YES 2025 April Meeting

By Chris Pan

The April YES meeting took place on April 13, 2025, at the Haggard Library, bringing members together for another afternoon of learning, networking, and entrepreneurial development. The meeting began with a networking session where members had the opportunity to catch up and connect with one another before transitioning into the speaker portion of the event.

YES was honored to welcome Dr. Andy Hansz as the guest speaker. Dr. Hansz currently serves as the Gould/Mayfield Professor in Real Estate in the Department of Finance and Real Estate at the University of Texas at Arlington. With an academic background including a Ph.D. in Real Estate from Georgia State University, an MBA from Lehigh University, and degrees in Real Estate and Accounting from Penn State University, Dr. Hansz brings a deep well of expertise to the field. He has held academic and leadership roles at several institutions, including Cal State-Fresno, Penn State, and Old Dominion University.

Dr. Hansz shared insights from his professional journey and real estate research, including his work as a co-author of Real Estate Analysis: Environments and Activities. His presentation touched on the importance of urban city planning and the personal risks he took throughout his career—from leaving his home state for education, walking away from a stable job to pursue another one, and moving to Texas for a role at the University of Texas at Arlington on the spot. He discussed the entrepreneurial mindset, drawing a distinction between risk takers (such as equity investors, real estate developers, and stock traders) and risk analyzers (such as appraisers, accountants, and lenders). He emphasized the value of personal branding and how entrepreneurs may identify as calculated, conservative, or cautious in their approach. Dr. Hansz also shared his work outside of academics with initiatives like Lone Horizon Academy and Plato Mentoring, which focus on professional growth and leadership development.

After a brief break, members reconvened for the YES Launch activity. This time, the session took on a “cross-examination” format. Each group presented their business proposal to a panel of officers and other YES members. Judges provided targeted feedback, and other groups asked follow-up questions to challenge and refine each team’s ideas. The format encouraged critical thinking and helped members strengthen their public speaking and business presentation skills.

The April meeting concluded on a high note, combining professional insight with collaborative engagement. As YES members continue preparing their final business plans, April's session provided valuable real-world perspective and peer-driven feedback to help improve their ideas.