Klump CUREN /business/ en The Annual 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Forum: Helping Shape Careers in Commercial Real Estate /business/news/2025/03/13/annual-real-estate-forum-shapes-careers <span>The Annual 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Forum: Helping Shape Careers in Commercial Real Estate</span> <span><span>Jane Majkiewicz</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-11T21:15:31-06:00" title="Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 21:15">Tue, 03/11/2025 - 21:15</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-03/250305-cu-real-estate-forum-1413_A%20%281%29.jpg?h=4fd2c89b&amp;itok=7C1zt5Zg" width="1200" height="800" alt="Jonah Duran"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1983" hreflang="en">Klump</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2577" hreflang="en">Klump CUREN</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/733" hreflang="en">News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p class="hero"><em>Attendance at the Annual 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Forum helps students unlock networking opportunities and gain important industry knowledge and connections.</em></p><hr> <div class="align-left image_style-medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle medium_750px_50_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/medium_750px_50_display_size_/public/2025-03/250305-cu-real-estate-forum-1413_A%20%281%29.jpg?itok=c6cOfATJ" width="750" height="499" alt="Jonah Duran"> </div> </div> <p>For senior real estate major Jonah Duran (left), attending the 28th Annual 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Forum this March 鈥減rovided ample networking opportunities between classmates and industry professionals.鈥 That momentum is invaluable as he prepares to launch his career as a broker for Unique Properties in Denver, focusing on industrial, retail, and office investment sales and leasing.</p><p>鈥淚鈥檓 excited about a career in commercial real estate brokerage because it combines relationship building, market expertise and deal-making in a dynamic, results-driven environment,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he ability to directly impact businesses and investors while navigating complex transactions is both challenging and rewarding.鈥</p><h3>The forum as a catalyst for career growth</h3><p>鈥淲e emphasize that students should engage early and often in experiential education opportunities,鈥 said Erin Penberthy, a Leeds career coach for real estate. Career treks, internships, student organizations, and events like the Real Estate Forum provide valuable networking and learning opportunities, she said.</p><p>鈥淣etworking is key to the job and internship process, and students who invest in it and research companies before applying tend to have positive career outcomes,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he Real Estate Forum gives students a fantastic opportunity to not only hear about current industry trends but also meet future employers.鈥</p><h3>A premier industry event</h3><p>鈥淭his year鈥檚 forum took the event to another level,鈥 said Julie Gibson, Sherman R. Miller Executive Director of the real estate center. The event attracted 鈥渢op national and local speakers, educating students, alumni and employers around top issues in the real estate industry.鈥</p><p>Among the 300 attendees, 72 were students eager to network and learn from industry leaders, including Willy Walker, CEO and chair of Walker &amp; Dunlop, and Michael Klump, whose 2024 gift established the newly named Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate.</p><h3>Key takeaways from industry leaders</h3><p>Duran echoed forum presenters鈥 insights about Denver鈥檚 growing market, seeing his role as having a prime opportunity to add value. Understanding emerging trends, such as water issues and AI in real estate, was another major draw.</p><p>He particularly valued Walker's keynote. As an executive who grew Walker &amp; Dunlop from 46 employees in 2003 to a public company with more than 1,400 employees and recognized as a best place to work over consecutive years, Walker shared key career lessons.</p><p>鈥淗is inspiring success story and well-spoken nature made listening to his conversation a treat,鈥 said Duran. 鈥淗aving a good mentor, working hard and trying different things were the main themes he spoke about, all of which I plan on implementing in my career.鈥</p> <div class="align-left image_style-small_square_image_style"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_square_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/small_square_image_style/public/2025-03/Kourtney-Stetler.jpg?h=6d3c0469&amp;itok=_ArmKMwk" width="375" height="375" alt="Kourtney Stetler"> </div> </div> <p>Leeds senior and real estate major Kourtney Stetler (left) agreed. 鈥淭he Willy Walker presentation was incredibly insightful, especially as a soon-to-be graduate. He shared how, after finishing school, he had the choice between accepting a full-time job or traveling to Paraguay to work with a family friend. Taking a leap of faith, he chose to travel, learn a new language, and gain a broader perspective鈥攁n experience that shaped his future career.鈥</p><p>Walker also highlighted the highs and lows of commercial real estate. 鈥淭here are real estate developers in here that have taken massive risks,鈥 he said, encouraging the audience to accept that as part of the process. He discussed his own experience with layoffs and falling stock prices, citing them as competitive pressures that inspire him to drive new goals.