Empowering Real Estate Professionals: Regency Centers & USC Partnership


05/23/2024


Regency Centers and the University of Southern California have collaborated to establish the Employee Empowerment Fund, aiming to support local Regency employees in attending the USC Ross Program in Real Estate. This annual donation provides opportunities for individuals to participate in the program, which was founded in 1993 to empower underrepresented groups and those investing in emerging communities to pursue leadership roles in real estate finance and development.

Administered by the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, the Ross Program offers a comprehensive four-week curriculum where students gather to enhance their industry knowledge and tackle intricate real estate challenges. Graduates of the program often assume key roles in various real estate projects across Southern California and beyond.
 
Mary Peralta, Program Manager of USC Ross Program, highlights the transformative impact of the course, particularly in opening avenues for women and people of color in the historically exclusive real estate sector. By partnering with organizations like Regency Centers, the program aims to foster greater inclusivity by imparting essential knowledge, skills, and connections.
 
A significant aspect of the program is the culmination project, where student teams engage in a real estate development endeavor on a Los Angeles property, presenting their proposals to investors, community members, and stakeholders. Erika Omana, Senior Property Manager, became the inaugural recipient of the Employee Empowerment Fund. Her team's outstanding performance earned them the "Best Development Proposal" accolade during the winter 2024 session of the USC Ross Program in Real Estate, showcasing the tangible impact of such initiatives on individuals' professional growth and development.

"Overall, I 10/10 recommend the program,” said Erika Omana, Senior Property Manager. “I gained an incredible amount of knowledge and now understand the business from a completely different perspective. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to take their real estate career to the next level. I hope to use my education to help create a better world for those around me, especially underrepresented Latinas in the real estate industry."
 
Click here to know more about the USC Ross Program in Real Estate.