Ticketed events. Times vary within window.

Spencer Levy

Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor, CBRE

Spencer Levy is the global client strategist and senior economic advisor for CBRE, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world. He is part of CBRE’s Global Client Care team, a group of professionals around the world who are responsible for account management and client experience programs for the company’s largest clients. In addition to his client-facing role, Levy serves as a primary company spokesperson and is considered one of the most insightful commentators on issues of importance to commercial real estate. He is frequently quoted in major business publications and is the host of CBRE’s award-winning podcast The Weekly Take, the most heavily downloaded podcast in commercial real estate.

As global uncertainty collides with structural shifts in the industrial market, investors and developers must make smart, strategic moves to stay ahead. In this opening session, capital markets experts will break down what’s driving investment decisions, where capital is flowing and how tariffs, tax policy, energy constraints and debt availability are shaping the landscape. Get insights into what’s next for cap rates, tenant demand and speculative development and how to position your projects for success in the months ahead.

What is fueling the Columbus region’s rise as a national leader in growth and development? This session reveals the “secret sauce”: a rare mix of bipartisan cooperation and deep public-private alignment that is accelerating projects, attracting major investment, and delivering tangible results. Featuring voices from both the public and private sectors, this discussion will explore how the “Columbus Way” creates momentum and what other regions can learn from this unique model.

Hear directly from leading end users as they share how global trends, AI and energy constraints are shaping their real estate strategies. These in-house decisionmakers will offer a candid look at how they select sites, partner with developers and tailor their approach across regions, especially in the Central U.S. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to gain insight straight from the occupiers driving industrial demand.

A new NAIOP Research Foundation study explores how artificial intelligence is transforming industrial real estate, from site selection and building design to operational systems and infrastructure requirements. This session will dive into key insights from the report, which draws on both secondary research and extensive interviews with developers and technology experts. Learn how AI is already reshaping warehouse development and what it means for the future of industrial facilities.

Skyrocketing demand from data centers, EVs and advanced manufacturing is outpacing the grid’s capacity and reshaping where and how projects get built. In this can’t-miss closing session, experts unpack the risks to development tied to energy access and reliability, emerging infrastructure solutions and the collaborations needed to power growth. Learn how to navigate this high-stakes shift and position your projects for success in a constrained-energy future.

Location: Whistle & Keg (343 N Front St #125, Columbus) - 5-minute walk from Hyatt Regency

Ticketed event; $149 USD | $194 CAD

Join fellow I.CON Central attendees at Whistle & Keg, a brewery and beer hall in the heart of downtown Columbus' lively Arena District, a destination for major concerts and home to Nationwide Arena and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Whistle & Keg (the name is a nod to the steam whistle that rang out for years as trains ran through the city) boasts 50 pour-your-own taps, so you have the freedom to pour a little or a lot.