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Speakers and Panels

Allison Spector

Allison Spector

Director-Sustainability, Real Assets & PrivateMarkets

Nuveen

Jeffrey Gracer
Moderator

Jeffrey Gracer

Principal

Sive, Paget & Riesel

Malikka Karteron

Malikka Karteron

CEO & President

Global 25

Kyle Bolden

Kyle Bolden

US-East Region Growth Markets Leader, Real Estate

Ernst & Young

Brian Geller

Brian Geller

Sustainability Manager

The Durst Organization

Allison Spector

Director-Sustainability, Real Assets & PrivateMarkets

Nuveen

Allison works in sustainability for Nuveen real assets and private markets. She is responsible for implementing environmental, social, governance (ESG), sustainability and impact initiatives across the real assets and private markets portfolios, including farmland, timber, private equity and private debt. She develops and executes strategies for impact measurement and reporting and assists with pre-investment due diligence and monitoring related to ESG, sustainability and impact.

Prior to joining the firm, Allison worked for the Global Impact Investing Network, where she led impact investing industry development efforts and advised institutional investors on responsible and impact investing strategies. Previously, she advised large fintech and agribusiness companies on sustainable business strategies and impact measurement and she also worked for PlaNet Finance in China.

Allison graduated with a B.A., summa cum laude, in International Studies from Emory University and an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development from the School of Oriental and Asian Studies at the University of London, where she focused on sustainable agriculture.

Jeffrey Gracer

Moderator

Sive, Paget & Riesel

Jeff Gracer is a principal at Sive, Paget & Riesel (SPR), a leading NYC-based environmental law firm that

has secured environmental approvals for many of New York’s signature projects, including Pier 26 in the

Hudson River Park, the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Yankee Stadium, and Domino Sugar. Recently, SPR has

been at the forefront of efforts to build offshore wind and other renewable energy projects in New York.

Jeff is one of several SPR principals who are leading the firm’s efforts to guide clients through the

complexities of newly-enacted state and local climate change laws, including New York State’s Climate

Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act (CMA),

which includes a first-in-the-nation cap on carbon emissions from buildings (LL97). Jeff also advises

clients on emerging environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, with a particular focus on

their application to the NYC real estate industry.

Jeff serves on the US and UK Boards of The Climate Group, which sponsors Climate Week NYC, and is co-

founder and Chair of the NYC Climate Action Alliance, which works with NYC professionals to scale up

cost-saving carbon reduction measures in NYC’s buildings. A mentor to many environmental

professionals, Jeff received the Leadership in Action award from the New York City Environmental Law

Leadership Institute. He is a former Chair of the NYC Bar Association’s Environmental Law Committee

and a graduate of Columbia Law School and Columbia College.

Malikka Karteron

CEO & President

Global 25

Malikka D. Karteron is the President and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Global25. Global25 is a company headquartered (HQ) in New York and designed to have a global impact (Defined as: Local, National, and International). Global25 focuses on Economic Justice, Social Justice, Environmental Justice, Educational Justice, and Equity; particularly, as it relates to Communities of Color Worldwide. The initiative(s) are project based and focus on S.T.E.A.M, (Science, Technology, Education, Art, and Math) Economic Development, The Arts, Women's Empowerment, “Place Making”, and ESG Strategies.

Malikka is currently on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for Queens Center Hospital; and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA – Connection Chair – Tau Omega) and Greater Queens Chapter of the Links, Ink. Malikka was the Co-Chair of the Jamaica Now Art & Culture / Marketing & Branding Committee from 2014 -2019. The committee focused on cultural collaboration and the redevelopment of Downtown Jamaica. In 2018, Malikka was selected to be an Art Producer for Queens Council on the Arts (QCA). Malikka was an International J’Reve Fellow - Paris 2016. As part of the Paris Fellowship, Malikka was selected to participate on a S.T.E.A.M panel that focused on Multiple intelligence, education, science, technology, engineering, art, and math from a global perspective. The overall Fellowship was in partnership with UNESCO, Fulbright, Columbia Paris, and J’Reve. Previously, Malikka was on the Advisory Board of Cool Culture (Cool Culture forms strategic partnerships with educators and schools, artists and cultural institutions, community leaders and community based organizations, government officials and civic agencies. Through these collaborations, Cool Culture harness art and culture to build awareness, inspire activism and propel social change”) . One of the most exciting experiences was the collaboration between the Noguchi Museum and B’Above Worldwide Institute. The culminating “experience” was an Art exhibit featuring students’ work that was created in partnership with the Noguchi Museum. In partnership, with Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) Malikka curated an exhibit featuring “Women of the World / Everyday Women ” . Malikka also participated in the facilitation of the first Black History Art Exhibit at Resorts World – NYC / Queens.

