Grateful for the many successes he has been able to achieve in the real estate industry since graduating in 1977, alumnus Kyle D. Riva is paying it forward for the next generation of real estate professionals.

His recent $250,000 gift to the Florida State University College of Business establishes the Riva Family Endowment for Excellence in Real Estate and creates the Riva Multifamily Education Program. This contribution is in addition to a substantial gift he made to create the Kyle D. Riva & Family Conference Room in Legacy Hall.

"The FSU Real Estate Center in the College of Business provides an exceptional real estate education that produces quality graduates who are well trained and who can contribute immediately,” said Riva, the CEO and president of Alexander Investments International and a member of the center’s Executive Board, who has hired several real estate graduates. “I like to help younger people, and this is one way I can do that.”

Riva has had a remarkable 35-year career in real estate development and finance. He has developed more than 22,000 luxury apartments and high-profile commercial projects. His developments can be found in 30 cities, spanning six states, and have a market value of more than $2 billion. His projects have also been featured in several prominent national real estate publications.

The management graduate became acquainted with the FSU Real Estate Center when he attended his first Real Estate TRENDS Conference more than 15 years ago and he has rarely missed one since. In fact, Riva wants part of his gift to provide students, especially those inclined to specialize in multifamily real estate, an opportunity to participate in similar type programs around the country. The Riva Multifamily Education Program will provide for more student-industry opportunities related the multifamily asset class, including funding for student travel to professional conferences.

“Conferences are great opportunities for students to meet successful real estate professionals, become exposed to the many facets of the industry and potentially find employment opportunities,” Riva said.

Before forming Alexander Investments in 1999, Riva spent 25-plus years with Epoch Properties Inc., serving as president for a decade. Prior to that, he was manager of the Central Florida office of Carey, Kramer, Silvester & Associates, a commercial real estate mortgage and sales company. He started his career in commercial mortgage banking.

“Kyle has been an extraordinary friend of the real estate center and our students,” said Dean Gatzlaff, Mark C. Bane Professor and the center’s executive director. “We are fortunate to have such a tremendous champion for the center and our students. Kyle’s latest gift is only one example of many contributions he has made.”

- Barbara Ash