July’s Member Breakfast series featured an in-depth and interactive conversation on community engagement with Connect the Dots. Members learned about three different local projects, each highlighting unique approaches to connect diverse voices to the decision-making process.

Leaders of ULI Philadelphia’s 26 committees and councils met to kickoff the year with a day of learning including a presentation from Sonia L. Huntley, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, ULI and Tiffany Young, CEO of Think Equity on leading with cultural intelligence.

ULI Philadelphia hosted the FY25 Annual Sponsor Appreciation Breakfast featuring a conversation with John Gattuso, President & CEO, Gattuso Development Partners and Meghan McDermott, Partner, Robert A.M. Stern Architects on how 3201 Cuthbert Street will add to the Philadelphia life sciences community and support discovery, collaboration, and innovation in the field, with the most robust life sciences infrastructure in the region. The program concluded with an exclusive hard hat tour of the project.

AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, Preservation Alliance, and ULI Philadelphia held the second annual Philadelphia Urban Resilience Forum. speakers explored strategies and case studies for property owners and communities to mitigate climate hazards such as extreme heat and flooding. The event featured a keynote presentations by Glenn Schwartz, Senior Consultant, AKRF and Abby Sullivan, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability. Speakers included: Lindsay Brugger, AIA, CPHC, Vice President, Urban Resilience, ULI; Claire Donato, President, Mark B. Thompson Associates, PC; Michelle Feldman, Executive Director, East Falls Development Corporation; Erica Smith Fichman, City Forester, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation; Gerald Joseph McAdams Kauffman, Jr., Ph.D., Director and Associate Professor, University of Delaware – Water Resources Center; Chris Linn, AICP, Manager, Office of Climate and Environment, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission; David McHenry, FAIA, Principal, Erdy McHenry Architecture; Ron Pluto, Vice President – Engineering, Brandywine Realty Trust; Caleb Stratton, PP, AICP, CFM, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Hoboken; and Karen Thompson, AICP, Director of Planning, Policy, & Engagement, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.

The Southern New Jersey Regional Council hosted a fireside chat between Haddonfield Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich and Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley discussing their experiences in shaping the growth for two of Southern New Jersey’s most thriving downtowns.

The Industrial Local Product Council hosted an insightful panel discussion on the future of the electric and hydrogen vehicle market. Speakers included: Dan Bowerson, Vice President, Energy and Environment Policy, Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Tom Bonner, Manager, State Government Affairs, PECO; Cathleen Lewis, Manager of Clean Transportation Programs, Office of Clean Energy, NJ Board of Public Utilities; Jennifer Vanlstendal McHenry, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Funding Coordinator, NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Climate Change; and moderated by Troy Adams, Vice President of Real Estate, NFI.

Lehigh Valley Regional Council held a discussion focusing on the expansion of Healthcare and Education in the region, and how their growth is playing an integral role at driving economic development in the Lehigh Valley. Speakers included: Cynthia A. Cappel, DNP, MBA, NPD-BC, NE-BC, Vice President, Education, Center for Healthcare Education; Karen Duerholz, Vice President Marketing & Client Relations, Boyle Construction; Jim Messick, Associate Partner, Pure Project Management; and moderated by Becky Bradley, AICP, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

October’s Member Breakfast event explored some of the exciting local mobility and public realm projects that are working to create a more walkable, connected, and green Philadelphia. Speakers included: Laura Burkhardt, Executive Director, Avenue of the Arts, Inc.; Kelly CG Edwards, Manager, Real Estate Operations, SEPTA; Lily Reynolds, AICP, Director Federal Infrastructure Strategy, Office of Transportation, Infrastructure Systems, City of Philadelphia; Maria Sourbeer, Senior Vice President of Development, Mosaic Development Partners; and facilitated by Evan Todtz, AICP, Urban Designer / Planner, Gensler.

The Healthcare Product Council hosted a special presentation featuring guest speaker Clayton Mitchell of Clayton Mitchell + Partners LLC on real estate strategies to optimize capital infrastructure investments.

CTBUH and ULI Philadelphia hosted a conversation on 3151 Market at Schuylkill Yards, Philadelphia’s newest life science development, which is set to support the region’s thriving life science ecosystem. Speakers included: Samira Ahmadi, Founding Principal, enviENERGY Studio LLC; Moderator Christopher Franklin, Vice President, Development, Brandywine Realty Trust; Richard Garlock, Partner, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers; Stephen Salomon, Principal, Buro Happold; and Jennifer Sharesky, Technical Director, Senior Associate, Gensler.

The Central PA Regional Council held a lively discussion on both the challenges W/MBE firms face securing contracts as well as strategies to increase W/MBE participation in transformative real estate and infrastructure projects. Central Pennsylvania’s varied economic landscape offers significant opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs). Speakers included: Moderator Madeline Frew, Central PA Account Manager, Quandel Construction; Moderator: Dana Klinepeter, Associate, AEGIS Property Group; Jessica Meyers, President, JEM Group; Veronica Morrison, Shareholder, Stevens & Lee; Angela Price, Owner & CEO, Juniper Environmental; and Blane Stoddart, President & CEO, BFW Construction Project Managers.

ULI members heard from Life Sciences Council member Chris Kenney, Principal, Strada; Todd Abrams, Executive Director, Innovation Nest, Temple; Stephanie Chace, Associate Director, Temple Planning and Design, Temple; and Stephen Nappi, Associate Vice President of Technology Commercialization & Business Development, Temple, on how innovation at Temple is driving the need for this type of space in the University environment.

ULI welcomed undergraduate students from the University of Delaware for an educational workshop and tour of The Navy Yard with Ensemble. Students had the opportunity to learn about planning principles, real estate development and investment strategies.

The Young Leaders Group toured Chubb Philadelphia led by Wale Mabogunje, Vice President Project Executive, Parkway Corporation.

November’s Member Series program featured an exclusive presentation and hard hat tour of the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia led by Gilbane Building Company.

ULI Philadelphia hosted the 25th annual Real Estate Forecast. Speakers included: Moderator Rija Beares, Greater Philadelphia Market Leader, CBRE; William Hankowsky, President, Wayne Avenue Enterprises; John Grady, Sr. Vice President, Northeast Region Executive, Wexford Science & Technology; Moderator Michael Newmuis, 2026 Director, City of Philadelphia; Ariella Maron, Executive Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission; Aaron Pitts, Chief Commercial Officer, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development; Bill Staffieri, Partner, PwC; Jerry Sweeney, President & CEO, Brandywine Realty Trust; and Angela Val, President & CEO, Visit Philadelphia.

ULI Philadelphia welcomed its second cohort of Etkin Scholars. These 12 students enjoyed a networking luncheon after the Real Estate Forecast with senior leaders Kim Avant-Babb and Ariella Maron.

On November 25th, UrbanPlan volunteers joined high school students at SLA Beeber for their first of three UrbanPlan facilitations.