I
n a thrilling display of academic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit, five Syracuse University rowers from the Whitman School of Management's inaugural real estate competition took home second place. The team, dubbed Regatta Realty, consisted of senior coxswain Joseph Biondolillo '25, juniors Benjamin Campbell-Reide '26 and Sam Fernandez '26, and freshmen Timofey Sitnik '28 and Niki Strauss '28.

    The competition, which drew 11 teams of undergraduate students, tasked participants with crafting a redevelopment plan for a vacant industrial site in Fayetteville, New York. Regatta Realty's mentor, Siho Ham '05, a managing director at UBS, played a crucial role in guiding the team through the process.

    "We wanted to bring some fresh perspectives to the table," Biondolillo said of his decision to recruit younger members for the team. "Niki and Timo brought a unique energy to our group, and their involvement sparked an interest in real estate among them."

    Fernandez's advertising background proved invaluable in creating a visually stunning presentation that wowed the judges.

    "Sam was instrumental in breaking down complex demographics into easily digestible visuals," Biondolillo praised. "His contribution elevated our entire presentation."

    Regatta Realty's winning plan, dubbed The Grove at Fayetteville, envisioned a two-phase mixed-use development featuring a full-service grocery store and independent senior housing. This innovative approach leveraged national trends and demographic shifts to create a vibrant community hub.

    The competition was made possible by generous donations from Joe Burton '01 of Core One Industrial and Cooper Horowitz, a leader in commercial real estate finance. The winning team, The Due Diligents, took home top honors with their proposal for a 200-unit residential apartment building and adjacent park.

    For Regatta Realty, the experience was a resounding success. "It's one thing to learn about financial modeling in class," Biondolillo reflected, "but competing in a real-world setting like this competition gave us invaluable hands-on experience." The team's Syracuse Rowing alumni network also played a significant role in their success, with mentorship and advice from Ryan Patton '10, a capital management expert at Wheelock Street Capital.