Record Attendance for the 2019 Wisconsin Real Estate Trends Conference
A record-breaking crowd of 260 Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni and friends gathered on September 25 and 26 for the 2019 Wisconsin Real Estate Trends Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Conference attendees networked, met new contacts and heard a variety of experts discuss “What’s Next?” in real estate.
 
The Conference Planning Committee which was co-chaired by Jaime Fink and Michael Zelin and included Alexis Block, Cody Langeness, Lamar Newburn, Jim Roemer and Daniel Sherman, planned a stellar program with up-to-the-minute topics. Many thanks to the twenty-five sponsors whose generosity made the program possible. Thanks also to all who attended the event. 

More conference details are available on the WREAA Blog and the conference photo album is now online!
Save the Date for the 2020 Biennial
Make plans now to the 2020 Biennial Wisconsin Real Estate Conference and Reunion. The event will be held on the UW-Madison Campus on September 10-11, 2020. Events will be again be held at the Edgewater Hotel and Memorial Union.  Biennial Conference Co-Chairs Cody Langeness (BBA 2006) and Joe Lak (BBA 2006) welcome suggestions for panel topics and speaker candidates for the event. Share your suggestions by email to the WREAA Office . The esteemed Wisconsin Award will also be presented during the program. Nominations for the award recipient may be made online . Don’t miss this chance to reconnect with classmates and colleagues and to establish new Wisconsin connections.  
Annual Corporate Partners
Event Sponsors
Patron Sponsors
The WREAA Young Alumni Mentoring Program Enters Second Year
Enrollment for the 2020 Young Alumni Mentoring Program begins soon! The innovative program allows young alumni who have graduated within the past 5 years (2015-2019) to pair themselves with alumni mentors who are seasoned professionals. The mentee will subsequently meet with one or more mentors throughout the span of the year-long program. Mentors should have 7-10+ years of industry experience and be willing to commit to at least 3-4 one-hour sessions in a 12-month period. Watch your email for more information.

Do you have an idea for an industry panel topic or networking event you would like to see planned in your region? Do you know of a notable project in your market that WREAA members would benefit from touring? Share your ideas with Colleen Reske at the WREAA Office!
Lamar Newburn
WREAA Minnesota Regional Director
Since graduating with an MBA from the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate in 2011, Lamar Newburn (MBA 2011) has grown in his engagement with the WREAA, constantly searching for new ways to connect with Badgers around the world. He currently serves as a Market Representative for the Minnesota region.
 
Beginning in 2004, Lamar has represented tenants, landlords, and investors in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of commercial real estate. Now Vice President, h e joined Lee & Associates Twin Cities in late 2016 and leverages the national platform to represent multi-market clients. Prior to joining Lee & Associates, Lamar was the founder and managing principal of Sett Properties, LLC, a boutique brokerage and investment advisory firm based in Chicago, Illinois. “Sett,” by definition, means “the home of a badger,” so one needs not look very far to determine where Lamar’s allegiance lies.

Over his 15-year career (and counting), he has served in roles with Tishman Speyer Properties (Chicago), Riverview Realty Partners (Chicago), and Cushman & Wakefield, formerly Cassidy Turley (Washington, DC), collaborating on more than $2.6 billion of capital transactions to date. 
 
An avid outdoorsman and musician, Lamar is a licensed private pilot with the FAA, and enjoys playing guitar/lead vocals in a variety of charity rock bands around the region.

Paige Riemann
Social Media Intern
WREAA is pleased to welcome Paige Riemann (BBA 2020) as the Fall 2019 Social Media Intern. Paige is pursuing a double major in Real Estate and Marketing, and will graduate in December of 2020. She will keep alumni up to date on student and real estate club activities along with working on content for the "WREAA Network Blog". 
 
