Executive Officer

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Executive Officer

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 8:00 AM - Friday, September 25, 2026 9:00 AM (CDT)

Description

Attendance limits: Registration is restricted to Executive Officers only. Registrations are non-transferable and will be reviewed to confirm eligibility. Due to demand and space constraints, no more than two attendees will be allowed per investment manager and no more than one attendee per industry partner.

AGENDA

Innovation Summit
(add-on to Executive Officer Meeting)

A half-day summit focused on AI, technology-driven change, and organizational transformation.

Wednesday, September 23

Location: Silverton Room, Bowie House, 3700 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Time: 8:00am-2:00pm CT

8:00am Breakfast

9:00am Opening Session: The Big Picture

The program opens by framing the magnitude of the technological and economic shifts reshaping the industry. The goal is to challenge attendees to think beyond today's applications and consider how AI is changing the broader business landscape and what that means for real estate investment organizations.

Discussion themes include:

the pace of AI-driven change
how technology is reshaping industries and business models
implications for real estate investment firms
where opportunities and risks are emerging
preparing organizations for long-term transformation

The objective is to establish a strategic mindset for the day, emphasizing that AI is not simply another technology initiative but a fundamental shift in how organizations operate.

Speaker:

Dave Eisenberg, Founder & CEO, Zigg Capital

9:30am AI 101: Understanding the Language of AI

Before diving into hands-on applications, attendees will build a common foundation around the terminology and concepts that increasingly appear in AI conversations. This fast-paced session is designed to create a shared vocabulary so participants can confidently engage in the remainder of the program.

Topics include:

Large Language Models (LLMs)
AI agents
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
Headless systems
Skills
Plugins
Other foundational AI concepts

The session is intended for business leaders rather than technologists and focuses on practical understanding rather than technical depth.

Speaker:

Scott Dunphy, Managing Director - Portfolio Manager, MetLife Investment Management

10:00am Build Your Own AI Agent

The centerpiece of the program gives attendees an opportunity to move beyond theory and experience AI firsthand. Through a guided, hands-on workshop, participants will build their own AI agent while learning how agents, skills, and connected tools can automate work and improve productivity.

Participants will:

Understand the components of an AI agent
Learn how agents connect with tools and data
Build a simple working agent
Explore practical business use cases
Leave with ideas they can apply within their own organizations

The emphasis is on demonstrating what is possible while reducing the intimidation factor surrounding AI.

Facilitators:

Brandon Sedloff, Chief Relationship Officer, Juniper Square
Scott Dunphy, Managing Director - Portfolio Manager, MetLife Investment Management

12:00pm Lunch

1:00pm Leading AI Transformation: From Possibility to Practice

Having experienced what AI can do, the afternoon shifts from technology to leadership. This discussion focuses on the organizational side of AI adoption, exploring how leaders prepare their people, manage change, communicate value, and make investment decisions.

Discussion topics include:

Leading organizational change
Talent and workforce implications
Building organizational readiness
Measuring ROI and business value
Understanding AI costs, including token-based pricing
Creating sustainable AI adoption strategies

The objective is to help leaders move from experimentation toward enterprise-wide implementation while balancing technology, people, and business outcomes.

Speaker:

Mike Cordingley, Managing Director - Head of Strategy & Leadership Advisory, Ferguson Partners

2:00pm Summit Adjourns

Executive Officer Meeting

Wednesday, September 23

Cocktails & Connections Speed Networking
Location: The Yard at Bowie House
Time: 3:00pm-4:30pm CT

Welcome Dinner
Location: Tannahill's Tavern, 122 East Exchange Avenue, Suite 200
Time: 6:00-9:00pm CT

Thursday, September 24

Location: Silverton Room, Bowie House, 3700 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Time: 8:00am-4:30pm CT

8:00am Breakfast

9:00am Welcome Comments

Chair: Kristin Renaudin, Chief Financial Officer, Stockbridge
Vice Chair: Bryan Thornton, Managing Partner, PCCP
NAREIM: Andy Walburger, Chief Executive Officer

9:05am NAREIM Jeff Barclay Fellows Introductions

Ebubechukwu Iwenjora, DePaul University
Ellen Lai, Fordham University
Michael Khamis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Claudio Lopez, New York University

