W
ashington and Lee University’s Real Estate Forum celebrated its sixth biannual gathering in Washington, D.C., drawing a record 162 alumni, students and guests from 20 states on Oct. 8‑9. The two‑day event combined learning, networking and industry insight, underscoring the forum’s role as a flagship career‑development initiative.

    “By bringing alumni together around a shared industry beyond campus, the Real Estate Forum has become a model for other affinity events,” said Barnett Family Dean of Career and Professional Development Molly Steele ’04, who opened the forum with co‑chairs Ashley Oakes ’17 and David Seifert ’06. “Its success in fostering alumni connections has paved the way for even greater opportunities to strengthen the W&L network across sectors.”

    Oakes and Seifert led this year’s largest forum. Oakes, who first attended the inaugural 2016 event as a student, returned to co‑chair and help design programming that reflected W&L’s alumni expertise across real‑estate sectors. The host committee—alumni Wes Boatwright ’86, P’26, Rob Brown ’03 and Colin Connolly ’98, P’29—worked with the steering committee to create sessions that highlighted the university’s liberal‑arts foundation in business practice.

    The 2025 forum opened with a keynote from Mike Diverio ’05, who explored the intersection of artificial intelligence and real‑estate infrastructure. Panels covered innovation in hospitality and health care, with “Future of Hospitality” moderated by Taylor Callaham ’05 featuring leaders from Berkadia and Hilton, and “New in Office” moderated by Wes Boatwright ’86 examining evolving workspaces. Industry leaders Greg O’Brien, executive chairman of JLL, and Clark Finney ’06, executive managing director of JLL’s NYC tenant‑representation team, discussed vertical specialization in the field.

    After lunch, a fireside chat with Jonathan V. Gould ’01L, the Comptroller of the Currency, and Alan McKnight ’94, CIO of Regions Bank, offered macroeconomic perspectives. The forum closed with a discussion on credit markets, moderated by Seifert, where alumni from Colliers and Brookfield Asset Management examined capital strategies and shifting investment conditions.

    Seifert noted the forum’s growth and the industry’s hopeful outlook, adding that opportunities like the event and career trips are supported by W&L’s real‑estate courses and the Real Estate Society, a student organization that manages part of the university’s endowment for public‑equity real‑estate investments.

    Attendees also enjoyed a welcome reception and networking lunch, giving students and young alumni direct access to seasoned professionals. “I’m grateful to the volunteers, panelists and speakers who made this year’s forum possible,” said Lauren Vance, director of business advising and recruitment. “Seeing the forum continue to grow is a highlight for the W&L community.”

    Closing remarks by John Jensen ’01, executive director of Alumni and Career Services, reflected on the forum’s enduring role in connecting graduates across generations. What began as a small alumni gathering in 2016 has become a defining example of W&L’s alumni‑driven professional networks, now integrated into career‑trip experiences that span nonprofits, science, accounting and real estate.

    Callie Keller ’27, a business‑administration and Spanish double major, praised the forum’s opportunity to meet industry leaders and explore potential careers. “The Real Estate Forum was an awesome chance to hear what leaders think about the future of the industry,” she said, highlighting the personalized connections made during the career trip organized by Vance.