PERE
America Forum New York 2021
30 November - 1 December 2021,
Intercontinental Times Square New York
Secure allocations. Build relationships. Find investments.
The 16th annual PERE America Forum on 30 November to 1 December will be held in-person at Convene New York and virtually through our interactive platform.
The two-day content allows you to understand the latest trends and challenges facing regional investors.
Secure capital, build lasting relationships, and discover investment opportunities with North America’s most influential investors, fund and asset managers, developers, and strategic partners.
Covid precautions
To help keep you and your peers safe, we have embraced some common principles to ensure the smooth running of the global PERE events portfolio.
Maximize your fundraising.
Easy access and interaction with American investors allocating across a wide spectrum of real estate strategies and geographies.
Timely, actionable content.
Keep you up to date with the latest opinions from American LPs and thought-leaders relevant to your firm
Build relationships effectively
Build your network by meeting the right people for your business.
Featured speakers include
Meet North America's largest investor community
Build stronger relationships and increase your visibility by staying in front of the global community of investors.
Opening Keynote
Mark Gabbay
Global CEO
LaSalle Investment Management
Testimonials
William Turmann
LRI Group Luxembourg
Arguably the best platform for industry experts in the US.
Robert Munday
BIL Manage Invest
An unparalleled opportunity to hear industry leaders and key decision-makers answering direct questions in a frank and engaging manner.
Mark Thigpen
King & Spalding
Terrific content, knowledgeable speakers, and a great opportunity to share ideas.
Now part of the Global Passport
By securing your place at the PERE America Forum you will instantly become part of our global network of private real estate leaders shaping the asset class.
Members have year-round access to the global blackbook of investors, frequent touchpoints with the market, and a place at all PERE conferences throughout the year, including:
2021 sponsors
View the crucial topics our speakers will discuss
Download the agenda to see the trends shaping North American investor allocation strategies and markets across the region. These topics will shape the discussions at the PERE America Forum 2021.
Have a topic that you would like to discuss at the forum?
Contact Melissa Baer today.
2021 speakers
Sam Bendix
Managing Director – Equity Capital Markets & Investor Relations, Landmark Properties
Sam Bendix, Managing Director of Equity Capital Markets and Investor Relations is responsible for developing and managing relationships with Landmark’s current and prospective investors. Mr. Bendix also oversees the development of investment structur… Read full bio
Warren de Haan
Managing Partner and Co-Chief Executive Officer, ACORE Capital
Warren de Haan is a founder, Managing Partner and Co-Chief Executive Officer at ACORE. Mr. de Haan has over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate finance industry and capital markets. Prior to ACORE, he was the Chief Originations Offic… Read full bio
Jeff Friedman
Co-Founder & Principal, Mesa West Capital
Mr. Friedman is a co-founder of Mesa West. Prior to co-founding Mesa West in 2004, Mr. Friedman spent three years at Maguire Partners as a principal and was in charge of capital market activities which included the restructuring of the firm’s debt, t… Read full bio
Mark Gabbay
Global CEO, LaSalle Investment Management
Mark Gabbay is Global CEO of LaSalle, a position he assumed in January 2021. He is responsible for strategic leadership of LaSalle’s 900+ employees and oversight of the firm’s investment and operational activities across North America, Asia Pacific,… Read full bio
Raymond Gong
Managing Director, Real Estate, Oaktree
Mr. Gong joined Oaktree in 2008 and has been involved in the sourcing, analysis, execution and asset management of investments for Oaktree’s Real Estate strategies. Mr. Gong works across the commercial real estate, structured finance and corporate se… Read full bio
Todd Henderson
Head of Real Estate for the Americas, Global Co-head of Real Estate Investments, DWS
Mr. Henderson is the Global Co-Head of Real Estate Investments and the Head of Real Estate Americas for DWS’ Alternatives Platform. Mr. Henderson is a member of the DWS Global Leadership Team, DWS Global Investment Division Leadership Committee, and… Read full bio
Adam Handwerker
Managing Director, Lazard Private Capital Advisory
Adam Handwerker is a Managing Director of Lazard’s Private Capital Advisory. Mr. Handwerker leads the origination, structuring, and execution of the group’s real estate assignments in North America. Previously, Mr. Handwerker was a Managing Director… Read full bio
Michael Hunter
Global Head of Real Estate Alternatives and Strategic Transactions, Nuveen Real Estate
Michael oversees investment strategy and execution for all alternative real estate sectors globally for Nuveen Real Estate. In addition, he leads Nuveen Real Estate's global strategic transaction business function. He is a member of the Global Execut… Read full bio
Amy Johannes
Managing Director, Oaktree
