Real estate students pose for a picture with Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis and Service Award winner Laura Brunner.

UC Real Estate Center recognizes students, supporters

Center awards scholarships, celebrates Laura Brunner as Distinguished Service Award honoree

By Grant Freking Email Grant Freking

14 minute read June 21, 2023

The University of Cincinnati Real Estate Center hosted its 32nd Annual Awards Dinner on June 14, welcoming 620 attendees to Music Hall in downtown Cincinnati to highlight the accomplishments of the center, the real estate program, its supporters, Carl H. Lindner College of Business faculty and staff and distinguished students and alumni.

The evening’s highlights included a celebration of 2022-23 academic year scholarship recipients; recognition of the Board of Executive Advisors in Real Estate Scholars; the introduction of Gary Painter, Ph.D., as the new academic director of the real estate program and recognition of Laura Brunner, president and CEO of the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, recipient of the Distinguished Real Estate Service Award.

Real Estate Center Executive Director Carl Goertemoeller reiterated the center’s purpose in his opening remarks.

Real Estate Center Executive Director Carl Goertemoeller was the master of ceremonies.

“Our mission is to create opportunities that empower students to blaze their own trails in real estate, through rigorous curriculum and in-classroom experiences, to on-site company visits and mentors, to co-ops, and eventually full-time work with many of the companies we see represented here tonight,” Goertemoeller said. “And when we see them come back as engaged and passionate alumni and supporters of the program and center — that's our 'circle of life.’”

Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, Ph.D., noted that the center is a hub for learning, talent and community.

“Our future is so bright. I look forward to the innovation and impact to come,” Lewis said. “Thanks to our outstanding real estate team, and to the dedication and partnering of this vibrant community, we’re going to tap into that powerful momentum of the center, of UC and of this great city.”

Program speakers and highlights

Additional speakers included Brandy Del Favero, 3CDC development director, who represented the Real Estate Advisory Council, which plans the center’s Roundtable Program, helps organize the Annual Dinner and advises the real estate program director. Del Favero also individually thanked sponsors of the Annual Dinner (listed below). Warren Weber, PNC Bank Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky regional president, highlighted PNC’s 30-plus year relationship with the center and offered praise for the evening’s awardees.

Music Hall hosted 620 attendees for the Real Estate Center's 32nd Annual Awards Dinner.

Goertemoeller recounted notable happenings from the center’s 2022-23 academic year:

A fall career fair that attracted a record 80 students plus 20 companies, with employers from Columbus, Indianapolis and New York City attending, in addition to Cincinnati-area companies.
A student trip to Washington, D.C, featuring visits with four companies and alumni in commercial real estate and advocacy.
Five site visits across Greater Cincinnati and guest lecturers from Al. Neyer, Bellwether Enterprise, Eagle Realty, Onsite Retail Group, PNC Bank and Viking Partners organized by the student-led UC Real Estate Association.
Members of the BEARE Board and other area real estate professionals mentored 33 students.

On behalf of the center and the UC community, Goertemoeller also expressed sympathy and support for the family of Uptown Rental Properties employee Nick Kernan, who was fatally shot in May. No arrests have been made.

Student recognition

In 2023, 13 real estate students were selected to receive $32,000 in UC scholarship awards. Students also were awarded external scholarships valued at an additional $12,000. The full list of awardees is included below.

The center honored Kalynne Schuermann, BBA ’23, and Jack Walsh, BBA ’23, as its Undergraduate Students of the Year. Schuermann, who graduated in April and is working for the Federal Reserve in Chicago, could not attend but shared her remarks through the above video.

Jack Walsh (pictured), BBA ’23, and Kalynne Schuermann, BBA ’23, were featured as the Real Estate Center's Undergraduate Students of the Year.

Jack Walsh relayed thanks to mentors, center staff and fellow members of the UC Real Estate Association as part of his comments.

“I have been blown away at how well the real estate program at UC connects students with professionals,” Jack Walsh said. “Not only do I thank Carl, Megan (Roberts) and Jeanne (Harmeyer) for running an incredible program, but also for their patience, guidance and encouragement this year.”

Pamela Weber, senior vice president, PNC Real Estate Banking, introduced the 2023 BEARE Scholarship awardees: Kate Walsh, BBA ’24, and Ben Wessels, BBA ’24. The BEARE Scholarship was created in 2016 to recognize students who not only excelled academically, but also took advantage of UC’s many experiential learning opportunities.

“The real estate program, guided and advanced by the BEARE Board, has provided me with the curriculum, resources, and skills needed to be successful,” Kate Walsh said. “I am deeply appreciative to be a part of this community at UC that so strongly values education and challenges me to explore the professional world.”

Wessels credited friends, family, professors, mentors and colleagues who have helped him, as well as experience gained from co-ops at Phillips Edison and Co., Fischer Homes and the EMCOR Group.

