace
One John Nolen Drive
Madison, Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-261-4000
One John Nolen Drive
Madison, Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-261-4000
Please Use the button below to access the Monona Terrace website for specific directions as welL AS Parking information.
Conference Venue on Friday, September 12, 2025
Memorial Union
800 Langdon
Madison, Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-265-3000
800 Langdon
Madison, Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-265-3000
Parking information can be found on the memorial Union website using the button below.
Biennial Conference Sponsorship
Sponsorship of the Biennial Wisconsin Real Estate Conference highlights your company to WREAA's dynamic network of more than 2,000 alumni and friends of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Real Estate Program. Sponsors are recognized on the WREAA website, in the newsletter and in all conference promotional materials. Companies may choose to sponsor at either the Patron or Event Sponsorship levels.
Contact the WREAA office at (262)746-9030 for available events. Download the sponsorship brochure for further information!
Registration Information
Regular Registration Ends: September 4, 2025
$600 Current WREAA Member
$800 Guest / Non Member
The Badger Golf Open is an additional $190.00 per person.
Please indicate your interest on the registration form.
Student Registration
Students enrolled in the UW Madison Real Estate Program who are student members of WREAA should select STUDENT REGISTRATION below and then log in to their membership record to receive special discounted pricing to attend.
NOT A STUDENT MEMBER YET? NO PROBLEM! UW Real Estate Students should apply for their complimentary student membership at the WREAA website prior to registering.
$600 Current WREAA Member
$800 Guest / Non Member
The Badger Golf Open is an additional $190.00 per person.
Please indicate your interest on the registration form.
Student Registration
Students enrolled in the UW Madison Real Estate Program who are student members of WREAA should select STUDENT REGISTRATION below and then log in to their membership record to receive special discounted pricing to attend.
NOT A STUDENT MEMBER YET? NO PROBLEM! UW Real Estate Students should apply for their complimentary student membership at the WREAA website prior to registering.
Please Note:
CONFERENCE PACKAGES ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE BETWEEN MEMBERS OR GUESTS.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE FOR ATTENDEES AFTER FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2025.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A $100 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR NO-SHOWS.
REFUND REQUESTS ON GOLF PACKAGES MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 8, 2025. AND ARE SUBJECT TO A $50 NONREFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.
CONFERENCE PACKAGES ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE BETWEEN MEMBERS OR GUESTS.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE FOR ATTENDEES AFTER FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2025.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A $100 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR NO-SHOWS.
REFUND REQUESTS ON GOLF PACKAGES MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 8, 2025. AND ARE SUBJECT TO A $50 NONREFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.
If you have any food restrictions or a disability and desire accommodations, please email the WREAA office or call us at 262-746-9030 by August 29, 2025. Requests will be confidential.
Conference Location
Memorial Union | 800 Langdon | Madison, WI
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