&nbsp;</p><p>His advice to students: 鈥淐reate a career that doesn鈥檛 feel like work.鈥</p><h3>The importance of mentors and internships</h3><p>Michael Klump, who spoke about his career and generous gift to the center, also emphasized taking risks鈥攐ne being time and knowing how to protect it. His early passion for real estate led to his success in acquiring and developing shopping centers. He emphasized the value of internships and mentorships.</p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-right ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"><h3>Professional Mentors at Leeds</h3><p>In 2024, the <a href="/business/undergraduate-programs/enhance-your-experience/mentoring-programs/join-professional-mentorship" rel="nofollow">Leeds Professional Mentorship Program</a> for juniors and seniors experienced record growth, with 773 students taking advantage of the program鈥攁 32 percent jump鈥攁nd a total of 867 mentors. Learn more about the program and the <a href="/business/business-at-leeds/2024/mentoring-gen-z" rel="nofollow">impact of mentors</a>.</p></div></div></div><p>Internships played a significant role for Duran. 鈥淚 interned at Northmarq on the Portfolio and Asset Management team and at Denver Angel Investments in investment due diligence, both of which helped me develop financial analysis skills and gain exposure to real estate and investment transactions.鈥 He also cited the 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Case Competition as a key learning experience.</p><p>鈥淐ollaborating with my team to build an acquisition model and presenting to industry professionals strengthened my analytical and communication skills, ultimately guiding me toward a career in real estate brokerage.鈥</p><p>Stetler has found mentorship equally valuable. 鈥淏eing matched with someone who aligns with my interests has been incredibly helpful. My mentor has introduced me to real estate professionals for informational interviews,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 appreciate the strong relationships I have built with professors, mentors and career coaches, as I believe these connections will be instrumental in my career development.鈥</p><h3>The rise of tech in real estate</h3> <div class="align-left image_style-small_square_image_style"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_square_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/small_square_image_style/public/2025-03/Yashwant-Chapagain.jpg?h=eb6da2f0&amp;itok=6u7iCIdd" width="375" height="375" alt="Yashwant Chapagain"> </div> </div> <p>The event also showcased two industry panels: 鈥淭he Ripple Effect: Navigating Water Scarcity in Colorado鈥檚 Growing Communities,鈥 moderated by Luke Runyon of The Water Desk, and 鈥淩eal Estate Meets AI: Evaluating the Credibility of AI in Commercial Real Estate,鈥 moderated by Calandra Cruikshank of Statebook International.</p><p>Leeds junior Yashwant Chapagain (left) found the discussions enlightening. 鈥淚 learned so many things. The AI in Real Estate presentation was especially fascinating. I was relieved to hear panelists say they don鈥檛 believe AI will replace people and that this is an exciting time for the industry. One panelist noted that career trajectories are going to change vastly, which I also found interesting.鈥</p><h3>Looking ahead: A bright future in real estate</h3><p>鈥淭he center鈥檚 introductions to industry professionals made it easier to connect and increased my confidence,鈥 said Chapagain. 鈥淭he center has been supportive in giving us all the resources we need to be successful.鈥</p><p>As Duran looks ahead, he鈥檚 鈥渆ager to develop deep local knowledge, negotiate creative solutions and drive successful outcomes for clients.鈥</p><p>鈥淥n the horizon for the center is to keep serving students well, growing programs, attracting talent and creating a strategic plan to increase experiential and applied learning,鈥 said Gibson.<br>&nbsp;</p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-none ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-lightgray"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"><h3 class="text-align-center"><strong>Sponsors of the 2025 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Forum</strong></h3><p>Leeds extends its gratitude to sponsoring presenter Kirkpatrick Bank and the following sponsors (in alphabetical order) who helped make the forum possible.</p><div class="row ucb-column-container"><div class="col ucb-column"><ul><li>ARES Industrial Management</li><li>Brownstein</li><li>Centennial Realty Advisors</li><li>CBRE</li><li>Colorado Real Estate Journal</li><li>Conscience Bay Company</li><li>East West Partners</li><li>Goldberg Properties Inc.</li></ul></div><div class="col ucb-column"><ul><li>Hampton Yards</li><li>Holland &amp; Hart</li><li>Lincoln</li><li>Nichols Partnership</li><li>Oakwood Real Estate Partners</li><li>Pennrose</li><li>Pless Law Firm</li><li>Trailbreak Partners</li><li>The W.W. Reynolds Companies</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Students attending the annual 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Forum get opportunities to network with industry leaders, gain insights into key trends, and carve out their career paths.