Omar Blaik, CEO
Born to Lebanese parents in Cairo, a historic, vibrant and dense city that is anchored by one of the oldest universities in the world, Omar Blaik’s commitment to urban environments and higher education runs deep.
Omar founded U3 Ventures LLC, in 2006 with the belief that anchor institutions hold the key to sustainable community and economic development for their cities. The name U3 reflects the “third space” between universities and their urban settings – the focus of U3’s work.
Prior to forming U3, Omar was the Senior Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate at the University of Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2006. At Penn, Omar led the creation of a vibrant and engaging built environment both on and off campus in which students, faculty, and staff could learn, live, work, and play and were the community is engaged and included. Under his management, Penn embarked on more than $2.0 billion in new construction and $700 million of real estate development projects – which transformed the campus and the surrounding community. During his tenure, Penn received multiple AIA and Business Week awards.
Omar came to Penn from Coopers and Lybrand, where he led a team of consultants providing real estate, facilities, operation and capital programs expertise. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cairo University, his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California, and his MBA from New York University’s Leonard Stern School of Business.
Tom Lussenhop, President
Tom brings over 35 years of experience in revitalizing America’s cities, playing roles ranging from local non-profit community development to private, at-risk real estate development.
Drawing on this experience, U3V relies on Tom to provide leadership of and support for all aspects of planning and development. A passionate student of American urban geography and history since his childhood, he feels fortunate to be working in a time of ascendancy of prospects for America’s cities. The grey decades of decline seem to be over and U3V is playing a central role in maintaining upward momentum.
He began his career In New York City in the late 1980s where he helped in the redevelopment of Carnegie Hall and its real estate holdings as well as in housing for the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Later, in New Jersey in the 1990s, he was a founding member of the team that created Newark’s NJ Performing Arts Center, which today is among the nation’s most diverse and successful cultural centers. Tom also played a central role in development and execution of the University of Pennsylvania’s path-breaking anchor development, where he led its real estate and community development efforts. Starting the mid 2000, he lead his own advisory practice as well as completed over $50 million in housing, hotel and other real estate projects for his own account. In 2012, he merged his advisory private with U3 Advisors.
He holds a BS in Geography from the University of Minnesota (1985) and Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Princeton University (1987).
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