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Wisconsin Retail Conference | Wednesday, April 30th – Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
April 30
Join us on Wednesday, April 30th, for the Wisconsin Retail Real Estate Conference. Gain national and local insights, top-level networking, and great speakers. Join real estate professionals in the retail space including brokers, developers, investors, attorneys, bankers, and more.
Keynote Speaker: Garrick Brown
Garrick Brown, VP of Real Estate Intelligence & Business Development at Gallelli, is a top real estate analyst with 25 years of experience, specializing in retail. A recognized thought leader, he has led national research teams and is frequently quoted by major media (The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, NPR). With 21,000+ LinkedIn followers, he shares insights on market trends and co-hosts The Retail Grind podcast. A dynamic speaker, he presents at top universities (Harvard, UCLA) and industry groups (ICSC, NAIOP, ULI). His accolades include the ICSC Lifetime Career Service Award and a Golden Telly Award. He also consults on market forecasting and strategy, having previously led research at Cushman & Wakefield, Cassidy Turley, Newmark, and Colliers.
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Panel Presentation: Rebuilding Retail: Concepts, Conversions & Capital
As retail continues to evolve, Wisconsin is at the forefront of a transformation that blends adaptive reuse, ground-up development, and next-generation retail concepts. This panel brings together investors, developers, and industry experts—both local and national—to explore the shifting dynamics of commercial retail real estate across the country and the State.
From high-growth suburban corridors to revitalized urban infill projects, retail is being redefined through mixed-use integrations, experiential design, and new investment models.
This panel will look closer into:
Investor Sentiment & Capital Flow – How are in-state and out-of-state investors evaluating various retail markets and opportunities? Which asset classes are attracting capital?
Adaptive Reuse & Mixed-Use Innovations – What’s working when repurposing outdated retail centers? Where is mixed-use retail succeeding?
Ground-Up vs. Redevelopment – With demand for experiential retail and unique destinations, what’s the right approach for different markets?
Emerging Trends & Consumer Behavior – How are retail concepts shifting with e-commerce integration, hospitality-driven retail, and localized experiences?
The Next Big Opportunity – Where should developers and investors be looking next? What municipalities are primed for retail growth? What are the characteristics of those places?
This discussion will illuminate the opportunities—and challenges—shaping the retail’s future locally and across the country.
Speakers include:
Ed Bowen, The Morgan Partners
Corrine Cecil, Last Mile Investments
Adam Ifshin, DLC Management
Scott Yauck, Cobalt Partners
Mike Fitzgerald, Mid-America Real Estate (Moderator)
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Roundtable Sessions: Includes 4 twenty minute sessions
Topics Include:
Changing Brown Deer’s Identity with Government Involvement | Nate Piotrowski, City of Brown Deer
Construction Cost Update – Making New from Old vs. New | Dave Schwartz, Innovative Construction Solutions
Convenience & Grocery Store Update | Troy Mleziva, Kwik Trip
Downtown Milwaukee / Third Ward Update | Matt Dorner, Milwaukee Downtown, Bid #21, Bruce Westling, NEWMARK
Entitlements (Zoning Changes, Drive Throughs & More) | Rod Carter, Husch Blackwell
Expanding Retailers / Hot Trends in Retail | Andrew Prater, Ryan O’Hara, Mid America Real Estate
Housing and Infrastructure Resources | Jon Searles, WHEDA | Jon Searles, WHEDA
Investment and Net Lease Sales | Adam Connor, Colliers
Janesville/Beloit: A Sure Bet | Bill Mears, Coldwell Banker Commercial McGuire Mears & Associates
Madison Market Update | Max Jacobson, Jacobson Commercial Real Estate
Real World Location Intelligence with Placer.ai | Brenden Gill, Placer AI
Renewing Loans in a New Interest Rate Environment / Construction Financing | Adam Newman, Landmark Credit Union
Site Selection & Alternative Uses in Retail | Sam Gleischman, CBRE
Tax Deferred Exchange Solutions 2025 | Anna Barsky, IPX 1031
Title 101 | Cate Heath, Chicago Title
What’s New with Restaurants | Ross Koepsel, Founders 3 Real Estate Services
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Municipal Showcase:
Municipalities play a crucial role in a project’s success, and we are deeply engaged with the economic development community. This year, municipalities will have the opportunity to host a table at our highly popular happy hour event (4:30 – 6:30 PM), where they can showcase their community with display materials. Additionally, we will gather information on available development sites, incentives, key contacts, and desired retailers. This information will be compiled and shared with all attendees. To encourage engagement, we will incorporate a game that guides attendees through the showcase, ensuring they visit each municipality’s display.
When:
Wednesday, April 30th, 2025
Where:
Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
333 W Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203
Tentative Schedule:
11:00 – 11:45 Registration and Networking
11:45 – 12:45 Welcome & Lunch
12:45 – 1:30 – Keynote
1:30 – 1:45 – Break
1:45 – 2:30 – Panel
2:30-2:45 – Break
2:45 – 4:15 – Roundtables
4:15 – 6:00 – Happy Hour
Pricing:
Member Early Bird (Before April 4th) – $95
Member (After April 4th) – $145
Non-Member Early Bird (Before April 4th) – $125
Non-Member (After April 4th) – $175
Student – $50.00
Municipality Showcase Opportunity HERE
Sponsorship information can be found HERE
Thank you to our Committee Members!
Isaac Berg | Colliers International
Jay Blom | Founders 3 Real Estate Services
Patrick Bryan | Kohl’s
Brad Dallet | Husch Blackwell LLP
Bob Duffy | City of Oconomowoc
Sarah Eldred | Mid-America Real Estate-WI, L.L.C.
Connor Farrell | Founders 3 Real Estate Services
Sam Gleischman | CBRE
CJ Goldberg | CBRE
Rory Linder | Landmark Credit Union
Adam Newman | Landmark Credit Union
Patrick Schloss | City of West Allis
Kevin Schmoldt | NEWMARK
Dave Schwartz | Innovative Construction Solutions, Inc.
Sarah Smith | Batteries Plus
Emily Smits | Mid-America Real Estate-WI, L.L.C.
Cory Sovine | Colliers International
Brian Vanevenhoven | NEWMARK
