May Legatus - Property & Purpose: Legatus Leaders on the Intersection of Catholic Values and Modern Real Estate.
Panelists: Burton Young, Billy Hughes and John Meyer
Panel Moderator: Keith Strohl
Keith A. Strohl, MAI, is a Principal at National Property Valuation Advisors with more than 40 years of experience in real estate consulting and valuation. He specializes in the financial analysis of income-producing properties and advising corporations on real estate strategy. His work spans across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Jamaica, Guam, Saipan, Japan, and England. In addition to his consulting work, Keith has led appraisal training seminars in Europe and frequently speaks at industry events.
Burton Young
Co-Founder & Principal, Sperry Equities & Sperry Commercial
Burton Young is a highly accomplished commercial real estate executive based in Newport Beach, California, with more than 30 years of experience in brokerage, acquisitions, asset management, leasing, and finance. As the co-founder and principal of Sperry Equities and Sperry Commercial, he oversees company operations, strategic partnerships, and portfolio management. Over the course of his career, Mr. Young has personally brokered more than 150 transactions exceeding $1 billion in total value and has helped lead the acquisition, leasing, and management of more than 10 million square feet of office, industrial, and retail properties nationwide, while serving as managing partner for dozens of investment real estate partnerships.
Beyond his professional success, Mr. Young is widely recognized for his philanthropic leadership and community involvement throughout Orange County. He has served as Chair of the Leadership Council for UCI MIND, supporting research and awareness initiatives for Alzheimer’s disease and neurological disorders, and has been honored for his community impact. Notably, he received the “Man of Character” recognition from the Boy Scouts of America Orange County Council and actively supports numerous nonprofit organizations benefiting healthcare research, youth advocacy, and local community programs.
William (Billy) Hughes
CEO, Irvine Community Land Trust | Principal, Black Point Investments
William (Billy) Hughes is a distinguished real estate leader currently serving as the CEO of Irvine Community Land Trust and a principal of Black Point Investments and Historic Ventures, LLC. His career is marked by the renovation and development of over 3.8 million square feet and nearly $1 billion in historic properties across the U.S., including textile mills, historic schools, and office buildings. Prior to his current firms, Mr. Hughes was a founding partner with Bi-Coastal Communities, where he specialized in the development of over 4,800 affordable housing units through specialized financing like Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, and HOPE VI grants.
Mr. Hughes’ expertise has earned him significant industry accolades, including being named one of three “Developers of Choice” by the Fulton County Housing Authority and receiving the L. Vincent Lowe Business Award from Preservation North Carolina. He was also honored as Developer of the Year in 2017 by the North and South Carolina Council of Real Estate. A graduate of Yale University, Loyola Marymount, and the University of Southern California (USC), he is currently overseeing the development of over 600 affordable housing units in Irvine. Mr. Hughes resides in Southern California with his wife, Kerry, where they have raised six children.
John Meyer
Executive Director, Church Properties Initiative | Managing Partner, Beckett Industries
John Meyer is an accomplished real estate and nonprofit executive who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Church Properties Initiative at the University of Notre Dame Law School. In this role, he provides complex legal and transactional support to help Church leaders strategically align their real estate assets, fostering mission-driven outcomes and long-term financial sustainability. Concurrently, John is a Managing Partner overseeing Real Estate at Beckett Industries, an alternative investment firm focusing on venture capital, real estate, and asset-backed finance. His career foundation includes over a decade in commercial real estate development and brokerage, as well as his previous tenure as Executive Director of the Napa Institute.
A dedicated servant leader, Mr. Meyer has served on more than a dozen Catholic and secular boards, including the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, Innovest Portfolio Solutions, and FOCUS. His academic background is extensive, featuring a Master’s in Real Estate from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Illinois. John resides in Granger, Indiana, with his wife of 21 years, Kristin, and their five-year-old son, Noah.