Our Team

Bill Bubniak, Faculty Director

Bill Bubniak serves as the Faculty Director for the Weiser Center for Real Estate, as well as Director of Real Estate Initiatives and Associate Professor of Practice in urban and regional planning at Taubman College.

In addition to his roles at the University, Bill is currently an Executive Vice President at NAI/Farbman, where he has been since joining their team in January 1988. He oversees the Investment Sales Division of the brokerage Department. He is also a member of the Leadership Team of the Firm. Bill specializes in the investment in and sale of turnaround properties and structuring deals for user/buyers to purchase for their own business.

Bill has been involved in a variety of types of real estate investments including office buildings, net leased transactions, hotels, industrial buildings, shopping centers, and apartment projects. He was previously the chairperson for the NAI Investment Council for seven years.

Prior to joining NAI/Farbman, Bill was employed by the law firm of Clark, Hill (formerly Hill, Lewis) as an attorney where he specialized in tax and real estate law.

Jake Albers, Managing Director

Jake Albers serves as Managing Director of the Weiser Center for Real Estate, leading operations and strategic execution of the Center’s mission. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer of Urban and Regional Planning. Prior to joining the Center, Jake served as Assistant Director of Alum and Employer Engagement for the LSA Opportunity Hub, leading a team of regional managers in creating a global portfolio of partners who could help advance the career aspirations of LSA undergrads.

Jake brings to the Center nearly a decade of experience across higher education and community and economic development sectors, having worked in municipal roles with the City of Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority and in non-profit economic development with Ann Arbor Spark. Jake holds a bachelor of arts degree in History from Saginaw Valley State University and a master of science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Michigan University.

Chase L. Cantrell, Professional in Residence

Chase L. Cantrell is the inaugural Professional in Residence for the Weiser Center for Real Estate and a Lecturer of Urban and Regional Planning. In his role as Professional in Residence, Chase uses his skills and experience to help prepare our students to enter the real estate industry and access critical networks. Chase holds regular office hours for students, who can schedule a conversation here.

In addition to his work at the University, Chase is the Executive Director of Building Community Value (BCV). In this role, he leads a diverse team of experts in implementing BCV’s real estate training, technical assistance, and consulting programs. Chase is a critical voice in Detroit’s policymaking and revitalization efforts, playing a crucial role as an advocate for residents who work hard to restore and improve the physical infrastructure of Detroit’s neighborhoods. Observing a gap in Detroit’s real estate ecosystem, Chase founded BCV in 2016 as a bridge between the resources accessible to traditional real estate actors and Detroit residents and nonprofits who wish to make a positive impact within their communities.

Colleen Triezenberg, Student Affairs Program Manager

Colleen Triezenberg serves as the Student Affairs Program Manager for the Center. In this role, Colleen manages strategy and execution across the Center’s program offerings, including scope, timelines, budget, and communication. Prior to joining the Weiser Center, Colleen served as the Program Director for North Star Reach, implementing year round programming for children with serious medical challenges. Colleen holds a bachelor of arts degree in Public Relations, Advertisement, and Applied Communications from Loyola University Chicago, with a minor in Marketing and a master of science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University.

During Colleen’s personal time, she enjoys camping, hiking, and living an active lifestyle. She holds her National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Training Certification and specializes in nutrition and women’s fitness. As well as, spending time with her husband and two loveable boys.

Natalie Keene, Community Engagement Coordinator

Natalie Keene serves as Community Engagement Coordinator for the Center, where she works to support the team by collaborating with and engaging students, alumni and the communities they inhabit. Prior to joining the Weiser Team, Natalie served as a Health Educator for the Washtenaw County Health Department on the Epidemiology team, working primarily with communicable disease awareness and prevention. Natalie received her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Eastern Michigan University, where she also minored in both Marketing and Women & Gender Studies. Natalie went on to acquire a master’s in Media and Communications from Goldsmith’s College, University of London, in London, England.

Contact us: um.realestate@umich.edu