NEXT GENERATION LEADERS
A NOT-FOR-PROFIT INITIATIVE
MISSION
To educate and empower student-athletes to lead successful careers in commercial real estate after their college sports journeys end—preparing them to make the same incredible impact on the industry as they had on their teams.
REAL ESTATE EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL TRAINING
MENTORSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NETWORKING AND EMPLOYER CONNECTIONS
Enroll in the BL Next CRE Curriculum
Complete the form below to gain access to our CRE trainings at no cost to you! We partner with organizations like A.CRE, ARGUS, and FARM Excel to ensure our student-athletes have access to the top training platforms in the industry! Applicants must be currently enrolled at an undergraduate university or within 180 days of their graduation date.
FARM EXCEL TRAINING
Farm Excel is a self-paced, five-level financial modeling course used by leading universities and real estate firms nationwide. Master building complex models and formulas, advancing through 10 increasingly challenging case studies. Earn your certificate after successful completion! Approx: 7-10 Hours
A.CRE FOUNDATIONS (MODULES 1-5)
The A.CRE program is used by top real estate companies and elite universities to train the next generation of CRE professionals. Student-athletes who complete modules 1-5 will earn a certificate of completion for foundations of real estate financial modeling. Approx: 20-30 Hours
A.CRE ACCELERATOR CORE (MODULES 6-17)
If you are looking to stand out, to make your resume instantly command attention, completing all 17-modules of the Accelerator will give you that advantage! Learn to build models across all asset types from scratch to earn the A.CRE Accelerator Core certificate. Approx: 50-100 Hours
ARGUS ENTERPRISE CERTIFICATION
ARGUS Enterprise is a leading commercial property valuation, cash flow forecasting and asset management software solution used by CRE professionals globally. Complete 6-modules and the exam to become ARGUS certified! Approx: 8-12 Hours (Includes Exam)
FALL 2024 WEBINARS
October 21, 2024
Topic: Capital Markets, Part I
(Lending and Mortgage Brokerage)
Time: 5:00 pm EST
Speakers: James Millon (CBRE), Matthew Schoenfeldt (JLL), Bruce Ganong (JLL), Grant Frankel (Eastdil Secured)
Moderator: Mike Tepedino (Blue Light Capital)
November 13, 2024
Topic: Capital Markets, Part II
(Investment Sales and JV Equity)
Time: 5:00 pm EST
Speakers: Nicco Lupo (JLL), Chris Munley (CBRE), Andrew Scandalios (JLL)
CORPORATE PARTNERS
BL Next Board of Directors
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Cassandra E Clark, managing director, is the Co-Head of the Northeast Investment team within J.P. Morgan Asset Management - Real Estate Americas (REA). She joined the firm in 2002 and leads a team responsible for all equity and debt investments in the New York, Boston and Philadelphia metro areas. Prior to this role, she was the Head of the Debt Capital Markets Group where she led a team responsible for sourcing and managing the borrowings of REA, one of the largest Real Estate platforms in the industry with over $27 Billion in gross loan commitments. While in this seat, she was also a senior member of the Commercial Mortgage Loan business, launching and serving as the co-PM for the Commercial Mortgage Income Fund, primarily focused on senior, floating rate commercial mortgage loans in the U.S. and was a voting member of the Investment Committee. Prior to joining REA, Cassandra was a Vice President within J.P. Morgan's Commercial Bank focusing on Investor Real Estate loan origination for the bank's high net worth clients. Cassandra began her career as a credit analyst in the Commercial Bank's Asset Based Lending Group. She has served on multiple Not-For- Profit boards and is currently a board member of the Children’s Environmental Literacy Fund and the BL Next Board. She is a member of New York Women Executives in Real Estate (WX) and serves on the WX Mentoring Committee. Cassandra graduated Magna Cum Laude from The College of the Holy Cross.
Co-Head Northeast Investment Team
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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Paul Galiano is responsible for supervising and coordinating Tishman Speyer’s acquisition program throughout the United States, as well as its global debt capital markets, global equity capital markets, and joint venture programs. He also provides oversight for the firm's operations in Southern California and is a member of the company’s Investment Committee. He was formerly the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, responsible for Tishman Speyer’s worldwide financial activities, and previously held the position of Treasurer, having begun his tenure working on tax strategies. Prior to joining Tishman Speyer in 1993, Paul was with Arthur Andersen & Co. for seven years, where he specialized in real estate taxation. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute. Paul graduated magna cum laude from Pace University with a BBA in accounting.
Senior Managing Director, Co-Head of U.S. Acquisitions, Global Capital Markets, Global Joint-Venture Transactions, New York
Tishman Speyer
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Michael Maturo is a founding Managing Partner and serves as President of RXR Realty (“RXR”), a multi-billion dollar private real estate company which was formed subsequent to the sale of Reckson Associates Realty Corp (“Reckson”)(NYSE:RA) to SL Green, one of the largest public Real Estate management buyouts in REIT history. In this capacity, he develops and implements RXR’s corporate strategy. He also oversees property operations and RXR’s investment management businesses as well as all capital markets activities. Mr. Maturo is a member of RXR’s Investment Committee and its Board of Directors.
