Keynote Speaker, Sam Zell

A native Chicagoan, Samuel Zell is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School. Mr. Zell began his career in real estate while an undergraduate at the University by managing apartment buildings throughout southeast Michigan. He continued his interests in real estate, and, subsequently, non-real estate investments, with the founding of Equity Group Investments, L.L.C. (formerly known as Equity Financial and Management Company), an entrepreneurial investment firm based in Chicago where he currently serves as President and Chairman.

Mr. Zell maintains substantial interests in and serves as Chairman of the Board of various companies which include Anixter International (AXE), a value-added provider of integrated networking and cabling solutions that support business information and network infrastructure requirements; Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. (ELS), an equity real estate investment trust which owns and operates manufactured home communities in 26 states; Equity Residential (EQR), the largest apartment real estate investment trust in the United States; Equity Office Properties Trust (EOP), a real estate investment trust which holds the largest office portfolio of any publicly traded, full-service office company in the United States; Capital Trust (CT), a specialized real estate finance company; and Covanta Holding Corp. (CVA), a multinational owner and operator of modern waste to energy facilities. All of these are publicly traded companies. Mr. Zell is also Chairman of Equity International, a privately-held, leading investor in real estate-related businesses outside of the United States.

Mr. Zell served a two-year term as Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) from 1998-2000. He serves on the JPMorgan National Advisory Board, the Eurohypo International Advisory Board, the President’s Advisory Board at the University of Michigan, the Visitor’s Committee at the University of Michigan Law School, and with the combined efforts of the University of Michigan Business School, established the Zell/Lurie Entrepreneurial Center. Mr. Zell’s continual assistance to Michigan’s MBA program has also enhanced the Business School’s Polish Studies Program. He was appointed a DeRoy Visiting Professor in Honors at the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan. He is a long standing supporter of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Real Estate Center and has endowed the Samuel Zell/Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at Wharton. Mr. Zell has also endowed the Northwestern University Center for Risk Management.

Mr. Zell is an avid skier, racquetball player and enjoys riding motorcycles. He is a frequent contributor of articles to various publications and is often heard as keynote speaker throughout the United States and Europe.