Teaching » Speakers Bureau

Ely Speakers Bureau

Welcome to the Lambda Alpha International Ely-Chicago Chapter Speakers Bureau. Our chapter members offer themselves as a resource for you across a wide variety of land economics industries. Members of LAI Ely-Chicago have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in their land economics field. They have been selected by their peers as worthy of recognition for their commitment to excellence. Click on a category below to find your next speaker, panelist or moderator from our membership.

If you are an LAI Ely-Chicago Chapter Member, click here to apply for the Speakers Bureau.

Photo of Collete Y English Dixon Collete Y English Dixon Executive Director, Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate

Collete English Dixon has more than 30 years in investment management with a focus on commercial real estate investing. Prior to her current role at Roosevelt University, she was Executive Director - Transactions for PGIM Real Estate (formerly known as PREI), a business unit of Prudential Financial, and co-leader of PREI’s national investment dispositions program. In that role, she oversaw the sale of more than 200 investment properties located throughout the US, with a total value of more than $8.7 Billion, on behalf of PREI’s investment funds. Prior to her role in dispositions, English Dixon was responsible for sourcing more than $2.75B of wholly-owned and joint venture real estate investment opportunities in the Midwestern markets covering all property types, including office, multi-family, hotel, industrial and retail properties. Collete’s experience also includes property development and asset management.

Photo of Amy Jo Hall Amy Jo Hall COO

Amy is a commercial real estate executive focused on cultivating excellence across all team members so they may provide trusted advisory and intelligent solutions to those they serve and, in turn, create value for all stakeholders.

Since 1997, Amy has evolved as a leader in the commercial real estate industry. With career experience in both ground up development and established retail shopping centers, she now oversees all aspects of day to day operations for Caton. Her background in departmental structures and staff architecture, optimizing sales team performance, professional development and coaching, strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, land development, shopping center leasing, ancillary income revenue streams, and sponsorship negotiations provide a solid and well-rounded foundation from which to lead. Amy holds multiple ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) designations and is an industry speaker and leader. She serves as a facilitator, teacher, mentor and Illinois state Ambassador for ICSC, committee member for The Goldie Initiative, a board of director for the CCIM IL Chapter, and as a panelist and/or moderator varying other industry organizations.

Photo of Ellen Shepard Ellen Shepard CEO, Community Allies

Ellen Shepard is CEO of Community Allies, a Chicago-based consultancy working across North America to build neighborhoods and cities where prosperity and opportunity are accessible for all. Ellen works as a strategic advisor to community leaders (including non-profit directors, government officials and staff, and funders), to support their efforts towards equitable economic development, vibrant neighborhood commercial districts, and deep community engagement.

Photo of Lynsey Sorrell Lynsey Sorrell Principal, Bureau Gemmell

Lynsey has a love of learning and listening. Spirited, informed debate is a source of inspiration. Hearing and engaging with different view points is where she sees growth and potential.