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Our commitment to your safety

We have been inspired by the industry’s enthusiasm as we return to live events and have been thrilled to safely host more than 4,000 executives this summer. As we continue to overcome and emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, we know the best way through the latest developments and to keep the industry thriving is by working together. As such, we are updating our event safety guidelines & protocols as follows:

  • Facial coverings will be required by all staff & attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be made available at the door.

  • Temperature checks will be conducted at entry.

  • Attendance at the event will be capped and no tickets will be sold at the door. 

  • Contact tracing procedures will be employed for any reported exposure.

  • Socially distanced seating will be available in the main event space.

  • Enhanced sanitization protocols will be adhered to throughout the event space including regularly disinfecting surfaces throughout the event and hand sanitizer provided to all attendees.

As local regulations and guidance evolve, the CRE industry continues to lead the way forward. We look forward to gathering safely to do what we do best: network, connect, and engage to do more business. We look forward to hosting you soon.

Speakers and Panels

Cumberland CRE Update

Bob Voyles

Bob Voyles

CEO

Seven Oaks Company

Mike Plant

Mike Plant

President & CEO of Development

Atlanta Braves

Connie Engel

Connie Engel

Partner

Childress Klein

Kim Menefee

Kim Menefee

Executive Director

Cumberland Community Improvement District

Kirk Demetrops

Kirk Demetrops

President & Founder

MidCity Real Estate Partners

Zac Marquess

Zac Marquess

Chief Development Officer

Goldenrod Companies

Bob Voyles

CEO

Seven Oaks Company

Bob Voyles

Principal, Chief Executive Officer

Bob Voyles founded Seven Oaks Company in 2004 and is responsible for the strategic direction and deal sourcing for the company. Bob’s portfolio of projects at Seven Oaks and in his former position as Senior Development Officer at Hines, include the following:

Developed over 3 million SF of Class A award-winning, mixed-use and office-oriented development throughout metro Atlanta, Developed headquarters facilities for King & Spalding, InterContinental Hotels Group, MCI-SE Region, and HomeBanc, Acquired three Class A office projects totaling 1.7 million SF, and asset managed over 6 million SF of Class A commercial office, Developed land projects in Georgia, Tennessee and Florida totaling approximately 1,800 acres and nearly $1 billion in total development value, Structured finances of nearly $1 billion in real estate projects with institutional partners such as GEAM, GM Pension Trust, Calpers and GE Capital, as well as entrepreneurial partners such as The Brookdale Group, St. Joe and the DeMoss Foundation. Bob holds numerous positions in local civic, community and charitable organizations:

Perimeter Community Improvement District (CID) Board; Founder and Chairman (2004-2010), Georgia Regional Transportation Authority; Member; Chair, Land Development, Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Board of Advisors Member, Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Stadium Authority; Board Member; Chair, construction Committee, Metropolitan Atlanta CID Coalition; Co-Chair, Livable Communities Coalition; Board Member, Young Life-Africa; Board Member, Church of the Apostles; former Vestry Member and Church Warden.

Mike Plant

President & CEO of Development

Atlanta Braves

Mike Plant is in his 15th season with the Atlanta Braves, and in 2018 was

named President and CEO of Braves Development Company. Plant joined the

organization as Executive Vice President of Business Operations in November of 2003.

As part of the Braves executive leadership team, Plant was instrumental in the Braves’ efforts to secure and

oversee construction, leasing, financing and management of SunTrust Park and the adjacent mixed-use

development, The Battery Atlanta, which opened in Cobb County in April 2017.

Plant joined the Braves after having served as Executive Vice President of Turner Sports since February 2002.

In that position, he was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the division, a $500-million acquisition,

promotion and production company that at the time broadcast approximately 1,200 hours of sports programming

on various Turner networks.

Before becoming Executive Vice President of Turner Sports, Plant was President of Ted Turner’s multi-sport

event, The Goodwill Games, and Vice President of Events for Turner Sports. He was responsible for the overall

direction and management of The Goodwill Games, as well as all sports properties acquired by Turner Sports.

