NEW YORK, NY – June 5, 2025 – The NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Schack Institute of Real Estate and Bisnow, the leading commercial real estate media and events platform, are co-hosting the Inaugural NYU National Conference on Real Estate Development. The conference, themed “Maximizing a New Era: From Innovation to Capital,” will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the NYU Kimmel Center in New York City.
“The current commercial real estate market is a complex landscape of evolving economic factors, demands, and shifts in capital markets,” said Marc Norman, Larry & Klara Silverstein Chair and Associate Dean of the NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate and Conference Co-Host. “At this inaugural conference, attendees will have the chance to connect with distinguished industry speakers and development visionaries who will share their perspectives and insights on navigating sector-specific dynamics and uncovering real estate opportunities in 2025.”
Building on NYU SPS’ decades of experience in hosting premier industry sector-focused conferences and networking events, such as the Schack Institute’s annual Capital Markets Conference and REIT Symposium, this first-of-its-kind NYU SPS Schack event will directly address and explore the evolving needs and interests of the real estate development community.
"We're bringing together the developers who are actually moving dirt and the capital sources who are writing the checks right now," said Gregg Mayer, CEO of Bisnow and Conference Co-Host. "Whether you're in the room with us in New York or joining virtually through our live stream, you'll walk away with actionable insights you can apply to your deals."
The event agenda will focus on national capital flows, firm structures, and their impact on the commercial real estate development market. For a full speaker lineup, conference agenda, and to register for in-person or virtual attendance, please visit the NYU National Conference on Real Estate Development.
- Developmental Debt
An in-depth discussion on the current state of development financing, exploring available options, interest rate trends, and strategies for securing debt capital.
- Farah S. Ahmed, Shareholder and Deputy Chair, NY Real Estate Practice, Greenberg Traurig, and Conference Co-Chair (Moderator)
- Adi Chugh, Founder and CEO, TYKO Capital
- Aaron Casden, Managing Director, JP Morgan
- Simon Seguss, Senior Managing Director, Centennial Property Finance
- Developmental Alternative Capital
This session will provide crucial insights into equity financing trends, current investment sentiment, and effective capitalization strategies for real estate development projects.
- Fred Cooper, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Toll Brothers (Moderator)
- Peter Ciganik, Partner and Head of Capital Markets, GTIS Partners
- Tim Doherty, Chief Investment Officer, Safehold
- Rachel King, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
- Strategy and Operations of a Real Estate Development Company
Industry experts will delve into the critical aspects of operational efficiency, optimal team structures, and the strategic vision required to achieve sustained real estate development success.
- Colleen Wenke ‘07, President and Chief Operating Officer, Taconic, and Conference Co-Chair (Moderator)
- Toby Bozzuto ‘01, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bozzuto
- David Kramer, President, Hudson Companies
- Eli Weiss ‘05, Principal, Joy Construction Corp
- National Developmental Trends–Markets
This panel will explore the hottest development markets across the country, analyzing the key factors driving growth and identifying emerging opportunities.
- Patrice Derrington, Lecturer and Senior Fellow in Real Estate, Harvard University Graduate School of Design (Moderator)
- Cody Armbrister, Senior Managing Director, Crow Holdings Development
- Jordan Bargas, Executive Vice President of Development, Related Ross
- Eric Poretsky, Senior Managing Director–Head of US Real Estate, Cain International
- National Development Trends–Asset Types
Experts will examine the development of emerging and active asset classes, providing insights into their potential and the factors influencing their growth.
- Mark F. Bonner, Editor–in–Chief and Vice President of Content, Bisnow (Moderator)
- Daniel Berman, Executive Director, Metro Loft Developers
- Brian Katz, Co-Founder & President, American Real Estate Partners
- Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos ‘93, Co-Founder, President, and COO, Flag Luxury Group
- David Todd, Managing Director and CEO, Brookfield Asset Management – Maymont Homes
In addition, two spotlight conversations are part of the event’s agenda.
- Fireside Chat: Family Vision and Legacy—A Rare Multi-Generational Conversation with Naftali Group
An exclusive, candid conversation spanning multiple generations of executive leadership management and hear invaluable perspectives on market shifts, innovation, and the enduring principles guiding the Naftali Group’s development philosophy.
- Simon Ziff ‘91, President, Ackman–Ziff Real Estate Group and Conference Chair (Moderator)
- Miki Naftali, Chairman and CEO, Naftali Group
- Danielle Naftali ‘20, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Sales & Design, Naftali Group
- Keynote Conversation: A One-on-One View from the Top: David Martin of Slate Property Group
Hear insights and perspectives on leadership, innovation, and the future trajectory of real estate development in the United States from one of the industry’s leading executives, innovators, and visionaries.
- Martin Nussbaum, Co-Founder, Principal of the Slate Property Group, and Conference Co-Chair (Moderator)
- David Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Terra Group
If you are a media member who would like to report on the event, please contact Michael DeMeo at michael.demeo@nyu.edu.
About the NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate
The NYU SPS Schack Institute of Real Estate was founded in 1967 at the initiative of prominent New York City real estate community members, who encouraged NYU to establish an academic center that would provide a world-class education for industry professionals. More than 50 years later, the Schack Institute is at the forefront of real estate education, recognized globally as one of the world’s leading centers of real estate research and practical, real-world learning experiences.
The Institute’s graduate degree programs—notably the MS in Real Estate and the MS in Real Estate Development—and a rapidly expanding undergraduate degree program have grown enrollment to more than 1,000 full—and part-time students from across the United States and nearly 50 countries. In addition to its flagship degree programs, thousands of working professionals enroll each year in the Schack Institute’s executive education, certificate, and career advancement programs.
An anchor of real estate academia’s engagement with industry, the Institute is home to the REIT Center, the Center for the Sustainable Built Environment, the CREFC Center for Real Estate Finance, and the Urban Lab. In addition to the REIT Symposium, the Institute hosts many other national industry events, including annual conferences on real estate capital markets and its Women in Real Estate Symposium. Under the direction of Schack’s industry-experienced faculty, ongoing applied research at the Institute spans an exceptional range of issues in real estate development and investment, urban economics, and market structure and regulation.
About the NYU School of Professional Studies
Established in 1934, NYU SPS is an internationally recognized university that offers diverse students access and opportunity to practical, real-world preparation to thrive in their careers while building the next generation of industry leaders ready to embrace tomorrow’s innovations and challenges and lead change in global workplaces.
The NYU SPS global community is made up of industry professionals, doers, and trailblazers shaping the future of industries, positioning the School as an idea incubator center for various fields, including real estate, hospitality, global affairs, sports business, integrated marketing, HR, professional writing, and more.
Today, NYU SPS offers one of the most diverse portfolios of educational offerings at NYU, including graduate degrees, bachelor’s degrees for traditional and degree completion students, associate degrees, continuing education courses, and certificate programs.
NYU SPS hosts some of the largest and most in-demand industry conferences in the world, including the Schack Institute of Real Estate’s Capital Markets Conference, REIT Symposium, and National Symposium of Women in Real Estate; the Jonathan M. Tisch Center’s International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference; the Annual NYU Tax Conferences; and the NYU Coaching and Technology Summit. The School’s invaluable connections to industry leaders are a distinguishing factor in the education it provides.
About Bisnow
Bisnow is the world's leading B2B platform serving the commercial real estate industry. From events and news to branded content and recruiting solutions, Bisnow reaches more than 11 million readers and hosts more than 450 events each year. Operating in over 50 local markets across the U.S., Canada, the UK and Ireland, our products inform and connect the commercial real estate business to do more business.