Posted on No Comments on 2022 Industry Leader Honoree

2022 Industry Leader Honoree

MBIRE 21st Annual Gala to feature the 2022 Industry Leader Honoree, Lori Healy

Photo of Lori Healy
Senior Vice President and Operations & Implementation Lead, Obama Presidential Center

Lori Healey is leading work to build and operate the OPC – a 19.3-acre campus within Jackson Park – that includes a presidential museum, auditorium, restaurant, retail store, fruit and vegetable garden, playground, lush parkland and greenspace, and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Lori Healey Biography

In December 2020, Lori Healey joined the Obama Foundation as Senior Vice President and Operations and Implementation Lead for the Obama Presidential Center (OPC). She is leading work to build and operate the OPC, a 19.3-acre campus within Jackson Park, that includes a Presidential Museum, Auditorium, Restaurant, retail store, Fruit & Vegetable Garden, playground, lush parkland and greenspace, and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library.

She previously served as President of Clayco’s Chicago Business Unit. In that role, she led enterprise activity for development, design, and construction related activities in the greater Chicago area and surrounding region. Prior to joining Clayco, she was the Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of McCormick Place and the 1,258 room Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. During her tenure, Ms. Healey oversaw the development of the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena and the 1,205-room Marriott Marquis Chicago.

Ms. Healey served as the Chief Executive Officer of Tur Partners LLC (“Tur”), a firm founded by Chicago’s former Mayor Richard M. Daley, which partnered with leaders and innovators to drive growth within global urban markets. She also served as Principal in the Development Group for the John Buck Company, focused on growing the firm’s private real estate and infrastructure-related transactions.

Ms. Healey coordinated the organizational and planning activities for the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago, acting as Director of the NATO Host Committee. Additionally, in 2009, Ms. Healey was appointed as President of Chicago 2016, where she was responsible for co-leading Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games.

Ms. Healey held several senior leadership positions for the City of Chicago under the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley, most recently acting as Mayor Daley’s Chief of Staff. She earlier served as Commissioner of the City’s Department of Planning and Development. Her previous experiences also included time as a principal at Perkins + Will, and as Deputy Director for Business Development of the (then) Illinois Department of Commerce & Community Affairs. She began her career as a policy aide to former Governor John Carlin of Kansas in 1983.

Ms. Healey holds a B.A. in Economics and M.S. in Public Administration from Kansas State University. She serves on the Boards of Civic Consulting Alliance, Local Initiatives Support Chicago (LISC), Chicago Sports Commission, the Chicago Fire Department Foundation and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. She is also an advisory board member of the Loyola University Health System and on the Corporate Advisory Council for Cradles to Crayons. Ms. Healey is also a member of the Economics Club of Chicago and the Commercial Club of Chicago.

 

 

Posted on No Comments on How The CRE Industry Is Helping Black Students Know About CRE

How The CRE Industry Is Helping Black Students Know About CRE

The Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate has the country’s most diverse body of real estate students. The graduate and undergraduate programs at MBIRE successfully connect diverse students with resources, opportunities and internships at top CRE companies. Executive Director Collete English Dixon weighs in on the challenges to developing diverse talent and leaders for the commercial real estate industry in this Bisnow story.

Posted on No Comments on Executive Director Collette English Dixon Gives Networking Tips for Women of Color

Executive Director Collette English Dixon Gives Networking Tips for Women of Color

Collete English Dixon, executive director of MBIRE, recently explained to GlobeSt. how women of color use networking to help break down racial and gender barriers in the industry. Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate offers several opportunities for students to network with leaders in the commercial real estate industry. Click here to read English Dixon’s networking tips.

Posted on No Comments on Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate Announces New $10K DL3 Realty Scholarship for Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development

Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate Announces New $10K DL3 Realty Scholarship for Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development

The Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University (MBIRE) announced that DL3 Realty, a Chicago-based minority-owned development firm, has established a new DL3 Realty Impact Scholarship Fund that will award $10,000 in scholarships annually to underrepresented students pursuing a graduate certificate in real estate development. Two qualified applicants to the certificate program will be awarded $5,000 each, beginning with the 2021-22 academic year.

“DL3 Realty’s generous support will make graduate-level commercial real estate knowledge accessible to professionals of color, allowing them to reach their career potential in an industry that has long been challenged by a lack of diversity,” said Collete English Dixon, executive director of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate.

In fall 2020, MBIRE launched two graduate certificate programs: Real Estate Finance & Investment and Real Estate Development. These new post-baccalaureate options were created due to the demand from professionals wanting to advance their skills without having to make a two-year commitment to pursuing a graduate degree. An MBIRE certificate can be completed in two semesters, taking two courses each semester. Classes are scheduled in the evenings to make it easier for students working during the day.

“I know firsthand how hard it can be for a person of color to break into commercial real estate, so I want to help minority students, especially those committed to community development,” said Leon Walker, Esq., managing partner of DL3 Realty, a firm that has invested more than $100 million toward real estate developments in some of Chicago’s neediest neighborhoods over the past few years. “I am passionate about mentoring our scholarship recipients on our ‘venture development’ approach, which includes partnering with private investors, local authorities and community organizations to transform historically disinvested communities through inclusive development.”

