For your first investment, it may not be worth the administrative headache to have an LLC. 

One community I invest in is currently adding a quarter billion dollar mixed use development the other is at an interstate insertion that 4x's the population with travelers daily. 

And are there any other skills I should focus on and develop?

I find that it's almost a one stop shop in that I can use it for my business checking and savings accounts, bookkeeping, for rent collection, I can issue virtual credit card, I can create all the financial reports I need to run my real estate business and prepare for tax filing and through their partners I can vet my tenants, develop state-specific leases and more.

Develop a program coming out of college.  

I'd really vet the developer, their past projects, talk to prior partners (GP & LP) to see how prior development deals worked out and how the communication was, etc.

That's what separates the best real estate agents who represent investor/developer clients.

They should also have proposed or preliminary site plans approved for the remainder of the development.

This is an investment property (buy/hold) that I'm planning to develop considering the new 2020 laws.

you have to learn land entitlement. we identified a site today for hotel development that was an 18000 sq ft lot.