UW-Madison Approves Addition of MS Business – Real Estate Degree
The reactivation of the MS Business – Real Estate degree* has been approved by UW-Madison. The addition of the degree, set to begin with the Fall 2019 semester, is intended to meet the needs of diverse students and to recruit the best talent from around the world to Madison. The new offering is expected to build upon the program’s outstanding academic reputation as one of the foremost real estate programs in the world. Designed as a one-year program, the MS Business – Real Estate degree offering will enable students who already hold undergraduate degrees the opportunity to gain targeted expertise and valuable contemporary skills in real estate to boost near-term employment prospects, long-term career trajectory, and earnings potential. 

Graaskamp Center Director, Mark Eppli discusses the new degree in his recent update on the Graaskamp Center Blog. See below for information on how to apply.  
Alumni Needed to Recruit MS Candidates
Alumni are needed to recruit students for the inaugural MS Business – Real Estate degree class in the fall! Look for the best and brightest in your company and share an informational flyer about the new degree option. Students with a bachelor's degree qualify and should apply by the May 15, 2019 application deadline. Visit the WREAA website for a post to share via social media. Contact Sharon McCabe for further information.
Membership Directory and Dues Deadline Nears
Membership dues are still being accepted for the 2019 calendar year and production of the 2019 WREAA Membership Directory is underway. The deadline to submit dues and appear in the Directory is March 8. Please continue your support of the Wisconsin Real Estate Program, and involvement in the leading alumni network of commercial real estate professionals! Remember a portion of your dues may be considered tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Check with your tax consultant for advice.  Visit our website or email the WREAA Office for help in renewing your membership
Wisconsin Connection Fund Challenge
Jim Mazzarelli (BBA 1986, MS 1989) has joined Capital Slack in Atlanta, Georgia, as the Managing Director. Jim joins fellow Wisconsin Real Estate Alum and Capital Slack Founder and CEO, Matt Bertram (BBA 2002). Capital Slack is a technology enabled, cloud based commercial real estate lending platform intent on disrupting the traditional mortgage brokerage industry. 
 
As part of the official launch of Capital Slack in early 2019, Jim and Matt are offering special incentives to alums who use the platform to obtain financing for their project. Additionally, the pair have committed to donate up to 50% or $100,000 in proceeds from such deals to the Wisconsin Connection Fund. For more information contact Jim at   jim@capitalslack.com   or Matt at   matt@capitalslack.com .   
Considering Making A Wisconsin Connection Fund Donation?
The Wisconsin Connection Fund is the beneficiary of donations made by UW alumni and friends who are involved in real estate transactions with one another. The Wisconsin Connection Fund proceeds are used to directly impact the UW Real Estate Program through funding of WREAA student ambassador positions, scholarships, and student field trips, as well as new initiatives undertaken by the Real Estate Program. To learn more about making a donation to the fund, visit the WREAA website or call the WREAA Office at 262-746-9030.
Students Encouraged to Apply for Scholarships
Generous donations provided by alumni and friends to the Wisconsin Connection Fund made possible the funding of nearly $30,000 in scholarships in 2018. Students are encouraged to apply for WREAA's 2019 scholarship opportunities. Up to five scholarships are available to UW Real Estate students for the 2019-2020 academic year. Note that it is not possible to apply for these scholarships through the UW Real Estate Program scholarship process. Applications are available on the WREAA website and must be submitted directly to the WREAA office . Submit your application by March 10, 2019 and claim one of these honors as your own.
Jaime Fink
At-Large Director
Welcome to At-Large Director, Jaime Fink (MS 1997) who was elected to the WREAA Board of Directors in January. Jaime is a Senior Managing Director in HFF’s Chicago office, as well as a Senior Managing Director and co-founder of HFF’s Global Capital Team, which coordinates the marketing assets to international investors and develops strong relationships with clients seeking to invest outside their home region. Additionally, Jaime serves as co-leader of HFF’s National Office Group, which specializes in the disposition, financing and re-capitalization of investment real estate. 

