Stan Ross is chairman of the board of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate and a distinguished fellow at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. He was formerly the vice chairman of real estate industry services for Ernst & Young LLP and a member of its Management Committee, which sets policy and strategy for the firm. In addition, he served as managing partner of the E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group, where he was responsible for its overall business planning, strategy, direction and operations. Mr. Ross continues his diverse activities in the real estate industry as special consultant for Ernst & Young and serves on several Boards of Directors, including those of The Irvine Company, Forest City Enterprises and American Jewish University.
Mr. Ross is widely recognized for his experience in strategic planning for real estate companies, with expertise in mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, and the development of creative financial structures. He was involved in the initial organization of the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) and was a member of the Auditing Standards Board of the AICPA, which sets the auditing rules for the accounting profession. Mr. Ross is a frequent lecturer at various universities, accounting symposia and real estate conferences, and he has written numerous articles concerning real estate and accounting matters. He is an honorary trustee and governor of the Urban Land Institute and trustee of Baruch College, from which he graduated in 1956. Mr. Ross was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Baruch in 1999.