Atlanta's Southside Rising

Shelley Lamar has more than 14 years of aviation planning experience at HartsfieldJackson, where she has worked both as a consultant and, since 2004, as a Department of Aviation employee. Since joining the Department of Aviation, she has held the position of Aviation Planning Manager and is responsible for a variety of projects and initiatives ranging from land use and community development to cargo planning. Lamar has managed several key projects at Hartsfield-Jackson including the last four economic impact studies and 10 years of Peak Week studies, an extensive annual passenger data collection effort. She worked on the Airport’s master plan (completed in 2000) and the recently-completed Comprehensive Development Plan which among other things identified opportunities for cargo expansion. Lamar managed the Atlanta Metropolitan Aviation Capacity Study – Phase II, the study of the feasibility of a second airport, which was completed in 2011. In 2011, Lamar took on dual management roles, assisting the Planning & Environmental division as well as the newly created division of Asset Management and Sustainability (AMS). In her role in AMS, Lamar is responsible for areas such as the Capital Improvement Program process and the development and coordination of the multijurisdictional Southern Crescent Development Coordinating Committee. Lamar is responsible for collaborating with Airport-area jurisdictions, as well as local, state and federal agencies, such as the Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority regarding issues that are important to the Airport. Committed to furthering the Airport’s agenda with its partners, she represents the Airport in her active involvement with several community/professional organizations. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) and the Civic League for Regional Atlanta.

Brian Hooker serves as Executive Director of the Fort Mac LRA, the organization leading the redevelopment of 486 acres in the underserved Southwest Atlanta community. His chief responsibility is to lead the Fort Mac LRA team and its partners to manage and facilitate nearly $1 Billion of revitalization projects featuring mixed used, affordable developments utilizing market based financing and public incentives. Previously, Brian served as the Director of Real Estate for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and prior to that Brian served as Director of Site Selection Consulting with CBRE. Brian has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He serves nationally on both Urban Land Institute’s Public Development and Infrastructure Product Council and as Co-Chair of the Association of Defense Communities’ LRA Directors Council. Locally he was appointed to the City of Atlanta’s IN REM review board and serves on the Southwest Atlanta Partnership Board of Directors. Brian hails from Southwest Atlanta where he graduated from Benjamin E. Mays High, and where he now lives with his wife and family. He is member of Cascade United Methodist Church, where he serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

David Welch is a Partner with Robinson Weeks Partners, and has overall responsibility for the firm’s development and acquisition activities as well as its build-to- suit programs. The firm structures ventures with public and private entities to develop master planned parks and creates exceptional build-to- suit programs for clients needing a trusted and experienced advisor to acquire and develop their facilities. Mr. Welch overseas the redevelopment of Gillem Logistics Center, an 1168 acre master planned logistics center that can accommodate more than 8 million square feet of e-commerce and distribution facilities. Prior to joining Robinson Weeks Partners, Mr. Welch was the Southeast Regional President for LNR Properties, LLC., where he had overall responsibility of all acquisitions, developments, investments, operations and dispositions. The portfolio included land, industrial and mixed-use assets exceeding $100 million. Before joining LNR Properties, he held senior leadership positions with ProLogis for nearly thirteen years. Mr. Welch started his commercial real estate career with CB Commercial where he specialized in leasing and selling industrial properties. Mr. Welch received a business degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from The George Washington University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth and is active with the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP).

Michael Hightower is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Collaborative Firm, LLC which provides urban planning, architectural support, program management and development services to governmental entities, private sector clients and nonprofits. Founded in 2001, The Collaborative Firm provides a wealth of experience in public policy, with an emphasis on planning, economic development and local governance issues. The Firm’s value is particularly evident through his proven track record of forging public-private partnerships in different communities throughout metropolitan Atlanta. Prior to establishing The Collaborative Firm, Michael served for more than fourteen years as Fulton County Commissioner. Additionally, he served more than seven years on the College Park City Council. During much of his tenure on the Board of Commissioners, Michael served as Vice-Chairman, and was a member of several boards and committees. He also served as President of the National Association of Counties (NACo), which includes over 3,000 counties nationwide, and focused on welfare reform, affordable housing and sustainable communities. In 2003, Michael through The Collaborative Firm, established South Metro Development Outlook, an annual forum for the purpose of convening planning, development, finance, real estate and local government professionals with an interest in fostering smart growth in the south metro area, including Clayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, Spalding, and South Fulton Counties, as well as the City of Atlanta. Since its inception, the forum has attracted over 600 attendees annually. Some of Michael’s current affiliations include the Aerotroplois Alliance, Urban Land Institute, Airport Area, Clayton County, Douglas County and South Fulton Chambers of Commerce. Just a few of his past affiliations include his service as a member of the Woodruff Arts Center Board, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Policy Committee, Americans for the Arts, 100 Black Men and the Atlanta Urban League Board. He has served as the Chair of the Fulton County Retirement Board, as well as Chairman of the South Fulton Community Resource Alliance, Inc. Michael has received nearly 300 awards and recognitions from entities such as The White House, National Association of Counties, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Ebony Magazine, the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and numerous churches, colleges, schools and organizations. Michael graduated from Clark Atlanta University with honors and completed additional management studies at Georgia State University. He and his wife Sandra have one daughter, Evie and live in southwest Atlanta.

