More than 35 commercial real
estate industry leaders sit on the Planning Committee for the CRE
Summit. “Their objective is to keep on making the annual commercial real
estate event as dynamic, relevant and fresh as possible,” said Jerry Slusky, event founder and partner at Smith Slusky Law. “This year is no different."
“For
27 years now, the CRE Summit has provided CRE professionals with the
information they need to maintain their success and progress,” he said.
“At our first monthly Planning Committee meeting in September, the
Committee Members identified several new areas of change going on in our
industry that need to be explained.”
At
that meeting, this year’s topic, Breaking Down Barriers: Adapting to a
Changing World, was born, and as a result, every Summit session will
deal with that subject in one way or another.
The opening panel, moderated by Randy Thelen, senior vice-president of economic development at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, will discuss the challenges faced by those in the Omaha and Lincoln markets and how they can be confronted and dealt with.
“Last year, the Chamber coordinated with us; this year, they are in full partnership,” Slusky said.
“The
business community has recognized how important it is for their members
to understand the issues confronting our CRE members, and likewise, our
members benefit from understanding the needs of the business community.
It is a perfect fit for moving our community ahead.”
Thelen
agreed: “Our economic development goals are tightly aligned with the
commercial real estate sectors goals – we each want to see this region
continue to prosper. We work very closely with the commercial brokers
across the region, so it makes perfect sense for us to align with them
for the CRE Summit. It brings a collection of business and real estate
leaders together to learn and discuss the big trends and opportunities
facing our region. With attendance approaching 1,000 leaders, it is one
of our market’s top events.”
Next
on the agenda, Todd Richardson, senior partner and manager of Husch
Blackwell, will dive into the topic of sourcing capital and alternative
real estate investments.
“People know if they buy a house, they need 20 percent equity in order to obtain a loan,” Slusky said,
“In
the commercial real estate market, the equity required can amount to
millions of dollars.” This session will look at issues in obtaining
equity for real estate projects, including potential ways to source
equity capital, structuring considerations, and discussion regarding
alternative real estate investments.
“In
45 minutes, this impressive panel of professionals will explain the
various sources of equity, which is the driver for the continued growth
of the CRE market,” Slusky added.
The
breakout sessions will tackle specific concerns. The first morning
session, Labor and Cost Concerns, will address how companies are
adapting to the rise in supply cost, and the shortage in supplies and
skilled labor.
“Omaha
has low unemployment, which is causing big problems in the construction
trades,” Slusky said. “It’s hard to get plumbers, framers, and
electricians.”
Jeff
Lake of Olsson Associates and Andy Stine of the Kiewit Building Group
will moderate. Panelists include Chad Beeson, director of project
management at Tetrad Property Group; Dave Johnson, AIA/Studio 951; Jacob
Vogel, president of MMC Mechanical Contractors; and Nathan Mittag,
project manager at AWS, LLC.
Another morning breakout session, moderated by Tanya Shapiro, senior vice-president of multi-family residential property management at The Lund Company, along with
single-home, residential professionals, will give attendees a full
update on the single and multi-family housing market.
“You can no longer build a house today for less than $225,000 or $250,000. The days of the $150,000 to $160,000 house are over,” Slusky said. “We will talk about affordability and how this is affecting the market. Right now, the demand for apartments and homes continues at a high level, but there are warning signs that will be discussed.”
Omaha
has a new Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds, Diane Battiato,
and she has “brought new ideas to the office,” Slusky said. “She and her
staff want to share those ideas with us.” Her breakout session will
educate attendees on the new Archived Access System and the discussion
will also focus on the Assessor’s informal processes for appealing
property taxes.
From
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees will take a break for the Hall of Fame
luncheon, during which CRE will honor past Hall of Fame recipients and
induct the 2016 Hall of Fame. Development of the Year and Deal of the
Year awards will also be presented.
Following
lunch, breakout sessions continue, including a roundtable discussion of
current legal real estate topics and trends, which is presented by the
Nebraska Fellows of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Smith
Slusky Law sponsors this session.
“I’ve
asked my fellow real estate attorneys to talk about tips for creating
better real estate purchase agreements, land use, due diligence,
difficulties in the entitlement process and the increasing cost of
development,” Slusky said. Jon Blumenthal of Baird Holm; Larry Jobeun of
Fullenkamp, Doyle & Jobeun; Mike Matejka of Woods & Aitken;
Trev Peterson of Knudson Law; Dan Smith of Smith Slusky Law; and Warren
Whitted of Houghton Bradford Whitted will participate.
Additional
afternoon topics include Title and Appraisal Breakout, Incentives in
Real Estate Development and the Ins and Outs of the Planning Department.
About the latter, Slusky said he “asked if the city would give us a
road map on planning.” Cassie Seagren, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff
for economic development, David Fanslau, assistant director of the
Omaha Planning Department; and Jennifer Taylor, assistant city attorney
for planning and development will participate.
Adapting
to a Changing World means listening to the voices of the past as well
as those of the future. The CRE Summit will open with a video of young
professionals and leaders in the community and look at how they have
broken down barriers. They will also talk about the challenges they feel
the future poses.
Just
before Jim Abbott, a retired major league baseball pitcher, who played
despite having been born without a right hand, delivers his keynote
speech on breaking down his own barriers, the Summit will present words
of wisdom from our community “caretakers.”
“We
have an amazing group of experienced business leaders who will speak on
a panel chaired by Sara Boyd, president and CEO of the Omaha Community
Foundation.
“The
panel will address how to hand off the torch,” Slusky said, and will
include panelists Clark Lauritzen, executive vice-president, First
National Bank; Diane Lozier, The Lozier Foundation; Sue Morris, CEO,
Heritage Services; Paul Smith, Tenaska; and Lynn Ziegenbein, executive
director, Peter Kiewit Foundation. As always, the day ends with
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, which has historically been an outstanding
opportunity to network.
The
2015 CRE Summit saw record-breaking attendance of nearly 700 commercial
real estate professionals, and Slusky believes that with the Chamber’s
support that number will be surpassed. “We’re expecting an even greater
turnout,” he said.
Those
who register for the 27th Annual CRE Summit by February 12 will save
$35. General registration continues through April 1, and costs $260.
Students cost $25. The event is Friday, April 8, at the CenturyLink
Center. For more information, go to: http://www.attendcresummit.com. For a preview of the entire program, go to: http://www.omahadailyrecord.com/images/E0054801/2016CRESummitProgram.pdf.