In addition to his MS in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics, Jaime also received a BS in Electrical Engineering from UW-Madison in 1991. Prior to returning to complete the MS program, Jaime served as an officer in the United States Air Force. Find out more about Jaime in an interview with Social Media Intern, Maria-Elena Svigos, on the WREAA Network Blog.
WREAA Welcomes New Social Media Intern
Maria-Elena Svigos
WREAA Social Media Intern
WREAA is pleased to welcome Maria-Elena Svigos (BBA 2019) as the Spring 2019 Social Media Intern. Maria-Elena is pursuing a double major in Real Estate and Finance. She will keep alumni up to date on student and real estate club activities along with working on content for the "WREAA Network Blog". 

Maria-Elena enjoys cycling, Greek dancing, traveling and skiing and hopes to get her Real Estate broker’s license this semester. Originally from Chicago, she has spent the last two summers interning in New York City with Keller Williams and HFF. Following graduation, she plans to return to Chicago and join Blue Vista Capital as a first-year analyst. Learn more about Maria-Elena by visiting the Student Intern page on the WREAA website.
Gold Corporate Partners
Silver Corporate Partner
Students in the News
MBA Team in Top Three at UNC-Chapel Hill Case Competition
Congratulations to the the UW-Madison MBA Real Estate team, Bryan Johnson (MBA 2019), Joel Schneider (MBA 2019), Charlotte Du (MBA 2019), and Justin Kremers (MBA 2019), (left to right in photo) , who placed 2nd at the 2019 UNC-Chapel Hill Real Estate Development Challenge. Kenan-Flagler Business School (UNC) received first place honors, and Duke rounded out the top three with a third place finish. This outcome marks the 4th final round finish out of five attempts, making UW-Madison the most consistent team to make the final round in this competition. Congrats to all! Check out the details of the presentation and the competition on the WREAA Network Blog.
UW-Madison BBA Team Competes in Toronto Case Competition
A team of four UW-Madison BBA Real Estate students competed at the 2019 Ryerson Toronto Expand Your Empire case competition in early February. The team, consisting of Andrew Greiner, Mathew Reynolds, Sean Casey and Charlie Monnat (left to right), vied against a field of 12 extremely able teams, and bringing home a second-place finish and a $5,000 prize. A special thanks to David Kim for his continued support of the case competition program at UW-Madison.Congrats to all!
Read more at the WREAA Network Blog.
Joint Team Competes in ULI Hines Competition
First year MBA candidate, Jared Schnoll (MBA 2020), participated in the 2019 ULI Hines Student Competition, as the real estate resource for the Kansas State University team. Ninety teams participated in the competition and the joint UW-Madison - Kansas team finished in the top thirteen, receiving an honorable mention.
 
The team put together a design and feasibility proposal for an urban development site in Cincinnati, OH. Their proposal included 1658 units of multifamily, 417 hotel keys, 804K sqft office, and 446K sqft with sustainability and work/live/play themes interwoven throughout the development. Congrats to Jared!
Upcoming Events
February 26, 2019
WREAA Northern California - Camp Fire Recovery Fundraiser

February 27, 2019
The Denver Winter Project Tour and Happy Hour with WREAA Board

March 7, 2019
New York City - Badgers Basketball Viewing and Happy Hour
March 14, 2019
Graaskamp on the Road Event in Denver, Colorado

September 25-26, 2019
Wisconsin Real Estate Trends Conference, Chicago, Illinois
Around the Regions
The Minnesota Region Hosts
Holiday Happy Hour
The Eastern Wisconsin Region
Tours The 42

Chicago Chapter Holds
Membership Kick Off
San Diego Chapter Cheers
on the Badgers
Names in the News
Charles Bermingham (BBA 2018) has joined BMO Harris Bank as a Commercial Real Estate Analyst in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can reach Charles at charles.bermingham@bmo.com .

Clemens Schaefer has been appointed as Head of Real Estate, Europe for DWS. The appointment is part of a succession the firm’s senior management structure for real estate, Europe. He will officially take the reins as of July 1, 2019.

Samuel Frankenthal (BBA 2016) has joined The Weitzman Group as Retail Brokerage Training Associate in Austin, Texas and can be reached at samuel.frankenthal@gmail.com .
 
Andrew Twito (BBA 2008) has been promoted from Associate Director | Capital Markets to Director of Capital Markets for Ryan Companies US, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can reach Andrew at andrew.twito@ryancompanies.com .

To have your announcement included in the next newsletter, email Jane Miller .
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