The State of Multifamily
3:00 - 3:50pm Klarman Hall Mainstage
We are facing a major housing crisis as Multifamily hinges on simple supply and demand but there is a major imbalance between these economic forces. With higher interest rates and inflation, how does the Multifamily industry navigate through this challenging environment while still solving the housing crisis and delivering significant returns to investors? This Panel aims to answer this question by inviting distinguished Multifamily professionals who are working through this key moment right now.
The Panel will focus on four sections: Acquisitions, Development, Asset Management, and Outlook/Predictions
Panelists:
Eric Hepfer
Managing Director | Hines
Eric Hepfer is a Managing Director with Hines in Southern California. He is active in acquisitions, development, and asset management of all major product types and is currently leading the development of Riverwalk- a 200-acre site in San Diego that will ultimately yield 4300 apartment units. Prior to joining Hines, Mr. Hepfer graduated with his MBA from Harvard Business School and was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy where he served as a nuclear submarine officer.
Heather Boujoulian
Managing Director, Head of Development, and Portfolio Manager | Berkshire
Heather Boujoulian is a Managing Director, Head of Development, and a Portfolio Manager at Berkshire Residential, a Boston based investment management company where she is also on the firm's leadership team and investment committee. Heather's real estate career spans twenty-five years working in construction, development and investments all in the multi-family sector. Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Roger Williams University and a Master in Urban Planning from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. She is on the Multifamily Leadership Board of the National Association of Home Builders and is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Roger Williams University, and on the Board of Heading Home, a non-profit on a mission to end homelessness in Greater Boston.
Christopher Johnson
Vice President | Related California Affordable
Chris redefines urban life through the creation of visionary mixed-use communities that achieve exceptional results. He is a strategic, innovative, thoughtful, and action-oriented leader that drives value while promoting equity, integrity, and accountability. With over fifteen years of experience in leading the design, finance, construction, and delivery of mixed-income, mixed-use master planned communities, Chris has successfully planned, entitled, financed, and developed 7,550 mixed-income residential units and 210,000 sf of retail, spanning 40 developments, valued at over $1.42 Billion. Outside of the office, Chris loves cooking, traveling, and hiking with his pug, Robie.
Weijia Song - Moderator
Lecturer in Real Estate and Practicum Coordinator | Harvard Graduate School of Design
Weijia Song is an Architect and Real Estate Developer hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. She is a founding Principal of Collective Operations (CO-), a real estate development and contemporary architecture firm based in San Francisco, CA. CO- has a portfolio of work that includes residential, commercial office, and urban infrastructure design and construction in the United States and New Zealand. CO- has secured over $500M in funding from public and private financing sources and supported the development and construction of over 800 multifamily units in the greater Bay Area. Weijia Song holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from MIT and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University. She is a Registered Architect in California and New Zealand.