Professionals with a bachelor’s degree, and preferably with a background in commercial real estate, can apply now for MBIRE’s graduate certificate program and the new scholarship for the fall 2021 semester.

Following are additional guidelines and criteria for the DL3 Realty Impact Scholarship Fund:

  1. Students must be enrolled in the non-degree, real estate development post-baccalaureate certificate program.
  2. Preference is given to African American or Hispanic students, and to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  3. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA for scholarship renewal.
  4. The fund shall award scholarships to at least two students annually.
  5. Scholarship recipients must participate in supplemental programming hosted by the MBIRE and attend industry events hosted by DL3 Realty. Students will be invited to be featured in DL3 Realty publications and social platforms.

“Our ultimate goal is to create a cohort of DL3 Realty ‘Impact Scholars’ that would be comprised of at least four to eight students,” Walker said. “But to achieve that we need additional commitments of at least $10,000. There’s been a lot of talk about moving the needle in CRE diversity, and this is one tangible opportunity for other real estate firms to make that a reality.”

Walker is also offering students use of one of DL3’s development projects as the students’ “community project,” which is a graduation requirement. Other plans for the cohort include either guest lectures from the developer sponsors or two to four “lunch and learn” sessions with the developers during the academic year.

Last year, MBIRE honored Walker with the 2020 Changemaker Award at its 19th annual and first virtual Real Estate Gala. “We want to create a new narrative around what it means to be engaged in communities of color and how we execute uplifting investments that provide both financial rewards as well as a positive social impact,” says Walker. “Our projects bring light, opportunity and hope, which inspires people to take different steps and make positive choices.”

For students who do want to continue their studies, the graduate certificate in real estate development completes more than 50% of the credits needed to complete a master’s in real estate degree at MBIRE.

Posted on No Comments on Marshall Bennett Institute Awards Three Scholarships

Marshall Bennett Institute Awards Three Scholarships

 

Connect CRE reported in May 2021 that the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University (MBIRE) announced the winners of three scholarships awarded to students during the spring 2021 semester, including a newly created scholarship from the Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago. The recipients include two graduate students, Marco Sepulveda and Angela Azmitia, and one undergraduate student, Trace McGuire.

“Over the past year, there’s definitely been a heightened awareness from many highly regarded companies and organizations in recognizing the need for more women and people of color in the commercial real estate field – and that road to success can start with a quality real estate education at MBIRE,” said Collete English Dixon, MBIRE executive director.

The inaugural $5,000 Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago Graduate Scholarship went to Sepulveda, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE). The Teresa and Hipolito Roldan Scholarship Fund for Tomorrow’s Hispanic Leaders in Community Development and Real Estate awarded a $5,000 scholarship to Angela Azmitia, a first-year graduate student pursuing an MSRE.

The third scholarship, a $7,500 award from the James and Brenda Grusecki and Northern Builders, Inc., Scholarship for Future Leaders in Real Estate, went to undergraduate student McGuire, a junior majoring in real estate.

Posted on No Comments on MBIRE Ranks As A Top 50 MSRE Program, Offers “Most Recognized Faculty”

MBIRE Ranks As A Top 50 MSRE Program, Offers “Most Recognized Faculty”

Intelligent.com recently ranked the Master of Science in Real Estate Program at the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate as one of the Top 50 MSRE programs in the U.S. The website also named MBIRE as having the “Most Recognized Faculty.” A big thanks to our esteemed instructors like (clockwise from top left) Stephen Friedman, Jeff Bramson, Jonathan Dennis, and Linda Kanoski, AIA, LEED AP, who impart their real-world real estate knowledge to our students!

Posted on No Comments on Gain Capital Markets Insight From MBIRE’s Recent Fogelson Forum

Gain Capital Markets Insight From MBIRE’s Recent Fogelson Forum

“Buy Chicago!” advises Spencer Levy, chairman of Americas Research and senior economic advisor for CBRE. In MBIRE’s latest Fogelson Forum, he listed Chicago’s “Five Factors of Awesome” – Live, Work, Play; Foreign Money; Talent; Ease of Doing Business; and Infrastructure. Replay the virtual event to gain more capital markets insight: Fogelson Forum | 60 Days and Counting | Virtual Event

 

Posted on No Comments on In 2020, MBIRE Received Double The Number Of Inquires From CRE Firms Seeking To Recruit Black Students

In 2020, MBIRE Received Double The Number Of Inquires From CRE Firms Seeking To Recruit Black Students

In this story, published February 16, 2021, in Bisnow, Collete English Dixon, executive director of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University, weighed in on the increase she’s seen in interest among banks, wealth management and private equity firms involved in commercial real estate in recruiting Black graduates and students.

Bisnow reported, “Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the nation are experiencing a surge in interest this year as much of the business world, including the commercial real estate industry, has vowed to do more to promote inclusion.”

While MBIRE is not an Historically Black College and University, when a CRE firm makes a hire from the school, it is often a person of color due to the student body demographics – and it is someone ready to hit the ground running in CRE.

MBIRE offers one of the country’s most diverse graduate real estate program with the school’s Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) program often drawing at least 50% Black students and people of color.