Sam Zell to keynote Eisenberg Foundation’s REAL Bright Night

Sam Zell

Sam Zell, founder and chairman of Equity Group Investments, will be the keynote speaker highlighting the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation’s REAL Bright Summit: Building the Future of Real Estate, January 25-29 Presented by Old Second National Bank. Zell will be interviewed as part of the REAL Bright Night, Thursday, January 28, 2020 at 7:00 pm.

The REAL Bright Summit: Building the Future of Real Estate is a bold new initiative of The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation to UNITE industry leaders, students and supporters from across the country. The virtual format of The REAL Bright Summit, as well as the REAL Bright Night program featuring Sam Zell allows for participation from real estate professionals and students across the country.

“It is profoundly exciting to present Sam Zell in this inaugural event for the Foundation in a year when we all have worked so hard to pivot to provide impactful education and networking opportunities,” said Peter Eisenberg, president of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation. “Sam’s expert insights will certainly teach the next generation and inspire our industry’s seasoned real estate leaders at REAL Bright Night”

The week-long Summit combines what traditionally have been two annual events—the Foundation’s Annual Dinner and its Annual Career Day.

The Annual Dinner is the premier real estate networking dinner of the year and the Foundation’s most significant fundraiser, raising nearly $500,000 annually for gastrointestinal cancer and real estate education. It’s traditionally held in downtown Chicago the evening before the ICSC Deal Making conference and welcomes over 800 influential thought leaders at the founder and executive levels.

Career Day is a two-day experience designed to bolster young careers, allowing students the unique opportunity to network with industry leaders, while gaining valuable exposure to the Chicago real estate world. Students visit two development projects and attend panels, networking events, and a career/internship fair.

A critical part of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation’s two-pronged mission is building the future of real estate by educating and mentoring young people. That mission is as critical as ever during these uncertain times. Students and new graduates nationwide are facing unmatched obstacles to join the commercial real estate industry, which has always been full of opportunity for growth and innovation.

Proceeds from the summit will benefit the foundation’s two-pronged mission which also includes advancing gastrointestinal cancer research.