UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO REAL ESTATE CENTER NAMES SUSAN WATTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Nationally Recognized Leader in Sustainability to Succeed Byron Koste
Boulder, CO --- The University of Colorado Real Estate Center, a high-caliber academic real estate program for graduate and undergraduate students attending the Leeds School of Business, announces the appointment of Susan Watts as executive director. Watts is a nationally recognized leader in sustainable development who brings to the Center a unique combination of 25 years in senior management for development industry leaders Bonita Bay Group, Collier Enterprises, WCI Communities, and Westinghouse Communities in California, Arizona and Florida, and experience in academia teaching at the University of Arizona in the School of Renewable Natural Resources.
“Susan’s background in academia, her thorough knowledge of the real estate industry and commitment to sustainability make her the ideal candidate to lead the CU Real Estate Center into its exciting next chapter,” said Byron Koste, founder of the center who is credited with building the 12-year-old program into a first tier real estate program.
“During the past decade, the Center has evolved into a driving force in real estate education nationally. I look forward to working with the dedicated members of the CU Real Estate Council, led by incoming Chairman Sherman Miller, the CU Real Estate Foundation, and the top-notch faculty, to provide the skill sets necessary for the next generation of students entering an industry that is focused on sustainable development. It’s a challenging world and our students need to have the vision and creativity to make a difference,” said Watts.
In her new position, Watts will work in partnership with Miller and the Board of Governors to continue to enhance the graduate and undergraduate real estate curriculum, maintain and expand relationships with local, state, and national professional associations to foster best practices in real estate development and management, and provide opportunities to apply best practices and research related to public and private land use and environmental groups. She will develop meaningful internships for the students, as well as recruit and provide guidance to the center’s director of the Initiative for Sustainable Development. The search process for the new director for sustainable development is underway; Watts is participating on the search committee and is currently interviewing candidates.
“Kudos to CU for selecting Susan Watts as the new executive director of its Real Estate Center,” said Mike Langella, executive vice president of Reynolds Signature Communities who was mentored by Watts in the early 90s as part of the Westinghouse MBA Management Development Program. “Having had the opportunity to work with Susan when I was starting my career in real estate, I can attest that she is a superb mentor and a generative teacher. She is at all times focused, tireless, and inspirational. She builds confidence in those she works with to the benefit of the team. I am sure the CU Real Estate Center will reach greater heights with Susan leading the way.”
“We couldn’t be more excited about Susan Watts becoming the new executive director of the CU Real Estate Center,” said John E. Freyer, president of Land Title Guarantee Company and president of the board of directors for the CU Real Estate Foundation. “Her background in development, academia, and sustainability together with her leadership abilities and collaborative style will ensure continued success for the University of Colorado and the Real Estate Center.”
Watts is a prominent speaker on real estate and sustainability trends at national conferences including the Urban Land Institute, National Association of Home Builders, Audubon International and American Institute of Architects. Recent presentations have focused on the latest strategies related to smart growth, green building, and creating sustainable communities for the future. Throughout her career she has been responsible for the visioning, planning, and development of communities that have received national recognition for environmentally responsible development including the Environmental Leader in Golf Award from Golf Digest, Outstanding Large-Scale Community of the Year recognition by the Urban Land Institute, and the American Society of Landscape Architects Award of Excellence. She currently serves on the advisory board of the 1,100 acre Maryland Creek Ranch in Silverthorne, Colorado.
Watts holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences from Goucher College and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Illinois. She is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, American Planning Association, Association of Florida Community Developers, and serves on the Community Development Council of the Urban Land Institute.
The University of Colorado Real Estate Center offers a real estate curriculum at both the graduate and undergraduate levels that prepares students to be leaders in the real estate industry. The center fosters the partnership between the university and the CU Real Estate Council to create dynamic and relevant dialogue that will further land use-related research and develop meaningful internships for students with job placement opportunities as the ultimate goal.
Published November 2, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT
Susan Watts
239-565-0245
susanw@bonitabaygroup.com
Byron Koste
303-492-4664
byron.koste@colorado.edu