Atlanta State of the Market

Prior to joining Highwoods in 2006, Jim was a private investor in industrial properties in Atlanta. Jim also acquired, operated, and sold a national trucking company, the revenues of which he grew 10-fold over a period of nine years. Jim’s real estate experience includes an extensive national background in acquisitions, finance, development, leasing and property management. Jim was director of acquisitions for Anderson Properties and vice president of acquisitions for Consolidated Resources. He started his career in Atlanta as a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse, where he was employed for five years. He is a licensed GA real estate broker.

Bo leads the acquisitions practice for Greenstone. He has been involved in 10 million square feet of office and mixed use properties in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast United States. His previous Atlanta office properties include Concourse, One-Ninety-One Peachtree Tower, Perimeter Center, Three Ravinia, Mansell Overlook, The Pinnacle and 3630 Peachtree among others. Bo has a passion to optimize workforce productivity by creating extraordinary workplace environments. His focus is to deliver attractive economic results for Greenstone investment partners. Bo’s organization involvements include: Urban Land Institute (ULI) , and is a board member of the Atlanta chapter of National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP). Bo is a graduate of The University of Delaware.

As a formally trained artist, self-taught businesswoman, and lifelong entrepreneur, NINE dot ARTS CEO and Co-founder Martha Weidmann aims to be a mentor and champion for aspiring artists and business leaders alike. Martha and Co-founder Molly Casey formed NINE dot ARTS in 2009 with the vision of building a forward-thinking art consulting company that both curates incredible art experiences and advocates for art and artists. Since then, the firm has completed nearly 1,000 real estate projects across 39 states and five countries, generating more than $50M in revenue for the creative economy. Currently, their artist application, Dotfolio, features over 10,000 artists from around the world.

As a 21-year veteran in commercial real estate, Aileen Almassy has extensive experience in the leasing and management of Class A Office properties. Ms. Almassy has always been focused on landlord representation, and in her current role as Leasing Director she is responsible for leading Cushman & Wakefield Atlanta’s agency leasing practice and for the marketing and leasing of several office buildings throughout the metro area. Ms. Almassy utilizes her creativity and market knowledge to best position her properties attributes and leverages her strong relationships with the business community, economic development groups, and area tenant brokers to maximize return on investment for her clients. Ms. Almassy joined Cushman & Wakefield in February of 2007. Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, she was a Leasing Director at Jones Lang LaSalle, where she successfully leased and marketed several buildings in the Midtown, Buckhead, and Central Perimeter submarkets. Ms. Almassy began her career with Equity Office Properties in Atlanta, where she built her career and flourished for more than ten years. She has a wide breadth of experience in staff, asset, accounting, and construction management.

Brad specializes in the valuation, assessment, taxation, and exemption of real and personal property on a state and local level for clients in a variety of industries, including commercial and industrial property, financial institutions, and manufacturers. He is currently affiliated with the Atlanta Apartment Association, Georgia Association of Property Tax Professionals, and the Institute for Professionals in Taxation. Brad received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Real Estate from the University of Georgia, and is a Certified Member of the Institute (CMI), Property Tax, Institute for Professionals in Taxation. Brad is also a registered agent in the state of Tennessee.

Mr. Bhoopathy is a managing principal and head of capital markets responsible for debt relationships, asset dispositions, and transaction management. In addition, he leads contract documentation and closings related to new acquisitions, development, and financing for all investments. Mr. Bhoopathy has more than 23 years of hospitality industry experience and has participated in more than $4.5 billion worth of real estate transactions for the Noble organization since joining the firm in 1999. He became a partner in 2006 and is a regular panelist at lodging, investment, and financing conferences. Mr. Bhoopathy earned a BS from the Cornell University School of Hospitality and is a past-president of the Cornell Georgia Chapter and the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance. He is also a member of the Atlanta Capital Markets Council for the Urban Land Institute.

Shaneel Lalani is Chief Executive Officer at Lalani Ventures. Since he founded the company in 2012, Lalani has grown Lalani Venture’s real estate portfolio to more than two million square feet of commercial space, with a vast majority of properties located in Georgia. Under Lalani’s leadership, Lalani Venture’s core business strategy focuses on purchasing underperforming assets and adding value through renovations and strategic leasing strategies. He has completed more than 100 real estate transactions that are valued at approximately $250 million. In November 2020, Lalani acquired Underground Atlanta with plans to maximize the potential of the historic entertainment destination and complement the surrounding investment in Downtown Atlanta. On the heels of the Underground Atlanta acquisition, Lalani purchased 34 Peachtree, a 300,000-square-foot office building in Downtown Atlanta, with plans to revive the office tower that currently sits at 33% occupied. Lalani and his family migrated to Atlanta 20 years ago from India, and he currently resides in Decatur with his wife and daughter.

