 His love for real estate never went away and in 2006-07, Vernand was part of a syndicate group led by T Boone Pickens to develop the $250+ million Boone Pickens Stadium at his alma mater, Oklahoma State University.In 2007 and 2008, Vernand was twice competitively selected to participate in the prestigious NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.Today, in addition to being an accomplished professional baseball and football player, Vernand invests, owns and manages properties across the country and is involved in several different non-profit initiatives, including work with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his Wisconsin Covenant initiative promising all eighth-graders affordable higher education upon academic success.