Speaker Profile

David J. Adelman is a partner in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), an industry-leading sports and entertainment group, with a global portfolio including the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, NFL’s Washington Commanders, Premier League’s Crystal Palace, NASCAR’s Joe Gibbs Racing, and the Prudential Center, among others. He is the Chairman of the Joint Venture between HBSE and Comcast, responsible for conceptualizing and building a $1.8 billion live entertainment venue, which will also be the new house for the Philadelphia 76ers, their new WNBA team, and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Adelman is the founder and vice chairman of Philadelphia-based Future Standard (formerly known as FS Investments), a global alternative asset manager with $86 billion of assets under management dedicated to delivering superior performance and innovative investment solutions, and is founder of Darco Capital, his family office investment vehicle, that has made more than 90 venture capital and growth capital investments, ranging across climate tech, spirits, fintech, hospitality, sports & media, and well-known consumer-facing brands.

For nearly 30 years, Adelman has served as CEO of Philadelphia-based Campus Apartments, where he has transformed the on- and off-campus college living experience across undergraduate, graduate and faculty housing and other university-related real estate. He is widely recognized as a leader in the student housing industry and has made Campus Apartments a go-to partner for colleges and universities, developers and investors. Under his leadership, Campus Apartments has grown to more than $2 billion of assets under management across 18 states, housing more than 25,000 students who attend 70+ colleges and universities.

Adelman served as the immediate past board co-chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and currently serves as a member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves on the Penn Medicine Board of Trustees. As the former chairman of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, Adelman spearheaded the development of The Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

Adelman was the recipient of the 2009 Multifamily Executive “Executive of the Year” award; the 2010 “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from Ernst & Young in the real estate category for Greater Philadelphia; named the 2012 Homewood Suites Developer of the Year for Hilton Worldwide; the 2013 recipient of the Philadelphia Visionary Award from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship; named one of Philadelphia’s Top Most Influential People by Philadelphia Magazine for the last three consecutive years; named one of 2023’s Top CEOs by Philadelphia Business Journal; the 2025 recipient of the 46th annual Americanism Award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL); and the 2025 Multifamily Executive Hall of Fame inductee. He received his BA in political science from Ohio State University and resides in the Philadelphia suburbs with his wife and two daughters.