Jeffrey S. Fuqua is the founder of Fuqua Development, LP. He was previously Board Member, Partner & President of The Sembler Company. In his nearly 25-year tenure there, Fuqua developed in excess of 14 million square feet in over 80 projects valued at $4 billion. During Jeff's tenure with Sembler, The Atlanta Business Chronicle named The Sembler Company Top Developer for eleven consecutive years since 2000. Major real estate projects include The Prado, Town Brookhaven, Edgewood Retail District, Lindbergh Plaza, Perimeter Place, Lenox Marketplace in Atlanta. In Florida, Fuqua developed Legacy in Palm Beach Gardens, and Boynton Beach Town Center.

Ricardo De Rojas is a Managing Director at The Ardent Companies. Ricardo has more than 16 years of experience working for nationally and internationally recognized development and construction management firms. Prior to joining Ardent in April 2018, Ricardo was the Development Director at Regency Centers (formerly known as Equity One), where he was responsible for the development and redevelopment of over 1 million square feet of retail real estate within the portfolio. He is an active member of ICSC and an associate member at ULI. Ricardo received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ricardo also received a Master of Business Administration from Yale School of Management with a focus in Finance and Real Estate.

Melissa Ahrendt, Stafford’s Executive Director of Real Estate, began her career in commercial real estate with Stafford in 2002. After living overseas for three years, she moved back to Atlanta, serving as Chief Operating Officer of Healey Weatherholtz Properties. Melissa returned to Stafford in 2016. Her career has spanned many facets of commercial real estate, including leasing, property management, development, and marketing.

As Vice President at Lessard Design, Christopher leverages over 25 years of proven leadership in architecture and construction, guiding projects through every phase of development-from visionary concepts to successful execution. His expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including commercial, mixed-use, and multi-family residential, where he has consistently delivered transformative designs that balance creativity with functionality. Renowned for his ability to meet demanding deadlines and exceed client expectations, Christopher is committed to shaping vibrant, sustainable communities through innovative solutions. On a national scale, he has played a pivotal role in managing complex, high-profile developments, with budgets reaching up to $400 million-demonstrating his strategic oversight and unwavering focus on excellence.

Adam Bateman, CPA, is a Moore Colson Partner and the Tax Practice Leader. Adam provides tax compliance and

planning services for closely-held businesses and their owners. As Practice Leader, he is responsible for leading

the firm’s tax team, managing department operations and working with the other tax partners to execute growth

initiatives for the entire Tax Practice. As a Tax Partner, he continues to plan and organize engagements, maintain

and expand client relations, and suggest and implement tax planning ideas.

Adam’s professional background in public accounting includes serving clients in the construction, real estate and

financial services industries. He also has extensive experience in representation before the IRS and state tax authorities, mergers and acquisitions, and implementation of tax and succession planning strategies for closely-

held businesses.

Matt Rendle serves as Chief Investment Officer where he holds primary responsibility for underwriting new investments and redevelopment initiatives for the company. Matt came to Selig in 2015. He has more than 15 years of experience, and has previously held positions in acquisitions, development and asset management. Matt most recently worked at Jamestown Properties where he led Asset Management as Managing Director over a diverse $7.2 billion national real estate portfolio. In various acquisitions roles, he has closed more than $650 million in acquisitions over many product types, including office, retail, industrial, multifamily development and land transactions.

Matt has been involved on numerous fronts on several high-profile mixed-use real estate properties, including 111 8th Avenue (Google’s Headquarters), Chelsea Market and One Times Square in NYC; the Georgetown Renaissance Portfolio in DC; and Pacific Place in San Francisco. Locally in Atlanta, his experience includes Ponce City Market, White Provisions and the management and disposition of 999 Peachtree - a Class A 622,000 square-foot office tower.

Matt holds a BA from Haverford College and an MBA from Emory University. Matt is on the Steering Committed for the Atlanta Beltline Partnership, and on the Buckhead CID Board. In addition, Matt is on the board for a local non-for-profit Heartbound Ministries.

Fain Hicks, partner at S.J. Collins Enterprises, has more than 22 years of commercial real estate experience. His expertise lies with deal and capital structuring and is focused on sourcing new development opportunities and expanding the firm’s capital relationships. Prior to joining S.J. Collins Enterprises, Hicks was the managing director of Cushman & Wakefield. He also spent 10 years in the commercial real estate finance arena in New York City and Atlanta with JP Morgan and Wachovia Securities. He has been directly involved with more than $4 billion of investment property transactions and traditional and structured financings.

Hicks is a Georgia native and received his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from the University of Georgia. He is a licensed real estate broker in Georgia and Alabama and is a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, International Council of Shopping Centers, ACBR Million Dollar Club and a Certified Commercial Investment Member.

Fain has a long-term perspective and a people and relationship’s first philosophy. He is involved with several nonprofit organizations and is a member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church where he has served in numerous roles including Board of Trustees Chair. He lives in Buckhead with his wife, Kereth, and two daughters.

