Bringing the real estate world to Ithaca
Every week, every semester, the Cornell Real Estate Seminar Series attracts global industry leaders to campus to share insights and discuss important issues in the field. Speakers also explore current projects, tips for career advancement, and the paths that led them to success. Many students cite this exclusive opportunity to interact with recognizable figures from the industry as one of the most valuable aspects of the program.
Speakers include:
- Fund managers, developers, investors, bankers, and others who talk about their segments of the industry
- Experts on current topics ranging from changes in global capital markets to green city development, new investment opportunities, financing, and structuring strategies
A question-and-answer session normally follows the formal in-class presentation; following the seminar, we encourage the speakers and students to continue their conversations and build connections. The Cornell Real Estate Distinguished Speaker Series is a required course for three of the four semesters of the Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate.
2024 Fall Speaker Series
- August 29: Julio Duran PGIM
- September 5: Lisa Strope TA Realty
- September 12: Jay Rippeto, Juniper Capital
- September 19: Ernst Valery, SSA EVI
- October 3: Tom Vecchione, Vocon
- October 17: Paul Rubacha, Ashley Capital
- October 24: Nick Martinez, The Graced Companies
- November 21: Alec Sherman, Aaron Hancock, John Jacobson, Artemis
2024 Spring Speaker Series
- January 25: Matt Webster
- February 8: Josue Zarate, Abilia
- March 14: Sharon Yavo Ayalon, URBANMIX
- March 21: Penny Ransom, US | Lendlease
- April 11: Rich Gomel, Two Sigma
- April 18: Stuart Kapp, Kapp Morrison
- April 25: Sam Phelps, PhD, CIM
2023 Fall Speaker Series
- August 24: Stuart Rosenthal, Department Chair, Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, Cornell University
- August 31: Seth Singerman, Singerman Real Estate
- September 14: Ricardo Cervantes, Tishman Speyer
- September 21: Suahasil Nazara, Indonesian Vice Minister of Finance
- September 28: Mattew Wallach ’03, Walker Dunlop
- October 5: Jen Davis, Northwood Partners
- October 19: Paul Rubacha, Ashley Capital
- November 2: Dana Schneider, Empire State Realty Trust
- November 9: Randolph Zhao, Baker ’12, KKR
- November 16: Spencer Burton, Stablewood
- November 30: Jasmyn Sylvester, Pine Tree
2023 Spring Speaker Series
- January 26: James Eisenburg, Urban America
- February 2: Chuck Rosenzweig, Criterion | Real Estate Capital
- February 9: James Nelson, Avison Young Global
- February 16: Lisa Bevacqua, Silverstein Properties
- March 2: John Sharkey, Victory Base
- March 9: Blanca Rodriquez
- March 16: Kenyattah Robinson, Mount Vernon Triangle CID
- March 23: Euclid Walker, CGI Merchant Group
- April 13: Alan Riffkin, AFR Capital Advisory LLC
- April 20: Gilda Perez Alvarado, JLL Hotels & Hospitality
- May 4: Francisco Rencoret, Territoria
2022 Fall Speaker Series
- August 25: John Novarr, Novarr-Mackesey
- September 1: Bob Abrams
- September 22: David C. Rupert, Griffin Capital
- September 28: Paul Rubacha, Ashley Capital
- October 13: Gary Beasley, Roofstock
- October 27: Tristan Last, Arch Companies
- November 3: Richard Baker, HBC | Hudson’s Bay Company
- November 10: Peter Dugo, Arnot Realty
- November 17: Marwan Al Sarkal, Shurooq – Sharjah Investment and Development Authority
- December 1: Nailah Flake-Brown, Brookfield