Congratulations to the NAIOP Chicago 2024-25 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients!
NAIOP Chicago is excited to introduce our 2024-25 Future Leaders University Scholarship recipients. This year, NAIOP Chicago awarded scholarships to the most recipients to date. These nine students from DePaul, Marquette, Northwestern, Roosevelt, and The University of Chicago exemplify the commitment and innovation coming from the new generation of Chicago’s commercial real estate industry and we are honored to play a role in fostering their professional development.
Now in its 10th year, the University Scholarship Program has contributed more than $270,000 in tuition assistance and benefits to 39 scholars. We believe in making a difference in future leaders, and we believe that our scholarship program is helping pave the way for a stronger future in our industry.
In addition to tuition assistance, recipients of the Future Leaders Scholarship receive a one-year NAIOP membership, a mentor involved in a field related to their interests, as well as a variety of other local benefits. The NAIOP Chicago University Scholarship program is annual, with applications to the program accepted in Spring/early Summer of each year. Read more about our University Scholarship program.
Frank Ballarin | Marquette University
Frank Ballarin is a senior at Marquette University, majoring in Finance and Real Estate. He is a part of the Real Estate Asset Program and the Commercial Banking Program at Marquette. At school, he also serves as the President of the MU Commercial Real Estate Club. He had the privilege of being an Eisenberg Scholar ’23-’24 and is excited to see what the Future Leaders Scholarship has to offer! Over the summer, Frank interned at Wintrust Bank on the CRE team downtown Chicago, learning how to underwrite and present loans to a credit committee, and how to manage a loan. Currently, he is interning at Phoenix Investors, a national industrial real estate developer in Milwaukee, on the Acquisitions and Leasing team, identifying potential development properties and assisting with asset management as well. He has enjoyed working on the debt side of real estate and is looking to further develop his career post-graduation in Spring ’25.
Frank is excited to be a part of the program because he values in-person, out-of-classroom exposure. He also enjoys networking and learning about others’ careers, life paths, and choices. He found his passion for real estate through previous experiences, starting in his freshmen year of high school and he can’t wait to grow as a professional, and a person through this great opportunity that has been presented.
Danny Carlson | Marquette University
Danny Carlson is a full-time undergraduate student at Marquette University, pursuing a degree in Finance and Commercial Real Estate. As he approaches his senior year, he is actively engaged in the Real Estate Asset Program (REAP), a commercial real estate investment fund. Additionally, outside of the classroom he is a member of both the Commercial Real Estate Club and the Marquette Rugby Football Club. His experience in the field is further enhanced by internships and participation in NAIOP events, including attending the NAIOP Converge Seattle conference.
Excited to join the NAIOP Chicago Future Leaders’ Scholarship Program, Danny aims to deepen his knowledge and build connections in Chicago, where he plans to launch his career after graduation. He looks forward to leveraging the opportunities provided by NAIOP and is committed to becoming an active member of NAIOP Chicago post-graduation. With a strong passion for real estate, Danny is eager to develop his career in this dynamic industry.
Davide Comai | Roosevelt University
Davide Comai is a student-athlete at Roosevelt University, double majoring in Real Estate and Finance. Originally from Italy, he moved to the U.S. three years ago, living in Texas and Kansas before finally settling in Chicago at Roosevelt. His journey has fueled his passion for real estate because he was searching for something tangible—something he can touch, see, and admire.
When asked why he chose real estate, he always says, “I’m in real estate because I want to make people happy by also considering the planet where we live. A better life with an environment-friendly place.”
He sees NAIOP as the ideal platform to connect with mentors, expand his network, and gain the skills needed to grow as a student, professional, and person. He is excited to make the most of it to leave a meaningful impact on the real estate industry through its leadership programs, training, mentorship, and networking.
Konrad Hornik | DePaul University
Konrad Hornik is a full time M.S.R.E. student at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Holding a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Finance, he is working at DePaul as a Graduate Assistant. There he combines his professional experience in construction, financial services, and social impact to help both the Finance and Real Estate departments.
