Education and mentorship have always been part of Ragtag’s DNA. This week, we had the chance to speak with students at UW–Whitewater about real estate investing and career growth in the industry.
This week, the Ragtag Founders team had the privilege of guest lecturing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Real Estate Investments course taught by Professor Mark Membrino.
Our founder, Ned Hoyt, shared insights from his tenured experience leading real estate projects across the U.S. and Australia — discussing everything from investing fundamentals and project development to the long-term value of thoughtful design and community-oriented decisions. The session gave students an inside look at how professional investors evaluate opportunities, navigate risk, and bring complex projects to life.
Joining him was Co-Founder and UW-Whitewater Alum Chase Zimmerman, who offered perspective as a young professional entering the commercial real estate space. He spoke about building credibility early in one’s career, making mistakes and navigating the fast-paced relationship driven nature of the industry.
The visit was especially meaningful, coinciding with Veterans Day. Both Ned and Professor Membrino are West Point graduates and U.S. Army veterans — a shared background that underscored the importance of leadership, discipline, and service, values that carry over into real estate and entrepreneurship alike.
We’re grateful to the College of Business and Economics at UW–Whitewater and its students for the warm welcome and thoughtful discussion. Ragtag is proud to give back by helping the next generation of investors and developers gain practical insight into the business of building communities.
For more information about The Rowan or Ragtag Ventures’ ongoing projects, contact the team at info@ragtagventures.com.
