2026 AGENDA
WELCOME REMARKS
Jerry Slusky & Chris Mensinger, Co-chairs, CRE Summit
DESCRIPTION: This interactive breakout session is designed as a collaborative working forum—not a traditional panel. Led by Heath Mello and featuring experienced leaders from both the public and private sectors, the session will leverage real-world insights from local and national initiatives to explore innovative approaches to community investment and commercial real estate solutions.
Through guided discussion and audience participation, panelists will introduce proven concepts, respond to targeted prompts, and engage attendees in identifying practical, scalable solutions. The session will focus on generating 2–3 actionable ideas that can be refined over the coming months and advanced to state and local policymakers by early 2027.
- MODERATOR: Jennifer Taylor, City of Omaha
- PANELISTS:
- Health Mello, President & CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber
- Senator Von Gillern, City of Omaha
- Jason Lanoha, Lanoha Real Estate Company
DESCRIPTION: Nebraska’s new Community Improvement District (CID) legislation introduces a powerful financing tool for development and redevelopment. This session will provide an overview of how CIDs work, the process for forming a CID, eligible revenue sources, and how they can be used to help fund infrastructure and public improvements. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how this new tool may impact projects and communities across Nebraska.
- SPEAKER: Adam Flanagan, Blue Stem
DESCRIPTION: A regional and national conversation on Omaha's industrial market. How the Omaha market compares to peer markets like Kansas City, Des Moines, and Chicago, where it's outperforming expectations, and where the gaps remain.
- SPEAKER: Jonathan Rudersdorf, President, Prologic
DESCRIPTION: As unanchored strip centers and power centers gain momentum, this session will dive into why these assets remain highly sought after. Panelists will discuss insights on tenant demand drivers, investment considerations, and how these formats are performing across leasing, sales, and redevelopment.
- MODERATOR: Alicia Miller, Vice President, OMNE Partners
- PANELIST:
- Ember Grummons, Investors Realty
DESCRIPTION: Summit University Roundtables are two dynamic 20-minute interactive discussions with industry leaders that provide a unique opportunity to learn from experts. Choose two subjects that matter most to you and maximize your takeaways in a fast-paced, collaborative roundtable format.
ROUNDTABLE 1: Inside the Lender’s Mind: What Banks Look for in CRE Deals
- DESCRIPTION:
- PANELISTS:
DESCRIPTION: Thinking like an owner.
- How property management and 'boots on the ground' decision making shapes NOI and long-term asset value.
- Having a well rounded leasing strategy to avoid rent concessions or discounts in a volatile market; narrowing down the most effective online marketing resources.
- Expense control in a world of rising uncontrollable costs (insurance, taxes, payroll)
- Using AI as a tool for budgeting/reporting/marketing while evaluating what can and can't be replaced with AI.
- MODERATOR: Ruth Nwaturuocha, President and Managing Partner, M3 Management and Consulting
- PANELISTS:
- Kristy Lamb, Vice President, NP Dodge
- Rosa Wasson, Senior Director of Property Management, DP Management
DESCRIPTION: A comprehensive look at the impact of artificial intelligence on legal practice in commercial real estate. Participants will learn about the key advantages, including increased speed, improved efficiency, cost savings, and accessibility. On the other hand, the session will address notable disadvantages, such as the need for specialized legal knowledge, understanding of local customs, the risk of AI hallucinations and errors, and issues of accountability and lack of human judgment. Panelists will include local practitioners and AI experts.
- SPEAKERS:
- Michael Keblesh, Attorney, Koley Jessen
- Paul Weitzel, Professor, UNL College of Law
DESCRIPTION: This panel will examine today’s economic development landscape through the lens of the key ingredients for growth: talent, energy, and incentives. It will also explore Omaha’s relative position in these areas and highlight the strategies and initiatives underway to strengthen and improve them.
2026 HALL OF FAME CLASS
12:30 - 1:00 PM KEYNOTE SPEAKER
DESCRIPTION: Ryan Severino, Chief Economist and Head of Research at BGO, Former Economist at JLL, unpacks the major structural shifts that have quietly transformed commercial real estate over the past few decades, explaining why today’s market operates by a completely different logic than the one previous generations knew. He connects global forces to regional realities, giving audiences a clear view of what’s changing and what it means for their local market.
- SPEAKER: Ryan Severino, Chief Economist and Head of Research at BGO
DESCRIPTION: Affordable housing has evolved from a niche policy discussion into a powerful engine for local investment and neighborhood revitalization. This session brings together a developer, architect, and finance professional to demystify the sector's complexities and highlight emerging opportunities for the Omaha market.
Our panel will unpack the full lifecycle of affordable development, covering:
-The Financial Mechanics: A breakdown of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), bond financing, and the recent expansion of federal and local funding programs.
-National Trends & Local Opportunity: Insights into the surge of "legacy" affordable projects hitting the market and how national shifts impact Omaha’s development pipeline.
-Design & Placemaking: How high-quality architecture and intentional design transform affordable housing into anchors for vibrant, mixed-income communities.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how public-private partnerships drive investment decisions and affordable housing strengthens the neighborhoods it serves.
- MODERATOR: Cynthia Ray, Associate Principal, BVH Architecture
- PANELISTS:
- Jake Hoppe, CEO, Hoppe Development
- Evan Gunn, Principal, BVH Architecture
- Jody Holston, Executive Director, Front Porch Investments
DESCRIPTION: A discussion on Development Strategies to DELIVER on the “On Time and On Budget” Promise. The panel will dive into current challenges faced by developers and the assembly of the right teams and strategies to manage and deliver, despite challenges encountered along the way.
Description: Gain valuable perspectives from leading lenders in this session which covers current lending trends, underwriting criteria, and tips for securing favorable loan terms. Learn how to position your projects for success and build stronger relationships with financial institutions.
- MODERATOR: Adam Kirshenbaum, Chief Legal Officer, Metonic Real Estate Solutions, LLC
- PANELISTS:
- John Reed, Managing Director, Northmarq
- Jasin Alfaro, Chief Executive Officer, Metonic Real Estate Solutions, LLC
- Peter Frei, Vice President of Investments, NewStreet Properties
DESCRIPTION: As Greater Omaha evolves into a next-generation innovation hub, this panel will explore how emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence, ag tech, and med tech—are reshaping the region’s economic future. Moderated by Heath Mello, President & CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, the discussion will feature insights from Bill Torson of Scott Data, Michael Jung of Grit Road Partners, and Amy Thompson of UNMC. Together, they’ll examine how public-private partnerships, talent pipelines, and infrastructure investments are positioning Omaha to lead in a rapidly transforming economy
- MODERATOR: Heath Mello, President & CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
- PANELISTS:
- Bill Torson, CTO of Scott Data
- Michael Jung, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Grit Road Partners
- Amy Thompson, Director, Campus Development for UNMC