Bill Hunt
North Carolina State University
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ULI Triangle Emerging Trends in Real Estate
Pricing
| Early Pricing Until November 24 | Members | Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| Private | $115.00 | $160.00 |
| Public/Academic/Nonprofit | $95.00 | $135.00 |
| Retired | $95.00 | N/A |
| Student | $95.00 | $135.00 |
| Under Age 35 | $95.00 | $135.00 |
| Pricing | ||
| Private | $135.00 | $185.00 |
| Public/Academic/Nonprofit | $115.00 | $155.00 |
| Retired | $115.00 | N/A |
| Student | $115.00 | $155.00 |
| Under Age 35 | $115.00 | $155.00 |
Due to necessary financial commitments, no refunds will be available after Monday, November 24, 2025.
Lunch & Learn: Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2026
Join ULI Triangle for one of the region’s most anticipated annual events—Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2026—where industry leaders gather to explore the forces shaping the future of real estate across the Triangle and beyond.
This dynamic program will feature insights from the highly regarded Emerging Trends in Real Estate® report, a joint publication by ULI and PwC, offering a comprehensive outlook on U.S. and global real estate investment and development trends. Attendees will gain exclusive access to expert analysis on market shifts, capital flows, sustainability, technology, and demographic drivers that are redefining the built environment.
Keynote Speaker: Chuck DiRocco, PwC
We are excited to welcome Chuck DiRocco, Director of Real Estate Research at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as our keynote presenter. Chuck leads PwC’s global research efforts on Emerging Trends in Real Estate, covering the U.S., Europe, and Asia. With over 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, he is a recognized thought leader in real estate economics and investment strategy. His insights will provide a forward-looking perspective on market dynamics and opportunities shaping 2026 and beyond.
Event Highlights:
- Presentation of key findings from the 2026 Emerging Trends report
- Networking opportunities with top developers, investors, planners, and public sector partners
- A look ahead at what’s next for the Triangle’s real estate landscape
Local Panel:
Discover how resilient design drives value at ULI's Emerging Trends event! Our panel will highlight green stormwater infrastructure - an approach that transforms required open spaces, buffers, and landscaped areas into multi-functional assets.
These practices go beyond compliance, optimizing land to increase developable opportunities while managing stormwater, extending infrastructure life, and elevating aesthetics.
Learn how integrating green infrastructure can improve water quality, deliver health benefits, and boost property values - creating sustainable, profitable developments.
Featuring Speakers:
- Kate Pearce, Dix Park
- Dr. Bill Hunt, NC State University
- Chuck Smith, Preston Development
- Moderated by Erica Leatham, Epcon Communities
Who Should Attend: Real estate professionals, developers, investors, architects, planners, public officials, and anyone interested in the future of land use and urban development.
Brier Creek Country Club 9400 Club Hill Drive Raleigh, NC 27617 United States
Speakers
Kate Pearce
Executive Director, Dix Park
Chuck Smith
VP, Planning and Development , Preston Development Company
Chuck Smith Mr. Smith is the Director of Planning and Development for Preston Development Company overseeing the design of Chatham Park, a 7,200 acre master planned community in the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina. Mr. Smith has over 40 years of experience as a licensed landscape architect specializing in land use planning, retail and mixed use design, golf course design, and recreational and open space planning. Prior to joining Preston Development Company, Mr. Smith was Director of Planning and Landscape Architecture for WithersRavenel, a multi-disciplinary design firm in Cary, NC. Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Environmental Design in Landscape Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture from NC State University. He is a Past President of the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards (CLARB) serving North America and Puerto Rico and is a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects. Chuck has also been a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina for over thirty years.
Chuck DiRocco
Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chuck DiRocco is currently the Director of Real Estate Research at PwC and is based in Washington, DC, where his focus is on Emerging Trends in Real Estate covering the U.S., Europe, and Asia. In addition, he is an author and manager of various internal and external articles and data analyses on economics and commercial real estate. He also continues to be an industry speaker, providing numerous presentations for media and at conferences, webinars, and seminars. Mr. DiRocco has over 20 years of experience in the public and private real estate industry. Before working with PwC, Mr. DiRocco was the Managing Director of Client Services and Thought Leadership for Ankura. Mr. DiRocco's role there revolved around client relationships with private institutional equity and direct lending clientele, including global investment banks, insurance companies, pension funds, and various asset lenders and owners. Before Ankura, he served as the Director of Research at Altus Group. He created and produced The Real Confidence Executive Survey, Young Professional Survey, The University Challenge, and The Yardstick. In addition, Mr. DiRocco was the Vice President of Research for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT). Mr. DiRocco's education includes a B.S. degree in Finance and an M.B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in Finance and investments. Also, he is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, a Homer Hoyt Fellow, a Counselor of Real Estate, a Certified Commercial Investment Member, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Erica Leatham
Corporate Director of Entitlements, Epcon Communities, Inc.
Erica has been a member of ULI since she started in the real estate industry right of out law school. Most recently, Erica Leatham was the Vice President of Land for the Raleigh Division at M/I Homes. Her responsibilities included the implementation of the Division's strategic plan, oversight of the Division’s land acquisition portfolio, as well as managing the entitlement process for land under control, overseeing land development milestones, managing HOAs, and acting as the Division ESG liaison. She has been in homebuilding for nearly ten years since relocating from the Washington, DC area where she practiced as a land use attorney for over 15 years. In 2019, Erica received ULI’s WLI Prologis Achievement Award for women leaders in real estate. In 2023 she was the recipient of the Triangle Community Coalition Wahlbrink Award and the Triangle Business Journal Women in Business Award. At Triangle ULI, she launched Urban Plan for Public Officials in the market and has been a Mentor in the WLI Mentorship Program since its inception. In addition to chairing the Triangle ULI District Council in 2025, she also serves on the Board of the Triangle Community Coalition (2022 Chair), the Raleigh-Wake Homebuilders Association, and the Durham-Orange-Chatham Homebuilders Association. Erica graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University and received her J.D. from The George Washington University.