From Atlanta to the New York City Skyline: How Corey Conklin Launched a Career in Real Estate Development

When Corey Conklin was 24 years old, he attended Silverstein Properties’ ribbon cutting of the Four Seasons Hotel in Tribeca, Manhattan. Standing in the room as Larry Silverstein spoke, Conklin had a moment that would quietly shape his career.

Silverstein, founder and chairman of Silverstein Properties and one of the most influential figures in American real estate, was the developer tasked with rebuilding the World Trade Center following Sept. 11, 2001.

“I remember sitting there in complete disbelief,” Conklin recalled. “Two years into my career, I was in New York at the Four Seasons ribbon cutting listening to Silverstein speak. I had no idea how to pull it off, but I knew I wanted to work for a developer like that someday.”

Nearly a decade later, Conklin made that vision a reality.

Now a senior associate at Silverstein Properties in New York City, Conklin works on some of the most complex commercial real estate development projects in the country. His path from Atlanta to New York was deliberate and shaped in meaningful ways by his experience in the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Evening MBA program.

Beginning With Building Blocks

When Conklin was a kid, he didn’t just play with Lego bricks; he built cities meticulously refined to be bigger, taller, and closer to real-life skylines. As he grew older, his parents nurtured his instincts with trips to open houses and construction sites, where his father, who worked in real estate, often asked for his thoughts on what might be improved. That creative encouragement at a young age stuck with him through high school and into college.

At Georgia State University, Conklin double-majored in real estate and managerial sciences, completing six internships across different sectors of the industry. It was during his final internship with Atlanta-based developer Carter that everything came together.

“That’s when I fell in love with development,” Conklin said. “Seeing how the vision, the creativity, the market research, the planning, and the construction all pieced together into something tangible — that’s when it all made sense.”

After joining Carter full time, Conklin gained early exposure to large-scale urban redevelopment projects. But a move into construction loan asset management at Trimont Real Estate Advisors broadened his perspective.

“I started working on construction loans for a $10 billion portfolio,” Conklin said. “A lot of it was in New York City, and that’s when I realized I wanted to be there — not just living there but building there.”

Why an MBA at Scheller

Conklin had always planned to pursue an MBA, but his New York ambitions accelerated the timeline.

“I was intimidated by the level of talent I saw in New York,” he said. “The people I met there were incredibly accomplished. I knew that if I wanted to move there, I needed an MBA for my own personal and professional growth.”

He considered several top programs but ultimately chose Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business and its early-stage, emergent real estate program.

“I liked that the program was still growing and open to evolving,” he said. “I was drawn to the College by the opportunity to help shape what Scheller could become in real estate.”

As an Evening MBA student, Conklin balanced a full-time career with Evening MBA coursework, ultimately earning concentrations in real estate and sustainability. He took multiple real estate practicums and credits much of his growth to hands-on, applied learning.

“The practicums are where the MBA program really clicked for me,” he said. “Everything felt connected to real-world decision-making.”

One of his lasting contributions to Scheller came outside the classroom. Alongside his faculty mentor, Barry Branch, Conklin helped launch the Georgia Tech Real Estate Club — the first real estate club chartered at the institutional level.

“Barry was already working with the College of Design and other faculty members to expand real estate’s presence at Georgia Tech,” Conklin said. “He really pushed me to think bigger. It wouldn’t be just a Scheller club, but something that could bring everyone, including architects, engineers, and designers, into the conversation.”

With a foundation built on rigorous coursework, leadership, and grit, Conklin was ready to launch his career in New York.

The Dreamer Lands His Dream Job

After graduating in December 2020, Conklin was working at JLL in Atlanta when a longtime mentor opened the door to New York.

“I made what I thought was a very subtle comment about wanting to move to New York,” Conklin said with a laugh. “The next Monday, my managing director pulled me into a conference room and said, ‘I’ve scheduled an interview for you in New York — this afternoon.’”

Within weeks, Conklin relocated and spent the next year with JLL before joining Silverstein Properties. There, his broad background across development, finance, and project management set him apart.

“They needed someone who understood construction financing, project management, and how to work as an owner’s representative for a client,” he said. “That mix is rare, and my background fit perfectly.”

Now, Conklin works on projects that will shape the New York City skyline for decades, including The Walt Disney Company’s 1.3-million-square-foot NYC headquarters and broadcasting studio space in Manhattan and Two World Trade Center — a 1,250-foot-tall, 2.5-million-square-foot tower that will serve as the global headquarters of American Express and complete the final major piece of the World Trade Center campus.

The Scenic Route Becomes the Strategy

The Real Estate Club was built to bridge the gap for firms wanting access to Georgia Tech talent and not knowing how to find it. What began as a small student-led initiative has since grown into a professional organization engaging more than 250 students and 150 alumni, led by a 16-member board of students, faculty, and alumni advisors. Per semester, it hosts 10 to 15 industry panel discussions and site tours and runs an Analyst Program serving 45 undergraduate students.

For Conklin, watching the club grow has been one of the most rewarding parts of his Georgia Tech experience.

“It is incredible to see what the students have built and how it has become bigger than anything I ever dreamed of,” he said. “It is creating opportunities, opening doors, and helping students discover careers they may never have otherwise found.”

The organization’s growth mirrors Georgia Tech’s rising profile within the industry. In 2026, the Institute launched the Tony Kepano Joint Center for Real Estate, creating a unified platform between the Scheller College of Business and the College of Design to further strengthen real estate education, industry engagement, and professional development. 

Play the Long Game

Reflecting on his career, Conklin believes success rarely comes from a single breakthrough. Rather, it comes from consistently making decisions that move you closer to the life you want to build. Now that Conklin has reached heights he only once imagined, his focus has shifted, but he remains grounded.

“For the first time in my life, I am not striving for what’s next,” he said. “My goal right now is simple: To be the best developer I can be on Tower Two, learn everything I can, and honor the significance of a building that means so much to so many people.”

Conklin’s advice for students considering a similar path chasing dreams that feel impossible or intangible is to “play the long game.”

“Believe in what you’re doing today, even if it’s uncomfortable,” he said. “Don’t make impulsive decisions or move too quickly. Learn what you can, trust your instincts, and those opportunities eventually have a way of finding you.”

Conklin’s long game started with a dream in New York City.

Today, he’s helping build it.

Learn More: Evening MBA