The Joseph and Joyce Freed Tomorrow's

Leaders in Real Estate Initiative

Chicago School of Real Estate|Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate

Walter E. Heller College of Business Administration

Freed Mentor/Scholar Breakfast 2010

On February 11, 2010 the Joseph and Joyce Freed Tomorrow's Leaders in Real Estate Initiative had a Mentor/Scholar Breakfast.  The Freed Scholars were selected based on their potential for success and leadership in the real estate industry.  The Freed Mentor Program provides opportunities and guidance in the development and enhancement of the professional and personal skills that complement academic studies. This was a great opportunity for the mentors who will become trusted advisors in this new phase of the scholar's professional lives and valuable resources throughout their carreer.

Front Row: Jonathan Shropshire, Mahogany Kyles, Leda Woods, Tim Geisler and Mathew Duhig.

Second Row: Derek Walvoord, Kamran Foruhar, Felicia Common, and Jean Meilinger

Back Row: Joe Florczak, Dennis Harder, Joe Concepcion, Leo Solarte, Jon DeVries, Edgar Flagg, and Joseph Pasquinelli

Program Mission

The mission of the Freed Initiative is to facilitate and enable promising scholars to obtain graduate level and industry based degrees in the field of commercial real estate.  By educating, encouraging and supporting the scholars, the goal is to prepare them for mid and senior leadership roles in any sector of the real estate industry they might choose.  This initiative incorporates scholarships, professional training classes, mentorships, academic counseling and industry networking. 

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Two levels of financial assistance are available:

• Selected students will receive an annual scholarship of $5,000/ year for up to two years to complete the degree program.
  
• Financial Aid assistantance (student loans) will be provided as needed by the university’s existing financial aid process.
  
• To qualify for other financial assistance, all student applicants must complete two forms:  1) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and 2) The Roosevelt University Financial Aid Application.

Technical/Information Technology Training

On-site training courses will be provided to Freed Fellows to give them the latest in computer and information technology skills.   The training will include basic business software plus industry specific industry resources including, but not limited to, the following: Argus financial software; SNL REIT Data Source; Lexis/Nexis; Co Star and ArcGIS Desktop

Professional and Personal Skills

Industry professionals will provide intensive professional and personal skills training to all Freed Fellows.  These afternoon courses will be held in specific segments throughout the fall and spring semesters.  Subjects to be addressed will include:

Self-presentation and etiquette skills, Group presentation skills, Personal financial skills and Time management. 

Writing and Composition Training

Industry professionals will also provide intensive classes in writing and composition skills to all Freed Fellows.  These afternoon classes will be provided in specific segments throughout the fall and spring semesters.  Subjects to be addressed are: Writing and composition skills, Memo and letter composition, Document organization, Resume preparation, and Speech/presentation preparation.

Mentorships/Internships

Fellows will be assigned a mentor from Joseph Freed and Associates (or related firms), which is a practitioner actively involved in the real estate industry in the Chicago area.  The mentor will provide real life experiences for students, such as shadowing opportunities, attendance at professional events, firsthand exposure to the industry, and participation in company activities. 

Academic Counseling

Students will be assigned full-time or adjunct faculty to provide guidance concerning their academic choices, as well as other counseling, during their studies.

Student/Institute Forums

Each fall and spring semester a luncheon forum with the Fellows, faculty, and the mentors will be held.

The forums will serve as a sounding board, a learning experience and a networking opportunity for all program participants.

Career Evaluation

Each semester, an industry professional will meet with the Fellows to review and explore career options.  These meetings will include an evaluation of the mix of classes and industry events to best prepare individual students for placement in their chosen field of real estate.

Industry Placement The real estate faculty will assist Fellows in composing resume materials, in obtaining interview appointments, and in preparing for industry interviews. 

 

STUDENT/PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS

Entry Requirements:

To qualify for a scholarship or other financial assistance, applicants must provide the following completed information:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): FASFA
• On-line graduate admission application: Graduate Admission Application
• Scholarship Program Application: Scholarship Program Application
• Scholarship Fact Sheet: Download Here
• 300 word essay (explaining your goals for entering the real estate program)
• Current resume
• (if employed) a letter of recommendation from current employer is preferred.
• Official transcripts from undergraduate institution

Applicants will be required to have completed an undergraduate degree (with a minimum 3.0 average) or to have completed 2-3 years of work at a meaningful level in real estate or a closely related field. 

Program Participation Requirements

Graduates will be required to maintain an overall grade point average of 3.5 or better; participate in four professional development workshops and be continuously registered in one of the real estate degree programs – either the MBA/Concentration in Real Estate or the Masters of Science in Real Estate. The degree must be completed in two years.

FALL 2010 APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 26, 2010

 

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