-- Expert Panelists, Special Guests Discussed Key Issues Including Tech Impact on Supply Chain Logistics, Last Mile Challenges, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Threats, and other Real Estate and Business Trends --
SIOR Global President Geoff Kasselman moderates the Opening General Session with Mary Matalin and James Carville
The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) — the world’s leading professional industrial and office real estate association — hosted its annual Spring World Conference in New Orleans from Wednesday, April 26 – Saturday, April 29. The international conference drew more than 758 SIOR attendees from 12 different countries to the Sheraton New Orleans.
For the 76th year, the industry’s top commercial real estate brokers and experts, SIOR leadership and members, and many special guests gathered to discuss the most pressing and relevant topics facing the real estate industry today. Major topics of discussion throughout the event included: how to service big companies; tech’s impact on supply chain, logistics, and industrial property; office investment trends; the investment property market; and preparing for threats to real estate infrastructure.
SIOR’s 2017 Spring World Conference kicked off with a New Orleans band performing on the main stage
Special guest speakers included pundits Mary Matalin and James Carville, inspirational speaker Mike Robbins, and entrepreneur and Johnny Cupcakes founder Johnny Earl.
“It was an honor to be part of yet another highly-successful international SIOR conference, further solidifying the organization as a global leader in the real estate industry,” said SIOR Global President Geoffrey Kasselman. “It was spectacular to see members come together from twelve different countries to exchange valuable insights and ideas about important real estate issues and relevant business matters in an optimal setting, and to help advance the values and goals of our organization as well as highlight our recent achievements.”
Highlights of the special sessions included: a presentation by Dr. Matthias Winkenbach of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics on ways to optimize the costly and difficult “last mile” of supply chain deliveries in increasingly dense urban environments; tips from Special Agent DrewWatts of the cybersecurity division of the FBI on how business owners and individuals can protect themselves from information and financial theft by hackers or “the new bank robbers”; and Daniel Smolensky, SIOR, Principal and Founder of the Taurus Modal Group, leading a panel of independent brokers who shared their experience with using technology to level the playing field with larger firms to win and maintain business with large companies.
Attendees also had ample time to partake in social and networking events, including a Young Professionals Night Out event, a sold-out office broker dinner, and the Panattoni Party: SIOR's Mardi Gras Celebration.
“SIOR members from over a dozen countries gathered in New Orleans for what was without a doubt one of the most successful Spring World Conferences yet,” said Jeff Wilke, President of SIOR’s Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Northwest Florida Chapter. “The networking opportunities coupled with the perceptive, in-depth education sessions and discussions which took place over the three days demonstrate the depth and volume of information to which SIORs have access, allowing our members to serve as both thought leaders and major players across the globe.
Established in 1941, SIOR now extends to 48 chapters worldwide, consisting of nearly 3,100 members in more than 630 cities in 35 countries.
About the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (www.sior.com) is a global professional organization that certifies commercial real estate service providers with the exclusive SIOR designation. Individuals who earn their SIOR adhere to the highest levels of accountability and ethical standards. Only the industry’s top professionals qualify for the SIOR. Today, there are 3,100 SIOR members in 650 markets in 34 countries.