Bill Morrison joined Portman’s development team as Vice President of Construction. Bill is a native of Decatur, Georgia and grew up in Gwinnett County. He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS in Building Construction and has an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Bill holds the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) designations and has been associated with 18 LEED designated projects during his 25 year career.

Bill started his career with a mechanical contractor then moved into general contracting with Holder Construction. He has worked in owner’s representation and development roles with Carter & Associates, Emory University, Jones Lang LaSalle, and most recently with Skanska where he was Vice President of Operations.

Bill currently lives in Druid Hills with his wife, 2 daughters, and golden retriever. He serves on several committees with the College of Architecture at Georgia Institute of Technology and is involved in several civic organizations in the area. When not working, Bill enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with his family.

Jim Irwin is the President of New City, LLC and directs the company’s real estate development and consulting operations, as well as new business pursuits. Over the course of his career, Jim has been responsible for over $500 million of new investment around the United States.

Prior to founding New City, Jim served as a Senior Vice President at Jamestown Properties, leading the development of Ponce City Market, a 2.1 million square foot former Sears, Roebuck & Co. distribution facility that was originally constructed in the 1920’s. During its redevelopment, the project was one of the largest and most significant historic renovations underway in the United States.

Jim began his career in real estate working for Atlanta-based Barry Real Estate Companies. Among other projects, Jim managed the development of a FBI Regional Headquarters, a $60 million-build-to-suit project in Minneapolis, and Harrison Square, a 16 acre mixed-use development in Fort Wayne, Indiana, anchored by an 8,000 seat minor league ballpark associated with the San Diego Padres. Since it opened to the public, the ballpark has been named “best overall minor league baseball experience” in the country four separate years.

Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College, where he played football for four years. After college, he served as a legislative aide to two U.S. senators and a U.S. representative before returning to Atlanta to pursue a MBA with a concentration in real estate finance at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Jim and his wife, Elisabeth, have three young children.

As Managing Director, Herbert Ames is responsible for the

strategic direction and priorities of EDENS’ Southeast

Region and sits on the company’s Investment

Committee. With a 19-year tenure, Ames oversees the 2.6

million square-foot Southeast portfolio, as well as future

growth through (re)development and acquisitions. He is

currently responsible for the 2.5 million square-foot

redevelopment of Lulah Hills in Decatur, GA.

Herbert is well-recognized for his commitment to the community. He is currently

serving as treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Buckhead Community

Improvement District and serves on the Board of Directors of the Buckhead

Coalition. He is a past member of the ICSC Next Gen Leadership Network and ULI

Atlanta Livable Communities Council and was named Chain Store Age magazine’s

“10 Under 40 – Ones to Watch.”

He previously chaired the Long-Range Planning Committee of the City Center

Partnership (CCP), an organization dedicated to reinvigorating Columbia, SC’s urban

core and central business district, and served on CCP’s Executive Committee of the

Board of Directors. He also co-chaired the Midlands Reality Check for Urban Land

Institute-South Carolina.

Herbert is a graduate of the Leadership Columbia (South Carolina) Class of 2008, a

member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and Urban Land Institute,

and a Director of Buckhead Coalition. He received a Bachelor of Science from the

University of South Carolina.

Jim has over 29 years of experience in the A/E/C Industry with a focus on the construction phase of projects. He has been a key member of many successful teams in various sectors such as Office, Hospitality, Mixed Use, Multifamily, Institutional, and Industrial.

Jim has extensive experience in all aspects of the construction industry and focuses on the construction phase of projects. His broad perspective and understanding of the principles and procedures required

for successful construction projects enables him to proactively assist all parties to achieve common

goals.

Jim is detailed oriented and has the ability to focus on the true priorities of a project and completing them timely. He professionally engages and works with the contractor on each project to encourage the

construction of the final product as it was designed.

Kirkland Carden, a former Duluth City Council member, was first elected to the District 1 seat of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2020. District 1 includes the cities of Berkeley Lake, Duluth, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, and portions of Suwanee and Lawrenceville. At age 29, he was elected to the Duluth City Council, becoming the first millennial and the first African-American council member in the city.

An Ohio native, Kirkland's family relocated to Duluth in 2004. In 2007, Kirkland graduated from Duluth High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Georgia State University. Carden was elected to the Duluth City Council in 2017. He also served on the Duluth Urban Redevelopment Authority.

In his professional capacity, he has assisted state and local governments in developing, maintaining, and implementing transportation plans. Additional responsibilities have included budget oversight and facilitating compliance with local land use and zoning ordinances.

For the past decade, he has volunteered as a member of the Duluth Zoning Board of Appeals, Duluth Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, Rainbow Village Millennials Advisory Panel, Gwinnett 101, and the Duluth Fall Festival. The Georgia Municipal Association named him to the 2019 inaugural cohort of the 20 Under 40 Focus Group.