The Big Show: Midtown & Downtown

Dave Stockert joined the Post corporate leadership team in January 2001 as President and Chief Operating Officer. He was named Post Properties CEO in 2002. Prior to joining Post, Dave served as a senior executive officer in two other public real estate investment trusts (REITs): Duke Realty Corporation and Weeks Corporation. His career also includes investment banking and public accounting.

John shares responsibility for the general management and strategic direction of Portman Holdings. Additionally, his focus is on the pre-development and capital markets arenas for Portman which includes sourcing, underwriting, capitalizing and structuring new opportunities. John’s association with Portman Holdings began in the early 2000s, when he worked on domestic developments. He left Portman to work with KPMG’s Corporate Finance Group in Mumbai, focusing on mergers and acquisitions as well as raising equity and performing valuation assessments in real estate, aviation and FMCG industries. John has also worked for companies such as Goldman Sachs Real Estate Principal Investment Area and WholeFoods Market, Inc.

Scott L. Leventhal is the co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trillist. As a fourth generation developer, Mr. Leventhal has spent two decades in the real estate development business and has created an impressive portfolio of mixed-use and multifamily housing projects in the Southeastern U.S. In 2006 and only at the age of 28, Mr. Leventhal was recognized as one of “Atlanta’s Most Promising Young Stars” by the editors of Atlanta Business Chronicle in their annual “Up and Comers – 40 under 40” feature. Mr. Leventhal is an experienced real estate developer and overseen the development of a high-quality portfolio of residential and mixed-use projects. Mr. Leventhal formally managed Tivoli Properties, Inc. (“Tivoli”), which was one of the nation’s premier real estate investment and development companies. Under his leadership, Tivoli built innovative developments which forever changed the Atlanta landscape for residential condominium living. Within a few years of its formation, Tivoli created a portfolio of award-winning projects with a retail value of nearly $400 million. Because of its rapid acceleration and growth, Tivoli earned recognition as 24th of the top 100 real estate development companies according to Real Estate Forum Magazine’s November 2007 issue. Mr. Leventhal appears frequently as a guest speaker and lecturer on matters involving the real estate development business. In the spring of 2012, Mr. Leventhal appeared as a special, select witness before a U.S. Congressional Committee on the effect of bank failures in the real estate development industry and structured finance programs that involve public-private partnerships. Mr. Leventhal is also a member of Georgia State University’s Honorary Real Estate Board. He frequently lectures before students at Georgia State University’s Masters in Real Estate Development and Finance classes.

Ken Kraft is the founder of the Parker Hudson Real Estate practice group. Over the course of his 40+ year career he has worked on billions of dollars’ worth of real estate transactions and more than 25,000,000 square feet of leases, in deals at all levels of complexity. His experience, judgment and reputation ensure that his clients are in the optimum position to achieve their objectives. A former senior executive for Atlanta developer Taylor & Mathis and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Ken truly understands and is oriented to the business of commercial real estate. He represents owners, lenders, and developers in the purchase, sale, financing, and development of office, industrial, residential, and hotel real estate. In addition, Ken regularly represents clients in large national headquarters leases and leasing of retail locations throughout the United States. Ken is steadfastly committed to seeing his clients’ deals through to a successful conclusion. The breadth of his experience over the commercial real estate landscape enables Ken innately to understand not only the needs of his clients, but also those of his clients’ counterparties, and thereby devise solutions that work without compromising client goals. One client described Ken’s leadership and creativity succinctly: "He cuts through the clutter" – Chambers USA 2017.

Richard Aaronson is CEO and Founder of Atlantic Realty Partners. He is responsible for all of the firm’s operations throughout its two operating regions -- the Southeast based in Atlanta and the Midwest based in Chicago -- including development, construction, leasing, and property management. ARP is a private real estate development and management company headquartered in Atlanta. Through affiliated entities, it currently owns and manages over 3,000 apartments. It has developed mixed-use and residential projects with over 6,000 apartments and condos and an aggregate value of over $1.5 Billion since its inception. It is currently developing eight new multifamily communities in Atlanta (3), Chicago (1), Milwaukee (1), and South Florida (3) containing over 2500 apartments. Richard received his BS in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and his MBA from Emory University. He is a past-president of both the Atlanta Apartment Association and the Georgia Apartment Association.

Todd Schneider has over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. He was the vision behind the first stand alone modern observation wheel developed in the United States. He brought the European concept to America when he developed the first one in Myrtle Beach, SC eight years ago. Todd has significant contacts and relationships in the amusement industry, from ride manufacturers and designers to industry suppliers and innovators. Todd is the Managing Partner of SkyView Partners, the owner/operator of the SkyView Atlanta Giant Ferris Wheel located in the Centennial Park District in downtown Atlanta.

Todd is a Design Principal Landscape Architect and Land Planner who provides a combination of high design, personal touch and sustainable principles in his global portfolio of landscape architecture, public park and urban regeneration projects. Todd has worked across the United States and extensively internationally. His background includes comprehensive project work for both public agencies and private sector clients, providing services to establish the vision, principles, and design concepts through documentation. Todd has successfully completed and overseen the construction of many large award-winning design projects including communities, institutions, resorts, and urban parks. He has led multidisciplinary teams through the planning and design and documentation process, and construction observation, including 3 years of full-time on-site experience.

Kevin is another tall red head (where do they come from?) who believes that talent is cheap and hard work is the key to success. From being the pre-party Super Bowl DJ at MetLife Stadium to working for the US Army, Kevin prides himself on being a jack-of-all-trades. He has no off switch, and shows it through a full day of constant energy. Don’t be alarmed by his random dance moves, its just his way of making you laugh. (Please don't call the police, he's fine.) Kevin is one of Bisnow’s veteran event producers, and has a serious goal of producing their first-ever event on the Moon.