Our mission is to create opportunities that empower students to blaze their own trails in real estate, through rigorous curriculum and in-classroom experiences, to on-site company visits and mentors, to co-ops, and eventually full-time work with many of the companies we see represented here tonight.

Real Estate Center Executive Director Carl Goertemoeller

Goertemoeller also acknowledged the accomplishments of Dagim Negash, BBA ’24. Negash, an international student from Ethiopia, shadowed Dustin Stolly, co-president of debt and structured finance with Newmark, in New York City during the recent school year.

“Dagim’s visit prompted an email from Dustin upon his departure: ‘This young man has something special about him. We’re more than happy to assist in the journey with those who truly have fire,’” Goertemoeller recalled. “Dagim flew home the next day after accepting a summer internship in New York City working for Dustin and the Newmark finance team.”

Introducing Gary Painter

Gary Painter, PhD (middle) with Goertemoeller and Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis (right).

BEARE Board Chair Mario San Marco, senior vice president, economic development, Western & Southern Financial Group, formally announced Painter’s appointment as BEARE Chair, in addition to Painter’s duties as academic director of the real estate program and a professor of real estate.

Painter detailed his familial ties to the Midwest and Kentucky, before explaining that the UC Urban Futures initiative was a major selling point to move his family across the country after nearly 30 years at the University of Southern California.

“I felt like that webpage was speaking directly to me. It said we need to have cutting-edge research, social innovation approaches, research practice partnerships, impact, and equitable economic development. I was like, ‘That's my research. That's what I'm excited to do,’” Painter said. “How are we going to do this? We're going to deepen our scholarship in real estate. We're going to deepen our connections to industry.”

Painter added that he brings the ability to “think of real estate as part of a larger whole.”

“I think everyone I've talked to here realizes that real estate is part of a hub, so that we can figure out how people can thrive in our communities,” he said. “And we want people to thrive in every part of the Greater Cincinnati region, no matter the situation. We want people to have opportunity. That’s really what I’m excited to do.”

Distinguished Award Winner Laura Brunner

Brunner was introduced first by San Marco, and then by her husband, Paul. For over a decade, Laura Brunner has led the The Port, an economic redevelopment agency in Cincinnati that aims to reduce wealth disparities, grow manufacturing jobs and increase homeownership.

“Laura has always cared deeply about establishing lasting relationships,” said Paul Brunner, who retraced the beginnings of their relationship and Laura’s professional career. “I know one of the reasons she loves her job at The Port is that she gets to interact with people she has known throughout her career. At the same time, she gets to build many new relationships with a wide variety of interesting people.”

Laura Brunner said that the Distinguished Service Award “came out of the blue,” but noted the serendipity of the moment.

Brunner (middle) with BEARE Board Chair Mario San Marco (left), senior vice president, economic development, Western & Southern Financial Group, and Pamela Weber, senior vice president, PNC Real Estate Banking.

“I think this was my destiny. I really do. Because any 10-year-old girl who spends hours each week separating perforated cardboard house listings and then filing them by neighborhood and number of bedrooms for her dad wants to become an esteemed real estate professional, right?” she recalled.

Brunner received national attention last year when she spearheaded an effort to acquire 194 single-family homes from an out-of-town investor to preserve home ownership dreams for Cincinnatians.

“I am proud of what we have done and am confident that we are reaching a tipping point where we can accelerate the investments and the impact to follow,” she said.

The UC Real Estate Center congratulates all who earned honors and distinction, and thanks event sponsors and annual partners for their continued support.

Join us in congratulating this year’s honorees and scholarships recipients

Awards and Distinctions

Distinguished Service Award — Laura Brunner
Undergraduate Student of the Year — Kalynne Schuermann, BBA ’23
Undergraduate Student of the Year — Jack Walsh, BBA ’23
BEARE Scholar — Kate Walsh, BBA ’24
BEARE Scholar — Ben Wessels, BBA ’24

Scholarships

Greater Cincinnati NAIOP Scholarship

Established last year as a five-year commitment by the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks, the Greater Cincinnati NAIOP Scholarship is awarded to one student each year with a focus on the commercial, office and industrial sector. The Real Estate Center thanked NAIOP Board Chair Adam Hemmer and NAIOP leadership for their support.

Ben Booker, BBA ’24

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Scholarship

Established in 2015 and made possible through the generosity of Jeffrey Anderson and Associates as a gift to the ICSC Foundation, the ICSC Scholarship will run through 2029.

Brady Burden, BBA ’25

Carl Segal Scholarship

The Carl E. Segal Scholarship was established in 2000 and is used to support students seeking a career in the real estate business.

Gracie Criger, BBA ’24
Clay Greenlee, BBA ’25
Jonathan Patla, BBA ’24

James B. Selonick Scholarship

Established in 1988 by associates of James "Jim" Selonick, former head of real estate and development at Federated Department Stores, the legacy company to Macy’s, this scholarship is a tribute to Selonick’s impact on the industry.