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Related Articles</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:15:31 +0000 Jane Majkiewicz 18648 at /business Career Paths: Auggie Gehret Shares the Power of Networking /business/news/2024/20/27/career-paths-auggie-gehret <span>Career Paths: Auggie Gehret Shares the Power of Networking</span> <span><span>Srishti Sharma</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-10-17T12:38:08-06:00" title="Thursday, October 17, 2024 - 12:38">Thu, 10/17/2024 - 12:38</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2024-11/Augie%20Gheret%20%281%29.png?h=defb1aba&amp;itok=4mBZH_lY" width="1200" height="800" alt="Auggie Gheret"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1983" hreflang="en">Klump</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2577" hreflang="en">Klump CUREN</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/733" hreflang="en">News</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1642" hreflang="en">Real Estate</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p class="hero"><em>In a challenging job market, Auggie Gehret connected with alumni and industry professionals to launch his career in commercial real estate.</em></p><hr> <div class="align-left image_style-original_image_size"> <div class="imageMediaStyle original_image_size"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/original_image_size/public/2024-11/headshot_8.10.2024_cropped_0_0.png?itok=bx8nBGrd" width="250" height="290" alt="cropped headshot"> </div> </div> <p>For recent graduate Auggie Gehret (Fin, RelEst鈥24), networking was the key to landing his first full-time job as a real estate analyst at <a href="https://www.aresmgmt.com/" rel="nofollow">Ares Management Corporation</a>, thanks to an internship and the support of Leeds alumnus Jeff Latier (MBA鈥08).</p><p>Little did Gehret know that volunteering at the <a href="/business/klump-center/events/real-estate-golf-tournament" rel="nofollow">Annual 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Golf Tournament</a> would kickstart his career. He was assisting with setting up chairs and signs&nbsp;when the program director introduced him to Latier.</p><h3>Practice makes perfect</h3><p>Despite having a new connection, Gehret wasn鈥檛 a pro at networking. 鈥淢y first networking call with someone who wasn鈥檛 a recent grad was with Jeff, and yes, I was definitely nervous,鈥 he said.</p><p>鈥淚 think a lot of students are afraid to ask questions that don鈥檛 seem smart.鈥 He encourages students to ask detailed questions to learn as much as they can. Even questions that might seem unsophisticated 鈥渃an help you navigate your job search and career placement.鈥</p><p>Latier echoed that sentiment. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like life鈥攜ou鈥檝e got to practice. The more reps you do, the better you get. It might start out clunky, but it gets better over time.鈥</p><p>As an active alum with the <a href="/business/Klump" rel="nofollow">Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;麻豆免费版下载as a mentor and guest lecturer, Latier is always excited to meet with students interested in his career and expertise. 鈥淧eople genuinely want to help students and are willing to set time aside. It鈥檚 a unique opportunity to take advantage of.鈥</p> <div class="align-center image_style-original_image_size"> <div class="imageMediaStyle original_image_size"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/original_image_size/public/2024-11/gold-bar-news-at-leeds-boulder_1.png?itok=nx6LYCvo" width="178" height="11" alt="golden bar"> </div> </div> <div><div><h2 class="text-align-center"><br><strong>鈥淧eople genuinely want to help students and are willing to set time aside. It鈥檚 a unique opportunity to take advantage of.鈥</strong></h2><p class="text-align-center"><em>Jeff Latier (MBA鈥08)</em></p></div></div><p>鈥淭he real estate center supported me in leveraging their network,鈥 Gehret said. 鈥淥nce I talked to Jeff, I was able to snowball that into conversations with other professionals.鈥 His connections with other 麻豆免费版下载alumni helped him find an internship at Ares before his senior year.</p><h3>Building a network</h3><p>For Gehret, building a solid network came from getting involved at Leeds. He participated in the <a href="/business/klump-center/co-curricular-offerings/real-estate-club" rel="nofollow">麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Club</a>, <a href="/business/klump-center/co-curricular-offerings/real-estate-fellows" rel="nofollow">Real Estate Fellows Program</a> and multiple case competitions, including the <a href="/business/curec/academics/undergraduate/undergraduate-real-estate-case-competition" rel="nofollow">Undergraduate Real Estate Case Competition</a>.</p><p>鈥淭he core curriculum helped to set me up,鈥 said Gehret. He found Teaching Professor <a href="/business/leeds-directory/faculty/curtis-sears" rel="nofollow">Curtis Sears</a>鈥 Intro to Real Estate and Real Estate Senior Seminar to be instrumental. 鈥淗e gave me a more holistic understanding of the commercial real estate industry.鈥</p><p>Beyond classes, events helped him build experience. 鈥淚 think what really topped off my ability to get my ideal post-grad role were the external events held by the center.鈥</p><p>鈥淭he heart of the work we do at the Klump Center is providing students the opportunity to meet, interact and learn from industry practitioners,鈥 said <a href="/business/julie-gibson" rel="nofollow">Julie Gibson</a>, the Sherman R. Miller Executive Director of the Klump Center. 鈥淛eff Latier is a great example of an alumnus who continually gives back to his alma mater by taking time to meet with students. For Auggie, taking advantage of the experiential learning the center offers paid off with landing a top job in the region,鈥 she added.