Malikka was a graduate fellow for the Center for Environmental Analysis - Center for Research Excellence in Science & Technology (CEA-CREST) at California State University (Cal State LA), Los Angeles. During her tenure at the Center, she researched the distribution of Toxic Release Inventory (TRIs) sites in Los Angeles County and conducted a statistical analysis of their distribution. Malikka received her Advanced Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration at Brooklyn College. She also completed the Executive Non-Profit Leadership Program at Fordham University.

Malikka received her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University. While at Hampton, she participated in the MINORITIES AT SEA TOGETHER (MAST) Study; under the auspices of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Malikka’s background in science and education helps her create programs to prepare children for their future academic careers. Malikka was on the first Historically Black Sailing Team at Hampton University. While attending Hampton University, Malikka received a Citation from the City of Hampton for saving the life of a Hampton University student; while on duty as a life guard.

Kyle Bolden

US-East Region Growth Markets Leader, Real Estate

Ernst & Young

Kyle Bolden is a Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and US-East Region Growth Markets Leader for the Real Estate, Hospitality, and Construction (RHC) sector. Kyle is focused on maintaining a pulse on the market, overseeing the growth of EY service offerings, programs and initiatives and determining how resources and capabilities can be best deployed to benefit clients. He is also an assurance partner at EY serving clients in the RHC sector, responsible for performing high-quality audits that promote trust and confidence in the capital markets.

Kyle has over 20 years of experience working with national and international operators, including landlords, hotel owner/operators, real estate developers, commercial real estate services firms and flexible office providers. Kyle has extensive experience in audit, accounting and consulting and a trusted business advisor to the management of public REITs, private real estate developers and real estate funds.

In addition to his position as a Global Client Service Partner, Kyle also runs the region’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) program for Real Estate. EOY is a unique global program that supports exceptional men and women entrepreneurs as they unlock their ambitions.

He is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusiveness and passionate about giving back to the community.

Kyle has served on several not-for-profit and civic organizations, including The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute (Advisory Board) and the Real Estate Executive Council.

On January 1, 2021, Kyle will become the Market Segment Leader for EY’s US-East Real Estate, Hospitality and Construction practice. In this role, he will oversee the delivery of the region’s assurance, tax, strategy and transactions and consulting services.

Brian Geller

Sustainability Manager

The Durst Organization

Brian Geller is a Sustainability Manager at The Durst Organization, where he is responsible for overseeing sustainability on both large construction projects and existing buildings. Brian is also heavily involved in benchmarking and tracking building performance data for The Durst Organization’s commercial and residential portfolio. Prior to joining The Durst Organization, Brian was Senior Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Citigroup, where he was the team lead for sustainable cities. Prior to joining Citi, Brian was the Founder and Executive Director of The Seattle 2030 District, a public-private partnership to reduce the environmental impact of buildings in Downtown Seattle. This model has since been copied in 20 cities across North America and includes over 500 million square feet of committed buildings. Brian received a Master of Architecture from Parsons School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Skidmore College.

Summary

  1. How can you tell the difference between owners and developers who are enacting real change and those who are just "impact washing"?

  2. How do you measure the impact of social investments in today’s climate?

  3. How is the ESG agenda affecting development and asset financing, and how does civic leadership within a city like NYC impact capital allocation?

  4. Does prioritizing ESG factors mean compromising on financial returns? How do you develop an ESG strategy and what are the key challenges?

  5. What are the next ESG investment frontiers? Can non-performing loan investment or granting forbearance be viewed as an ESG investment?

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