Prior to joining Turner Sports, Plant was Owner and President of Medalist Sports, a full-service sports

marketing company he founded in 1988. Medalist Sports created and operated premier professional cycling

events in the United States and China. In addition, Plant was the Associate Executive Director of the United States

Cycling Federation in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1986 to 1988 and the Executive Director of the Canoe and

Kayak Team from 1985 to 1986.

Plant was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic speedskating team in Lake Placid, NY, and a six-time member of

the U.S. World Championship speedskating teams. Since 1980, he has been appointed to numerous committees

and boards for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the U.S. International Speedskating Association, International

Cycling Federation, and USA Cycling. Plant served on the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games (ACOG)

Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the Salt Lake City Olympic Bid Committee for the 2002 Winter

Games.

Plant served two eight-year terms on the USOC’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee (1984-1992 and

2003-2011). He was Chairman of the USOC Athletes Council, and Chairman of the Athlete Performance Group

(1992-1996). Plant was President of USA Cycling, the National Governing Body for Olympic cycling, from 1995 to

2002, and is the current President of U.S. Speedskating.

Internationally, Plant served on the International Cycling Federation’s (UCI) Executive Committee for 20 years,

and was President of three different commissions. In 2009, Plant was elected U.S. Olympic Chef de Mission for

the Olympic team for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

He and his wife Mary have two daughters, Erika and Maddie, and a son, Drew.

Connie Engel

Partner

Childress Klein

Ms. Engel is an accomplished commercial real estate executive. Her broad strengths include business development and commercial real estate development, personnel management, sales management and product marketing. Ms. Engel’s leadership abilities have been recognized by organizations, corporations and foundations. She is the immediate Past-Chair of the Kennesaw State University Foundation and in 2011 Connie was named Executive in Residence for the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. Previously she was President of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties of Georgia (NAIOP) and she is a Past President of Commercial Real Estate Women.

Ms. Engel additionally has a wide understanding of current issues, obstacles and opportunities facing our country in foreign policy and national security which she has received through her membership in and involvement with Business Executives for National Security. (BENS).

Ms. Engel is a Partner in the Atlanta Office Division of Childress Klein Properties and has been in charge of development and leasing at the prestigious Atlanta Galleria, for over twenty years. Responsibilities include lease negotiations (legal and economic issues), development and implementation of advertising, marketing strategy and preparation and implementation of the budgets for approximately 2,000,000 square feet of Class A office space in five high rise office buildings.

Ms. Engel has been frequently recognized as a leader in her industry. In 2010, NAIOP of Georgia honored Ms. Engel with the Award of Excellence for dedicated service to the commercial real estate industry. Twice she was the Top Producer in office leasing in the greater metropolitan Atlanta. In 2015, Ms. Engel was inducted into the inaugural Kennesaw State University Business School Hall of Fame in recognition of professional accomplishments, contribution and leadership in the community.

Ms. Engel’s community involvement responsibilities include being an elected Board Member in 1998 and Treasurer (2000 – 2008) of the Cumberland Community Improvement District, which is responsible for allocating a special property tax collected from commercial property owners for transportation and other improvements in Cobb County. The CCID has leveraged over $100 million of private assessments to over $1 billion in transportation and streetscape improvements.

In 2005, Ms. Engel was selected to serve on the Board of Trustees for Kennesaw State University, the third largest and fastest growing university in the state of Georgia. In 2006, she was asked to increase her involvement by becoming a member of the Executive Committee and in 2007 she became Chair of the Real Estate Committee. In 2008, the Real Estate committee spearheaded the purchase of 100 acres of land for future sports/stadium areas for Kennesaw State University. She has received the Erwin Zaban Award and the Clarice Bagwell Award from Kennesaw State University for outstanding contribution and leadership within the KSU Board of Trustees. In October of 2009 she was elected Vice Chair of the Foundation and in October of 2010 she was chosen Chair Elect of the Foundation. She became Chair of The Foundation in October 2012 and completed her term in 2014. Currently she is immediate past chair of the Foundation.

In 2011, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ms. Engel to the Georgia Board of Dentistry, consumer representative.

Ms. Engel graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Communications and an area of concentration in Public Address. She is an MBA graduate of Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business.