Ms. Johannes is an investment professional in the Real Estate group, where she serves as a managing director. Ms. Johannes works across the commercial real estate, structured finance and corporate securities sub-groups, where she focuses on investmen… Read full bio
Jeffrey Kanne
President and CEO, National Real Estate Advisors
Mr. Kanne is responsible for leading National and its subsidiaries. He organizes, plans, leads, directs, and controls all operations of the firm, including new business development; initiating, promoting and oversight of major transactions; and marke… Read full bio
Joe Marconi
Managing Director, Real Estate, Bain Capital
Mr. Marconi joined Bain Capital in 2018 as part of Bain Capital Real Estate’s founding team. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Marconi was a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager in Harvard Management Company’s (HMC) Real Estate Investment Gro… Read full bio
Lee Menifee
Managing Director, Head of Americas Investment Research, PGIM Real Estate
Lee Menifee is a managing director at PGIM Real Estate and head of Americas Investment Research. Based in Los Angeles, California, Lee is responsible for leading PGIM Real Estate’s research efforts and overseeing the research teams that support PGIM… Read full bio
Jerome Nichols
President and Co-Founder, Standard Real Estate Investments
Prior to forming Standard, Mr. Nichols was a Senior Director with CBRE Global Investors where he led development investment sourcing in the Americas. He served as Deputy Portfolio Manager for the firm’s development fund series and Chair of the Americ… Read full bio
JR Pearce, CPA
Senior Investment Officer, Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System
JR Pearce is a Senior Investment Officer with Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS), an $12.0 billion California public pension plan, responsible for portfolio construction and oversight for SCERS’ alternative assets investments in p… Read full bio
Peter Tsoulogiannis
Partner, Slate Asset Management
Peter is a Partner of Slate Asset Management and sits on Slate’s Investment Committee and is a member of its Management Committee. Peter leads origination and execution of Slate’s global investments and strategic initiatives across Slate’s business v… Read full bio
Bert van den Hoek
Senior Portfolio Manager, North America, Bouwinvest
Bert van den Hoek joined Bouwinvest International in 2020 as Senior Portfolio Manager North America. He is responsible for the portfolio construction and performance of the investments made on behalf of the Bouwinvest North America mandate. In 2020,… Read full bio
Jonathan Van Gorp
Managing Director, Makena Capital Management, LLC
Jonathan Van Gorp, a Managing Director, is responsible for leading portfolio management and partner selection across Makena’s Real Assets investments. He is also a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. In addition to his duties overseeing real a… Read full bio
Leslie Wohlman Himmel
Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Himmel + Meringoff Properties
Leslie Wohlman Himmel is Co-Managing Partner of Himmel + Meringoff Properties, a leading owner and operator of New York City-based commercial real estate. Founded in 1985 with partner Stephen Meringoff, the company currently owns and manages a portfo… Read full bio
Allison Wolfe
EVP, CFO & Global Head of Portfolio Management, Oxford Properties
Allison Wolfe is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Global Head of Portfolio Management of Oxford Properties, a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and business builder. She leads a 200-strong diverse global team and… Read full bio
Year-round private real estate networking
The 16th PERE America Forum will be held in-person in New York and virtually on our industry-leading platform.
Easily seek out relevant investors, get maximum visibility for your firm, and maintain relationships across the global industry.
Attendance at the Forum is now exclusive to Global Passport members – our new industry-leading LP/GP network. Book a tour to see how, in addition to attendance at the PERE America Forum, membership can help grow your business.
Secure your next investor
Connect with North America's leading LPs to secure capital for your firm.
America Forum attendees shape global markets
Your access to the 16th annual PERE America Forum will provide more value than ever before, with year-round access to a little blackbook of global real estate’s most influential community.
Close your fund more efficiently.
Utilize year-round access to a little black book of North America’s LPs allocating across a wide spectrum of real estate strategies and geographies.
Uncover high-yield opportunities.
Advance your strategic edge on the competition by gaining action-led, unique insights from the thought-leaders shaping the industry.
Expand your network with the right people.
Connect with decision-makers across the globe who can help you create value for your firm
Stay connected with the global network
William Turmann
LRI Group Luxembourg
Arguably the best platform for industry experts in the US.
Robert Munday
BIL Manage Invest
An unparalleled opportunity to hear industry leaders and key decision-makers answering direct questions in a frank and engaging manner.
Mark Thigpen
King & Spalding
Terrific content, knowledgeable speakers and a great opportunity to share ideas.
