The industrial sector remains one of the key engines fueling the Detroit-area economy. And though that sector faces challenges today, it also remains resilient and adaptable.
That was the takeaway from Michigan Real Estate Journal’s fourth annual Detroit Industrial Real Estate Summit held Aug. 27 at the San Marino Club in Troy, Michigan.
The summit attracted the biggest names in the Detroit-area industrial sector, many of whom spoke during the event about both the challenges and success stories coming from the region. A highlight? A look at some of the more important industrial developments either opening or in the planning stages.
In good news, speakers emphasized that while demand for industrial space isn’t quite as high as it was during the COVID boom — a situation that is far from rare across the country — it remains steady. Speakers said that the Detroit area remains an attractive destination for companies seeking industrial space.
The summit also provided time for attendees to network, a key benefit of all REjournal-branded summits. Attendees also earned three hours of real estate continuing education credits.
Kicking off the summit was the Detroit Industrial Real Estate Market Outlook: Navigating Growth & Change panel. Speakers on this panel of experts included Wendy Acho, Sales Associate, Farbman Group; Drake Filippis, Associate Broker, Signature Associates; Nick Savoy, Senior Industrial Associate, Lee & Associates; Elizabeth Rogers, Partner, Taft (Moderator); Randall Book, Executive Vice President, Colliers; and Jason Capitani, Managing Partner, L. Mason Capitani CORFAC International.
Speaking during the event’s second session, the Development & Design: Building the Next Generation of Industrial Facilities panel, were Marc Werner, Regional Vice President, NorthPoint Development; Shannon Selby, Vice President, Real Estate, Detroit Regional Partnership; Nick Weise, Vice President / Principal, Rightsize Facility (Moderator); Emily D’Agostini Kunath, Principal, D’Agostini Companies; Conrad Schewe, Partner and Senior Vice President of Development, Burton-Katzman LLC; and Thomas Styf, Operations Manager, ARCO National Construction.
The third session, Capital Markets & Investment Strategies in Today’s Industrial Landscape, featured speakers Luke Timmis, Principal | Investment Division, Signature Associates; Robert Pliska, President, SPERRY – Property Investment Counselors; Anne Galbraith-Kohn, Senior Vice President, CBRE; Mark Bennett, Founder and Managing Director, MJBennett (Moderator); and Dave Dismondy, Managing Director, District Capital.
The summit closed with the Economic Development, Infrastructure & Regional Competitiveness panel. Speaking on this panel were Robert McCraight, Mayor, City of Romulus; Paul O’Connell, Vice President Real Estate Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Kurt Brauer, Partner, Warner Norcross + Judd (Moderator); and Tyler Rossmaessler, Executive Director, Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance.
