Diane Smola is a Managing Director at Principal Real Estate, responsible for the development, implementation, and advancement of real estate investment solutions for the defined contribution market, as well as ongoing client and consultant relationships. Prior to joining Principal in 2021, Diane led investment consulting relationships with advisory and delegated corporate, public, and higher education defined contribution plans at various consulting firms. She has over 25 years of defined contribution experience. She actively serves on committees with Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), the Defined Contribution Alternatives Association (DCALTA), and the Defined Contribution Institute.
Mackenzie Clouse is a Commercial Real Estate professional with over 10 years of experience in institutional commercial real estate valuation services. She leads the daily valuation services business line at SitusAMC, focusing on daily net asset value reporting for commercial real estate funds.
Claire Ragen is a partner in the Banking & Finance group who focuses on private investment funds and joint ventures. Claire has broad experience in the formation and structuring of real estate open-end and closed-end funds utilizing a variety of investment structures and investment strategies. Claire also has significant experience in structuring joint ventures, primarily involving real estate companies (including real estate investment trusts), as well as in other corporate and securities transactions. Claire regularly represents institutional investors in investment in private equity funds, hedge funds, managed accounts and other alternative investments.
Claire served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Jean C. Hamilton, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri from 2004-2005.
David N. Levine is a principal at Groom Law Group, Chartered. He advises plan sponsors, advisors, and other service providers on a wide range of employee benefits matters, from retirement and executive compensation to health and welfare plan matters.
Mr. Levine was previously the Chair of the IRS Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (2011-2013) and serves in a number of leadership roles in the American Bar Association Tax Section’s Employee Benefits Committee. Mr. Levine regularly speaks on plan design, fiduciary governance, and legislative issues and contributes a recurring column to NAPA Net — The Magazine. He is recognized in the Chambers USA guide for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. Mr. Levine received his J.D., from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his B.A., with general and departmental honors, from Johns Hopkins University.
