Annual Real Estate Center Dinner
The UC Real Estate Center's Annual Dinner highlights the accomplishments of the Center, the real estate academic program, Center supporters, Lindner faculty and staff, and distinguished students and alumni.
In 2026, our Annual Dinner will return for its 35th year on Thursday, June 4th at historic Cincinnati Music Hall.
Distinguished Real Estate Service Award
Each year, the UC Real Estate Center looks to peers in the industry to nominate individuals for the University of Cincinnati Distinguished Real Estate Service Award. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual for making a lasting impression on our region. These individuals are recognized not only for their years of success in our industry but also for their work in giving back to the community and efforts to change our region for the better.
This award is the top honor recognized at our Annual Real Estate Dinner.
2026 Awardee: Dan Schimberg, Uptown Rental Properties
Dan Schimberg is the Founder and President of Uptown Rental Properties, a leading real estate development and property management firm specializing in vibrant urban housing communities. Since founding the company in 1985, Dan has grown Uptown from the rehabilitation of a single property into one of the region’s most recognized housing providers, with over 4,000 multifamily units and 200,000 square feet of commercial space across Greater Cincinnati and Florida.
A visionary leader with a hands-on approach, Dan has overseen the renovation of hundreds of properties and the ground-up development of more than 2,600 multifamily units. His commitment to thoughtful development and community integration has positioned Uptown as a trusted provider of high-quality housing for students, professionals, and the workforce alike.
Beyond business, Dan is deeply invested in strengthening the communities he serves. He actively contributes his time and leadership to organizations such as the Cincinnati Art Museum, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Talbert House, and the Scleroderma Research Foundation. His connection to SRF is deeply personal, fueling his commitment to advancing research and finding a cure.
Dan’s philanthropic efforts focus on healthcare, medical research, environmental stewardship, and expanding opportunities for underserved populations. Through both his professional work and community involvement, he continues to shape the future of Cincinnati’s urban landscape while making a lasting impact on the lives of those who live and work there.
Dinner Sponsorship Opportunities
Expand the drop down to learn more about what is included with each sponsorship level.
Corporate Sponsor - $5,000
Includes
- One full table with preferential seating (10 seats)
- Prominent display of your company logo on all marketing materials (website, dinner advertisements, event programs, sponsor signs, invitation)
- Complimentary beverages included for your guests throughout the evening
Bearcat Sponsor - $2,500
Includes
- Half table with preferential seating (5 seats)
- Prominent display of your company logo on all marketing materials (website, dinner advertisements, event programs, sponsor signs, invitation)
- Complimentary beverages included for your guests throughout the evening
Individual Sponsor - $1,250
Includes
- Two tickets to dinner
- Prominent display of your company logo on all marketing materials (website, dinner advertisements, event programs, sponsor signs, invitation)
- Complimentary beverages included for your guests throughout the evening
Thank You to Our 2025 Dinner Sponsors
The Real Estate Center Annual Dinner would not be possible without the support from our dinner sponsors. We extend a sincere thank you to the following companies for their generous contributions to the Real Estate Center & Program.
2025 Corporate Sponsors
Basis Companies
Colliers
Jeff Wyler Automotive Family
The Lanier and Murphy Families
The Port
Strauss Troy
Taft Law
Towne Properties
2025 Bearcat Sponsors
Cincinnati Commercial Contracting
Clark Schaffer Hackett
Corporex
Dean Dorton
Foster and Motley
Grote Enterprises
Huseman Group
Marcus and Millichap
Merus
Mobile Infrastructure
Oyler Hines
PLK Communities
Reading Rock
The RCF Group
Roehr Insurance
STNL Development
Tom Green
Van Trust Real Estate
2025 Individual Sponsors
Ark Malibu
Central Bank
Cincinnati Development Fund
Core Resources
Fath Properties
GPMG
Keystone Management Group
Loth
SPS Partners
Thompson Hine
Thunderdome Restaurant Group
Triversity Construction
Past Annual Dinners
The UC Real Estate Center’s 34th annual dinner was held on June 11 and celebrated real estate students and Distinguished Real Estate Service Awardee Shenan Murphy, vice chairman, Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland-Akron, Colliers.
A record crowd of more than 600 attendees - comprised of real estate students, alumni, industry professionals and supporters - filled Cincinnati Music Hall. Other highlights included:
- Appreciation for the dinner’s sponsors, and members of the Board of Executive Advisors in Real Estate and the Real Estate Advisory Council.
- Highlighting the 25 student scholarship recipients.
Nearly 600 real estate professionals, students, alumni and supporters packed Cincinnati Music Hall on June 12, 2024 for the University of Cincinnati Real Estate Center’s 33rd Annual Real Estate Dinner.
Attendees showed out to celebrate Lindner’s real estate students and the night’s top honoree Gregg Fusaro, partner, CIG Communities, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
Other highlights of the 33rd Annual Dinner included:
- A celebration of the 16 scholarship recipients for the 2023-24 academic year. Awards for the year topped $38,000.
- Recognition of the Center's Board of Executive Advisors in Real Estate (BEARE) and Real Estate Executive Advisory Council (REEAC).
- A tribute to the late Snowden Armstrong, a longtime supporter of the UC Real Estate Center, founding member of the Roundtable series and a fixture in the Cincinnati real estate community.
- A thank you to the 31 local and national companies who sponsored the 2024 Annual Dinner.
On June 14, 2023, 620 guests visited Music Hall in downtown Cincinnati to highlight the accomplishments of the center, the real estate program, its supporters, Carl H. Lindner College of Business faculty and staff and distinguished students and alumni.
The evening included:
- A celebration of 2022-23 academic year scholarship recipients
- Recognition of the students honored as our BEARE Scholars.
- The introduction of Gary Painter, PhD, as the new academic director of the real estate program
- Recognition of Laura Brunner, president and CEO of the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, as the recipient of the Distinguished Real Estate Service Award.
Following a two-year absenced due to COVID-19, the center marked the joyous return of its annual awards dinner on June 1, 2022, attracting 550 commercial real estate professionals to the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati to celebrate the accomplishments of the center, program, faculty, staff and distinguished students and alumni.
Rusty Myers, BBA ’82, was recognized as the Distinguished Service Award recipient. Myers is a longtime volunteer and servant leader for UC. The fourth-generation Bearcat is a past president of the UC Alumni Association, Real Estate Advisory Counsel and Real Estate Roundtable.
Furthermore, 18 students received a combined total of $40,000 in UC scholarship awards. Additionally, four of these students received additional external scholarships from Ohio Realtors and Society of Industrial and Office Realtors valued at another $7,000.
Our Annual Center Supporters
The Real Estate Center is thankful for its generous corporate partners for providing financial support, sharing valuable input and expertise, and acting as global ambassadors for the Center and the real estate program.
PNC
Premier Partner
Eagle Realty Group
Platinum Partner
Brandicorp
Gold Partner
Hills Properties
Gold Partner
Kroger
Gold Partner
Neyer Properties
Gold Partner
North American Properties
Gold Partner
Procter & Gamble
Gold Partner
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