Boston – The Builders of Color Coalition, in partnership with NorthBridge Partners’ Coffee Connectors, hosted the 2024 Boston Student Summit on Nov. 8. This one-day event brought together first-generation and underrepresented college students to explore career opportunities in the commercial real estate (CRE) sector.
First Row (l-r): Frank Petz, managing director, investment sales; Colliers; Don Hunsicker, dean and faculty; Boston Architectural College; Jeff Sullivan, managing director, NorthBridge; Nakaila Pollard, internal affairs manager, Janey Construction Management; Maddie Johnson, director of marketing, The Davis Companies; Marc Cardillo, managing director, real assets investment group; Cambridge Associates; Jennie Brennan, vice president, Newmark; Marci Loeber, managing principal, Griffith Properties; Seth Malamut, senior vice president and assistant general counsel, STAG Industrial; Anthony J. Bucchere, vice president and counsel, national business development, First American Title; Jay Calnan, owner, J. Calnan & Associates; Ashley Mahoney, member, Mintz; Jim Tribble, executive managing director, Newmark; and Michael F. Dowley, partner, real estate, Seyfarth. Second Row (l-r): Rachel Marks, managing director, JLL; Kevin Brawley, senior vice president, Colliers; Greg Janey, president and CEO, Janey Construction Management; Yahaira Acuna, assistant property management, WS Development; Emily Margolis, managing director global investors group, Affinius Capital, Amanda Kutia, senior vice president, KeyBank Real Estate Capital; Adedoyin Adesina, assistant project manager; Cumming Group; Robert Kohn, partner; Park Madison Partners; Emily Rush, managing director, First Citizens Bank; and Michael A. Fergus, senior project manager, CBRE
Held at One Financial Boston, the summit welcomed 120 students selected from over 230 applicants, representing nearly 25 colleges and universities across Boston and New England. The event featured presentations, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the dynamic world of commercial real estate. The attending students engaged with well-established professionals from companies such as The Davis Companies, Colliers, Janey Construction Management, and The Cummings Group.
“This summit is a pivotal step toward creating pathways for first-generation and underrepresented students to thrive in the commercial real estate industry,” said Dave Madan, founder of Builders of Color Coalition. “We are proud to offer them a platform to learn, connect, and envision their future careers in this vibrant field.”
During the summit, students aspiring to learn more about the commercial real estate industry had the opportunity to take a deep dive into discovering the types of careers that were attainable in the space, along with various organizations they can tap into for young professional development and support. To ensure accessibility, each attendee received a $250 stipend to alleviate financial barriers such as lost wages or transportation expenses.
