J. Allen Smith Named Chair
J. Allen Smith is serving as Chair of Planning Committee for the 28th Annual Cornell Real Estate Conference—the longest running university-based real estate event of its kind. The 2010 conference will take place on September 23 and 24, 2010 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
“We are delighted that J. Allen Smith has agreed to lead the planning of the Real Estate Conference,” said David L. Funk, Director of the Cornell University Program in Real Estate. “This conference will be held at a time when everyone wants to know what the “new normal” will be for the real estate industry. Allen’s knowledge of the industry and ability to attract engaging speakers will be especially helpful.”
Mr. Smith is chief executive officer of PREI, Prudential Financial Inc.’s, real estate investment management and advisory business. PREI offers a broad range of investment opportunities and investment management services through specialized operating units in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Mr. Smith, who has been with Prudential for more than 20 years, most recently oversaw PREI’s U.S. operations. Previously, he led PREI’s core investment activities, including its flagship equity real estate portfolio, a series of closed-end funds for German institutional investors, and Prudential’s product for defined contribution plans called the Prudential Retirement Real Estate Fund (PRREF). He is also a member of PREI’s Investment and Business Management Committees.
“I am honored to serve as planning chair for this 28th Annual Conference. With continuing uncertainty concerning commercial real estate worldwide, this conference will serve as a forum to share perspectives, ideas and solutions, and that is what I and my fellow committee members are committed to do,” said Smith, who is a long-time member of the Advisory Board for the Cornell Program in Real Estate.
A 1980 recipient of a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell, Smith has been a guest lecturer at the school numerous times and is an active member of Cornell’s Real Estate Council, an organization of 1,250 Cornell alumni actively engaged in real estate endeavors, believed to be the largest such organization in the country. Smith is a member of PREA and the Urban Land Institute.
The Cornell Real Estate Conference attracts an impressive group of speakers, and leading real estate firms as sponsors. The keynote speaker for the 2009 conference was Wesley R. Edens, Founder and co-Chairman, Fortress Investment Group LLC, and the event featured industry leaders from J.P. Morgan Chase, GIC Real Estate, CBRE Capital Partners, Emarr, Capital Trust, Rosen Consulting Group, Toll Bros, Deloitte & Touche, Rockwood Capital, Westport Capital Partners and Weil, Gotshal & Manges during the two-day format.
The Cornell Program in Real Estate offers a comprehensive, two-year professional degree in the field. Students at Cornell benefit from an encompassing core curriculum combined with a diverse selection of real estate electives allowing for niche specialization—while interacting with the largest on-campus real estate faculty in the country. Cornell is also home to the Cornell Real Estate Council, an extensive network of industry leaders, the Cornell Real Estate Review, real estate related research, and more.