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White Ruffin Byron
Center for Real Estate 2024 Conference

Reimagining Commercial Real Estate: Technology, Design, and Markets

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Friday, Nov. 8 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Hosted at the Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, VA

Join the UVA real estate community at our highly anticipated annual conference for a day filled with inspiration and insights as we explore how advanced technologies, cutting-edge design, and emerging market trends are reshaping the landscape of commercial real estate.

WELCOME RECEPTION
Thursday, Nov. 7 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Hosted at Kimpton The Forum Hotel, Charlottesville, VA

Kick off the 2024 conference experience with a warm welcome, and connect with fellow attendees at our welcome reception at the nearby Forum Hotel. Check in early, and pick up your materials for the next day. 

REGISTER BY AUG. 30 TO SECURE EARLY-BIRD PRICING!

Ticket Type Now to Aug. 30 (EARLY BIRD) Aug. 31 to Nov. 8 
UVA Alums & General Admission $325 $450
UVA Young Alums & Nonprofit Professionals $175 $225
Current UVA Students FREE FREE
UVA Faculty & Staff FREE FREE

Call for Alumni Award Nominations

During the conference, the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate will present the Robert G. Byron Distinguished Alumni Award to a UVA alumnus in recognition of their achievements of exceptional merit, excellence, and leadership in their field. We invite nominations of alumni whose accomplishments significantly contribute to the mission of the Center: to enhance the quality of the built environment and our understanding of its influence on all aspects of our lives through discovery and debate relating to the art and science of real estate. 

Nominations are due by Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.  SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Learn more about past alumni award recipients.

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Conference Agenda
Time Activity / Session
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Arrive, check in, enjoy breakfast and networking
9:30 - 10 a.m. Welcome and update from the Center; alumni and student award announcements
10 - 10:15 a.m. UVA faculty research TED-style talks
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. Keynote panel - public company CEOs' "View from the Top"
11:15 - 11:30 a.m. Networking coffee break
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.      Concurrent sessions TBA
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. Networking luncheon; “Exploring Careers in Real Estate” (for current UVA students)
1:45 - 2:45 p.m. Concurrent sessions TBA
2:45 - 3 p.m. Networking break
3 - 3:50 p.m. Fireside chat 
3:50 - 4 p.m. Closing remarks
4 - 5 p.m. Celebratory closing reception

All conference registrants are invited and encouraged to arrive on Thursday evening, Nov. 7, for our Welcome Reception hosted at the Forum Hotel. A discounted block of hotel rooms is available at the Forum (see Hotel & Logistics section below.)

The conference agenda will be updated throughout the summer. In addition to compelling general sessions that will appeal to our entire audience, the program will also feature concurrent breakout sessions, allowing attendees to attend smaller presentations and conversations on topics of most interest to them.   

 Follow the Center for Real Estate on LinkedIn for the latest conference announcements.

Featured Speakers

More speaker announcements coming soon.

Colin Connolly (Darden '03)
Colin Connolly (Darden '03)
President & CEO, Cousins Properties
Mona El Khalif
Mona El Khalif
Associate Professor, Architecture and Urban + Environmental Planning; Graduate Urban Design Program Director, School of Architecture, UVA
Felicia Hendrix (A&S '91, Darden '95)
Felicia Hendrix (A&S '91, Darden '95)
Executive Vice President & CFO, PENN Entertainment
Tyler Henritze
Tyler Henritze
Founder & Managing Partner, Town Lane
Keven Lindemann (A&S '91)
Keven Lindemann (A&S '91)
Executive Director, White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate
James M. Taylor (McIntire '88, Law '94)
James M. Taylor (McIntire '88, Law '94)
CEO & President, Brixmor Property Group
Sarah Turner
Sarah Turner
Professor of Economics & Education, Souder Family Professor, Department of Economics, UVA
Robert M. White Jr. (McIntire '87)
Robert M. White Jr. (McIntire '87)
Founder, Real Capital Analytics
Forum Hotel_nthcvVXY
Hotels & Logistics

The 2024 Conference will be hosted at the Darden School of Business, located on North Grounds at the University of Virginia. A map and directions to Darden can be found here. Driving directions are here.

We encourage our out-of-town guests to book their stay at our discounted block at Kimpton The Forum Hotel, which is the site of our Welcome Reception and conveniently located just a short walk from the Darden conference venue. Click here to make a reservation for Thursday, Nov. 7, at $189+tax. Be sure to adjust your arrival and departure dates by clicking “Change Search” in the top right corner of the page.  