Prior to the Reckson/SL Green merger, Mr. Maturo served as President and a member of the Board of Directors at Reckson. Mr. Maturo was also Chairman of the Investment Committee and had oversight responsibility over the company’s allocation of capital. Mr. Maturo worked in tandem with the Company’s CEO in developing and implementing Reckson’s corporate and operating strategies. Mr. Maturo was at Reckson from 1995 until January 2007. During his combined tenure between Reckson and RXR, Mr. Maturo has completed over $50 billion in capital markets transactions.
In addition, Mr. Maturo serves on a number of outside Boards and Committees including First Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Association (LIA), as well as a Member of its Executive Committee and Chairman of its Economic Development Committee, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Foundation of Long Island, Member of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Association Board of Directors, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation and Member of the Real Estate Roundtable. Mr. Maturo was appointed by Governor Cuomo in December 2012 to the Board of Trustees of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) where he served as Chairman of the Personnel and Compensation Committee and member of the Finance and Audit Committee and the Operations Transition Committee. Mr. Maturo completed his tenure on the LIPA board in January 2014.
President
RXR Realty
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Jonathan Dracos is the founder and now Vice Chairman of Investcorp Holdings Real Estate and is Chairman of Investcorp Real Estate’s Investment Committees for the United States and Europe. He also serves as Chief Investment Officer of Investcorp Capital, a publicly listed entity on the Abu Dhabi exchange. He previously served as the Global Head of Real Estate at Investcorp Holdings, leading investment teams in North America, Europe and India. Jonathan joined Investcorp Holdings in 1995 and was appointed sole Head of Real Estate Investment in 2009. He was also a member of Investcorp Holdings’ Operating Committee and served on various other committees of Investcorp Holdings.
Prior to joining the Investcorp Group in 1995, Jonathan was on the Executive Committee of the George Soros $1.2 billion Quantum Realty Fund, where he was Head of Disposition and Asset Management. Previously, he served as a Senior Vice President for Jones Lang Wootton Realty Advisors, overseeing a $500 million portfolio of real estate assets.
Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Chief Investment Officer
Investcorp
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Before becoming the Chief Executive Officer of JLL Capital Markets, Americas as part of the HFF acquisition, Mark was a founding partner of HFF LP, having joined HFF’s predecessor firm, Holliday Fenoglio & Company, in 1984. Mark became a Director and Vice Chairman of HFF, Inc. in November 2006, before the company’s IPO in 2007. On April 1, 2014, he became its CEO. Beginning in 2003, Mark was an executive managing director at HFF and served as a member of both HFF’s executive and operating committees from 1993 and 2010, respectively, until the present time.
His 35-year career in Real Estate began in 1981, when he earned a degree in business administration at the University of Texas at Austin and joined Holliday Fenoglio & Company in 1984.
Mark provides guidance and leadership at several organizations. He’s an Executive Committee Member at the UT Real Estate Finance and Investment Center and an Advisory Council Member at the McCombs School of Business. He’s also an Executive Committee Member and former Board Member of AFIRE, former Executive Committee and a current Trustee and Council member for Urban Land Institute and a Trustee for ICSC. He currently sits on the Advisory Board for UT Southwestern University Hospital and previously sat on the Board of Advisors of Baylor Health Care System Foundation. Mark also serves on the Board of Directors for Camden Property Trust and the Advisory Board for Crow Holdings.
Chief Executive Officer, Capital Markets, Americas
JLL
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Justin Pugh is an offensive lineman currently free agent in the NFL. Born in Pennsylvania, he played college football at Syracuse University where he earned a degree in finance and was a first-team All-Big East selection. Pugh was drafted in the first round (19th overall) by the Giants in 2013 and spent his first five NFL seasons with them. In 2018, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent and played there for 5 seasons. In 2023, Pugh re-signed with the New York Giants.
While playing for the Cardinals, Pugh started a career in real estate, working for a developer in Phoenix over the last 3 years, primarily in ground-up multi-family development. He has been involved in various apartment construction projects, gaining experience and building his portfolio in the real estate development industry during the NFL offseasons.
Recently, Pugh launched his first company, Athlete Podcast Network, which helps athletes find purpose post career through media. He also serves on the finance committee and as an NFLPA union rep for the last 10 years, leveraging his financial background.
NFL Offensive Lineman
New York Football Giants
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Randy was selected seventh overall in the 2006 NBA draft and enjoyed an 11-year NBA career. Throughout his career, Randy played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, LA Clippers, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Brooklyn Nets.
A Villanova University graduate, Randy helped lead the Wildcats to their best record in a decade, earning a Big East regular season title and a #1 NCAA seed in the 2005-06 season. In 2006, Foye was named Big East Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.
