Announcing the ACRE Cohort 2025-2026 – Empowering the Next Generation of Real Estate Leaders
LISC Milwaukee proudly announced the launch of the 2025-2026 Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) Program, welcoming a new class of leaders poised to shape the future of commercial real estate. Over the last 20 years of ACRE, this highly competitive, 24-week professional development initiative continued to drive professional development in the commercial real estate industry.
ACRE is administered by the Milwaukee Office of Local Initiative Support Corporation in partnership with three institutions of higher education and supported by numerous industry partners. ACRE stands as a premier talent development program, known for its rigorous standards, practical training, and strong ties to industry leaders.
LISC Milwaukee Executive Director Theodore Lipscomb, Sr., stated,
“This year, we are excited to build on the powerful network and impact of ACRE. We maintained our partnership with the City of Madison and three strong educational institutions and look forward to productive mentorships for ACRE students with established industry partners.”
Founded at Marquette University in 2004, and relaunched by LISC in 2015, the ACRE program is a partnership with Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) to deliver a graduate-level curriculum that combines classroom instruction with real-world learning and networking.
“We couldn’t have been more excited to welcome the ACRE Class of 2026. One of ACRE’s biggest strengths is the depth of its relationships, and the unparalleled partnership between three top universities – Marquette, MSOE, and UW-Milwaukee”, said Andrew Hunt, Executive Director of the Marquette University Vieth Institute for Real Estate Leadership. “Every year this process seemed to get more competitive, and we can’t wait to be in the classroom with these incredibly passionate and driven students, each of whom we know is was eager to make a difference in the Milwaukee and Madison regions.”
ACRE participants undergo a demanding curriculum that includes weekly classroom sessions, major assignments, three cumulative exams, and a final capstone project presented to a panel of seasoned industry professionals. Graduates of the program have gone on to become developers, industry executives, municipal officials, and influential leaders across Milwaukee, Madison, and beyond.
“ACRE is redefining what it means to lead in commercial real estate,” said GeLisa Beard, ACRE Program Officer at LISC Milwaukee. “The buzz around the program is real: it’s where ambition meets opportunity. Our participants are a reflection of the industry’s growing appetite for innovation and progress.”
With over 330 alumni, the ACRE network is a powerful force in the commercial real estate field, fostering opportunities and partnerships that continue to shape the built environment.
The Newly Announced ACRE Class of 2026:
Angel Allen (Milwaukee), Johnnie Austin (Milwaukee), Ahkeem Cooper (Madison), Jessica Currie (Milwaukee), Adella Deacon (Milwaukee), Treanna D. Evans (Milwaukee), Britney A. Festge (Milwaukee), Alyssa D. Flowers (Milwaukee), James J. Harrison (Milwaukee), Stephanie A. Holt (Milwaukee), Mohammad W. Ismail (Milwaukee), Samina J. Khan (Verona), Rachel C. Ledezma (Brown Deer), Tashayanna Mixson (Madison), Ashley J. Moore (Milwaukee), Marcelia Nicholson Bovell (Milwaukee), Justin Ponder (Brookfield), Briana Redmond (Milwaukee), Lucia Roman-Marcial (Milwaukee), Esmeralda Sanchez (Milwaukee), Deja Imani Taylor (Milwaukee), and Andrew Walls (Madison).
The new class was introduced to an enthusiastic gathering of ACRE partners and alumni on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at: Concordia 27, 801 North 27th Street, Milwaukee, WI and classes started on October 8th, 2025.
For more information, or to sign up to be notified of the next round of applications in 2026, visit our website: https://www.lisc.org/milwaukee/our-work/acre/
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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