Panelists Include CEOs of Century 21 and Realwired!, V.P. of Institutional Real Estate, Inc.

The impact of technology on the residential and commercial real estate business will be explored by a panel of distinguished, nationally known real estate industry leaders during a luncheon for sponsors of the Real Estate Center at DePaul May 11.

Panelists include: Van Davis, president and CEO of Century 21, the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization; Brenda J. Dohring-Hicks, founder and CEO of RealWired!, a pioneer in the commercial real estate database industry; and Steve Felix, vice president of Institutional Real Estate, Inc., publisher of Institutional Real Estate Letter and other industry publications. The private luncheon, which is open to media coverage, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Empire Room of the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St.

“After the hype of the 1990s, it looks like there are real changes happening in real estate operations, management, brokerage and lending because of technological advances, and these changes are having a profound impact on our time and the way we manage organizations,” said Susanne Etheridge Cannon, associate professor of finance and director of the Real Estate Center at DePaul. “The center has put together an exciting program that will look at these issues and trends.”

Officially launched at DePaul University’s College of Commerce in 2002, The Real Estate Center of DePaul encompasses the city’s most comprehensive array of undergraduate, graduate and certificate degree programs in real estate as well as industry research, conference and career enhancement programs tailored to the needs of Chicago’s real estate businesses, institutions, trade organizations, investors, developers and homebuilders. The center is supported by more than $1.4 million in funding from prominent real estate industry-related executives, institutions, banks, law firms and organizations.

Center sponsors include: Richard A. Hanson, principal of Mesa Development LLC; Robert Wislow, chairman and CEO of U.S. Equities Realty; LaSalle Bank; Piper, Rudnick LLP; Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal; Equity Residential; the Real Estate Investment Association; and the Real Estate Finance Forum.

Editor’s Note: Reporters interested in attending the luncheon should make prior arrangements by calling Robin Florzak, director of DePaul media relations: (312) 362-8592.