Ms. Engel’s interests include golf and flying: she is a certified multi-engine pilot of 18 years. Ms. Engel has been married to Pete Watson for over twenty-five years and has three children: Jacqueline Watson Grech, Esq.; Sarah Oddsen DeCaro, M.D.; and Ellis Watson, a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Kim Menefee

Executive Director

Cumberland Community Improvement District

Kim Menefee serves as the executive director for the Cumberland Community Improvement District. Having joined the state’s first CID in May 2019, Kim leads efforts to partner with commercial investors, government officials and stakeholders to improve infrastructure and enhance the Cumberland community. In her short tenure, Kim’s leadership has led to the complete funding of the Akers Mill Ramp, which will provide direct and safe access into the District as part of the successful, I-75 Northwest Corridor Express Lanes System. She also led the opening of a one-mile extension of the Bob Callan Trail, a $9 million project that connects the Cumberland community to National Parkland. Kim oversees the CID’s capital project investments, most recently, launching the development of a three-mile multi-modal path that will significantly increase the connectivity and character around Cumberland through exciting transportation alternatives.

Prior to joining the CID, Kim served in senior leadership roles for 25 years at WellStar Health System. Kim has long been active in community organizations holding various leadership positions. She is a member of the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors where she served as Chairwoman in 2015 and serves on the Board of the Council for Quality Growth.

Kirk Demetrops

President & Founder

MidCity Real Estate Partners

Kirk S. Demetrops is President and founder of MidCity. He oversees the acquisition/development strategy, equity/debt partners, user/partner transactions, advisory services and overall management of the company.Prior to forming MidCity in 2009, Mr. Demetrops was President of The Griffin Company, a 35 year old full service real estate development and construction company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. He joined The Griffin Company in 2001 and spearheaded the acquisition and development of office and mixed-use properties. Upon becoming President in 2007, his responsibilities were expanded to include managing the construction division and organizational structure.From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Demetrops was a partner in Forum Realty Corporation where he specialized in office tenant representation and land brokerage. The Griffin Company purchased Forum in late 2000. Mr. Demetrops started his career with Bailey & Associates, an Atlanta developer of office buildings, where he worked from 1988 to 1996. His primary responsibilities were the marketing and leasing of the company’s office portfolio, the majority of which was owned in a joint venture with New York Life Insurance Company.

Mr. Demetrops received an MBA from Emory University and BBA from University of Georgia.

Zac Marquess

Chief Development Officer

Goldenrod Companies

As the Chief Development Officer at Goldenrod Companies, Zac Marquess leads the firm’s acquisition and development efforts, overseeing projects from initial conception through certificate of occupancy. With extensive experience in multiple asset classes—including multifamily, office, industrial, senior housing, student housing, and hospitality—Mr. Marquess has successfully executed investment strategies that drive growth and value. His approach leverages strong trade partnerships and a keen understanding of financial metrics to achieve successful outcomes. Since opening Goldenrod’s Atlanta office, Mr. Marquess has played a pivotal role in leading large-scale mixed-use master developments and acquisitions, as well as fostering public-private partnerships. He received undergraduate degrees in Finance, Economics, Banking, and Investment Science/Portfolio Management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he was also a member of the men’s soccer team. He received his Master of Real Estate Development degree from Auburn University. Mr. Marquess holds a real estate license in the State of Georgia.

Event Summary

What You'll Learn: 

  • What major projects are in the pipeline for Cumberland in 2021?

  • How are developers aligning their projects with Cumberland resident wants and needs?

  • What are the most notable initiatives for investors and developers targeting the Cumberland sub market?

  • How has the Braves stadium ultimately impacted traffic in the Cumberland area?

How You'll Do More Business:

Gain key insights from our panel of community executives, senior real estate executives, and economic development authorities. This neighborhood update will bring you up to speed on the biggest projects and the initiatives underway in this thriving Atlanta sub market.

Who you'll Meet: 

Brokers, owners, developers, investors, construction, designers, architects, financial professionals, government officials and more!

Why You Should Attend:

Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

Agenda

Time Activity
11:30 AM
1:00 PM
Pre-Event Networking
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
Cumberland CRE Update

What Major Developments are in the pipeline for the Cumberland submarket. Hear from the area's top developers on current & future CRE activity.

2:00 PM
2:30 PM
Post-Event Networking

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