Young Leaders Group

ULI encourages young professionals to become involved early in their career so they can begin building key relationships with industry leaders. To make this an easy first step, ULI offers a 50% membership discount for people under age 35. The Young Leaders Group (YLG) offers members a chance to develop long-lasting peer relationships as well as benefit from more seasoned minds in the industry.

The YLG is full of energetic, engaged professionals from all aspects of the real estate industry – developers, investors, bankers, attorneys, architects, engineers, brokers, general contractors, and graduate students – who offer a fresh perspective with a vision for the future.

In addition to receiving all of the local, national, and global benefits of a ULI membership, Young Leaders receive discounted registration to district council events, including panel discussions and presentations, insider’s tours of developing properties, and social events such as networking happy hours. We welcome Young Leaders to get involved by contributing program ideas or volunteering to help plan or support an event. If you are interested in learning more about the Young Leaders Group or our Emerging Leaders Program, please contact our YLG/Emerging Leaders Program Chairs:

Nick Frakes, JE Dunn Capital Partners

Melissa Watson, Hufft

Emerging Leaders Program

Emerging Leaders Snapshots

  • The group gathered for Happy Hour at Casual Animal Brewing Company compliments of Bank of Springfield.

  • KC SmartPort’s Elli Bowen shares the reasons why the region is a hub for transportation, logistics, distribution, and warehousing. Program Co-Chair Abby Kinney of Multistudio is also pictured. We are grateful to Multistudio for hosting our monthly sessions!

  • Mike Brungardt, City Administrator of De Soto, Kansas, explains how the city is planning for the Panasonic battery plant.

  • Year-End Happy Hour hosted by Port KC.

  • Our Emerging Leaders had a fireside chat at Three Light Luxury Apartments with John Moncke, President of the Kansas City Power & Light District, and Kelvin Simmons, Partner at Nexus Group. We learned about the decades-long vision and Public Private Partnership that led to the revitalization of downtown KCMO.

  • We learned about the latest developments along the Berkley Riverfront, toured CPKC Stadium, and ended with a happy hour at Show Pony in the new Origin Hotel. Thanks to VanTrust Real Estate for sponsoring this event!

  • Godfrey Riddle discusses Civic Saint’s model for sustainable, affordable earthen homes and progress to date.

  • Our Emerging Leaders Group enjoying happy hour at Vine Street Brewing!

  • Kelvin Simmons of Nexus Group spoke about the history of the 18th & Vine District, showed us One Nine Vine and new developments, and shared plans for future projects in the historic jazz district.

  • Andy Reiger of J. Reiger & Co. and Kevin Harden of GastingerWalker discussed the concept for this adaptive reuse project in Kansas City’s East Bottoms, what it took to bring it to life, and how it is transforming the historic Electric Park neighborhood.

  • Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Manager Brian Platt spent the lunch hour with our Emerging Leaders discussing how public investment is shaping KC and how we can continue to improve our infrastructure and built environment.