Agenda
The 2025 CLRM Agenda
Please note: The 2025 agenda below is tentative and subject to change. Updates will be provided as they become available.
To view last year’s 2024 CLRM Program in PDF format, click here.
Monday, April 7, 2025
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6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Networking Reception / Dinner
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
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7:00 AM – Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 AM – Attendee Check-In
8:30 AM – Opening Remarks and Introduction to our Non-Profit Partner, The Lantern Network
Bill Tryon, Principal, Partner ESI; Kelly Javier, MBA, Principal, Partner ESI
8:45 AM – OCC Presentation – An overview of bank credit metrics, status of CRE sectors and regulatory expectations for managing CRE concentrations.
Taran Speak, Commercial Credit Lead Expert Support, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
9:45 AM – Market Overview: What Now and What’s Next? – Our panel of experts will talk about what they’re seeing on current projects and expecting in the expecting over the coming year, and discuss ways to minimize risks in future transactions.
Bill Tryon (Moderator), Principal, Partner ESI; Sara Overturff, Assistant Vice President, ACORE Capital; Andreas Rahe, Director, Construction Lending, Barings; Robert Barone, RA, LEED AP, Director Institutional Construction Services, Partner ESI; Casey Hutchins, Head of Construction, Live Oak; Steven Oehlrich, Director Construction Manager, Citi
10:30 AM – Networking Break
10:45 AM – Legal Dispute Resolution – This session will examine key legal issues that lead to construction disputes, including project delivery methods, payment structures, contractor licensing, and building code compliance. It will also cover dispute resolution mechanisms, termination procedures, construction liens, bonding, and damages for non-performance. The discussion will provide a practical understanding of common legal challenges and how they are resolved in construction.
Miguel Brizuela, Esq. Partner, Kirwin Norris
11:30 AM – Lunch & Case Study Presentation: Genesis Marina – Follow the arc of a $740,000,000 cutting-edge life science campus on a complex waterfront site as seen through the eyes of its senior lender and construction consultant. Dynamic decision making in development, finance, and construction logistics with a TI plot twist deliver a pristine asset in a prime market. Genesis Marina is the first ever USGBC TRUE Certified construction project with 98% of construction waste diverted from landfill and a LEED Gold rating.
Christopher Ghatak, Practice Leader, Institutional Construction, Partner ESI; Andreas Rahe, Director of Construction Lending, Barings;
12:45 PM – OCC Fire Side Chat – An open dialogue hosted by OCC, diving into industry questions that often go unasked.
Taran Speak, Commercial Credit Lead Expert Support, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; Kelly Javier, MBA, Principal, Partner ESI
1:30 PM – Navigating the Nuances of Participation Loans – Participation loans offer unique opportunities, but also present complex legal and financial considerations. Join our panel of seasoned professionals as they unpack the intricacies of these agreements and offer guidance on navigating the complexities.
Bill Tryon (Moderator), Principal, Partner ESI; Sara Overturff, Assistant Vice President, ACORE Capital; David Drummond, Senior Vice President, KeyBank; Julie Goodman, Senior Vice President – Loan Administration and Closing Manager, Associated Bank; Larry Dalton, Senior Vice President, Western Alliance Bank Hotel Franchise Finance; Casey Hutchins, Head of Construction, Live Oak; and Brooke Bright, Vice President | Assistant Director of Construction Risk Management, U.S. Bank
2:15 PM – Breakout Session 1 (learn more here)
3:00 PM – Breakout Session 2 (learn more here)
3:45 PM – Sessions Conclude for the Day
4:15 PM – Off-Site Activities and Dinner
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
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7:00 AM – Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 AM – Attendee Check-In Available
8:30 AM – Breakout Session 3 (learn more here)
9:15 AM – Breakout Session4 (learn more here)
10:00 AM – Networking Break
concurrent with
10:00 AM – Breakout Session 5 (learn more here)
10:45 AM – Managing Change Orders & Contingencies – How are lenders handling change orders, contingency utilization, and unexpected cost increases in their construction loans? This session will explore best practices for assessing cost adjustments, structuring contracts to minimize mid-project surprises, and navigating GC and architect-driven budget impacts.
Lisa Ward, LEED AP, CPC, VP, Construction Risk, JPMorganChase; Jackie Bogdan, Director, SBA Loan Services, CrossFirst Bank; Jeremy Glassman, Managing Director, Lument Real Estate Capital, LLC; and Brooke Bright, Vice President | Assistant Director of Construction Risk Management, U.S. Bank
11:30 AM – Economic Overview
Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, Associated General Contractors of America
12:30 PM – Lunch & Case Study: The Populus Hotel from Start to Finish – The first carbon positive hotel build in the United States, right here in Denver. With innovative sustainability, biophilic architecture, natural materials, and original art this project combined the love of nature in every step of the process. A first hand look at the project from concept, through financing and execution.
AJ Nosek, Principal, National Client Manager, Partner ESI; Chris Erickson, President, Colorado Region, Banc of California; and Michael Koehler, Senior Project Manager, The Beck Group; Jon Buerge, President, Urban Villages
1:45 PM – CRE Insurance Trends & Strategies – This panel will examine the key factors driving increased CRE insurance premiums, including market trends and lender perspectives. Experts will discuss PML modeling for named storm coverage, deductible trends for catastrophic events, and the timing of Builder’s Risk policies. The discussion will also cover how the ASTM E3429-24 standard can help reduce insurance costs and explore ways lenders and insurers can work together to streamline the insurance process and set clearer expectations.
