The annual gathering of Columbia Business School real estate alumni took place on May 6 at the Columbia Club of New York and honored Distinguished Real Estate Partner, Jon Gray of Blackstone.  This lively reception, which draws alumni from near and far, is presented annually by the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate and Real Estate Circle and sponsored by Goodwin Procter LLP.

Jon Gray is the Global Head of Real Estate and a member of the board of directors of Blackstone.  He also sits on the firm’s Management and Executive Committees.

Since joining Blackstone in 1992, Mr. Gray has helped build the largest real estate platform in the world with nearly $81 billion in investor capital under management. Blackstone’s portfolio includes hotel, office, retail, industrial and residential properties in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Mr. Gray currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Hilton Worldwide, Chairman of the Board of Harlem Village Academies, and is a board member of Brixmor Properties and Trinity School.  Mr. Gray and his wife, Mindy, established the Basser Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine focused on the prevention and treatment of certain genetically caused breast and ovarian cancers.

Mr. Gray received a BS in Economics from the Wharton School, as well as a BA in English from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

The MBA Real Estate program is extremely fortunate to have had Jon as a long-time member of the Real Estate Forum as well as a member of the Program’s Advisory Board. 

Thanks to all who were able to attend.  Because of our strong network of active alumni, this year’s attendance covered a span of 57 graduation years!  For those who were unable to join in the festivities, see who from your class was there, by viewing the below photo slideshow.  We hope you can join us next year.  (For a full-screen view of the photo slideshow, click on the icon at lower right of the slideshow.)

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