Eighth Annual Eastern Regional Symposium Held at Harvard University
Scores High with CoreNet Global Members
A third highly successful Eastern Regional Symposium (ERS) was held at Harvard University
in June 2012. Symposiums were conducted at New York University and the University of
Pennsylvania during the previous two years.
The 2012 ERS attracted 348 registrants from the seven eastern chapters; nearly matching
the record attendance in New York City in 2011. The theme, “Transformation and
Innovation”, addressed how innovation in thinking and practice occurs and how these
innovations can be applied to challenges facing corporate real estate practitioners. Driving
innovation to solve ever more complex business problems is a critical capability for
companies seeking to thrive in a time of slow motion recovery and intensifying global
competition.
Programming was expanded in 2012, with a session on CoreNet Global’s ground breaking
report, Corporate Real Estate 2020 and the Young Leaders Forum scheduled for 11:00 AM
Monday along with the “Boston Innovation District by Boat” tour. Early afternoon tours
featured a “Fenway Park Centennial” tour. The tour included a “back of the house” tour of
Fenway Park with lunch (Fenway Franks of course) served and a presentation by John
Rosenthal, a leader of the redevelopment of Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. A third tour
highlighted the “Heart of Bio-Tech/ East Cambridge”. Registration for the two early
afternoon reached maximum capacity well in advance of the ERS. Boston Redevelopment
Authority tour guides kept Boston Innovation District participants engaged despite some
rainy weather.
Chris Horblit, President of Fidelity Real Estate Company welcomed attendees as President of
the New England Chapter. His remarks were followed by the opening general session, “Bull
Market in Fear- US Brand at Risk”. Attendees were riveted during that presentation by
Bruce Johnstone, Senior Marketing Investment Strategist, Fidelity Investments. The session
was moderated by Sarah Abrams, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Real Estate for
Iron Mountain.
Following a welcome reception for all, 160 End Users and Sponsors attended the End User
dinner later Monday night, held at the “Top of the Pru” in Boston’s Back Bay. This was
followed by the Speaker Appreciation Reception at the Le Meridien Cambridge MIT hotel.
This was the eighth eastern symposium and survey responses continue to mandate
continuation of the concept. 42% of attendees were end users and the Symposium was
well supported by 25 sponsors and by the availability of end user scholarships from
participating chapters.
A survey of ERS attendees revealed an outstanding response to the programming:
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42 out of 52 speakers and moderators had total “good and excellent” ratings of 85% or above
16 speakers and moderators were rated good and excellent by 95% to 100% of respondents
65% of attendees said they are very likely to attend again and another 22% said they are likely
to attend (87% total).
90% said that the overall program had value/usefulness for their jobs.
92% would recommend that other members attend future Symposiums.
Tuesday’s general session on Transformational Cities featured author Roberta Gratz, Michael
Buckley, President, Haycon and Director University of Texas Center for Metropolitan Density
and Certification Program in Turnaround Strategy, and Frederick Kramer, AIA, President of
ADD, Inc. Daniel Fishbein, ERS Co-Chair, moderated the program.
The seven Tuesday break-out sessions and personal development session were all highly
rated. Some highlights are summarized below:
Peter Miscovich, Managing Director, Corporate Solutions, Jones Lang LaSalle moderated a
break out on “Emerging Technologies + CRE Innovation”. That session included:
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An overview of Emerging Technology trends including Advanced Analytics and
Business Intelligence by Dr. Tom Davenport – Babson Chair for IT and Management
@ Babson Business School
Microsoft Global Workplace leader Brian Collins presented an overview of the future
of Emerging Technology and the impact of technology innovation upon the workplace
with emphasis upon Chip Performance, Hardware Capabilities, Technology
Ecosystems, Cloud Economics, Innovation, and Business Disruption.
CISCO Global Workplace leader Alan McGinty presented on the impact of Changing
Work styles and Explosion of Mobile Devices future impact on the Social Enterprise
including Pervasive Video, Enterprise Collaboration and the CISCO Connected
Workplace.
Discussion as the panel focused upon how the CRE function and CRE Executives can
better align and integration with Information Technology functions and service
providers in helping to enable the workplace of the future.
Brian Schwagerl, CRE Sustainable Design Consultant, moderated a session entitled
"Design for Change - The New PNC Bank Headquarters Project Design and Innovation
Applied". The highly rated speakers were Gary Saulson, Executive Vice President PNC
Financial Services Group and Douglas Gensler, Principal of Gensler. Discussion centered on
the design strategy and sustainable operational considerations behind construction of the
"greenest" commercial office building in the world for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, PA.
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The business case to build green. Overview of PNC Bank growth and how
sustainability has become a cornerstone of PNC real estate portfolio and brand
strategy.
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Review of lessons learned while visiting and studying "green" buildings around the
world. What has proven to work effectively and is transferable? How are they
planning to push the sustainable envelope with next-generation design and
construction methods?
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How PNC structured the CRE team, both internally with shared operations, and
externally with service providers to get the job done efficiently and effectively.
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Sneak peak at modern office design renderings with cutting edge green technologies
and amenities like operable windows, conference rooms with open terraces, and
executive and cafe dining facilities with skyline views.
A prior break out entitled “Design for Change: Case Studies of Innovations in building and
Space Design and Sustainable Practices” was moderated by Brian Lee, Principal, Newmark
Grubb Knight. During that session, Bill Fisher, AIA, LEED-AP Senior Project Manager,
Liberty Property Trust, presented previously unreleased data on cost savings and benefits
of sustainable design.
The 2012 ERS concluded at the Queen’s Head Pub late Tuesday afternoon in Harvard
University’s historic and architecturally significant Memorial Hall. Thanks go to the 48
volunteers from the seven chapters who put together the ERS with the assistance of Carolyn
Swanson and Amy Gallagher, Association and Conference Group, LLC.
2012 Co Chairs
Sarah Abrams, Senior Vice President, Global Real Estate, Iron Mountain
Carol Adey, Executive Director, New England Chapter and Vice President, Cresa
Aurora Cammarata, Director, Business Development, Spagnolo Gisness & Associates, Inc.
Daniel Fishbein, SLCR, Global Real Estate Executive, Lecturer, Consultant
Janet Welsko, Global Account Manager, Herman Miller Inc.
Gregg Weisser, Executive Managing Director of Leasing, the Moinian Group
Ron Zappile, Principal, The Zappile Group, LLC