The Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitor Center at BYU was buzzing with excitement as students networked with professionals during the first-ever Career Paths in Real Estate Summit on Friday, 8 November 2019. The success of the event confirmed to organizers students’ enthusiasm to learn more about the business of real estate.
“BYU Marriott has a growing number of students who are anxious to get more exposure and experience in commercial real estate,” says Troy Carpenter, organizer of the event and finance research associate and faculty advisor to the BYU Real Estate Club. “The school also has a large and successful alumni base in commercial real estate who are anxious to help and educate the students in the many career paths and opportunities in the field.”
Students from a variety of majors at BYU came to the summit and listened to experts in the commercial real estate field. The opening address was given by Wes Whitman of Whitman Peterson, a real estate private equity company. After his address, students then attended three of four breakout sessions covering topics such as private equity, acquisitions, brokerage, and real estate corporate finance.
During the summit, a panel of young real estate professionals spoke to students about the challenges, rewards, and career options in corporate real estate. Jared Giles, who graduated from the BYU Marriott finance program in 2018, participated in the panel and shared how he finds meaning in coming back to the university that helped him launch his career.
“Participating and giving back to students at BYU Marriott is important,” says Giles, who lives in Newport Beach, California, and works for Green Street Advisors. “I want to help lift the next generation because the more you lift, the better off everyone is.” Giles is on the strategic research team, which focuses on sector and market allocations, evaluations, demographics, policy, and technology.
Mary Carlston, the director of finance at commercial real estate company Sperry Commercial, participated in the summit because she wants to help the next generation of BYU Marriott real estate professionals. “There are students who like real estate but don’t know how to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” says Carlston. “I love helping students put the pieces in place.”
The summit helped South Jordan, Utah, native Hailee Orton, a junior in the finance program and vice president of the BYU Real Estate Club, realize the importance of gaining experience in the industry. “As I was listening to these real estate professionals, it sounded like it took them a while to figure out where they wanted to go in real estate,” says Orton. “I realized the more exposure I have right now, the better off I will be.”
More than one hundred students attended the Career Paths in Real Estate Summit with twenty-two real estate professionals participating, including two members of the BYU Marriott National Advisory Council, Ken Woolley and Martin Egbert. The Department of Finance is planning to make the summit an annual event.
“The success of this first summit was quite humbling,” says Carpenter. “We are already experiencing the fruits from the event with additional employment opportunities being offered to our students. We look forward to next year as we give the students the opportunity to network with even more professionals in the industry.”
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Writer: Nikaela Smith