Institute for Real Estate Studies Spring Board Meeting

L-R (Walt Rakowich, CEO ProLogis;  Simon Ziff, President Ackman-Ziff;  Peter Cocoziello, CEO Advance Realty;  Graham Spanier, President Penn State; and Tony Coscia, Chairperson Port Authority of NY & NJ)

The Institute for Real Estate Studies (IRES) held its Spring 2011 Board Meeting in New York City.  The two-day special event included a dinner at Ben & Jack's Steakhouse.  Special guests included Penn State President Graham Spanier and Smeal College of Business Dean Jim Thomas.  Our keynote speaker was Tony Coscia, former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  The Port Authority has oversight responsibility for the redevelopment of the 911/World Trade Center site.  Coscia also serves on Amtrak Board and was appointed by the Obama Administration. The meeting was a great success and included an announcement about the return of the real estate undergraduate degree at Smeal.