WCRE News

Real Estate Undergrads Travel to Germany for Expo Real Conference

In October, a grassroots effort by a group of UW-Madison Real Estate students materialized into a successful trip to Munich, Germany for the Expo Real, “Europe’s biggest trade fair for commercial property.”

Led by Sharon McCabe, Senior Lecturer and Assistant Director for the Graaskamp Center, eleven undergraduate students took advantage of the unique opportunity to meet and speak with real estate professionals and distinguished leaders of the international real estate community at Expo Real. Michael Scotti, a real estate MBA student who previously lived and worked in Germany, served as translator for the trip.

  Faculty coordinator Sharon McCabe, Brad Olsen of Atlantic Partners and real estate undergraduate students gather for a group photo at Expo Real. Special thanks to Brad Olsen of Atlantic Properties for his support of the trip.

McCabe asserts that the conference had a large impact on students, particularly those who have never had the opportunity to go outside the U.S, saying “It was a chance for the students to learn the nuances of real estate and other elements that cannot be taught in a classroom. The experience really opened their eyes to the world of global real estate.”

Gretchen Frankenthal, a student who traveled to the Expo Real, agrees. Not only was it a positive experience from a cultural perspective, it also provided unique and exciting networking opportunities. For Gretchen, who aspires to work in the international real estate world, it was advantageous. She asserts, “I walked away with at least four people who I think will be great contacts for the future.”

Prior to the conference, students prepared a preliminary investment report focusing on a specific country such as Italy, Russia, Sweden, etc. At the Expo Real, students were able to visit booths from those countries and speak with exhibitors, so that they could incorporate more country specific information into their report.

With the help of sponsors, it is McCabe’s hope that the trip can become an annual ritual. Special thanks to AFIRE, Principal Real Estate Investors and Brad Olson of Atlantic Properties for their sponsorship and support of the trip.