Keynote Sessions
Scott Tillema
Crisis Negotiation Expert &
Founder Negotiation Excellence
Founder Negotiation Excellence
Spencer Levy
Global Client Strategist & Senior Economic Advisor
CBRE
CBRE
Scott Tillema
Crisis Negotiation Expert &
Founder Negotiation Excellence
Founder Negotiation Excellence
Scott Tillema is an internationally recognized crisis negotiator, corporate trainer and professional keynote speaker. He is known and respected for his experience negotiating in emotionally charged incidents, with high stakes and when the situation requires sensitivity to the human element.
Scott has over 20 years of municipal law enforcement experience in the Chicago area and specializes in hostage and crisis negotiation. He was trained by the FBI and spent many years negotiating with one of the largest regional SWAT teams in the United States.
Educationally, Scott holds a master’s degree in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, and has received negotiation training at Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation.
Today, Scott is the founder of Negotiation Excellence, LLC, where he provides keynote speeches and corporate training to clients from across the world around the concepts of leadership, influence, and difficult conversations.
He is a prolific trainer, speaking to audiences of all professions, having provided training at companies and organizations such as Microsoft, GE Healthcare, Citi, Bosch, the FBI, multiple YPO chapters, and many more.
Scott was invited to give a TEDx talk titled “The Secrets of Hostage Negotiators”, which has received over 1 million views. His visibility as a speaker and educator through TEDx and other venues has reached global status.
Scott has over 20 years of municipal law enforcement experience in the Chicago area and specializes in hostage and crisis negotiation. He was trained by the FBI and spent many years negotiating with one of the largest regional SWAT teams in the United States.
Educationally, Scott holds a master’s degree in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, and has received negotiation training at Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation.
Today, Scott is the founder of Negotiation Excellence, LLC, where he provides keynote speeches and corporate training to clients from across the world around the concepts of leadership, influence, and difficult conversations.
He is a prolific trainer, speaking to audiences of all professions, having provided training at companies and organizations such as Microsoft, GE Healthcare, Citi, Bosch, the FBI, multiple YPO chapters, and many more.
Scott was invited to give a TEDx talk titled “The Secrets of Hostage Negotiators”, which has received over 1 million views. His visibility as a speaker and educator through TEDx and other venues has reached global status.
Spencer Levy
Global Client Strategist &
Senior Economic Advisor
CBRE
Senior Economic Advisor
CBRE
Spencer is the Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor for CBRE, where he plays a central role on the firm's "Client Care" team, working daily with its largest investor and occupier clients. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a lawyer, investment banker, and leader in research and capital markets leader, with the last 18 at CBRE.
Spencer is also the Chairman of the Real Estate Roundtable's Research committee, a position that regularly places him in front of senior elected officials and policy matters. He is widely regarded as one of the most active public speakers in the industry, delivering more than 200 presentations annually at major industry events such as ULI, CoreNet, NAIOP, and CREW, as well as directly to clients. He has spoken at more than 40 major university alum and client events, including at Harvard and Cornell, his alma maters.
Spencer is the host of CBRE's award-winning podcast, "The Weekly Take", now in its fifth year. It is #1 most downloaded podcast on commercial real estate globally.
His industry honors include CoreNet Luminary Awards for Excellence in Public Speaking, two CBRE Gary J. Bebon awards for teamwork, the CBRE Capital Markets MVP designation, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Commercial Real Estate from The Daily Record in Maryland.
Spencer has appeared on numerous television networks, including CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, and PBS. He resides in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of 26 years and their three children.
Spencer is also the Chairman of the Real Estate Roundtable's Research committee, a position that regularly places him in front of senior elected officials and policy matters. He is widely regarded as one of the most active public speakers in the industry, delivering more than 200 presentations annually at major industry events such as ULI, CoreNet, NAIOP, and CREW, as well as directly to clients. He has spoken at more than 40 major university alum and client events, including at Harvard and Cornell, his alma maters.
Spencer is the host of CBRE's award-winning podcast, "The Weekly Take", now in its fifth year. It is #1 most downloaded podcast on commercial real estate globally.
His industry honors include CoreNet Luminary Awards for Excellence in Public Speaking, two CBRE Gary J. Bebon awards for teamwork, the CBRE Capital Markets MVP designation, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Commercial Real Estate from The Daily Record in Maryland.
Spencer has appeared on numerous television networks, including CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, and PBS. He resides in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of 26 years and their three children.
Today’s Capital Markets: Debt, Equity, and Deal Flow
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Danny Kaufman
moderator
Sr. Managing Director
Debt Platform Leader
Chicago Office Co Head Markets
JLL Capital Markets
Debt Platform Leader
Chicago Office Co Head Markets
JLL Capital Markets
Mike Svets
Panelist
Managing Director
Wells Fargo Bank
Wells Fargo Bank
Rita Lai
Panelist
Head of Debt Capital Markets Portfolio Manager
Real Estate Americas at J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Real Estate Americas at J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Richard Ratke
Panelist
Managing Principal
Walton Street
Walton Street
Danny Kaufman
Sr. Managing Director
Debt Platform Leader
Chicago Office Co Head Markets
JLL Capital Markets
Debt Platform Leader
Chicago Office Co Head Markets
JLL Capital Markets
Danny is a Senior Managing Director, Co-head of the Chicago office, and National Debt Platform Leader of JLL Capital Markets, Americas. He joined JLL as part of the HFF acquisition and has more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience. He specializes in all areas of commercial real estate finance with a focus on real estate investment banking, and debt/equity placement. He is also a securities representative with JLL Securities, the broker/deal affiliate of JLL.