America Forum attendees get more
By attending the America Forum you will join real estate’s most influential global network. Membership will give you:
- Access to the America Forum
- Virtual access to all of PERE’s global events
- Access to the investor directory
- Frequent virtual and in-person networking opportunities
- And much more …
Lift your profile at the America Forum
The PERE America Forum is our flagship annual conference. Attendees are exclusively decision-makers at the leading private real estate investors, fund and asset managers, and developers across the region and globe. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Opportunity to share your thought-leadership
- High-profile branding opportunities
- And much, much more …
To discuss options that suit your firm, contact our sponsorship team.
Explore the trends shaping real estate capital flow
Download the agenda to see the trends shaping North American investor allocation strategies and markets across the region. These topics will shape the discussions at the PERE America Forum 2021.
Have a topic that you would like to discuss on the agenda? Contact Melissa Baer today.
Pre-Event Resources
View the key conversation topics
Download the agenda to see the trends shaping North American investors’ allocation strategies and markets across the region. These topics will shape the discussions at the PERE America Forum 2021.
Have a topic that you would like to discuss on the agenda? Contact Melissa Baer today.
View agenda page
Agenda
Day 1 - Tuesday 30th
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 - North America Sectors & Strategies
08:00 - 08:30
Registration for Breakfast
08:15 - 08:30
Breakfast meeting #1: Women’s Networking Roundtable
08:15 - 08:30
Breakfast meeting #2: LP-only Strategy Roundtable
08:30 - 09:30
Registration & Networking
09:30 - 09:40
Welcome from PERE - Chairman’s Opening Remarks
09:40 - 10:00
Opening Keynote: A conversation with Mark Gabbay, Global CEO, LaSalle Investment Management
Mark Gabbay,
Kyle Campbell
10:00 - 10:40
Seizing the moment: Spotlight on distressed and opportunistic investing
Jeff Friedman,
Amy Johannes,
Jordan Suppan
In the first quarter of 2021, over one third of the $363.8 billion existing dry powder in the US was sitting in either opportunistic or distressed funds. With global forbearance coming to an end, is this a once in a century opportunity for distressed funds and their backers? How are the next 18 months going to play out?
Panelists:
Jeff Friedman, Co-Founder & Principal, Mesa West Capital
Amy Johannes, Managing Director, Oaktree
Jordan Suppan, Managing Director, Leste Credit
10:40 - 11:20
LP Panel: ESG: What prevents managers from getting in front of the investment committee?
Bert van den Hoek
Driving fund manager selection, investment decision and allocations more than ever, ESG remains at the top of the LP agenda. Panelists will get to the meat of the issue – who will – and won’t – they put their capital with based on the principles of ESG? What metrics and measurements do they use and how do they analyse the data?
Panelists:
Bert van den Hoek, Senior Portfolio Manager, North America, Bouwinvest
11:20 - 11:40
Networking break
11:40 - 12:20
Data Centers: Finding investment value in the midst of a gold rush
Jeffrey Kanne
The demand for data centers across the US jumped a whopping 72% in 2021 with further expansion expected. This session will address the drivers behind this increase, where investors are deploying capital, where (if) value can still be found, the strength in M&A and operator activity, and the ongoing focus on sustainability.
Panelist:
Jeffrey Kanne, President and CEO, National Real Estate Advisors
12:20 - 13:00
Finding (even more) opportunities in industrial real estate
Todd Henderson,
Jonathan Van Gorp
It is no surprise that the demand for industrial real estate held up through the pandemic with the robust support of E-commerce, among others. This session will address the rising trends in the industrial sector, investment solutions in a heated market, the race to meet consumer demands, and the increasing challenges that have occurred in the sector over the past 16 months.
Panelists:
Todd Henderson, Head of Real Estate for the Americas, Global Co-head of Real Estate Investments, DWS
Jonathan Van Gorp, Managing Director, Makena Capital Management, LLC
13:00 - 14:00
Networking lunch
13:00 - 14:00
Invitation-only luncheon: How family offices are leveraging the real estate asset class
Real estate has become one of the most prominent investment sectors in the family office portfolio with allocations rising year over year. This session will highlight how family offices are maneuvering the investment climate including direct-investing, deal flow, risk vs. rewards, capital placement, effective strategies, tax benefits, and more.
14:00 - 14:40
Life sciences real estate: 2022 investment outlook
Joe Marconi,
Leslie Wohlman Himmel
Increasing FDA approvals, including the record-breaking COVID-19 vaccines, are among the factors creating a surge in funding for the life sciences sector. Who are the market-leading managers and how to tell a manager is merely on for the ride? What kind of operational expertise does a manager need to create value in this highly specialised field and where are the next big opportunities for LPs?
