David H. Gilbert UWM Real Estate Foundation
Reggie Newson Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Southeast Region Operations
Bruce T. Block Reinhart Borner VanDeuren
Brett West Kahler Slater / West Development Partners
Gail Burnside, EUA

Client panel moderated by Gail Burnside, EUA

October 22 , 2009
8 a.m. Check-in and networking
8:15 a.m. breakfast is serviced
8:30 a.m. Program

Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee

SMPS-Wisconsin can’t produce a crystal ball with trends for 2010, so we thought we would bring you the next best thing—comments from knowledgeable experts who can offer their thoughts on where markets are heading in the year ahead.  Looking for a lively discussion?  Want to know how to position your firm?  Then come to this breakfast event Oct. 22 at the Country Springs Hotel. Networking starts at 8 a.m. with the presentation to run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Our presenters will be David Gilbert, UW Milwaukee Real Estate Foundation; Bruce Block, Reinhart Boerner VanDeuer, LLC; Reggie Newson, Operations Director for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Southeast Region; and Brett West, AIA, LEED® AP, Kahler Slater/West Development Partners.  The moderator will be Gail Burnside, Director of Marketing for Eppstein Uhen Architects.  Do you have a burning question that you would like to see the panel address?  When you register, you will have the opportunity to submit speaker-specific or general questions for the panelists.

Speaker and Moderator Biographies

David H. Gilbert, (UWM Real Estate Foundation) - David Gilbert was appointed to the position of President of the UWM Foundation by the Foundation Board of Directors in the spring of 2005.  As President he is responsible for the management of Foundation operations and the implementation of initiatives on behalf of the Board of Directors that support the educational, scientific and literary purposes of the University.   Since being appointed to the position, he has spearheaded the creation of two subsidiary corporations – the UWM Real Estate Foundation and the UWM Research Foundation.  David serves as an ex-officio member of the Board, all of its committees, and subsidiary corporations. David came to UWM from the State University of New York in 2004 as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of UWM.  From June 2007 through August 2008, Mr. Gilbert served as Interim Vice Chancellor for Development at UWM during which time he guided the University through the close of a successful $125 million comprehensive campaign.  His portfolio includes government, industry and community relations. Since moving to Wisconsin, David has served on a variety of Boards including the Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association, the Milwaukee County Research Park, the Wisconsin Innovation Network and the Techstar Foundation

Reggie Newson (Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Southeast Region Operations) Reginald “Reggie” Newson is the Operations Director for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Southeast Region.  He oversees 400 employees and  a $10 million annual operating budget.  In 2005, Reggie was honored with the Milwaukee Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Award.   In 2006, he received the Civil Rights Professional of The Year Award from the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials. Reggie serves on the Bayshore Towne Center Community Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Urban League. Reggie has an MBA from Concordia University and MA in political science, and project management, management and Six-Sigma Black Belt Certificates from the UW-Milwaukee. He is an alumnus of Future Milwaukee and member of the Milwaukee Rotary Club and Milwaukee Forum.

Bruce T. Block (Reinhart Boerner VanDeuren LLC) has been practicing law since 1979. He is a shareholder and chair of the firm's Real Estate Practice and is also a member of the firm's Board of Directors.  Bruce's clients include private developers and investors, institutional developers and investors, lenders, municipalities and community development authorities. He has significant experience in a broad range of real estate matters including land use planning, zoning, eminent domain, historic tax credits, multiple and mixed use ownership structures, tax incremental financing and leasing, construction and design contracts. Bruce's extensive contacts in both public and private sectors are key factors in his ability to navigate complex transactions to successful and creative conclusions.  A frequent speaker on real estate matters, land use and zoning and tax incremental financing, Bruce is widely recognized in the business community as a knowledgeable and practical lawyer with the ability and relationships to get things done.

Brett West, AIA, LEED AP (Kahler Slater / West Development Partners) Brett West brings a unique perspective as a dynamic leader for both Kahler Slater and West Development Partners.  As a team leader and designer at Kahler Slater, he has demonstrated success leading numerous high profile, politically and technically complex projects, many of which have been developer led projects.  As a partner with West Development Partners, he has produced projects of over $20 million in value.  Brett will bring insight into the changing market place for developer led projects and how the current economic environment is influencing potential new commercial projects in office, medical office and retail segments.  He will also discuss the challenges facing new projects and which markets might see the first comebacks.

Moderator – Gail Burnside is Director of Marketing for Eppstein Uhen Architects, a 110-person architecture firm serving the healthcare, education, corporate/industrial, senior living and multi-family markets. She has more than 17 years of marketing experience, with 14 years serving a wide variety of firms in the A/E industry. Prior to joining Eppstein Uhen Architects, she held marketing leadership positions at HNTB, a national architecture/engineering consulting firm, and EMCS, a Wisconsin-based woman-owned civil engineering firm. At EUA, Gail has served on the firm’s leadership team and been responsible for strategic planning, corporate marketing and lead generation for this growth-oriented firm.Gail achieved certification from SMPS as a Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) in 2003. She was a presenter at the 2007 SMPS national conference as part of a panel entitled “Re-branding: Heroics, Horror Stories & How to Rise to the Challenge” which was reprised for SMPS-Wisconsin in 2008.

SMPS is a Registered Provider of AIA Continuing Education Credits. This program is 1 CEU.