David Drummond, Senior Vice President, KeyBank; Kevin McElroy, Construction Consultant, Wells Fargo; Joni Ayala, SVP, Practice Leader, Lockton Companies; Jack Wolf, Mergers and Acquisitions/Lender Review Advisor, Lockton Companies, Tony Liou, President, Partner Energy
2:30 PM – Meeting Wrap-Up
3:00 PM – Sessions Conclude for the Day
Optional Afternoon Activity
Breakouts:
- Agency (Fannie/Freddie) – Led by Drew McCreery and Jeremy Glassman
- Women in Real Estate – Led by Marissa Emmer and Christina Fanning
- SBA – SBA construction loans come with unique challenges, from strict documentation and collateral requirements to navigating disbursement timing, contingency reserves, and regulatory compliance—all while managing varying levels of sophistication with both borrowers and GCs. This session, led by AJ Nosek, Shelley Souza, Jackie Bogdan, and Roxanne Selwyn, will explore common hurdles lenders face, including credit risk assessment, loan servicing, and SBA approval processes.
- Unlocking Insurance Savings Through Better Data – Explore how a data-driven approach led to a 40% reduction in insurance premiums. This session, led by Joni Ayala and Tony Liou, breaks down the model, key insights, and practical takeaways for lenders and risk managers looking to optimize insurance outcomes.
- Developing Guidance for the Use of AI – AI may prove to be a boon for the industry, but its use can expose sensitive data, cause security leaks, and introduce new risks into the construction administration process. In this session, led by Bill Tryon, we’ll discuss how AI is being used—or could be used in the future—along with ways to manage the related risks.
- Data Centers – Global data center demand is surging, with forecasts projecting a 15-20% CAGR through 2027 and power demand nearly doubling by 2030. Annual infrastructure spending could exceed $1 trillion within five years, creating new challenges and opportunities for real estate owners and developers. In this session, led by Nate Benton, we’ll explore key industry trends, including the rise of edge data centers (<5 MW), on-site power generation, and liquid cooling systems to enhance efficiency. We’ll also cover feasibility considerations for converting office, industrial, and warehouse spaces into data centers.
- The Future of Technology in Construction Lending – This session, led by Bob Scales of CodeFi Solutions, explores emerging tech trends with insights from AI and quantum computing innovators. Hear key takeaways from his industry interviews and discover what’s next for construction lending.
- The Lantern Network (Mentorship) – In this breakout, led by Tracy Davis, get to know more about Lantern Network’s mission, mentees, and how you can get involved.
- Book Club “Invisible Women” – Moderated by committee chair, Shelley Souza, this book club will explore Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, which examines how the pervasive “gender data gap”—where most data is based on male experiences—systematically disadvantages women. From healthcare and workplace policies to urban planning and technology, this lack of representative data renders women “invisible” in the design and function of society.
- Emerging Trends – This breakout session, led by Ryan Duff, will explore emerging trends shaping commercial construction, including AI and technology, tariffs and construction costs, interest rates, and the future of HUD, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac—and how these factors impact the industry.
- Insurable Replacement Costs
- Personal Brand Building – Led by Kelly Javier.
- Troubled Assets / Work Out – A discussion about challenges in Construction Asset Management as lenders navigate real-world challenges in maintaining development and business plan discipline. Led by Andreas Rahe, this session will explore experiences in successfully addressing credit risk impacts, from small budget overruns to extended schedule delays.
- Remote Work – Is it still working? Was it ever? In a wave of return-to-office requirements, we will pick this topic back up. Led by Kelly Javier, this session will invite members to share their experiences with remote work vs. in-office requirements.
- The Future of Technology in Construction Lending – This session, led by Bob Scales of CodeFi Solutions, explores emerging tech trends with insights from AI and quantum computing innovators. Hear key takeaways from his industry interviews and discover what’s next for construction lending.
- The Lantern Network (Mentorship) – In this breakout, led by Tracy Davis, get to know more about Lantern Network’s mission, mentees, and how you can get involved.
- Unlocking Insurance Savings Through Better Data – Explore how a data-driven approach led to a 40% reduction in insurance premiums. This session, led by Joni Ayala (Lockton Companies) and Tony Liou (Partner Energy), breaks down the model, key insights, and practical takeaways for lenders and risk managers looking to optimize insurance outcomes.
- Construction Contracts – This session will focus on key contractual provisions in construction agreements, including payment terms, indemnity clauses, dispute resolution, and termination procedures. In the session, led by Miguel Brizuela, Esq., attendees will gain practical insights into managing risk and avoiding common pitfalls in construction contracts.
- Residential Construction – See how effective risk management improves residential construction lending. This breakout session, led by Larry Manchester, covers key practices in underwriting, contracts, disbursements, and monitoring. Participants will discuss challenges, share experiences, and explore strategies for mitigating risk and ensuring project success.
- Understanding and Using AI to Enhance Personal Productivity – This breakout session, led by Bill Tryon, will include a discussion on how attendees are currently using AI, along with an entry-level overview of alternative AI systems, prompts, concerns, and workarounds. Join the conversation to learn how others have leveraged AI to work smarter and reclaim valuable time.
- Environmental – Led by Kathryn Peacock and Don Ohle
If you have content ideas for the 2025 meeting, monthly forum calls, would like to sponsor, or be added to the CLRM membership base, please email: CLRMInfo@partneresi.com