A second, smaller block of rooms for the budget-conscious traveler is available at the Courtyard Charlottesville - University Medical Center for $129+tax for Thursday, Nov. 7. Click here to make a reservation at the Courtyard. 

Limited guest parking will be available on Friday, Nov. 8, in the Darden parking garage at 130 Darden Blvd. Instructions to register your personal vehicle in the UVA parking system will be emailed to registered attendees a few days before the conference. Parking at The Forum and the Courtyard is the responsibility of the guest. A complimentary shuttle will be available to transport guests from the Courtyard hotel and students from Central Grounds to Darden on Friday, Nov. 8. More details will be provided ahead of the event.

Our Sponsors

Reception

Corporate Sponsorships

Corporate sponsorships of the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate's annual conference are available and enable the Center to pursue its mission through foundational programming supporting students and academic programs, investing in research and discovery efforts, and industry engagement events.  

Please contact Allison Teweles for more information about sponsoring the event. Sponsorship levels and benefits are described below.

Executive
$10,000 or more
  • The sponsoring company receives 10 complimentary conference registrations.
  • The company may host a table and display a firm-branded banner at the Welcome Reception at The Forum Hotel on Thursday, Nov 7.
  • The company may host a table and display a firm-branded banner in the Abbott Auditorium lobby all day on Friday, Nov 8.
  • The company may provide firm-branded giveaway items for all participants and display them on their table (see above bullets).
  • The company will be included in the Real Estate Premier Partners program.
  • The company will be recognized on conference materials and the conference website.
Reception
$7,500-$9,999
  • The sponsoring company receives five complimentary conference registrations.
  • The company may host a table and display a firm-branded banner during the Welcome Reception at The Forum Hotel on Thursday, Nov 7.
  • The company may provide firm-branded giveaway items for all participants and display them on their table (see above bullets).
  • The company will be included in the Real Estate Premier Partners program.
  • The company will be recognized on conference materials and the conference website.
Breakfast
$5,000-$7,499
  • The sponsoring company receives four complimentary conference registrations.
  • The company may host a table and display a firm-branded banner during breakfast in the Abbott Auditorium lobby on Friday, Nov 8. 
  • The company may provide firm-branded giveaway items for all participants and display them on their table (see above bullets).
  • The company will be recognized on conference materials and the conference website.
Blue
$3,000-$4,999
  • The sponsoring company receives three complimentary conference registrations.
  • The company will be recognized on conference materials and the conference website.
Orange
$1,000-$2,999
  • The sponsoring company receives two complimentary conference registrations.
  • The company will be recognized on conference materials and the conference website.

Conference Working Group

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these dedicated individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to making the 2024 conference a success. Their tireless efforts have been instrumental in shaping the event, and we are immensely thankful for their valuable contributions.

  • Conference Chair: Keven Lindemann (A&S '91), Executive Director, White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate
  • Planning Chair: Gretchen Ingram, Assistant Director, White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate
  • Logistics Chair: Amanda Morris, Director for Centers & Research, UVA McIntire School of Commerce
  • Alumni Engagement Chair: J. Scott Adams (McIntire '88, Darden '92), Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Harbor Group International 
  • Student Engagement Chair: Ashley Mays (McIntire '02), Chief of Place and Real Estate, Newark Alliance
  • Faculty Engagement Chair: Suzanne Moomaw, Chair and Associate Professor, Urban and Environmental Planning, UVA School of Architecture

Working Group Members

  • David Chapman, Professor of Commerce, UVA McIntire School of Commerce
  • Jonathan Colmer, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, UVA College of Arts & Sciences
  • Tara Dilmaghani (Darden '25), UVA Darden Real Estate Club
  • Krissy Gathright (McIntire '94), Board Member, Apple Hospitality REIT
  • Zander Geronimos (McIntire '14), Head of North America, PRODA.ai
  • Arsalan Heydarian, Associate Professor, UVA School of Engineering & Applied Science
  • Tony Smith, Lecturer, UVA Darden School of Business
  • Drew Sutton (McIntire '10), Partner, Southeast Apartment Investors
  • Will Trukenbrod (McIntire '25), Virginia Undergraduate Real Estate Club

Highlights from Last Year's Event