Last month, the ICSC Foundation partnered with DePaul University and McDonald’s to host An Evening With McDonald’s at the company’s Chicago headquarters, bringing together industry leaders and students from across the country for education and networking.
The evening featured welcome remarks from ICSC chair JP Suarez — who also participated in a fireside chat at The Real Estate Center at DePaul University’s Collegiate Real Estate Conference the following day — and McDonald’s USA senior vice president and chief development officer Tabassum Zalotrawala.
ICSC chair JP Suarez offered welcome remarks at the ICSC Foundation and DePaul University’s Evening With McDonald’s event for students.
The program highlighted retail real estate’s central role in McDonald’s long-term growth strategy via a panel discussion featuring members of the company’s U.S. restaurant development team. Attendees also networked with industry leaders, including ICSC Foundation chair Brian Finnegan, president and CEO of Brixmor, and ICSC Foundation board members: Enrichment Partners founder and CEO Melvin Mance, founder and CEO of Enrichment Partners and Amy Hall, Caton Commercial chief operating adviser.
The panel was moderated by Jordyn Kandelman of McDonald’s and featured Amy Bayles and Christopher Smitherman II of McDonald’s, Melvin Mance of Enrichment Partners and Joe Calhoun of McDonald’s.
Students from various other colleges and universities participating in the weekend’s Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Real Estate Challenge case competition also attended, strengthening the event’s service to education and industry engagement.
Students networked with industry professionals, including ICSC Foundation board members.
By Katie Kervin
Managing Editor, Commerce + Communities Today