As RETCON is drawing near, I wanted to highlight 5 sessions that are in my sights.  These are all multifamily-related, but I will probably branch out beyond our space, as there are always valuable lessons to be gained from other parts of real estate and beyond.

How Systems Work, and Especially How They Fail

They promised to do a hard job faster, better, and more efficiently than you could do yourself. But if you set up a system, you will likely find your time and effort now being consumed in the care and feeding of the system itself.

What I love about this session topic:  One of the most common missteps in rolling out a new technology is underestimating the time and effort it will take to support that technology.  And as much as we like to think that all our careful planning and vetting will avoid these issues, we must face the potential that some of our roll-outs will fail, or at least be much more time intensive than we hope.

Fireside Chat With Ned Stiker, Cortland & Brad Hargreaves, Thesis Driven

With just under $21B in gross real asset value owned in whole or in part and 81,500+ apartment units, Cortland is among the nation's Top 10 largest apartment owners. This fireside chat will explore the multifamily investment landscape and the investors' views on opportunities, challenges, and the sectors and themes that are gaining traction with capital today

What I love about this session topic:  With 2024 continuing to be tumultuous with enormous supply coupled with persistently elevated interest rates, this should be a fascinating perspective on the remaining of this year, and hopefully a view of the future. 

Technology & Business Intelligence: Using Technology & Data to Make Better Decisions

In a continuously unpredictable world, staying on top of trends, behaviors and preferences is essential. Multifamily professionals have to stay on top of a wide range of dynamics that are constantly shifting. It's essential to use technology and data to make smart business decisions. This panel will discuss business intelligence and build frameworks for valuable decision making.

What I love about this session topic:  While AI has been getting the lion's share of attention recently, it is often the underlying data, both good and bad, that can define much of that opportunity.  Understanding current data trends and how companies are leveraging an ever-growing mountain of data is a fascinating subject.

Using Technology to Create Competitive Assets: Attracting & Retaining Tenants with Top Tech

Technology continues to become more and more sophisticated. Today, it's not just the new, institutionally backed, Class A buildings that have technology. More and more multifamily developments are incorporating top tier tech to attract tenants and retain them. With tenants having more technology forward buildings to choose from, how should you be building a technology stack to keep your assets competitive? This panel will dive into technology strategies to attract and retain tenants.

What I love about this session topic:  I'm especially curious at how technology is implemented within varying classes of multifamily.  The way a Class B property approaches technology will be dramatically different than a newly developed lease-up.

Deciphering Deception: Unveiling Fallacies in Tech Change Strategies

Understand the common traps organizations fall into during technology transitions. Learn practical strategies to address misconceptions and foster a more adaptive and resilient approach to change. Walk away with actionable steps to navigate through change with confidence and achieve lasting success in your tech initiatives.

What I love about this session topic:  Change management is often the unsung hero of (effective) technology adoption, and implementing strategies to maximize the chance for a successful rollout is key.

If you are already registered for RETCON, search for me on the app, which is now open and let's connect.