Nareit’s REITwise Conference, taking place March 24-26 in Hollywood, Florida, is the leading REIT educational conference, delivering the latest updates on accounting, finance, tax, and legal matters, as well as new sessions this year on sustainability and human capital management. Hear from two REITwise program directors, Mellissa Boggs, executive vice president of employee experience at Kite Realty Group (NYSE: KRG), and Lauren Moss, chief sustainability officer at Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO), about why this year’s REITwise offers more reasons than ever to attend.
Human capital management and sustainability are new components of REITwise this year. What are the benefits of incorporating these topics within a wider REIT educational conference?
Mellissa Boggs: Incorporating human capital management into REITwise recognizes that people strategy is business strategy. Bringing HR leaders together with finance, operations, and executive teams creates a more holistic conversation about performance, culture, and long-term value creation across the REIT industry.
Lauren Moss: Incorporating sustainability into the REITwise agenda acknowledges that sustainability considerations are foundational to real estate strategy, operations, and long-term value creation. Bringing sustainability alongside tax, legal, regulatory, and finance education enables cross disciplinary learning and alignment. When teams responsible for operations, reporting, compliance, and asset management are educated together, it drives better decision-making, reduces silos, and enhances business efficiency and competitive advantage across the entire enterprise.
What are some of the key issues facing sustainability and HR professionals today that REITwise will address?
Moss: Sustainability professionals are navigating an evolving landscape—from regulatory and reporting requirements to energy transition strategies and climate resilience. REITwise will address how to improve operational efficiency, integrate renewable energy and decarbonization pathways, meet emerging disclosure and compliance expectations, and build resilience into real estate portfolios. The conference will highlight practical solutions and best practices that align sustainability goals with broader business and financial performance.
Boggs: REITwise will tackle timely challenges such as talent attraction and retention, leadership development, workforce engagement, and adapting to evolving workplace expectations. These issues directly impact organizational resilience and growth in a competitive real estate landscape.
How can attendees share insights and make connections beyond the formal REITwise agenda?
Moss: REITwise offers structured networking events, topic specific roundtables, and informal social sessions that encourage peer-to-peer dialogue and collaboration. Attendees can connect with sustainability leaders, exchange real world experiences, and build relationships that continue beyond the conference. These interactions often spark new ideas, partnerships, and shared approaches to address common challenges.
Boggs: Beyond the scheduled sessions, REITwise offers ample opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement through networking events, informal discussions, and small-group interactions—allowing attendees to exchange ideas, share best practices, and build lasting industry relationships.
What are among the most important sustainability priorities at Vornado today?
Moss: At Vornado, sustainability is a driver of operational excellence and long-term value. Our priorities include optimizing building performance, enhancing resiliency in the face of climate risk, and advancing the health and wellness of our tenants. We focus on aligning our environmental goals with those of our tenants to foster productive, healthy, and efficient spaces, while continuously seeking opportunities to innovate and improve across our portfolio.
What are some of the human capital initiatives previously or currently underway at Kite Realty that you are most proud of and that can resonate with the wider REIT community?
Boggs: At Kite Realty, we are proud of initiatives focused on leadership development, employee engagement, and fostering a culture that our teams actively participate in. Our emphasis on aligning people development with business goals has strengthened our organization and offers insights that can resonate across the broader REIT community.