</p><p>Gehret found the Real Estate Case Competition to be a great way to stand out. 鈥淚t was by far the most influential for my professional development. It gave me the chance to develop skills and knowledge that applied to nearly all real estate roles and let me network with industry professionals who served as judges.鈥</p><p>Latier emphasized the value of Leeds鈥 opportunities. 鈥淭he ability to work on a real-life real estate project and get feedback from senior-level executives sets the real estate program apart.鈥</p><h3>Refining career goals</h3> <div class="align-right image_style-original_image_size"> <div class="imageMediaStyle original_image_size"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/original_image_size/public/2024-11/jefflatier_0_0.png?itok=t5v6xdz-" width="250" height="335" alt="picture"> </div> </div> <p>Initially, Gehret didn鈥檛 intend to go into commercial real estate. He planned for a career in investment banking, but as he learned more about real estate, it sparked a passion. He didn鈥檛 have a clear picture, though,&nbsp;of what working in commercial real estate might look like.</p><p>After meeting Latier at the&nbsp;tournament and having a conversation on Zoom, Gehret connected with a dozen other professionals who worked at Ares, most of whom were 麻豆免费版下载alumni. Those conversations helped him gain a better understanding of his path.</p><p>鈥淛eff and other 麻豆免费版下载alumni really helped me understand commercial real estate outside of the classroom,鈥 said Gehret. 鈥淔rom there, I was able to narrow what I wanted, and I really directed my job search and extracurriculars with that in mind.鈥</p><p>He was most interested in portfolio management, a specialized area within real estate that involves managing a firm鈥檚 investment holdings. 鈥淭rying to independently understand exactly what a position entails is challenging, but it&nbsp;helps in narrowing down the roles you鈥檙e interested in,鈥 he explained.</p><p>鈥淚 really had to network with people who understood the position and what the day-to-day looks like,鈥 Gehret said. As he approached the interview process, those conversations about the role and team functions prepared him to thoughtfully craft his answers to interview questions. 鈥淣etworking with all of those people was pivotal to me getting hired,鈥 he said.</p><h3>Paying it forward</h3><p>Latier reinforced leveraging the alumni network. 鈥淎lumni are extremely loyal. It鈥檚 a result of this wonderful cycle that starts with the real estate program and Leeds providing a high-quality student experience, and then students want to give back as they grow.鈥</p><p>Gehret is following Latier鈥檚 lead as a dedicated and involved alum. He communicates frequently with staff and faculty at the Klump Center and recently joined a roundtable of professionals to speak with students. 鈥淚t was nice to be on the other side and give advice on how they can start their career,鈥 he said.</p><p>Latier continues to be energized by the questions he gets from students. 鈥淚鈥檓 always happy to meet with students and come back to campus. It鈥檚 a great way to give back and stay connected.鈥</p><hr><p><em>To learn about the wide range of career resources and networking opportunities at Leeds, visit the </em><a href="/business/current-students/career-development/career-resources-students" rel="nofollow"><em>Career Development Office</em></a><em>.&nbsp;</em></p><hr></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Related Articles</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 17 Oct 2024 18:38:08 +0000 Srishti Sharma 18291 at /business $15M gift to transform real estate education and student wellness at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder /business/news/2024/09/12/15-million-gift-transforms-real-estate-education-leeds-business <span>$15M gift to transform real estate education and student wellness at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder</span> <span><span>Srishti Sharma</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-09-12T15:01:43-06:00" title="Thursday, September 12, 2024 - 15:01">Thu, 09/12/2024 - 15:01</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2024-11/09.05.24_koelbel_sunset_aerials-3.png?h=a6967b5f&amp;itok=Z_yaSM-7" width="1200" height="800" alt="golden sunset "> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2492" hreflang="en">麻豆免费版下载</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2495" hreflang="en">Business &amp; Entrepreneurship</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2493" hreflang="en">Campus Community</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2494" hreflang="en">Giving in Action</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1983" hreflang="en">Klump</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2577" hreflang="en">Klump CUREN</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/733" hreflang="en">News</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1642" hreflang="en">Real Estate</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><div><span>By </span><a href="/today/katy-marquardt-hill" rel="nofollow"><span>Katy Marquardt Hill</span></a> <span>鈥</span> <span>Published: Sept. 12, 2024</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><div><div><p><span>Students pursuing a career in real estate will soon see their learning opportunities sharply appreciated: On Thursday, 麻豆免费版下载Boulder announced a groundbreaking $15 million donation from 麻豆免费版下载Boulder alumnus Michael Klump&nbsp;to revolutionize the real estate center in the </span><a href="/business/" rel="nofollow">Leeds School of Business</a>, as well as support essential student health and wellness programs in the <a href="/artsandsciences/discover/buildings-and-space/hellems-renovation/donate-hellems-reimagined" rel="nofollow">College of Arts and Sciences</a>.