Through the NAIOP Chicago University Scholarship, Konrad is eager to expand his knowledge of commercial real estate development and find new ways to give back to his community. He plans to continue is education by attending Law School and fulfill his dream of helping low-income and non-native English speakers through the real estate transaction process.
Samuel Marty | Roosevelt University
Samuel Marty is a full-time Real Estate and Finance senior student at Roosevelt University where he focuses on Asset Management, Corporate Finance, and Development. As a junior, Samuel worked as a Summer Analyst at CIBC US bank gaining exposure to the banking industry in commercial real estate and is currently working at Rany Management as a part-time financial analyst under the mentorship of Nicholas Yassan and Eric Renkens.
Samuel was born and raised in Toulouse, France before moving to the US, four years ago for his undergraduate degree. He is passionate about adding real world value through providing housing development and improving opportunities for the world. He serves on the board of advisory student leaders for the Eisenberg foundation.
As a NAIOP Chicago Future Leaders Scholar, Samuel is excited to connect with and learn from industry leaders who are shaping the future of commercial real estate in Chicago communities and beyond.
Genevieve McCarthy | University of Chicago
Genevieve is a second year MBA student at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. During the summer of 2024, she interned with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, a community developer. At Booth, Genevieve is a member of the Real Estate Group and co-chair of two recreational student groups, the Adam Smith Society and Catholics at Booth.
Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Genevieve worked at Bearing Tree, the professional services partner of the Illinois Policy Institute. She also spent 6 years in Washington, DC as a fundraiser for National Taxpayers Union, a research and advocacy organization. These roles gave her the opportunity to observe the intersection of policy and the built environment, which sparked her interest in pursuing a real estate career.
Genevieve graduated from Thomas Aquinas College in California with a degree in the liberal arts. She lives in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
Olivia Parker | Northwestern University
Olivia Parker is currently a Director on the Equity Capital Markets at Tishman Speyer, focusing on capital raising activities across the United States. She began her tenure with Tishman Speyer in March of 2020 on the Chicago Office Leasing team, particularly focused on leasing CME Center, 525 W Monroe, and 320 N Sangamon – key assets within Tishman Speyer’s 7+ million square foot Chicago office portfolio. Alongside her professional commitments, Olivia is pursuing her MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where she is active in the Evening and Weekend Real Estate Club and formerly served as co-president. She earned a BS in Marketing from Illinois State University.
Brady Sarkon | University of Chicago
Brady Sarkon is a current MBA candidate at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, passionate about commercial real estate investing. Brady spent the summer in Dallas, Texas as an Acquisitions Intern at Dalfen Industrial, a real estate investment manager and operator focused on last mile industrial properties. Through the NAIOP Chicago Future Leaders Scholarship, he is excited to meet and learn from current industry leaders in Chicago, in hopes of following in their footsteps upon graduation from Booth.
Before Booth, Brady worked as a Strategy Consultant at Deloitte Consulting, with a primary focus at the intersection of the retail/consumer products industry and supply chain strategy. Brady graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Economics, where he was also a member of the varsity baseball team. Brady’s passions include golfing, cycling, hiking in the US national parks, and being overly optimistic about Detroit sports teams.
Lorena Tayahua | DePaul University
Lorena Tayahua is a full-time undergraduate student at DePaul University, double majoring in Finance and Real Estate. Over the past two summers, she interned as a junior financial analyst at BMO in their Commercial Bank, gaining valuable experience in the industry.
Lorena’s journey has been profoundly influenced by exceptional mentors whose dedication to community service inspired her own commitment to volunteerism. She actively tutors at Gale Community Academy and serves as the Chair of Corporate Relations for DePaul’s Females in Finance Initiative, a student organization dedicated to empowering women pursuing careers in finance.
Eager to deepen her knowledge of commercial real estate, Lorena looks forward to learning from NAIOP’s mentorship program and connecting with industry professionals. She is excited to contribute to NAIOP Chicago by sharing her experiences and supporting fellow members.