Steve Berman developed his first office building in 1988 and founded OA Development in 1993. Steve has since led OA to develop and acquire more than three million square feet of industrial and office space, becoming a market leader in the commercial real estate industry; working with tenants such as: Coca Cola, General Dynamics, ADP, Bank of America, Porsche, Lonza, Sumitomo and Toys R Us. OA Development has been active in Georgia, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. Steve engages a wide range of issues in publications including The Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Forward and The Atlanta Jewish Times. He is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program and is an active community leader. Steve has served as President of the Greenfield Hebrew Academy, The Jewish Vocational Service (now Jewish Family and Career Service), and he is a co-founder and Past President of The Weber School. He serves on the Founding National Board of Young Judaea. Steve earned his BA in Political Science from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. He resides in Atlanta with his wife. Steve enjoys biking and running.

David uniquely brings both technical engineering and business skill sets to deliver strategic real estate solutions. As a senior vice president for Carter’s development team, David leads the development efforts for off-campus private student housing projects. His background and experience with both institutional and private owners for multi-family development projects makes him an ideal candidate to manage this initiative. David has experience managing almost $1 billion worth of complex project portfolios balancing their various risks, exposures and opportunities to maximize value. During his time at Carter, David has worked on student housing projects totaling nearly 3,500 beds valued at approximately $255 million. He continues to achieve meaningful results through his ability to develop new insights and create lasting relationships. David’s clients benefit from his industry knowledge and hands-on project experience gained working both on- and off-campus. His responsibilities have included: financial, as well as market feasibility studies and analyses; due diligence research; project management through design, construction and turnover; sales and marketing oversight; and sustainability analysis.

Windsor Stevens Managing Partner Rod Mullice is an experienced developer who believes deeply in the crucial role the built environment plays in creating healthy communities. His vision is not just about creating spaces where people live, work and play. His approach to development focuses on crafting a built environment that encourages social interaction, technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and transportation options, facilitating the Connected Lifestyle. Rod has closed on over $150 million in transactions of urban development, financing and acquisitions since 2009. He led the team that renewed the leases of a 217,000 square foot office building in Historic Downtown College Park for the Federal Aviation Administration Southern Regional headquarters. Rod successfully conceived, planned, financed and managed the construction of the $20.9 million apartment community, The Pad on Harvard, next to the College Park, GA, MARTA Station as the Managing Partner of Air Realty, LLC. The Pad opened for residents in December 2017 and is now at 96% occupancy. He has recently completed construction on Phase I of Temple Square, a $5 million townhouse community in College Park Rod has engaged actively with the College Park community by initiating the Rose Stevens Mullice Academic Achievement Awards at College Park Elementary School, named for his mother. He serves on the City of Atlanta’s Office of Buildings Technical Advisory Committee; the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance Board of Directors; the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors Board of Directors, who’s Mentoring Committee he chairs, and a member of its Million Dollar Club, the Urban Land Institute Committee. He Born in Liberty County, GA, where his multigenerational family ties continue, Rod is a graduate of Savannah State University with a BA in Political Science and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Advanced Management Development Program. Since the success of The Pad on Harvard and the launch of College Park’s special TOD District, which he actively supported, Rod has been invited to speak to a number of professional organizations. His presentation offers insight about the benefits of TOD and how to leverage transit for thriving communities.

Phil Mays is a principal of RocaPoint Partners. Mr. Mays has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investment, development, land use and zoning. Prior to RocaPoint, Mr. Mays was the Director and Chief Legal Officer for EverBank's commercial special servicing division. Mr. Mays formed and managed EverBank's Commercial Special Assets Department containing more than $1.3 billion in underperforming CRE-backed debt. Prior to EverBank, Mr. Mays acquired and developed real estate in Florida and metro Atlanta for more than a decade. Mr. Mays was Corporate Counsel in charge of real estate for Racetrac Petroleum from 1994-1996 and an associate at McCalla, Raymer et al in Atlanta from 1992-1994. Mr. Mays received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida and a Leadership in Financial Organizations certification from Harvard Business School. Further, Mr. Mays served as gubernatorial appointment to the St. Johns County, Florida Board of County Commissioners from 2008-2010.