Season Three of The ACREL Files begins 2025 with an interview of Steve Weikal, Industry Chair of the MIT Center for Real Estate’s Technology Hub, which explores innovative new technologies and business models that are reinventing traditional ways of developing, transacting and managing real estate. Steve is also the Managing Partner of MET Fund II, which invests in early-stage startups that have an MIT connection and focus on solutions for the ongoing transformation of the built environment. Previously, Steve was the Head of Industry Relations at the MIT Center for Real Estate. Steve is a member of the CREtech Climate Leadership Board and the ClimateAlpha Advisory Board, as well as the advisory boards of several other real estate and technology companies. An ardent industry advocate and thought-leader, Steve speaks extensively about real estate technology around the world at conferences for AFIRE, AsRES, BOMA, CCIM, CoreNet, CREW, ICSC, IREM, NAIOP, PERE, SIOR and ULI. Steve holds a Master’s of Science in Real Estate Development (MSRED) and Master’s in City Planning (MCP) from MIT, and a law degree (JD) from Suffolk University Law School.

After an extended summer break, The ACREL Files continues with ACREL Past President Jay Epstien interviewing Noelle Perkins, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Cushman & Wakefield (a Silver Sponsor of ACREL). She leads Cushman’s global legal function, providing strategic advice, guidance, oversight and support to C&W’s global business and operations while playing a critical role in implementing governance and risk management practices for the firm. Noelle joined Cushman from Univar Solutions, where she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer & Secretary. Prior to Univar Solutions, Noelle served as Chief Counsel for the Oilseeds Processing segment of Archer Daniels Midland Company, as Deputy General Counsel for John Bean Technologies Corporation, and as a litigation associate with Bell, Boyd & Lloyd (now K&L Gates). She did her undergraduate work at Northwestern University and received her law degree from the University of Illinois.

Before taking a break for the summer, the ACREL Files continues with ACREL Past President Jay Epstien interviewing J. Ronald Terwilliger, among the most iconic leaders of the real estate industry in the past 50 years. Ron is chairman emeritus of Trammell Crow Residential Company, a national residential real estate company and the largest developer of multifamily housing in the U.S. for several decades during his tenure as CEO. Ron is past chairman of the Urban Land Institute, where he currently serves as a trustee and established the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing with his $5 million gift. He also is past chairman of the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity and currently chairs Habitat’s Global Development Council. Ron currently serves as chairman of the Enterprise Community Partners Board of Trustees and as chairman of the Board of the U. S. Naval Academy Foundation, and is a member of the Boards of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation and the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he chairs the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy. Among Ron’s many recognitions, he was honored in 2009 by the United States Naval Academy as a Distinguished Graduate for his lifetime commitment to service, personal character and distinguished contributions to our nation. Ron also was selected for the Prestigious Horatio Alger Award in 2014, bestowed upon individuals who have succeeded in spite of adversity and who are committed to supporting young people in pursuit of increased opportunities through higher education. Ron is an honor graduate of the United States Naval Academy. After serving five years in the Navy, he received his MBA degree with High Distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Business where he was elected a Baker Scholar.