Real Estate Colloquium featuring Russ DeMartino and interviewed by Nora Kennedy

About Real Estate Colloquium: Real Estate Colloquium provides an overview of the real estate field through weekly sessions with industry professionals. Each session covers diverse topics including finance, investment, law, planning, public policy, REITs, capital markets, leasing, brokerage, and development. Representatives from across the industry share insights into career paths and provide a comprehensive view of this multifaceted field. The Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action welcomes Guest Speaker, Russ DeMartino. He will give a short 30 minute presentation. Following, there will then be a moderated discussion conducted with Nora Kennedy. Guest Speaker: Russ DeMartino is Executive Vice President for Skanska Commercial Development. Russ is responsible for managing the development efforts for Skanska Commercial Development US (CDUS) in the Boston and New England Market. His duties include managing all of the development professionals in the CDUS Boston office, overall responsibilities for all aspects of Skanska USA Commercial Development projects in Boston, including sourcing of new development opportunities, design and construction, leasing, and disposition of assets. He has been in the real estate development industry for over 24 years and in the Boston community for twenty years. He has experience with the development, design and construction of retail, condominium and mixed-use office and lab projects. Prior to joining Skanska, Russ was Senior Director of Design and Construction with Tishman Speyer Properties, working on the Pier 4 office and condominium mixed-use project. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Development with Vornado Realty Trust where he completed the Bryant Back Bay condominium Project in Boston, as well as condominium projects in California and Florida. With Vornado he also developed several large-scale mixed-use retail projects in Florida and New Jersey, as well as the acquisition and entitlements of the One Franklin mixed-use Tower (now known as the Millennium Tower). Russ graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993 with a BS in Civil Engineering and served as a helicopter pilot and Air Cavalry Officer for eight years in the US Army. In 2003 he received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and NAIOP in Boston. Guest Moderator: Nora Kennedy is Vice President of Executive Office at Suffolk. In this role, she works directly with the CEO and Executive Team at Suffolk to advance company initiatives and support the organization’s strategic growth. She also collaborates closely with the External Affairs team and Suffolk’s external partners to support the company’s civic and philanthropic work in the community. Nora has been a reliable and trusted member of the Suffolk team for over a decade and has played key leadership roles on the marketing, project management, business development, external affairs and executive office teams. Prior to her current role, Nora served Director of External Partnerships at Suffolk where she worked to manage and coordinate Suffolk’s national partnerships, including business group, non-profits, and clients. She also has served as Chief of Staff to the CEO. Currently, Nora serves on the Board of A Better City, which works to enhance the Greater Boston region’s economic health, competitiveness, equitable growth, sustainability, and quality of life for all communities. Nora is a graduate of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Future Leaders Program in 2017. She is a member of the Boston College GOLD Leadership Council and former President of the Winsor Young Alumnae Committee. Nora is a graduate of Boston College. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. No registration is required.