USC Lusk Center Annual Retreat
Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara | May 28-30, 2025
Theme – Now What?
Presentation Slides
Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires
Retreat Materials
Attire:
- Daytime dress for the Retreat is business casual; the goal is for you to be comfortable and at ease.
- Dress for Wednesday and Thursday evening dinner is business casual.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
6:30 – 8:30 pm Welcome Soiree Dinner • The Buff | Ritz-Carlton Bacara Hotel
• After Dinner Cocktails | Lobby Bar (optional casual gathering without a designated host)
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Breakfast - 7:00 – 7:50 am
Business Session - 7:50 am – 12:20 pm • Ballroom B & C
Welcome
Richard K. Green, Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
Kev Zoryan, Founder & Managing Partner, Arselle Investments
Nadine Watt, Chief Executive Officer, Watt Capital Partners
Future of Retail
Moderator – Clare De Briere, Founding Partner, Catalyst Property Company
Jim Dillavou, Principal, Paragon Commercial Group
David Germakian, Senior Vice President of Development, EDENS
Gar Herring, Senior Vice President of Development, Poag Shopping Centers
Lindsay Parton, President, DJM Capital Partners, Inc.
Keynote
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist, Moody's Analytics
AI Practitioners Lead-in
Connie Chan, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
AI Practitioners
Moderator – Richard K. Green, Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
Connie Chan, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Amit Koren, Chief Executive Officer, Leasing and Capital Markets Technology, JLL
Christopher Cashdan, Multi-Family Operations at GID/Windsor Communities
Wan Li Zhu, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Suffolk Technologies
Trojan Talk
William A. Witte, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Related California
Capital Markets – Equity Perspective
Moderator – Michael L. Matkins, Founding Partner, Allen Matkins
Grace Bucchianeri, Americas Head of Global Investment & Portfolio Strategy, GIC
Mary Ludgin, Senior Advisor, Investment Research, Heitman
Eric Samek, Founder, Managing Director, Brasa Capital Management
Rebuilding LA
Kevork Zoryan, Lusk Advisory Board Chair, Founder & Managing Partner, Arselle Investments
Lunch – 12:20 pm – 1:30 pm
Recreation – 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Golf – 2:30 - 4:30 | Sandpiper Golf Club: 7925 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117 | Golf participants will need to arrange their own transportation to Sandpiper Golf Club.
- Hike With Richard – 2:45 - 5:00 | Ellwood Mesa Open Space & Sperling Preserve
Shuttle Pick-up in the North Parking Lot | Shuttles arrive at 2:30 and Depart 2:45
Dinner • The Ellwood at Goleta Beach • 6:30pm – 9:00 pm
- Cocktails 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
- Dinner 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Shuttle Pick-up in the North Parking Lot • 6:00 pm, 6:15 pm, 6:30 pm
After Dinner Cocktails • Bacara Lobby Bar (optional | a casual gathering without a designated host)
Friday, May 30, 2025
Breakfast – 7:00 – 7:50 am
Business Session - 7:50 am – 11:40 am
Welcome
Richard K. Green, Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
Kev Zoryan, Founder & Managing Partner, Arselle Investments
Nadine Watt, Chief Executive Officer, Watt Capital Partners
Economic Outlook
Richard K. Green, Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
Housing
Moderator – Ziv Cohen, Chief Investment Officer, The Resmark Companies
Frederick N. Cooper, Senior Vice President - Strategic Partnership, Toll Brothers
Adam Larson, Chief Financial Officer, Cottonwood Communities
Charles McKeag, President,California, BrightSky Residential
Keynote
Richard Florida, Founder, Creative Class Group
Real Assets
Moderator – Raul Saavedra, Vice Chair, Head of Data Center Advisory, Americas, Colliers
Chris Baise, Director of Investments, Primary Digital Infrastructure
Jay Frank, President, Cantor Fitzgerald
Jason C. Jenkins, Managing Director, Pathway Capital Management
Trojan Talk
Emile Haddad, Founder & Chairman Emeritus, FivePoint Holdings, LLC
Closing Remarks
Richard K. Green, Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
Retreat Committee
Jeffrey M. Bramson - JLL Capital Markets
Gino A. Canori - Related California
Kirsten Timmins Chen - Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Patrick Chraghchian - Adept Development
Lindsay Dunn - City National Bank
Bruce Fischer - Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Alfred Fraijo, Jr. - Somos
Richard K. Green - USC Lusk Center for Real Estate
Mitchell Goodman - The Resmark Companies
Mark A. Jacobs - Oaktree Capital Management, LP
R. Lynn King-Tolliver - Archere Investment Management
Michelle Langer - Cottonwood Communities
David P. Lari - Cox, Castle & Nicholson, LLP
Scott B. Laurie - The Olson Company
John W. Loper - USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Gregory W. Schultz - First American Title Insurance Company
Kitty M. Wallace - Colliers International
Nadine Watt - Watt Capital Partners
William A. Witte - Related California
Kevork Zoryan - Arselle Investments