One of the foundational pillars of the Jeffrey E. Smith Institute of Real Estate is to provide, equip and prepare students in their career pathways. The Institute firmly believes that while instructional lessons are important within the classroom, the first hand experiences outside the classroom can go a further distance in helping students long after they have graduated.
The annual Emerging Issues & Trends in Real Estate Forum was created to achieve this vision. The Forum is an educational conference that is conducted by the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business and sponsored by JES Holdings, LLC. The mission of the Forum is to create the very best environment and opportunities for students of the University to meet and interact with business professionals and leaders from the real estate community. This experience will give the students a more "hands-on" understanding of how the industry functions and also the opportunity to give practical knowledge not found in textbooks.
The Forum is a day-long event that typically includes various "breakout" sessions hosted by different speakers. Each session features one or more speakers sharing from their area of expertise through either a presentation or a panel discussion.
Beginning in 2006, the Forum has been extremely successful in attracting high profile, international figures within the real estate and financial circles. Keynote speakers have included Dave Stockert, of Post Properties, Sam Zell and famed investor Warren Buffett. In addition, other nationally acclaimed speakers participate. They share their insight, experiences and projections of upcoming trends and the future of real estate in their sessions to the benefit of the attendees.
The ability in seeing such a collection of high demand speakers together at one event addressing such issues have earmarked this forum as one of the favorites with industry professionals throughout the Midwest. Topics of discussion range from compliance issues to market predictions and upcoming trends and their individual or collective impact on the market. Such discussions often create a buzz which further showcases the Forum’s multi dimensional view of the market.
Through the attendance of like-minded industry professionals, students are given a rare opportunity to establish relationships as they interact with them. The continental breakfasts, luncheons and the time in-between the sessions allow such interactions to occur. Some students attend the Forum to seek advice and ask questions to help prepare them for their future, while others strive to build long lasting-relationships that may someday lead to a possible career opportunity.
The past successes and the diversity of the speakers and participants have helped established the annual Emerging Issues & Trends in Real Estate Forum as one of the most exciting real estate events in the Midwest. The Forum has steadily built a reputation for its ability to attract world renowned speakers to the event. As a result of its continued success, The Jeffrey E. Smith Institute of Real Estate continues to renew its commitment and dedication to their students.
