Johns Hopkins Carey Business School hosted its second annual Infrastructure Symposium, bringing together over 125 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and industry leaders from Johns Hopkins University and the Washington, D.C. area to discuss the latest innovations in the infrastructure industry. The day was filled with networking, forward-thinking discussions, and real estate innovation.
Hosted by Professor and Academic Program Director for the Real Estate and Infrastructure program Seydina Fall, the symposium brought together industry leaders including keynote speaker CEO of Carlyle Airport Group and member of Carey’s Real Estate and Infrastructure Advisory Board Amit Rikhy; Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer at Johns Hopkins Facilities and Real Estate Mitch Bonanno; CEO of FI Consulting Roman Iwachiw; and VP and General Manager at Arcadia Joel Gamoran.
The symposium provided an in-depth look at infrastructure’s broad scope, highlighting its vital role in shaping society. The discussions covered topics like transportation assets, social infrastructure, public private partnerships, and utility and energy assets.
“The hope is for students to see how infrastructure deals are put together and notice the paramount role of the community and that of policy-makers throughout the process,” said Fall. “This is a core tenet of our teachings on infrastructure. A symposium like this almost serves as a series of live case studies, and students get to learn from them.”
Key takeaways from the symposium
Rikhy focused on transportation assets, and shared information on how the new terminal at JFK Airport is set to deliver one of the most advanced travel experiences in the world, aligning it with international hubs like Doha and Singapore.
Bonanno discussed the behind the scenes of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center Roadmap, detailing the five-year journey of planning, negotiation, and coordination across private, federal, and local entities to bring the project to life.
Iwachiw offered insights on public-private partnerships and how the government finances infrastructure, breaking down the financial mechanics of federal credit programs and explaining how billions of dollars in funding fuel critical infrastructure projects. He demonstrated how, even in a period of federal spending constraints, these investments can generate net-positive financial returns.
Gamoran highlighted the impact of community solar initiatives, discussing state regulations that enable their growth. He also shared strategies for large real estate owners to maintain energy access during grid disruptions and reduce overall energy costs.
The value of industry events
The symposium was open to Carey’s full-time and part-time students and offered them the opportunity to network and connect with alumni and industry professionals.
Since many of our part-time students are working professionals, this event was an opportunity for them to learn more about the infrastructure industry and to apply their insights into their professions.
“The symposium touched on many relevant insights that I can apply in my day-to-day work as vice president of a condo tower and an incoming project manager in multifamily construction,” said current part-time Real Estate and Infrastructure student Noah Johnston. “Insights on renewable energy and cost-saving strategies can be immediately applied, as I oversee the redevelopment of a 50-year-old building and construction of a 200-unit apartment complex. Learning about P3s and tax-advantaged financing will also be invaluable as I continue to expand my experience and take on larger infrastructure projects in the future.”
It was also an opportunity to network and connect with Carey alumni and industry professionals.
“There were many high-level professionals in attendance who were open and available to meet and respond to any questions I had about their presentations or the industry as a whole,” said Johnston. “The symposium provided an easy and low-pressure way to communicate and build connections. I’ve already had a follow-up with one of the participants and learned more about his company, thanks to our introduction at the symposium.”