&nbsp;</p><div class="feature-layout-callout">&nbsp;</div><p><span>鈥淭his transformational gift highlights the power of philanthropy,鈥 said 麻豆免费版下载Chancellor Justin Schwartz.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>鈥淚t will support students, faculty, staff and research activities across the vast and dynamic real estate field, driving innovation and enriching educational experiences on campus. Additionally, it will provide crucial support for wellness programs and student mental health.鈥</span></p><p><span>The investment will allocate $13 million to enhance the newly renamed Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate鈥攆ormerly known as the </span><a href="/business/CUREC" rel="nofollow"><span>麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Center</span></a><span>. This portion of the gift, one of the largest ever given to a real estate center in the United States, will strengthen the center's academics, industry partnerships and career support in the years ahead.</span></p><p><span>The real estate center, led by </span><a href="/business/leeds-directory/christophe-spaenjers" rel="nofollow"><span>Professor Christophe Spaenjers</span></a><span>, who serves as faculty director, and </span><a href="/business/julie-gibson" rel="nofollow"><span>Julie Gibson</span></a><span>, who serves as the Sherman R. Miller Executive Director, is one of six centers of excellence in the Leeds School which work to help students translate, integrate and transfer classroom concepts into real-world insights.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>鈥淭his gift is pivotal for CU鈥檚 real estate program, providing significant resources that will advance the center鈥檚 leadership, enhance student programming and offer student financial assistance,鈥 said Gibson. 鈥淭he endowment component of this gift ensures that CU鈥檚 dedication to real estate education will continue for many generations to come.鈥</span></p><p><span>An additional $2 million will support programs in the </span>College of Arts and Sciences that promote 麻豆免费版下载Boulder students' mental health and well-being. Through the Hellems Fund for Collective Belonging and the Hellems Fund for Fostering Success, this gift will contribute to mental health programming, resources and student support, and welcome programs and outreach initiatives for first-year and transfer students.</p> <div class="align-left image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2024-10/michael_klump_highres_crop_1.png?itok=TLq4-KDV" width="375" height="563" alt="Michael Klump highres"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Michael Klump&nbsp;</p> </span> </div> <h2><span>Promoting academic excellence and industry connections</span></h2><p><span>Klump鈥檚 investment in the Leeds School will expand leading-edge programs with top real estate faculty and industry partnerships that prepare students to be experts in the dynamic real estate field. The donation represents a major advancement for the center, which was founded in 1997 by passionate alumni and industry leaders as a way to bolster future real estate professionals and promote important research within their field. Thirty years ago, the center supported 10鈥20 students per year; today it provides opportunities for nearly 450 students annually.</span></p><div class="feature-layout-callout feature-layout-callout-xlarge">&nbsp;</div><p>The $13 million donation to the center will endow three faculty positions in real estate finance<span> at the chair and professorship levels. It will also create four funds to advance innovative academics, establish an endowed scholarship, enhance students鈥 career growth, and strengthen the center鈥檚 reputation within the business and alumni communities.</span></p><p><span>Klump鈥檚 significant contribution underscores the profound impact of community support on 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 mission and the Leeds School of Business. 鈥淭he gift will provide rich opportunities to 麻豆免费版下载Boulder students and contribute to Leeds鈥 legacy of excellence. Strong support from the real estate community has been a hallmark of our connection with industry,鈥 said Vijay Khatri, the Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean at the Leeds School of Business.</span></p><h2><span>A gift that fuels the future</span></h2><p><span>With a </span><a href="https://rcgventures.com/michael-klump/" rel="nofollow">successful real estate career</a> spanning over 30 years, Klump is the founder and chairman of RCG Ventures, a leading commercial real estate investment firm. Additionally, he co-founded Equity Investment Group, a private real estate investment trust focused on neighborhood shopping centers and established Argonne Capital Group, a private investment firm specializing in companies within the restaurant, retail and service industries. <span>While a sophomore at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, Klump got his real estate license and began selling houses on The Hill. He interned at a commercial shopping center development firm between his junior and senior years and found his niche. 