More than 450 people attended the 15th annual real estate gala hosted by the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University Nov. 10 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago.
James B. (Jim) Connor, president and chief executive officer of Duke Realty, was honored with the Lifetime Industry Leadership Award. Robert Gibbs, chief communications officer and executive vice president for corporate relations with McDonald’s Corporation, was the keynote speaker.
All proceeds benefit the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate. Since its founding in 2002, the institute has grown to become one of the largest graduate real estate programs in the country and one of the most diverse. When it was created, the Institute had 25 people in its initial class. Today it has more than 60 enrolled students and more than 800 graduates, many of whom work at Chicago firms. The event provides more than half of the institute’s annual operating budget as well as support for named funds and scholarships.
The institute offers courses toward a master’s of science degree in real estate and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in real estate.