Inspired by his own experiences, Randy founded the Randy Foye Foundation to support children in his hometown of Newark, NJ. He understands the impact of positive role models and nurturing environments on young lives.
Randy is a devoted husband, father, and sports enthusiast, passionate about Villanova and helping student-athletes become the best version of themselves.
Former NBA Player (2006-2017)
President of Friends of Nova
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Andy Hunt serves as the inaugural director for the Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership at Marquette University. Working closely with deans and faculty across the colleges of business, engineering and law, Andy is responsible for carrying out the mission of the Vieth Institute and oversight of all day to day administration of the Institute’s focus areas of interdisciplinary initiatives and applied learning. Duties include oversight of all fundraising initiatives, oversight of the Real Estate Asset Program (REAP) – the first undergraduate-only classroom-based real estate investment program in the nation, management of the Institute’s four major annual events in Milwaukee and Chicago, oversight of all student-success initiatives and related staff leaders, coordination of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program and curriculum aimed at diversifying talent in the real estate industry, teaching REAL 4061 – Real Estate modeling at the undergraduate level, and growing partnerships with local and national industry organizations. Andy also works closely with two incredible boards, including the Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership Advisory Board and the REALM (Real Estate Alumni Marquette) Network Board.
Prior to joining Marquette as the Director of the Center for Real Estate, Andy and his wife spent 3.5 years in Denver, Colorado, where Andy worked in acquisitions with Real Capital Solutions (RCS), focusing on office and industrial asset investments in a dozen markets across the U.S. Before joining RCS, Andy spent nearly two years with Prologis, the global leader in logistics and industrial real estate ownership and management, where he worked on more than 70 transactions worth over $1 billion in value as part of the Investment Services team. Andy started his career as a broker with UGL Equis (now Cushman & Wakefield) in the Minneapolis office, and then spent four years at Marquette working as the assistant and then associate director for the Center for Real Estate, where he helped diversify the Center’s revenue streams, create the annual Strategies conference, kicked off both the Center Advisory Board and REALM board, enhanced the student experience through conference trips and career mentoring, and built relationships with the real estate communities in Chicago and Milwaukee.
Andy is a recipient of the 2021 Milwaukee Business Journal “40 Under 40” award and the 2021 NAIOP National Developing Leaders award, and he received both his B.S. in Business Administration (majoring in real estate and finance) and his Masters in Business Administration (specialization in finance) from Marquette University. He and his wife Catherine have three children and reside in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.
Vieth Director for the Center for Real Estate
Marquette University
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Ms. Taylor serves as the director of the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate at the Villanova School of Business. As director, Jessica works to ensure that DiLella Center efforts beyond the classroom develop students as real estate leaders. The DiLella Center strives to deepen students’ understanding of the technical components of the industry, of the social responsibilities as shepherds of land and environment and of the importance of community. This is accomplished by creating opportunities for students to interact with industry experts, to participate in live case studies where real estate topics including sustainable development, LEED design and affordability are emphasized, and to experience both corporate site visits and project tours. It is additionally accomplished by facilitating internship experiences and by engaging industry members though the real estate society, panel presentations, conferences, social activities and as of 2018, the DiLella Mulroy Student Managed Real Estate Fund.
Jessica is also responsible for real estate career services, student advising, management of the strategic advisory and Nova Next Councils, alumni engagement, administration of Center resources and Center communications.
Ms. Taylor has taught courses at Villanova University on real estate investments and advanced modeling at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Previously, Ms. Taylor worked in real estate finance. Jessica completed a BS of accounting and finance at DeSales University and executive MBA at Saint Joseph’s University. Jessica currently is an active member of CREW, ICSC and PREA. She has previously served as a board member for ULI Philadelphia and served on the board of directors for the American Real Estate Society (ARES).
Director, DiLella Center for Real Estate
Villanova University
PAST WEBINARS
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September 17, 2024
Topic: Interview Preparation
Speakers: Tennessee Aversa (Prologis), Claudia Krasnow (SS&C Technologies), Pete Pittroff (JLL)
Moderator: Justin Pugh (New York Football Giants)
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January 23, 2024
Topic: Career Paths in Real Estate
Speakers: Michael Gigliotti (JLL), Russell Young (RXR), Michael Moriarty (Investcorp), Komal Sankla (Blackstone)
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February 21, 2024
Topic: Development, Part I
(architectural, bid process, GMP, zoning and entitlement)Speaker: Steven Morris (Tishman Speyer)
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March 27, 2024
Topic: Development Part II
(construction through completion)Speaker: David Orowitz (L&L Holding Company)
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April 18, 2024
Topic: Leasing
Speakers: Keaton Brice (Holt Lunsford), William Elder (RXR), Patrick Smith (JLL), Sacha Zarba (CBRE)
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May 6, 2024
Topic: Property Management / Asset Management
Speakers: Caroline Gadaleta (JLL), Heather Mutterperl (Investcorp), Rob Naso (BGO)