During the course of his career, Danny has completed more than $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions including some of the largest and most complex financing and equity placement assignments in the U.S.
Prior to starting with HFF in 2004, Danny was with the John Buck Company. He earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University in 2003 and his undergraduate degree from Tulane University in 1999.
Danny is a sitting Trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and is involved in numerous other philanthropic organizations.
During the course of his career, Danny has completed more than $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions including some of the largest and most complex financing and equity placement assignments in the U.S.
Prior to starting with HFF in 2004, Danny was with the John Buck Company. He earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University in 2003 and his undergraduate degree from Tulane University in 1999.
Danny is a sitting Trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and is involved in numerous other philanthropic organizations.
Mike Svets
Managing Director
Wells Fargo Bank
Wells Fargo Bank
Coming Soon!
Rita Lai
Head of Debt Capital Markets, Portfolio Manager
Real Estate Americas
Real Estate Americas
Rita Lai is the Head of Debt Capital Markets for the Real Estate Americas (REA) platform and a Portfolio Manager on the Real Estate Americas Debt team, where she oversees a $4 billion separately managed account. Rita has been an integral part of the REA platform for the past six years. In her dual role, she leads all debt placement activities for the equity platform, executing $7-10 billion of annual financing volume. Her responsibilities span the full financing lifecycle, including loan origination, structuring, negotiation, syndication, asset management, and the workout of complex or troubled assets.
Prior to joining the REA platform, Rita spent over nine years at JPMorgan’s Commercial Bank as an Executive Director in Real Estate Banking. During her tenure, including three years working under Chad Tredway, she was responsible for originating loans for JPMorgan’s balance sheet and managing relationships with real estate families, developers, and institutional clients across the Northeast. Rita began her career at Citi in the Corporate and Investment Banking Analyst Program, where she covered public REITs within the Commercial Real Estate group.
Prior to joining the REA platform, Rita spent over nine years at JPMorgan’s Commercial Bank as an Executive Director in Real Estate Banking. During her tenure, including three years working under Chad Tredway, she was responsible for originating loans for JPMorgan’s balance sheet and managing relationships with real estate families, developers, and institutional clients across the Northeast. Rita began her career at Citi in the Corporate and Investment Banking Analyst Program, where she covered public REITs within the Commercial Real Estate group.
Richard Ratke
Managing Principal
Walton Street
Walton Street
Richard Ratke is a Managing Principal at Walton Street, Co-Founder of the debt platform and member of the Management and Investment Committees. He is responsible for the strategic direction, the investment and management of Walton Street’s investment platforms, and the management of the Firm. Previously, Mr. Ratke oversaw the distressed credit investment platform on behalf of Walton Street’s opportunistic equity platform.
Prior to joining Walton Street, Mr. Ratke was an Associate at Goldman Sachs & Company in the Investment Banking division where he focused on corporate finance, M&A, and debt securitization in the Real Estate group.
Mr. Ratke received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Finance and Accounting.
Prior to joining Walton Street, Mr. Ratke was an Associate at Goldman Sachs & Company in the Investment Banking division where he focused on corporate finance, M&A, and debt securitization in the Real Estate group.
Mr. Ratke received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Finance and Accounting.
Asset Class Evolution:
From Workspaces to Living Spaces
From Workspaces to Living Spaces
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
TBD
moderator
CIO
Molto Properties
Molto Properties
Richard Ellis
Panelist
Senior Vice President Residential
BXP
BXP
Tony Scacco
Panelist
President
Riverside Investment & Development
Riverside Investment & Development
Aaron Martell
Panelist
Executive VP
Richard Ellis
Senior Vice President, Residential
BXP
BXP
Rich Ellis is a Senior Vice President with BXP and runs the Company’s residential platform on a national basis. Since joining BXP in 2007 as a Project Manager, Rich has held leadership responsibilities on various projects within the Washington, D.C. area and has been directly responsible for the acquisition, budgeting, scheduling, leasing, design, and overall development execution for BXP projects totaling over 6 million square feet. These projects include the Avenue (Washington, DC), South of Market (Reston, VA), Wisconsin Place (Chevy Chase, MD), The Avant and Signature (Reston, VA), RTC Next (Reston, VA), and Skymark (Reston, VA).
In 2019 Rich became the head of the Company’s residential business line, overseeing all aspects of BXP’s $1.5B+ multifamily platform, which has developed 3,000 units to date, has an additional 1,300 units under construction and is advancing a pipeline of approximately 3,000 additional units. He leads all pre-development, asset management, sourcing, and capital markets efforts for the residential business.
