LAKELAND (Oct. 11, 2011) - Florida Southern College’s first business symposium of the academic year will delve into the issues and challenges facing the commercial real estate industry and will be held Friday, October 21 on Florida Southern’s Campus.

The event, “Commercial Real Estate: Crisis or Confidence?” will run from 9:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per person and the event is open to the public.

The symposium will bring together realtors, lenders, lawyers, market analysts, and other financial experts as they explore the many important facets of the commercial real estate market, including the economic environment, capital markets, market forecasting, risk, investor prospects, and turnaround strategies.

Sponsored by the Barney Barnett School of Business and Economics, the commercial real estate development association NAIOP, and Turnaround Management Association of Florida and supported by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, this seminar will supply impactful information to business owners, investors, real estate professionals, financial professionals, and all who are affected by real estate values.

Dana Rowan will be the event’s keynote speaker. He is Managing Director of Paradigm-Exeter Advisors and serves as an advisory affiliate with Getzler Henrich on turnaround management and financial restructuring matters involving real estate. Mr. Rowan has over 30 years of real estate experience, working on investment, development and advisory projects both across the United States and internationally. Mr. Rowan continues to serves as director emeritus of NAIOP’s national organization, and is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Real Estate Finance Association and the Real Estate Investment and Advisory Council. He is a frequent national speaker and is also a steering committee member of Harvard University’s Real Estate Academic Initiative, a recent director of the Harvard Alumni Association and a Trustee of the Boston Architectural College. Mr. Rowan holds a BA from Dartmouth College, an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School and an Executive MBA from Boston University.

Panelists will include Mike Davis of Cushman and Wakefield, Bob Hernandez of NorthMarq Capital, Stephen Meyers of Meyers and Company, Margaret J. Smith of Glass Ratner, and Amy Harris of Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser. Frank Mock of Turnaround Management Association will serve as the panel’s moderator. Florida Southern College professor Carl Brown will offer the opening address.

To attend, register at www.flsouthern.edu/symposium or call 863-680-4280.