9:15am Innovation Summit Recap

Vice Chair: Bryan Thornton, Managing Partner, PCCP

9:45am The Existential Crisis of Real Estate Allocations: Where is the Capital Headed?
As institutional investors continue to reevaluate private market portfolios, real estate faces growing competition for capital from sectors including private credit, infrastructure, and data center and power-related strategies. This session begins with a panel of leading investment consultants exploring how investor priorities, allocation trends, and product evolution are reshaping the industry's outlook. Attendees will engage in a candid peer discussion on what firms must do to strengthen real estate's value proposition, adapt to changing investor preferences, and position themselves for future capital growth.

Session Leaders:

Julie Ingersoll, Chief Investment Officer, Americas, CBRE Investment Management
Ronnie Gul, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mesa West Capital
Thomas O'Hanlon, Senior Managing Director, New York Life Real Estate Investors

Speakers:

Christian Reel, Partner, Albourne Partners
Shelley Santulli, Principal, Real Assets, NEPC
Dan O'Connell, Senior Vice President, Townsend

11:15am Break

11:30am Building an Enduring Real Estate Investment Manager: What the Market Rewards & What Gets in the Way
The real estate investment management industry continues to evolve as consolidation accelerates, the universe of strategic and financial partners expands, and managers face increasingly complex decisions around growth, capital and succession. The session will begin with a look at the M&A landscape and the characteristics driving strategic value across managers of different sizes—including scale, sector specialization, distribution capabilities, access to balance sheet capital and succession—and what recent transactions tell us about how the industry is evolving. As firms pursue growth, launch new investment strategies, and prepare for leadership transitions, however, some of the greatest challenges aren't driven by market conditions—they emerge from within the organization. Session leaders will share industry insights and practical perspectives to frame a discussion on four common blind spots that can quietly undermine long-term success: partner misalignment, underestimating the true cost of expansion, balancing opportunities driven by anchor investors, and transferring the knowledge, judgment, and culture that prepare the next generation of leaders. NAREIM members will share how they are navigating these external market forces and internal organizational challenges, and the lessons shaping their firms' growth, strategic decisions and long-term success.

Session Leaders:

Brandon Sedloff, Chief Relationship Officer, Juniper Square
Kristin Renaudin, Chief Financial Officer, Stockbridge

Speakers:

Drew Murphy, Partner, Berkshire Global Real Estate Advisors
Chris Brimsek, Managing Partner, CAB Advisory

1:00pm Lunch

2:00pm Leading Through Change: Decision Velocity as Competitive Advantage
As organizations grow, leadership becomes more complex, and the ability to make high-quality decisions quickly becomes a defining competitive advantage. Session leaders will begin with industry insights and practical frameworks before NAREIM members examine how decisions are made within their organizations, where momentum slows, and how accountability can be strengthened. Through candid peer discussion, participants will share approaches for improving execution, empowering leaders at every level, and building organizations that can adapt and compete in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Session Leaders:

Bahaar Sidhu, Partner, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Berkeley Partners
Jenny Du, Global Chief Operating Officer, Nuveen Real Estate
Bryan Thornton, Managing Partner, PCCP

Speaker:

Mike Cordingley, Managing Director - Head of Strategy & Leadership Advisory, Ferguson Partners

3:30pm Cocktail Break

3:45pm What's on Your Mind?
This open mic forum allows attendees to discuss timely issues with peers that haven't already been explored throughout the day's other sessions. What keeps you up at night? What's your team's biggest struggle? Join us for a whole-room conversation on topics brought up directly from the audience.

Session Leaders:

Kristin Renaudin, Chief Financial Officer, Stockbridge
Bryan Thornton, Managing Partner, PCCP

4:30pm Meeting Adjourns

Networking Reception
Location: Terry Black's Barbecue, 2926 West 7th Street
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm CT

Friday, September 25
Grab & Go Breakfast
Location: The Bar at Bowie House
Time: 7:00am-9:00am CT

NAREIM Room Block: NAREIM will offer a room block at the Bowie House for Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights, September 22, 23 and 24. Please use this link to make your reservations:

NAREIM 2026 Bowie House