Held Sept. 20, 2024, at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center, this year’s Texas Tech Real Estate Conference brought together more than 200 participants, including students, alumni, and industry professionals, for a day of insightful discussions and networking opportunities. The event, hosted by the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business’ Center for Real Estate (CRE), continues to be a key gathering for Texas Tech alumni and thought leaders in the commercial real estate industry.
The CRE's mission is to support a top-tier commercial real estate program that connects intellectual pursuits with market-based practices and provides an engaged community of students and alumni with industry advancement opportunities. This year's conference aligned with the center's broader goal to integrate academic excellence with market practices, offering a platform for professional development and meaningful connections between students and alumni.
"The Texas Tech Real Estate Conference has evolved into the signature event of the Center for Real Estate by bringing together students, alumni, and other influential thought leaders in the commercial real estate industry," said Jared Harrell, director of the Center for Real Estate. "It offers our alumni and students invaluable market knowledge while fostering connections between academia and professional practice."
Industry Insights and Keynote Speakers
The conference featured a lineup of panels and keynotes led by prominent figures in the real estate industry, covering topics ranging from development and PropTech integration to investment strategies. Alumni shared their career journeys during the opening Red Raiders in Commercial Real Estate panel, providing valuable advice for students and young professionals.
Other panels throughout the day focused on commercial real estate capital markets, technology advancements in real estate data analytics, and the use of public-private partnerships in real estate development. These sessions offered attendees insights into the current state of the commercial real estate market, with much of the discussion mentioning the recent actions of the Federal Reserve.
The highlight of the conference was the Fireside Chat with Mike McVean, co-founder of Stream Realty Partners and a Texas Tech alumnus. In a session moderated by Tony Austin, McVean shared his journey from Texas Tech to becoming one of the leading figures in the commercial real estate industry. He discussed his early career at Trammell Crow, the motivation behind founding Stream Realty, and the challenges he faced in building a successful business. During the chat, McVean emphasized the importance of risk-taking and shared personal stories about his career-defining moments. His leadership philosophy centers around adaptability and mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals. McVean offered advice to young professionals, encouraging them to embrace challenges and focus on continuous learning.
Student Involvement
The conference also provided an opportunity for student engagement. Throughout the day, student members of the Real Estate Organization (REO) had the opportunity to network with professionals and engage with cutting-edge topics in commercial real estate, gaining hands-on experience integral to their professional development and enhancing their career readiness.
As part of a new student-alumni networking initiative, students were given contact sheets to collect signatures from industry professionals. For each new connection, they earned a ticket to a prize drawing. Conference attendees participated by donating cash to a prize pool, which raised $1,000. At the end of the day, three lucky students won the full cash prize through a random ticket drawing. The initiative not only fostered student engagement but also helped build meaningful industry connections between students and alumni.
Looking Ahead
This year's conference was made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors: Bandera Ventures, CBRE, HRNCIR Construction, JLL, Northmarq, Stellar Family of Companies, and Wallace Ventures.
This annual event continues to be a highlight of the Center for Real Estate's programming, fostering connections between commercial real estate thought leaders and the next generation of industry professionals. Keep an eye out for next year's conference and opportunities to attend upcoming industry events hosted by the Center for Real Estate.