Rich received his Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from The Darden School at the University of Virginia. He is an active member of organizations including NAIOP, NMHC, and ULI where he sits on the Multi-Family Gold Product Council.
In 2019 Rich became the head of the Company’s residential business line, overseeing all aspects of BXP’s $1.5B+ multifamily platform, which has developed 3,000 units to date, has an additional 1,300 units under construction and is advancing a pipeline of approximately 3,000 additional units. He leads all pre-development, asset management, sourcing, and capital markets efforts for the residential business.
Rich received his Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from The Darden School at the University of Virginia. He is an active member of organizations including NAIOP, NMHC, and ULI where he sits on the Multi-Family Gold Product Council.
Tony Scacco
President
Riverside Investment & Development
Riverside Investment & Development
With 25 years of investment, development and major project experience, Tony has helped lead more than 20 million square feet of office, multifamily, hospitality, and mixed-use projects in multiple markets on two continents. As President for Riverside, Tony oversees all business lines while working with the executive team to develop and implement the company’s strategic plans.
Tony received his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
Tony received his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
Fireside Chat:
From AI Adoption to AI Advantage
From AI Adoption to AI Advantage
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
2:50 PM - 3:50 PM
2:50 PM - 3:50 PM
Matthew Seitz
moderator
Executive Director
AI Hub for Business
University of Wisconsin
AI Hub for Business
University of Wisconsin
Mike Hart
featured speaker
Global CTO
Revantage
A Blackstone Portfolio Company
Revantage
A Blackstone Portfolio Company
Mike Hart
featured speaker
Global CTO
Revantage
A Blackstone Portfolio Company
Revantage
A Blackstone Portfolio Company
Ryan Walsh
Panelist
Principal, Acquisitions
Sterling Bay
Sterling Bay
Mike Hart
Global Chief Technology Officer
Revantage
Revantage
Mike Hart serves as Global Chief Technology Officer at Revantage, where he is responsible for advancing the organization’s global technology and artificial intelligence strategy and overseeing the execution of enterprise technology initiatives across IT operations, infrastructure, data, product, project management, user experience, engagement, cyber security, and AI. With more than two decades of leadership experience across professional services and real estate services organizations, Mike has led the development of high-performing technology teams, scalable platforms, and enterprise capabilities that support business transformation, operational excellence, global growth, responsible AI adoption, and strengthened security. Prior to joining Revantage, Mike served as Chief Information Officer at Avison Young, with responsibility for IT, Data, Product, and Cyber Security, and previously held senior leadership roles in product, data, and technology operations at JLL.
Mike resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife, Aurora, and their three children, Wade, Bruce, and Helen. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids sporting events and playing golf.
Mike resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife, Aurora, and their three children, Wade, Bruce, and Helen. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids sporting events and playing golf.
Matthew Seitz
Executive Director, AI Hub for Business
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Matt Seitz leads the AI Hub for Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he works with organizations to translate AI into practical business outcomes. He advises Fortune 500 companies including Google, Walmart, Medtronic, Kimberly-Clark, and 3M, and teaches AI strategy to senior executives and MBA students.
He is the founder of Ground Truth: AI for Business, an annual summit that brings together industry leaders, academics, and practitioners to address the challenges of enterprise AI adoption. He authors AI InSeitz, a newsletter on AI in business with over 3,000 subscribers. His perspectives have been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the AP, and regularly delivers keynote presentations on AI and business strategy.
Prior to Wisconsin, Matt spent 14 years at Google, where he served as Director of Performance for the company’s $16 billion U.S. retail search business. He led analytics teams of 35, pioneered Google's retail insights program, led the company's omnichannel strategy, and built frameworks for CFOs to drive precision in digital valuation.
Earlier in his career, he held technology leadership roles at McDonald's and Abbott Laboratories. Matt holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and serves as an executive advisor for the Keystone consulting group. An avid endurance athlete, Matt has completed four Ironmans and fifteen marathons. He lives in Skokie, Illinois with his wife and three children.
He is the founder of Ground Truth: AI for Business, an annual summit that brings together industry leaders, academics, and practitioners to address the challenges of enterprise AI adoption. He authors AI InSeitz, a newsletter on AI in business with over 3,000 subscribers. His perspectives have been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the AP, and regularly delivers keynote presentations on AI and business strategy.
Prior to Wisconsin, Matt spent 14 years at Google, where he served as Director of Performance for the company’s $16 billion U.S. retail search business. He led analytics teams of 35, pioneered Google's retail insights program, led the company's omnichannel strategy, and built frameworks for CFOs to drive precision in digital valuation.
Earlier in his career, he held technology leadership roles at McDonald's and Abbott Laboratories. Matt holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and serves as an executive advisor for the Keystone consulting group. An avid endurance athlete, Matt has completed four Ironmans and fifteen marathons. He lives in Skokie, Illinois with his wife and three children.
Conference Sponsors
Conference Location
160 E Pearson St.
Chicago, IL 60611-2124
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Chicago, IL 60611-2124
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
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