鈥淚 owe a lot of my success to attending the University of Colorado, where I had the privilege of meeting inspiring individuals and forming lifelong connections across the country,鈥 said Klump. 鈥淭hese experiences have deeply motivated me to give back and set an example. I hope my contribution to 麻豆免费版下载Boulder will inspire others to join in the spirit of generosity and make a meaningful impact.鈥</span></p><p><span>In addition to being a real estate entrepreneur, Klump is a steadfast philanthropist, generously supporting a diverse range of organizations over the years through the Klump Family Foundation. He said his commitment to giving back reflects a deep belief in the power of philanthropy to drive positive change.</span></p> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2024-10/09.11.24_curec_-_christophe_spaenjers-4_0.png?itok=CXJ42aHl" width="375" height="250" alt="Christophe Spaenjers"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>P<span>rofessor Christophe Spaenjers, faculty director of the newly renamed Klump Center for Real Estate, speaks with graduate students in the Koelbel building after their Real Estate Finance and Investment class.</span></p> </span> </div> <p><span>鈥淢y hope is that this gift will provide students with broad exposure to the diverse opportunities within real estate, whether they choose to embark on a career immediately, pursue further education, or explore various facets of the industry,鈥 Klump said. 鈥淭he real estate world is vast and dynamic, with potential for local, regional, national&nbsp;and even international impact, and I am excited to support a program that will open doors and inspire future leaders in this field.鈥</span></p></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2024-10/Screen%20Shot%202024-10-28%20at%203.11.38%20PM_0.png?itok=Nm8eXToI" width="1500" height="436" alt="Koelbel Leeds Business School"> </div> </div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 12 Sep 2024 21:01:43 +0000 Srishti Sharma 18239 at /business Ben Woolf to Lead the International Advisory Board for the Colorado University Real Estate Center /business/news/ben-woolf-leading-cu-real-estate-international-advisory-board <span>Ben Woolf to Lead the International Advisory Board for the Colorado University Real Estate Center</span> <span><span>Christen DeThomas</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-07-10T13:57:14-06:00" title="Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - 13:57">Wed, 07/10/2024 - 13:57</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2024-10/benwoolfheadshot.jpeg?h=41af7409&amp;itok=hMoN2dsz" width="1200" height="800" alt="Headshot of Ben Woolf"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2063" hreflang="en">Business Community</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1983" hreflang="en">Klump</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2577" hreflang="en">Klump CUREN</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/733" hreflang="en">News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-left image_style-large_image_style"> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2024-10/benwoolfheadshot.jpeg?itok=0Rpmgc_u" width="1500" height="1120" alt="Headshot of Ben Woolf"> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For nearly 20 years, University of Colorado real estate alumnus Ben Woolf has been giving back to his alma mater. This year, he is taking on a new challenge as chairperson for the International Advisory Board (IAB) for the University of Colorado Real Estate Center (CUREC), a role he will helm for two years. Woolf earned his MBA with a real estate focus in 2004 from the Leeds School of Business.</p><blockquote><p class="lead"><i class="fa-solid fa-quote-left ucb-icon-color-gold">&nbsp;</i><em>I feel a sense of responsibility to give back to CUREC, Leeds and the students by stepping into the chairperson role," Woolf said. 鈥淔or the past 20 years, I have seen time and time again CUREC鈥檚 impact on students and the real estate industry, and I know I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without CUREC. I look forward to serving the center in this new capacity.</em><i class="fa-solid fa-quote-right ucb-icon-color-gold">&nbsp;</i></p></blockquote><p>Leeds and CUREC benefit from a robust and engaged alumni community and a powerful group of industry supporters. The IAB, an invitation-only board, consists of C-suite leaders from the nation鈥檚 leading real estate firms who commit significant resources to support the academic and co-curricular work of CUREC. The board provides counsel, curriculum advice, mentorships, financial support, industry insights and career opportunities for the program.</p><p>鈥淏en鈥檚 commitment and involvement with 麻豆免费版下载since he graduated has been tremendous. He is strategic and thoughtful in all he does, and I can think of no one better to step into the chair role for the IAB. Ben has taught the MBA Real Estate Principles class at 麻豆免费版下载the past several years, so he has seen firsthand the impact that CUREC has had on hundreds of 麻豆免费版下载students and alumni,鈥 said Julie Gibson, executive director of CUREC. 鈥淗e is enormously respected by the real estate industry, and we are thrilled to welcome him as the new IAB chair.鈥</p><p>Woolf, who is co-founder and director of commercial investments for Conscience Bay Company, a private equity firm focused on real estate assets in and around Colorado, was part of the CUREC alumni board for 15 years. He joined CUREC's advisory board in 2023. He has also worked for the 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Foundation in a project manager (asset manager/portfolio manager) role and was president of the Leeds MBA alumni board in 2018-19.