California + Los Angeles + Office | February 23, 2021

Witte and Watt Are New Chairs at USC Lusk Center for Real Estate

The University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate recently announced the appointment of Bill Witte, chairman and CEO of Related California, to board chair and Nadine Watt, CEO of Watt Companies, as vice chair. As part of Lusk’s ongoing succession planning, both were appointed simultaneously to their previous board roles following the retirement of industry legend Stan Ross, who served as chairman for 18 years. This revolving process ensures continuity and board leadership.

Witte becomes board chair after serving for three years as vice chair. He replaces Emile Haddad, chairman and CEO of FivePoint Holdings, who served as chair since 2017.

“Just as I have had the good fortune of being able to rely on Stan and Emile’s council in years past, I now have the good fortune of being able to rely on Bill and Nadine’s wisdom and expertise in the years to come,” said Richard Green, chair of both the Lusk Center and USC’s Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Real Estate Development.

Previously, Witte was deputy mayor for housing and neighborhoods under Mayor Art Agnos and director of San Francisco housing and economic development under Mayor Dianne Feinstein.

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About Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown has decades of experience in corporate communications and marketing management with organizations including Coldwell Banker Residential, Grubb & Ellis, Marcus & Millichap, NAIOP, SIOR and ALM. In those positions, she worked in conjunction with chief executive officers and chief marketing officers to create corporate messaging, cohesive branding standards, strategic marketing plans and thought pieces. Brown is a frequent speaker at industry events and an editing adjunct professor for an online course. She has a master’s degree in mass communications from San Jose State University.

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