Representatives from five different real estate firms will be participating in College of Charleston’s Meet the Firms panel discussion at the School of Business on November 15, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Auditorium of the Beatty Center (5 Liberty Street). The event is free and open to the public.
Topics will include the state of the economy, the rebound of the real estate industry, information about the panelists’ firms, and general comments relative to the industry, followed by a Q&A session. Job and internship opportunities within the panelists’ firms will also be discussed.
The panel discussion is hosted jointly by the Carter Real Estate Center and the School of Business Board of Governors Student Development Committee.
For more information about this Meet the Firms panel discussion, please contact Jocelyn Evans at 843.953.6405 or evansj@cofc.edu.
About the Panelists
Ben Carter, founder & chairman of Ben Carter Properties, LLC, is responsible for the business strategy, new business development, site selection, retailer relationships and client partnerships. Carter also oversees the company’s performance, operations and portfolio management. Through his vision and leadership, the company has developed over $1.1 billion – and nearly 5 million square feet – in retail and office projects since its inception in 1993, and currently has $2 billion invested in properties in predevelopment or under construction.
John Coppedge is the senior vice president, Emeritus, of Cushman & Wakefield / Thalhimer. Coppedge was employed with Cushman & Wakefield from 1977 until his retirement in 2006. During his career with Cushman & Wakefield, he relocated to London in 1990 and was appointed Director of European Operations. He was responsible for the operation of Cushman & Wakefield’s then joint initiative with the U.K.-based firm of Healey & Baker. In 1994, Coppedge was also made responsible for Cushman & Wakefield’s Asia Operation and was based in Hong Kong from 1997. Among his responsibilities was the representation of a major U.S. multinational corporation in regard to its real estate corporate services needs in Europe and Asia.
In 2007, Coppedge formed Coppedge & Tison, a Real Estate Brokerage firm in Alliance with Cushman & Wakefield and served as CEO until 2012 when the firm merged with Thalhimer.
Charles “Buddy” Darby is the CEO of Kiawah Development Partners. Since leading the effort to acquire Kiawah Island from the Kuwaitis in 1988, Darby has held primary responsibility for Kiawah’s development activities, overseeing all operations involved in the development of the Island. He is particularly gratified by the fact that under his guidance, “Kiawah has evolved from a languishing regional attraction into one of the world’s most renowned golfing destinations,” garnering the 1996 ULI Award for Excellence, among other accolades.
Marcus Durlach, president & CEO of Durlach Associates, is one of the most active and respected owners and operators of class “A” commercial properties headquartered in Charleston, SC. The company has developed over 1.5 million square feet of office and retail properties valued in excess of $300 million. The company is a leader in sustainable development and operations having developed the first LEED New Construction Core and Shell certified building in Charleston as well as the first LEED certified Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance office building in Charleston, and all 3 Energy Star certified multi-tenant office buildings in Charleston.
Durlach serves as president and chief executive of Durlach Associates. He is responsible for the company’s investment, development, and overall operating strategy and is actively involved in management of Durlach Associates’ portfolio.
Kenneth Seeger is president of MWV Community Development and Land Management. At its inception, CDLM managed higher-value opportunities for MWV’s United States land holdings, which totaled in excess of 1.1 million acres. Seeger was tasked with developing a strategy to maximize the value of MWV’s land through various enhancement strategies including converting land to other uses such as conservation, recreation, development and optimize MWV’s forestry and mineral operations.
Seeger has more than 35 years of real estate, investment, entitlement and development experience throughout the United States.