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:57:14 +0000 Christen DeThomas 18173 at /business Building Back Better: Leeds Gets Assist from Industry in Refreshing Real Estate Master鈥檚 Program /business/news/2023/04/28/real-estate-grad-programs-curec <span>Building Back Better: Leeds Gets Assist from Industry in Refreshing Real Estate Master鈥檚 Program</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-04-28T00:00:00-06:00" title="Friday, April 28, 2023 - 00:00">Fri, 04/28/2023 - 00:00</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/article-thumbnail/msre-lede.jpg?h=b2dc8638&amp;itok=KhwkgmSb" width="1200" height="800" alt="The Denver skyline at sunrise."> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2063" hreflang="en">Business Community</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/1983" hreflang="en">Klump</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/2577" hreflang="en">Klump CUREN</a> <a href="/business/taxonomy/term/733" hreflang="en">News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-above"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/business/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/article-image/msre-lede.jpg?itok=5rnkxqjI" width="1500" height="781" alt="The Denver skyline at sunrise."> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-text d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p class="hero"><em>The revamped curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for the significant changes facing the field.鈥</em></p><hr><div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Denver skyline at sunrise. Changes in the commercial real estate industry in Denver and beyond helped highlight some weaknesses in the real estate master鈥檚 program at Leeds, but the school and industry collaborated to completely refresh the curiculum to create better-prepared graduates. Below is Christophe Spaenjers, faculty director of the program;&nbsp;Carl Koelbel (MBA鈥10) presenting an award at the 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Center's annual forum;&nbsp;and Michael Kercheval, CUREC executive director.</p></div><p>If you were to ask Carl Koelbel why he approached the Leeds School of Business about refreshing its <a href="/business/ms-programs/masters-program-real-estate" rel="nofollow">master鈥檚 program in real estate</a>, you鈥檒l get a fairly blunt answer.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淓nlightened self-interest,鈥 is how he put it.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淭here were a couple of instances where I was working鈥攅ither as a judge or engaging with 麻豆免费版下载students鈥攁nd I did not see that level of fundamental understanding that I was looking for,鈥 said Koelbel (MBA鈥10), chief operating officer of Denver-based Koelbel &amp; Co. 鈥淎nd that was a major concern to us, because something like 10 percent of our workforce comes from 麻豆免费版下载Boulder.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>But when industry talks, Leeds listens, which is why the school just unveiled a completely revamped real estate graduate program for the fall.</p><p>鈥淲e were able to have a truly candid conversation with our partners about their needs for professionals coming out of the program,鈥 said Michael Kercheval, executive director of the <a href="/business/CUREC" rel="nofollow">麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Center</a>. 鈥淲e want to be responsive to industry input, both because we鈥檙e asking them to hire our students and because we want to make the industry better.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>Kercheval also noted that Leeds faculty were especially receptive to suggestions from industry partners.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="ucb-box ucb-box-title-hidden ucb-box-alignment-none ucb-box-style-fill ucb-box-theme-white"><div class="ucb-box-inner"><div class="ucb-box-title">&nbsp;</div><div class="ucb-box-content"><p class="text-align-center">&nbsp;</p><p class="text-align-center hero"><strong>鈥淲e want to be responsive to industry input, both because we鈥檙e asking them to hire our students and because we want to make the industry better.鈥</strong></p><p class="text-align-center"><em>Michael Kercheval, executive director of the 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Center</em></p><p class="text-align-center">&nbsp;</p></div></div></div><p>鈥淭hat openness to input is part of our special sauce at the 麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Center that other schools don鈥檛 have,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd that absolutely extends to the faculty teaching the real estate courses at Leeds.鈥&nbsp;</p><h2>An&nbsp;entirely reimagined curriculum</h2><p>The enhancements to the master鈥檚 program were designed to incorporate the contemporary requirements of a real estate profession adapting to an environment where commercial real estate product supply is lagging shifting demand. The relaunched degree program includes new or substantially upgraded courses in law, modeling and analytics, along with a renewed emphasis on case studies and a special skills training course designed to ensure students have hard skills鈥攍ike financial modeling and Excel.&nbsp;</p><p>Christophe Spaenjers, faculty director of the master's program, said the changes draw on the strengths of Leeds' faculty, not just its ties to the industry.