Conference Overview
Join the University of South Alabama Real Estate Program for the Gulf Coast Real Estate Spring Forum: True Grit to Growth.
This forum moves past high-level forecasting to provide real estate professionals with:
- Market Forecast: Gain a definitive 2026 outlook on residential and commercial sectors from NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun to help navigate shifting interest rates and inventory.
- Infrastructure Growth: Join Angus Cooper III to understand how the Port of Mobile and the new downtown airport are fundamentally expanding the Gulf Coast’s economic horizon.
- Urban Revitalization: Learn from a NAIOP Expert Panel on the practical strategies for revitalizing local icons and scaling projects under current market pressures.
- The Industrial Corridor: Hear from a panel of CRE and SIOR experts about identifying emerging opportunities in Alabama’s premier industrial and logistics corridor.
Dates
Tuesday, March 24, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location
University of South Alabama
MacQueen Alumni Center
100 Alumni Drive
Mobile, AL 36608
Conference Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 10:00 am – 10:10 am | Welcome/Intro/CE Instructions
|
| 10:10 am – 11:00 am | Session 1 - The Economic Shell: Hard Grit and the Luster of 2026
|
| 11:00 am – 11:30 am | Networking & Exhibitor Visits |
Speakers
Robert Bronstein • Director of Business Development
Gulf Distributing
Session 2 - Under Pressure: Revitalizing Icons and Scaling the FutureMarch 24, 2026
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Session 2 Promotion: Under Pressure
Revitalizing Icons and Scaling the Future
Transformation requires more than just capital; it requires the courage to innovate under the pressure of historic constraints and rising costs. This session brings together the NAIOP Gulf Coast experts who specialize in the heavy lifting of development. By leveraging the NAIOP Gulf Coast value proposition—a unique blend of advocacy, education, and unparalleled networking—these panelists reveal how they’ve turned project hurdles into market-defining successes. From adaptive reuse to massive logistics scaling, discover how NAIOP Gulf Coast leaders use their "grit" to de-risk the complex and deliver the iconic.
Angus Cooper III • President
The Cooper Group
Angus R. Cooper III serves as President for The Cooper Group of Companies, Inc. in Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Cooper graduated as a member of the Class of 1991 from UMS-Wright Preparatory School, and the Class of 1996 from the University of Alabama in the School of Commerce and Business Administration with a B. S. in General Business.
After college, Mr. Cooper joined Herfurth & Co. Shipping GmbH in Antwerp, Belgium. He also worked in the management training program for Regions Bank and later joined his family’s stevedoring company, The Cooper Group of Companies, Inc., serving in various divisions. The company operates in thirty-seven ports in the United States, plus operations in Mexico. The Cooper Group of Companies, Inc. has diversified its business interests and now includes thirty-one subsidiaries and affiliated companies.
Continuing Education
Alabama Real Estate Commission - 3hrs of CE
Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy - 3.4hrs of CPE, Other/Business Management
Alabama State Bar - pending
Alabama State Appraisal Board - pending
Sponsorships
For questions regarding forum sponsorships, please contact Grayson Glaze at 251-460-6710 or gglaze@southalabama.edu.
Questions about the event?
For questions or information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Grayson Glaze at 251-460-6710 or gglaze@southalabama.edu.