Jake Hamann, BBA ’24
Lacey Kelly, BBA ’24

Neyer Properties Scholarship

Funded annually through the generosity of Dan Neyer of Neyer Properties, this scholarship has been awarded to four top real estate students each academic year since 2017.

Zach Imbus, ’22 (graduate certificate)
Andrew Vichill, BBA ’24
Kathryn Warner, BBA ’25
Jack Walsh, BBA ’23

Ohio Realtors Scholarship (external to UC)

Gracie Criger, BBA ’24

Trepp Scholarship (external to UC)

Jack Walsh, BBA ’23

Thanks to program partners and event sponsors:

BEARE Partners and Members

Premier Partner

PNC Bank

Platinum Partner

Eagle Realty Group

Gold Partners

Brandicorp
Hills Properties
Neyer Properties, Inc.
North American Properties, Inc.
Procter & Gamble
Truist Bank

BEARE Members

Mario San Marco, Board Chairman
Scott Arentsen, Towne Properties
Doug Armbruster, Core 5 Industrial Partners
Brian Banke, Procter & Gamble
Traci Boeing, Wesbanco
Michael Brandy, Brandicorp
Chad Burke, GBBN
Mark Caesar, Truist Bank
Mark Cinquina, PNC Financial Services
Craig Coffman, Uptown Rental Properties
Scott Csendes, KZF Design
Michael Dooley, Bayer Becker
Karl Dostal, MCM CPA’s and Advisors
Brian Doyle, Messer Construction Co.
Jeff Eichhorn, Schueler Group
Gregg Fusaro, CIG Communities
Eric Gardner, Gardner Street Commercial Real Estate Group
Jason Gibson, Anchor Associates
John Greiwe, Cintech Construction
Louis Guttman, Hills Properties
Michael Heekin, Hunt Builders Corporation
Adam Hemmer, Paul Hemmer Company
Steven Hermiller, Mannik & Smith Group
Paul Richard Herndon, Griffin Fletcher & Herndon LLP
Donald Huffner, James Campbell Company
Noah Juran, NorthMarq Capital, LLC
Chip Kupferberg, BlueMark Capital, LLC
Daniel Lessing, BHDP Architecture
Joe Lockett, altafiber
Bob Luebbe, Fifth Third Bank
Elizabeth Mangan, Miller Valentine Group
Sean McGrory, Clark Schaefer Hackett
Erin Mignano, Turner Construction
Ken Moczulski, M-M Properties
Ryan Moore, Last Mile Investments
Shenan Murphy, Colliers International
Abigail Murray, Viking Partners
Rusty Myers, JLL
Kyle Neumann, Bellwether Enterprise
Dan Neyer, Neyer Properties
Greg Olson, Urban Sites
Ken Oswald, Oswald Company
Kelly Postlewaite, Forvis
Tom Powers, Cushman & Wakefield
Ryan Reardon, Al. Neyer
Lee Robinson, Robinson Sotheby’s International Realty
Joshua Rothstein, OnSite Retail Group
Jeffrey Sackenheim, SHP Architects
Jeanne Schroer, Catalytic Development Funding Corp. of Northern Kentucky
Kevin Schutte, CBRE
Paul Silva, Eagle Realty Group
Martha Skelton, Huntington National Bank
Christina Sprecher, Frost Brown Todd LLC
Mike Spurlock, Ameritas Investment Partners
Richard Sterling, First Financial Bank
Dan Sutton, Kemba Credit Union
Adam Stypula, Park National Bank
Lindsey Taylor, Kroger
Daniel Utt, KMK Law
Pamela Weber, PNC Real Estate Banking
Mark Wilhoite, ComptonAddy
Kristin Woeste, Seymour and Pease LLP

Annual Dinner Sponsors

Cocktail Reception Sponsor

Eagle Realty Group

Corporate Dinner Sponsors

Al. Neyer
First Financial
Huseman Group
Mobile Infrastructure Corporation
STNL Development
Strauss Troy
Taft

Bearcat Dinner Sponsors

Cincinnati Commercial Contracting
Cincinnati Development Fund
Civil & Environmental Consultants
Dinsmore
FC Cincinnati Republic Bank
Griffin, Fletcher & Herndon
KMK Law
Marcus & Millichap – Andrews Dickman Group
Model Group
PLK
Republic Bank
Thompson Hine
Urban Sites
Viking Partners

Individual Dinner Sponsors

3CDC
Fath Properties
Triversity
Duke Energy

Featured image: Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, Ph.D. (front row, second from left), and Distinguished Real Estate Service Award honoree Laura Brunner (front row, third from left) with real estate student honorees and volunteers at the UC Real Estate Center’s 32nd Annual Awards Dinner. All photos by Joseph Fuqua II.

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UC Real Estate Center recognizes students, supporters