</p><p>鈥淭here鈥檚 a big focus on real estate research from our faculty, and we also have adjunct professors who have years鈥攊f not decades鈥攐f experience,鈥 Spaenjers said. 鈥淭hat gives our program a combination of academic depth and real-world connections that is so valuable to students.鈥</p><p>Those areas were important to Cooper Williams (MBA鈥10), president and principal at Essex Financial Group.</p><p>鈥淐oming out of the master鈥檚 program, it鈥檚 very important for students to have a good fundamental understanding of valuation and cash flow modeling,鈥 Williams said. 鈥淚 wanted 麻豆免费版下载to get back to having more real-time cases, doing case competitions, getting that real-world practice in modeling, and understanding both capital and risk.鈥 For Koelbel, the skills are crucial, but so is the fundamental knowledge and high-level perspective needed to understand how the different disciplines and players within the industry work together to get projects and deals done.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淲e need our new hires to have a close understanding of how all the players work together鈥攖he developer, the banks, legal, and of course the tenant or homebuyer鈥攕o that as environmental conditions change, they鈥檙e able to anticipate how that will impact different stakeholders and react accordingly,鈥 Koelbel said. 鈥淭hat means they can find or structure a deal no matter what larger trends are shaping the markets.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>Spaenjers is confident the program meets those demands.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淭he updates give this program a blend of that knowledge base鈥攖he sort of industry vocabulary they need鈥攚ith exposure to specific software and databases, like ARGUS and CoStar. That ensures they鈥檙e ready to create impact from the start,鈥 he said.</p><h2>Top-quality students</h2><p>One thing both executives want to see unchanged is the quality of students admitted to the program.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淭he character of student coming out of the master鈥檚 program is as high as I鈥檝e ever seen it,鈥 Williams said. 鈥淭he recruiting of the student base has been fantastic, and I think that鈥檚 a credit to CUREC鈥檚 leadership and history of engagement with the real estate community.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>Unique to Leeds is the incorporation of societal challenges, such as sustainability, into the fabric of each course鈥攃rucial as the industry faces pressure on areas like climate change.</p><p>鈥淔or example, in my real estate finance course, I have a guest lecture by one of our faculty here, who shares research on how climate change effects house prices,鈥 Spaenjers said. 鈥淩ather than packaging this in a separate course, we also try to bring those issues into our core materials.鈥</p><p>The master鈥檚 program isn鈥檛 the only real estate offering at Leeds. The school also offers an <a href="/business/mba/full-time-mba-program/why-program/mba-pathways/mba-pathways-real-estate" rel="nofollow">MBA with a real estate pathway</a>, which offers a broader business and management degree that includes special courses and co-curricular experiences for students looking to take leadership roles in the industry. At the undergraduate level, Leeds offers an <a href="/business/undergraduate-programs/areas-of-study/real-estate" rel="nofollow">area of emphasis in real estate</a> that prepares students for roles in development, brokering, investing, law and consulting, among others.&nbsp;</p><p>The refreshed approach to the master鈥檚 program puts it firmly on par with these other offerings鈥攁nd, Kercheval said, the updates aren鈥檛 done yet.&nbsp;</p><p>鈥淣ow that we have this solid curriculum, we want to look at how the program is delivered,鈥 he said. 鈥淚s there a way to create a part-time option, or a hybrid version of the program? We鈥檝e addressed a pressing need in very short order鈥攂ut it鈥檚 not a one and done. We鈥檒l be continuing to innovate.鈥&nbsp;</p><p>Prospective students are encouaged to <a href="/business/ms-programs/masters-program-real-estate" rel="nofollow">visit&nbsp;the program website</a> to learn more, or contact the Leeds graduate programs team at <a href="mailto:leedsgrad@colorado.edu?subject=MS%20Real%20Estate%20inquiry" rel="nofollow">leedsgrad@colorado.edu</a> or (303)&nbsp;492-8397.</p><p><a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/business/about/why-leeds" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents"><i class="fa-regular fa-heart">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;Why Leeds&nbsp;</span></a>&nbsp;<a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/business/curec" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents"><i class="fa-solid fa-building">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;麻豆免费版下载Real Estate Center&nbsp;</span></a>&nbsp;<a class="ucb-link-button ucb-link-button-blue ucb-link-button-default ucb-link-button-regular" href="/business/ms-programs/masters-program-real-estate" rel="nofollow"><span class="ucb-link-button-contents"><i class="fa-solid fa-graduation-cap">&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;M.S. Real Estate&nbsp;</span></a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>When commercial real estate companies said a Leeds master's program was outdated, the school invited industry to be part of the solution.</div> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 28 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000 Anonymous 17596 at /business