Panelists:
Joe Marconi, Managing Director, Real Estate, Bain Capital
Leslie Wohlman Himmel, Founder and Co-Manager, Himmel + Meringoff Properties
14:40 - 15:20
The future of offices: Is it still complicated?
It’s official. Remote working is here to stay. But what does this mean for the office sector? This session will address if the need for offices has diminished, rethinking existing spaces, flexible and alternative office strategies, and emerging movements such as satellite workspaces.
15:20 - 15:40
Networking break
15:40 - 16:20
Looking beyond gateway markets
Michael Hunter,
Jerome Nichols
High prices in gateway markets are forcing some investors to look beyond cities like New York and San Francisco. And US investors aren’t the only LPs pivoting to these regions. Speakers will discuss diversifying via Tier 2 cities, where to find higher yield, trending sectors outside key gateways, and strategies to implement in portfolio construction
Panelists:
Michael Hunter, Global Head of Real Estate Alternatives, Nuveen
Jerome Nichols, President, Standard Real Estate Investments
Josh Patinkin, Managing Director, Leste Real Estate
15:40 - 16:20
Residential considerations: Key approaches to strengthening your portfolio
Sam Bendix
Investors eyeing residential are finding increasing opportunities via myriad strategies. This session will highlight the many approaches gaining popularity across the sector, how the pandemic has strengthened alternative opportunities, current trends across property types, and more.
Panelists:
Sam Bendix, Managing Partner, Landmark Properties
Sam Bendix
Managing Director – Equity Capital Markets & Investor Relations, Landmark Properties
Read bio
16:20 - 17:00
Real estate appetite in family office portfolios
A growing trend in family office portfolios is direct investing, and real estate seems to be a popular diversification strategy. Speakers will address how family offices are allocating capital to real estate, strategies to mitigate risk, partnering with other families for greater return, working with advisors, asset classes to watch, and more.
16:20 - 17:00
Emerging managers workshop: advantages, opportunities and best practices for the GP/LP
This session will highlight small and emerging managers with specialized or localized strategies. Panelists will discuss what LPs expect from emerging managers, how EMs differentiate themselves via portfolio performance, how Covid has impacted EMs, and how they are pivoting coming out of the pandemic.
17:00 - 17:40
Fireside chat: How investors are diversifying their real estate portfolios
Find out where investor demand is focusing and how LPs are diversifying their portfolios within the private real estate asset class. From property sectors to geographic location, to investment strategies, this session will address where and how investor demand is concentrating.
Panelists:
JR Pearce, Senior Investment Officer, SCERS
Allison Wolfe, Chief Financial Officer and Global Head of Portfolio Management, Oxford Properties
17:40 - 19:30
End of Day 1 and Networking Cocktail Reception
Agenda
Day 2 - Wednesday 1st
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – Global Investor Day: Outbound Strategies and Markets
09:00 - 09:10
Chairman’s Opening Remarks
09:10 - 09:50
Strategies and property assets showing growth in Europe
Michael Bego
The UK real estate market is showing a healthy amount of pent-up capital waiting to be deployed. Alternatively. This session will highlight the sectors that are pivoting, the sectors gaining momentum, what is fueling demand, and where the best opportunities lie for US LPs.
Panelist:
Michael Bego, Managing Partner, Founder, Kline Hill Partners
09:50 - 10:30
What does office occupancy look like on a global scale?
The office sector has tumbled from its pre-Covid, no. 3 spot in LP interest, and now the world waits to see what the workplace will look like going forward. Even with the demand for traditional office space decreasing, the common sentiment is that office will never be obsolete. This leaves more questions than answers. How is the sector adapting and what are the key drivers? When and how will people come back to work? Which regions will see an uptick in the need for physical office space, and what are occupiers doing to attract tenants? Hear the answers to these questions and more.
10:30 - 11:10
Networking Break
11:10 - 11:50
Which markets are ticking upward in developed Asia?
As the recovery gains momentum and more people return to public spaces, portfolio positioning is critical. Panelist will discuss where the Asian real estate industry is headed now, how it has adapted, key lessons that are driving change, strategies and sectors that are positioned for growth, and which regions will bounce back first.
11:50 - 12:30
Cross-border sub-sectors investors are eyeing
Peter Tsoulogiannis
A recent PERE study showed even with today’s economic uncertainty, most LPs view real estate as an asset class that will continue to enhance returns. Our experts will drill down into investor appetite over the next two years discussing which sub-sectors of logistics, residential, office, retail, and debt hold the most appeal; direct vs. co-investing, capital flow, fundraising during the pandemic, favored investment strategies, and more.
