Date
Monday, May 4, 2020 | 8-9 PM
Webinar Sponsors
Now You Know: COVID-19 Commercial Real Estate Implications
Please join UJA and the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto as we present an esteemed panel of experts to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on the commercial real estate sector and how the pandemic is already shaping the future of the industry.
Please register for this webinar by 6:00 PM on May 3rd
Panelists:
Michael J. Cooper, President and Chief Responsible Officer, Dream
Daniel Drimmer, Chief Executive Officer and President, Starlight Investments
Jonathan Gitlin, President and Chief Operating Officer, RioCan REIT
Craig Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer, Northam Realty Advisors
Moderators:
Jordan Robins, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at First Capital REIT
Ari Silverberg, Co-founder and President, Harbour Equity
Leonard Abramsky, UJA 2020 Campaign Co-Chair, will provide opening remarks.
We’ve got more webinars to come – stay tuned!
For more information, please contact Jennifer Apple at [email protected]
For more information, please contact Jennifer Apple at [email protected]
SPEAKERS
Michael J. Cooper
Michael J. Cooper is the President and Chief Responsible Officer of Dream, and founder of DAM. He has worked in the real estate industry since 1986, and helped found DAM in 1996, which he continues to lead as President and Chief Responsible Officer. He is also the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Dream Office REIT. Under his leadership, the business has grown to approximately $9 billion of commercial real estate, residential development, and renewable energy infrastructure assets under management. In addition, Dream has also completed in excess of $36 billion of transactions. Among his accomplishments, Michael is responsible for the formation of three TSX-listed real estate investment trusts: Dream Office REIT, Dream Global REIT and Dream Industrial REIT, as well as the formation of Dream Alternatives, a TSX-listed mutual fund trust focused on hard asset alternative investments. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Business Administration from York University. Mr. Cooper currently sits on the board of directors of Dream, Dream Office REIT, Dream Industrial REIT, and E-L Financial Corporation Limited.
Daniel Drimmer
Daniel Drimmer is the founder and CEO of Starlight Investments, a Canadian real estate asset manager with over 225 employees and $14B in AUM encompassing more than 36,000 multi-family units and 7.0M commercial square feet. In addition to founding TransGlobe Apartment REIT in 2010, Daniel founded True North Apartment REIT and True North Commercial REIT (TSX: TNT.UN) in 2012, the Starlight U.S. Multi-Family Core Funds in 2013 and Starlight Capital in 2018. Daniel is currently a Trustee of Northview Apartment REIT (TSX: NVU.UN) as well as True North Commercial REIT (TSX:TNT.UN) and Starlight U.S. Multi-Family (No. 1) Core Plus Fund (TSX.V: SCPO.UN). Over the last eight years, Daniel has completed more than $30B of real estate related transactions. He is the third generation in the Drimmer family to be involved in commercial real estate.
Jonathan Gitlin
As President and Chief Operating Officer at RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, Jonathan Gitlin is responsible for the day-to-day execution of RioCan’s corporate strategy. In this capacity, he oversees the Trust’s investments, leading its residential program, RioCan Living, and driving its $2 billion disposition program. With almost 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, including his previous role as a real estate lawyer at a major Canadian firm, Jonathan brings a unique perspective to RioCan’s vision, strategy, and position in the marketplace. Over the past 13 years, Jonathan has a played a key role in the Trust’s tremendous growth, helping form major strategic decisions that have enabled RioCan to evolve to meet changing market needs and, in turn, drive long-term unitholder value.
Craig Walters
Craig Walters is the President and COO of Northam Realty. He joined Northam in 1997 as Senior Vice-President after 8 years at Markborough Properties, and has been involved in the successful acquisition, operation, and disposition of approximately $6 billion in assets during that time. Craig is responsible for the Asset Value optimization of Northam's portfolio with Asset Management, Acquisitions, Leasing, Property Management and Finance reporting to him. He also manages all joint venture relationships throughout the portfolio and oversees property development initiatives and partnerships. Craig spends time mentoring senior staff and nurturing relationships at Northam to foster a work environment that is open, communicative, and respectful. He completed his undergraduate degree from University of Western Ontario in 1985 and earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business in 1988.
MODERATORS
Jordan Robins
Jordan Robins is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at First Capital REIT. Jordan has over 25 years of extensive experience, and a proven track record in many facets of retail real estate including development, leasing, and acquisitions. Previously, he served as Senior Vice-President, Planning and Development of RioCan REIT. Jordan holds a Master of Science degree in Facilities Management from the Pratt Institute.
Ari Silverberg
Ari Silverberg (BA, LLB, MBA) is the President of Harbour Equity, a private equity fund manager that provides equity capital to real estate developers across Canada. Ari is responsible for sourcing and managing the company’s joint venture relationships. Prior to co-founding Harbour Equity in 2011, Ari was President and CEO of Charter REIT where he was responsible for setting the strategic direction of the REIT as well as identifying, structuring, and managing Charter REIT’s property acquisition and financing activities. Before joining Charter REIT, Ari worked in the development groups at RioCan REIT in Toronto and at Chicago-based General Growth Properties Inc., a U.S. regional shopping mall operator, where he was responsible for the acquisition and development of retail and mixed-use real estate opportunities throughout the mid-west and western United States. Ari has been an active participant in UJA for many years, acting as Chair of the Real Estate Cabinet for the last three fundraising campaigns.