Expert Talks

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business welcomes leaders from all over South Florida and the world to campus to share their thoughts on today’s business and economic climate, as well as their knowledge and experience, and discuss the key issues they’re facing.

Expert Talk: Chris Pyle, Champion Solutions Group

Christopher Pyle, President & CEO for Champion Solutions Group, began his career with Champion as a sales representative in 1986. Over the years, Chris has become the driving force behind the organization’s development of key strategic alliances and solution portfolio. It’s his vision and innovativeness that catapulted Champion up the ranks to become a $100 million organization and one of the most respected solution providers amongst top technology manufacturers including IBM, Microsoft, VMware, and NetApp.

Expert Talk: Peter Luukko, Florida Panthers

Peter Luukko serves as the Executive Chairman of the Florida Panthers and its parent company, Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, LLC. He is a nationally recognized sports management leader and member of the National Hockey League Board of Governors with over 25 years of experience running a professional NHL franchise. Luukko’s main responsibility in his current position is to build the Panthers and Sunrise Sports Entertainment, LLC into a world-class sports and entertainment company by generating a significant and broad base of corporate, community and fan support across South Florida for both the Panthers as well events at the BB&T Center.

Expert Talk: Frank Duemmler, Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors

Frank L. Duemmler has been with Kayne Anderson since the launch of its real estate platform in 2007 and is responsible for its real estate investment operations and all asset management activities. Duemmler also served as Chief Investment Officer until 2012, and he continues to serve as a member of the Investment Committee. Duemmler has over 30 years of wide ranging experience in real estate and financial services. As Executive Vice President of Intrepid Capital Partners, a U.S.-based investment firm, he was a key player in the successful float of a $750 million real estate investment company on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM, and the subsequent investment of those funds in several mixed-use real estate developments in India.

Expert Talk: Yitshak Kreiss, Former Surgeon General & Brigadier General of Israel

Yitshak Kreiss, M.D., an internationally renowned leader in disaster, emergency and humanitarian medicine and former Surgeon General, visited FAU in Fall 2015 to deliver a series of presentations, following his appointment by the College of Business and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine as a clinical affiliate professor. Kreiss, a pioneer in the field of emergency medicine and disaster relief leadership, has treated victims in catastrophic events all around the world, including the 2010 earthquake in Haiti when he led Israel’s medical response team. He also has led humanitarian missions in the Philippines, Syria, Bulgaria, Sinai, Egypt and Macedonia, and has served as medical commander in numerous wars and operations.

Business and Economics Polling Initiative (BEPI) at FAU

The Business and Economics Polling Initiative (BEPI) at FAU conducts surveys on business, economic, political, and social issues with main focus on Hispanic attitudes and opinions at regional, state and national levels. BEPI conducts the Hispanic Poll, a monthly snapshot poll of Hispanics opinion throughout the country on political, social and cultural topics. In addition, the Initiative publishes the Hispanic Index of Consumer Sentiment, a monthly look at the nation’s Hispanic economic outlook. The Initiative is designed to contribute to the educational mission of the University by providing students with valuable opportunities to enhance their educational experience by designing and carry out public opinion research. Students are involved in questionnaire design, data collection and data analysis.

FAU BH&J Buy vs. Rent Index

The Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent Index is an index designed to signal whether current market conditions favor buying or renting a home in terms of wealth creation over a fixed holding period in a particular market relative to historical market conditions and alternative investment opportunities. The index summarizes 23 major metropolitan housing markets and the U.S. real estate market as a whole. The major goal of the BH&J Index is to provide information on the health of housing markets around the country enabling consumers, real estate market professionals, developers, lenders and housing policy makers to make more informed decisions.