The Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) continues to put on a variety of programs for its members. In April the emerging leaders put on an excellent program as part of a panel series which was moderated by Frank Petz from Richards Barry Joyce and Partners with panelists consisting of Kevin Boyce from Citizens Bank, Thomas DeSimone from W/S Development Associates LLC, Jack Englert from Criterion Development Partners and Justin Krebs from Normandy Real Estate Paertners talking about ongoing development in the City of Boston with a program titled "Love That Dirty Water: Boston Development Is Back." There was a very interesting discussion on recent developments in the Seaport including planned improvements for retail, office and multi-family.

This program was followed by a program on May 3rd that looked beyond the hot multi-family market by studying what is going on in the other development areas of retail, office, industrial and hospitality, primarily in the local area. The program was moderated by Ogden Hunnewell from Nordic Properties with panelists consisting of Andrea Foster from PKF Consulting, Greg Klemmer from NAI, Jim Koury from CB Richard Ellis and Sarah Lagosh from Eastdil Secured.

On May 16th the Education Committee put on a timely program regarding developments in the North Station area. The program was moderated by Karyn McFarland from Avison Young with panelists Michael Barowsky from The Boston Development Group, James Keefe from Trinity Financial, Christopher Maher from Delaware North and Thomas O'Brien from HYM Investment Group.

Finally, on May 31st, Michael LaBelle, chief financial officer of Boston Properties provided an update on Boston Properties' investment strategy in their core markets and some of the history behind a couple of their most recent purchases.
GREB will be holding its Annual Scholarship Dinner Event at the Museum of Fine Arts on June 16th benefiting the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Foundation Scholarship for students in need who wish to attend college. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Looking ahead the REFA Charitable Golf Tournament benefiting Homestart and Project Hope is scheduled for July 23rd at the Blue Hill Country Club. On the horizon the various committees at REFA continue to work on programming for later in the summer including the annual summer reception which will be held in early August.
Finally, we welcome all of you to say hello to REFA's new executive director, Adrienne Maley, who has a brought energy and great ideas to REFA and is working on some solid programming events for the fall.
We look forward to seeing you at a future event.

James Lerner is the 2012 president of Real Estate Finance Association, Boston.