NAIOP Podcast: Inside CRE

Gina Baker Chambers, president of MCB Real Estate, joins us for this episode, discussing her transition from institutional investor to operator and MCB’s rapid growth to over $3 billion in assets and nearly 15 million square feet across sectors. The firm has been in the headlines recently for its role in Baltimore’s resurgence, advancing major projects including the $1 billion redevelopment of Harborplace on the city’s Inner Harbor waterfront. Chambers emphasizes how trust, transparency and creative capital structuring are key to delivering complex projects like Harborplace, and shares MCB’s strategy of aligning investor returns with long-term community impact. Recorded on March 18, 2026.

In this episode, Marc sits down with Carleton Riser, president of Transwestern Development, for a deep dive into development strategy, market timing, and how capital is navigating today’s multifamily and mixed use landscape. Carleton reflects on lessons from past cycles – from the dot com bust to the Great Financial Crisis to COVID – and shares how those insights shape his decision making today. He breaks down the fundamentals driving successful projects, what investors are prioritizing, and how developers can position themselves for the next upcycle. Recorded on Feb. 18, 2026.

Joining us on our 50th episode of Inside CRE is Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief and senior political columnist at POLITICO. A veteran of the New York Times and co-author of the bestseller “This Will Not Pass,” Jonathan has spent his career in the rooms where decisions happen and often where they fall apart. He joins NAIOP Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Aquiles Suarez to talk about the shrinking political center, pros and cons of term limits, and why the 2028 midterms will be “a reckoning” for both Democrats and Republicans. Recorded on Feb. 10, 2026.

In this episode, Marc sits down with longtime Hubbell Realty Company CEO Rick Tollakson to discuss four decades of leadership, growth and transformation in the real estate industry. Rick, also the author of the recently published book, “Think Bigger, Lead Better,” shares the origins of his “Eight to Great” leadership framework, the key market signals he watches, and how a stare down with a nun challenged him to think bigger. From fostering entrepreneurialism to mastering process improvement, he outlines the principles he believes successful developers need most. He closes with the legacy he hopes to leave: a culture rooted in continuous improvement, having fun and giving back. Recorded on Jan. 29, 2026.

In this conversation, 2026 NAIOP Chair Celeste Tanner, co-founder, president and chief development officer of Confluent Development, shares the leadership principles that have shaped her career in the collaborative world of commercial real estate. She discusses why stepping outside your comfort zone unlocks opportunity, how empowering experts leads to better decisions and details the “breakout evolutionary cycle” she sees ahead for CRE. She outlines her priorities as chair, including changing public perception of the industry and fostering connections between members across cities, states and provinces. She also lands a punchline about what happens when you put a developer, an architect and a contractor in a room. Recorded on Jan. 15, 2026.

On this final episode of 2025, NAIOP’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Aquiles Suarez joins the podcast to break down a historic year for commercial real estate policy. From the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” – securing permanent tax provisions like 100% bonus depreciation and the 20% pass-through deduction – to emerging priorities such as adaptive reuse and energy infrastructure, Suarez shares insights on what these wins mean for long-term stability and CRE investment. He also looks ahead to 2026, discussing the political dynamics shaping future legislation and why educating lawmakers remains a critical challenge. Recorded on Dec. 3, 2025.

Global strategist and AlphaGeo founder Parag Khanna joins Inside CRE to explore how demographics, geopolitics, climate risk and new infrastructure are reshaping North American real estate. From regionalization and the Great Lakes “New North” to migration trends, climate-adaptation opportunities and the industrial resurgence, Parag shares data-driven insights on the forces guiding long-term development decisions. Hear his take on what investors should consider – looking beyond last quarter’s cap rate – as they plan assets with 30-year horizons. Recorded on Nov. 24, 2025.

In this episode, Marc sits down with Ryan Severino, chief economist and head of research at BGO, for a deep dive into the forces shaping commercial real estate across North America. Fresh off his keynote at the CRE.Converge conference, Ryan shares his data-driven outlook on the economy, interest rate cycles, and what today’s uncertainty means for developers and investors. From policy risks and central bank moves to sector-specific trends in industrial, multifamily, retail, office and data centers, Ryan offers clear insights on where resilience and opportunity are emerging. Recorded on Nov. 6, 2025.

In this special episode, NAIOP Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Shaine Anderson, CAE, explores how technology is transforming commercial real estate in partnership with CREtech. She’s joined by three industry leaders – Carrie Denning Jackson, director of innovation and sustainability at Jamestown; Colin Joynt, senior vice president and chief information officer at BXP; and Will O’Donnell, managing partner at Prologis Ventures – to discuss how AI, data and emerging tech are reshaping operations, investment strategies and tenant experiences. From evaluating new tools to managing cybersecurity and measuring ROI, this episode offers practical insights for CRE professionals looking to innovate and future-proof their organizations. Recorded Oct. 1, 2025.

Industrial real estate is evolving fast. In this episode of Inside CRE, Greek Real Estate Partners’ David Greek and Matt Schlindwein share insights on today’s investment climate and the headwinds shaping logistics real estate – from rising interest rates to shifting community sentiment. They discuss opportunities in small-bay, port-adjacent and cold storage products, how developers are adapting to higher costs and political pressures, and how their NAIOP involvement has shaped their careers. Recorded Sept. 18, 2025.