Panelists:
Tricia Peterson, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Accord
Peter Tsoulogiannis, Partner, Slate Asset Management
12:30 - 13:30
Networking lunch buffet
13:30 - 14:20
PERE debt and financing symposium
13:30 - 14:20
The outlook of the US private debt landscape
Even amidst a pandemic, 2020 was a positive year for real estate debt managers to raise equity for the purpose of issuing loans. This session will examine fundraising in 2020, address the current state of the private debt market, project whether an uptick will continue, and discuss how risk and return strategies are evolving.
14:20 - 15:00
Key pivots in US lending
With just a brief pause during the Covid-inspired downturn, banks and debt funds continued to issue loans, even growing in momentum. This panel will highlight how lending opportunities are changing in today’s market, traditional vs. alternative lenders, bank loan structures, assessing risk and performance, succeeding in a competitive market, and more.
15:00 - 15:00
End of Conference
Covid precautions
Our venue
300 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036, United States
To help keep you and your peers safe, we require you to follow the Covid principles below to ensure the smooth running of the PERE America Forum.
All attendees must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status before checking into the event at InterContinental New York Times Square.
To expedite this process, PEI Media and InterContinental New York Times Square will be using Health Pass by CLEAR, which provides secure, digital proof of COVID-related health insights via the CLEAR mobile app. Complete your health screening with Health Pass by CLEAR ahead of time for expedited check-in and entry. We will NOT be accepting NYC COVID Safe App or Excelsior Pass as a form of record of vaccination at the event. We are only accepting proof via Health Pass by CLEAR.
All attendees will receive the event-specific Health Pass registration code before the event.
Questions? Please contact customerservices@peimedia.com.
Will I need to be vaccinated to attend the PERE America Forum New York?
Yes. Only individuals who provide full proof of COVID-19 vaccination status via the Health Pass by CLEAR app will be allowed to enter the event.
Do I need to use Health Pass by CLEAR to attend the event? Can I bring my vaccine card or show a negative COVID-19 test result or use another app?
All attendees must use Health Pass by CLEAR to prove vaccination status. Attendees cannot only show a vaccine card upon entry, a negative COVID-19 test result, or the NYC COVID Safe App or Excelsior Pass. Verification via Health Pass by CLEAR must be presented on arrival to prove vaccination status.
What if I don’t download the app and complete Health Pass by CLEAR before arriving to the event?
We strongly encourage all attendees to download the CLEAR app and sign up for Health Pass by CLEAR at least 24 hours prior to the event to ensure your vaccination status is confirmed. If you do not do this, please bring your vaccine card and a photo id with you to the venue to verify your information through the app onsite at the event. It can take up to 30 minutes for your vaccination status to be confirmed.
What is Health Pass by CLEAR?
CLEAR Health Pass is a free feature in the CLEAR app that provides an easy way to complete health screenings for a safer, easier return to events. After a quick one-time enrollment, you’ll follow instructions to comply with health requirements for the venue. Upload your CDC vaccine card or link to your vaccine provider.
How do I use Health Pass by CLEAR?
- Download the CLEAR app and tap on the white Health Pass tile.
- Tap “Enroll or verify your in CLEAR” to create your CLEAR member account
- New to CLEAR? When prompted, enter your email address, phone number and have your gov’t issued photo ID ready to complete enrollment.
- Already a CLEAR member? Use the email address associated with your membership and snap a quick selfie to verify your identity
- Continue to follow prompts on the Entry Requirements page to securely confirm your proof of vaccination. Upload a photo of your vaccine card or select your vaccine provider to verify your proof of vaccination.
- After your vaccination upload, two weeks prior to the event, a code is provided by PEI Media specific to the PERE America Forum New York to confirm your identity for the event in the app. Open the health pass to get your verification result. Green means you’re good to go!
Please note that once your vaccination record is uploaded to the platform, it can take up to 30 minutes for your status to be verified. All attendees are strongly encouraged to complete this process at least 24 hours before the event.
How does CLEAR protect my personal data?
Privacy is at the center of everything at CLEAR and they are fully committed to protecting members’ information. Personal information is never sold or rented. Personal information is only used to deliver a frictionless and secure experience with CLEAR.
I am already registered for the PERE America Forum New York, how do I confirm my vaccination status?
Email communications are being sent to all attendees regarding Health Pass by CLEAR and the CLEAR app can be downloaded right away to start verifying your vaccination. Attendees are strongly encouraged to verify vaccine status at least 24 hours prior to the event. The event-specific code needed to confirm your identity will be sent to all attendees two weeks prior to the event.
Any questions regarding the event and vaccination requirements should be sent to customerservices@peimedia.com.