Paige enjoys watching Packers games, playing intramural volleyball, traveling and downhill skiing. Paige is originally from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. She recently completed a summer internship with the Kohl’s Corporation in Menomonee Falls as a Strategic Sourcing Intern.  Welcome Paige!
WREAA Career Hub
Potential employers who are WREAA members can utilize the " Resume Search " function to search the WREAA database for potential candidates. All members are encouraged add a resume to their WREAA record to take advantage of this member benefit.
 
Contact the WREAA Office at 262-746-9030 if you are in need of assistance. 
A Sampling of Career Opportunities
Senior Financial Analyst
Atlanta, Georgia

Finance Director
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
  
Appraiser
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Real Estate Analyst-Multifamily Asset Management
Deerfield, Illinois

 Analyst - Debt Production Team
Atlanta, Georgia
 
Assessment Appeals Director
Milwaukee, Wisconsin   
Special Deal for Final Printing of
Graaskamp on Real Estate
Stephen P. Jarchow, editor of 30th Anniversary Special Edition of Graaskamp on Real Estate , recently announced a special deal for purchasing the book. Regularly priced at $95.00 for a hand sewn hard cover and $65.00 for a durable soft cover, if 5 or more copies are ordered at one time, the purchaser will receive more than 50% off of the regular price (excluding tax and shipping). The James A. Graaskamp Center on Real Estate will receive 30% of the net proceeds from any purchase. This will be the final printing of this edition. To take advantage of the bulk pricing, email Mary Garcia with the number of books (soft or hard cover), and the address to which to ship the order. Single copies of the book may be ordered at www.graaskamponrealestate.com .

October 23-25, 2019
Denver WREAA Region to Host UW Real Estate Club's Fall Field Trip

October 22, 2019
NYC Terminal Stores Tour & Happy Hour
October 23, 2019
Southern California Tavern + Bowl Outing

 September 10-11, 2020
Biennial Wisconsin Real Estate Reunion and Conference,
Madison, Wisconsin
Northern California Alums Celebrate the Life of Jim Curtis
WREAA Night at
Breese Stevens Field
In Memoriam
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of alumnus Kenneth Opitz. Kenneth was born in 1918, and served in both World War II and the Korean War. Between wars he earned his MBA in Finance and Real Estate and Urban Planning from UW-Madison under Professors Ratcliff and Andrews. Kenneth went on to found his own firm, Opitz Realty Inc. in 1959. Condolences to Kenneth's family. Use the link below to read the full obituary.


Names in the News
Congratulations to Southeast Regional Director Matthew Bertram (BBA 2002) and his wife, Trish McCann Bertram, on the birth of their son, Grayson James, on August 31, 2019! Matt is the founder and CEO of Capital Slack and can be reached at matt@capitalslack.com .

Alissa Adler (MS 1989) has accepted the position of Senior Vice President with Colliers International in Rosemont, Illinois. Get in touch with Alissa at alissa.adler@colliers.com .

Maria-Elena Svigos (BBA 2019) has joined Blue Vista Capital Management in Chicago, Illinois as an Analyst. Maria-Elena can be reached at msvigos@bluevistallc.com .

Alexis Block Doneson (BBA 2003) accepted the position of Executive Director with J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York, New York. Reach Alexis at Alexis.e.block@jpmchase.com .

Spencer Lund (Friend of the Program ) has joined NAI Legacy in Chicago, Illinois as the 1031 Exchange Director. Reach Spencer at spencer@nailegacy.com .

Lee Christensen (MBA 2009) recently joined Frank Productions in Madison, Wisconsin as the Director of Development. Lee can be contacted at leejchristensen@gmail.com .

Tom O'Meara (BBA 2006) has been promoted to Vice President with Irgens in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Reach Tom at tomeara@irgens.com .

Seth Levin (BBA 2006) has accepted the position of Executive Vice President - Finance with Zephyr in Los Angeles, California. He can be contacted at seth@zephyrpartners.com .

To have your announcement included in the next newsletter, email
See what's happening on our social sites.