Faculty – Weitzman Institute

Randall S. Guttery earned BBA degrees in finance and risk management at The University of Texas at Austin in 1982, a Master of Finance at Louisiana State University in 1991 and a PhD in finance at the University of Connecticut in 1994. He received the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations from the American College of Financial Services in 1985. He is clinical professor of real estate and director emeritus of real estate programs at The University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Guttery has held a Louisiana real estate broker’s license since 1986. Prior to joining UT Dallas, he was the associate dean for graduate programs in the College of Business at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, from January 2007 to September 2011. Dr. Guttery was also professor of finance and real estate at UNT and served as its Certified Financial Planner program director for 16 years, where he had been since 1994.

Dr. Guttery has taught Real Estate Decision Making, Real Estate Principles and Investment Analysis, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Valuation and Appraisal, Comprehensive Financial Planning, Personal Finance, Risk Management and Insurance, and Corporate Finance at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. He also teaches and consults extensively for industry, trade organizations and governments.

Dr. Guttery has published academic articles in Real Estate Economics, American Business Law Journal, The Journal of Real Estate Research, Real Estate Finance, The Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, Institutional Investor’s Financial Consultant Journal, Real Estate Probate and Trust Law Reporter, The American Statistical Association Proceedings, The Journal of Property Finance, Journal of Insurance Issues, Mortgage Originator Magazine, The Valuer and Land Economist, Tierra Grande Journal, Real Estate Review and many professional journals. He has written a monograph on commercial real estate mortgages, has published a Real Estate Principles text for Prentice-Hall, has contributed chapters to several books and has co-authored a financial planning text with Dalton Publications.

Dr. Guttery serves as a special commissioner for the Denton County, Texas, District Court, where he hears cases related to eminent domain, on behalf of Judge Bonnie Robison. He is USA Today’s chat host on “Talk Today” when the topics are related to mortgages and/or refinancing decisions. He also offers refinancing advice on his website: RefinancingAdvice.com.

Dr. Guttery’s research has been featured in more than 100 print media and on several radio and television stations, such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, McCuistion on PBS, USA Today, Smart Money, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, The Seattle Times, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Orlando Sentinel, The Denver Post, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Business Journal, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Business Press, The Austin American-Statesman, The Houston Chronicle, The San Jose Mercury News, Real Times, The State Journal-Register (Springfield), Dayton Daily News, Crain’s Business, The News and Observer (Raleigh), The Des Moines Register, The Memphis Commercial Appeal, Asbury Park Press, The Fresno Bee, The Arizona Republic, Inman News Features, The Arizona Business Gazette, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Baton Rouge Business Report, CFP Today, The Chattanooga Times, The Kansas City Courier, The Greensboro News and Record, The Business Press, The Bozeman News and The Denton Record-Chronicle.

Daniel Zale is an accomplished lecturer at the University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in real estate finance and investments. With a strong academic background, he earned dual master’s degrees—an International MBA and a Master of Science in Real Estate and Construction Management—from the University of Denver’s Daniel’s College of Business. Driven by a passion for continuous learning, he further honed his expertise by obtaining the esteemed CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation in 2012, which he maintains to this day.

Mr. Zale’s career extends beyond academia, with extensive experience in the banking and investment sectors. He possesses a remarkable track record in investment analysis and lending, having worked as an investment analyst for Northmarq Capital, underwriting approximately $1.2 billion in real estate investments. His financial acumen and strategic insights led to a seamless transition to the banking industry, where he served as a Vice President at United Texas Bank, originating $18 million in commercial loans and skillfully managing a substantial $58 million loan portfolio. Mr. Zale later assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending at Guaranty Bank & Trust, where he successfully built and managed a $20 million loan portfolio comprising both commercial real estate and C&I loans, showcasing his versatility and proficiency in diverse financial domains.

Combining his banking and investment experience with a passion for real estate investments, Mr. Zale has developed a robust portfolio of successful ventures over the course of his 20-year career. As a professor, he brings this wealth of real-world experience to the classroom, enriching the learning journey for his students and providing them with invaluable insights into the dynamic world of finance and real estate investments.

Blake M. Hedgecock has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2000. Mr. Hedgecock spent the majority of his career in private practice resolving real estate-related disputes in state and federal courts across Texas. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation matters involving real property, including boundary disputes, trespass to try title claims, eminent domain/inverse condemnation/regulatory takings claims, landlord/tenant disputes, land use, lender liability, foreclosures, CMBS disputes, receivership applications, easements, partition suits and related matters.

Currently, Mr. Hedgecock serves as Assistant District Counsel (Real Estate), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District. Mr. Hedgecock received a LL.M. (Real Property Development) from the University of Miami (FL) School of Law; J.D. from Texas A & M University School of Law f/k/a Texas Wesleyan University School of Law; and a B.B.A. (Real Estate) and M.S. (Real Estate Analysis) from the University of North Texas. He is licensed to practice law in all state courts in Texas; the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas; the U.S. Court of Federal Claims; U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th and Federal Circuits; and the U.S. Supreme Court.