Lisa R. Hurd serves as Executive Vice President at Atlanta-based real estate investment and development firm The RADCO Companies. As the co-head of the RADCO Investment division, Lisa oversees Capital Markets, Asset Management, and Dispositions for the firm. Lisa’s team structures and raises private equity capital, sources creative and accretive debt, manages investment performance, debt, and investor relations for all assets under management, and oversees dispositions activity within RADCO’s multifamily, JV equity, and hotel portfolio. Lisa has spent her entire career at RADCO and has held multiple roles within the firm during its unprecedented growth following The Great Recession. Beginning her career as an Asset Manager, Lisa oversaw the operations, renovation, repositioning, and ultimate disposition of 5,000 apartment units in multiple markets. She also has worked in both Capital Markets and Acquisitions Analytics, where she underwrote hundreds of potential investment opportunities to expand RADCO’s multifamily portfolio. In her most recent role as Vice President of Capital Markets, Lisa raised more than $800 million in private equity capital and sourced over $3 billion in debt to finance RADCO’s investments while providing best in class investor relations management for RADCO’s network of over 1,000 high net worth investors. In addition to Lisa’s role at RADCO, she works with several organizations focusing on female empowerment and social equity. In 2016, Ms. Hurd co-founded Real Estate Network Empowering Women, Inc. (RENEW), an initiative to inspire, empower, and advance women in commercial real estate finance. After several years as Co-President, she still serves on the board of directors in an advisory capacity. She is also a board member and serves as Chairwoman of Resource Development for Cool Girls, Inc, a non-profit organization seeking to end the cycle of poverty, low self-esteem, and teen pregnancy for Atlanta girls. Lisa also is an active board member of Open Doors, an initiative led by the Atlanta real estate community with a mission to eradicate homelessness. Lisa also sits on the board of The RADCO Companies and serves as Treasurer of The Radow Family Charitable Foundation. In 2018, Ms. Hurd was featured as a “Woman to Watch” in commercial real estate finance by Globe Street’s Real Estate Forum.

Serving clients for three decades, Craig provides sophisticated local, state, multi-state and federal corporate and partnership tax and consulting services. He works with public companies, private entities, and partnerships – from very small to very large. Craig’s industry experience is vast, and he provides high-level tax services to commercial real estate operators, developers, foreign investors, domestic investors, commercial real estate investors, and institutional investors. In addition to traditional tax services, Craig helps clients who are trying to increase their efficiencies and operations and be more profitable. He often helps to structure transactions, analyze the possible formation of partnerships, calculate complex partnership allocations, provide merger and acquisition related services, review inbound and outbound foreign investment requirements and opportunities, and conduct cash flow and operational analyses. Craig has provided support for several local community and not for profit organizations and enjoys fast pitch travel softball, including coaching for 6 years. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Georgia Society of CPAs (GSCPA), National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NACREIF), and National Association of Real Estate Finance Professionals (NAREC).

Over the past two decades, Malloy has worked in a variety of capacities within the development industry, including development planning and execution, marketing and branding, leasing, and public relations. Today, Malloy is a senior leader within Selig Development Company, a subsidiary of Selig Enterprises. Malloy is focused on the development of Selig’s mixed-use developments including: The Works at Chattahoochee, 1105 West Peachtree, City Springs, and 1200 Spring Street. In addition to her experience executing developments, Malloy possesses a strong marketing, branding, and communications skill set, which allows her to provide a unique perspective to any development. Prior to joining Selig, Malloy spent 12 years with Carter where specialized in the development of complex, large-scale urban mixed-use projects. The majority of these projects were public-private partnerships (P3). Malloy also led Carter’s Advisory Services business unit and all of Carter’s internal and external corporate and project-level marketing and communications teams. Prior to earning her MBA, Malloy worked at Morgan Stanley where she performed financial analysis and played a large role in client relations, providing her with a solid understanding of the investment banking and securities.

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.

Les is President of Juneau Construction Company, an Atlanta-based General Contractor with regional offices in Miami and Tampa, celebrating its 25 th year in business. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University, with a degree in Construction Management. During his 40-year career Les has had senior management responsibility with well-respected ENR Top 100 firms prior to opening Juneau Construction with his wife Nancy in 1997. Les has been active in the industry having served on numerous boards and industry related panels such as NMHC Multifamily and Student Housing and Interface Southeast’s Student Housing, Multifamily and Mixed-Use panels, in addition to providing thought leadership and insights into current construction trends Juneau is seeing in those markets. Juneau Construction Company is a builder of adaptive re-use, commercial office, higher education, hospitality, mixed-use, multi-family, and student housing product throughout the Southeast and currently ranks as a Top 400 ENR Construction Firm in the nation, Top 25 General Contractor in Atlanta and South Florida, and is the #1 female-owned construction firm in the Southeast.

A native of Albany, GA, Shannon W. James Sr. received a full Men’s Basketball scholarship to Valdosta State University. While in undergrad, he became Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc and active member in Students In Free Enterprise. He would obtain his Bachelor of Business Administration in both Management & Marketing in 2004. Immediately post undergrad, he would begin his 15yr career in banking starting as a part-time teller and customer service representative. He would soon become the first African-American accepted into the Park Avenue Bank Management Trainee Program in 2005. Upon MTP graduation, James would be promoted to Jr. Commercial Lender in the Gwinnett County market and later Special Assets & OREO, Banking Officer during the great recession (2008-2011). In 2011, Mr. James accepted a position with SunTrust Bank as VP, Commercial Banking. He would be recognized in both 2012 and 2013 as a Platinum Performance Award Winner for the Diversified Commercial Division for both new commercial loan and deposit portfolio growth. He entered a new challenge in 2017, by accepting a role with Branch Banking & Trust as Vice President of Commercial Banking serving Middle Markets. During this time, James would serve as Chairman of Investor/Finance Committee for Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance (AeroATL) and Chief Financial Officer for South Fulton Chamber Of Commerce, where he received Board Member of the Year. In 2018, AeroATL leadership would unanimously elect him as Chairman of the Board of Directors and later to his current role as President and CEO. He currently leads the non-profit mission to serve as a catalyst for regional economic competitiveness in the Aerotropolis region and vision of creating a world- class destination for all those who live, learn, work and play in the Aerotropolis. Under James leadership, the organization has created a 501(c)(3), received numerous awards and considered a change agent for the region. In 2021 and 2022, Mr. James was honored by Atlanta Magazine as a Top 500 Most Powerful Leader in Metro Atlanta. He currently serves as Secretary for ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts, Advisory Board Member for LISC Atlanta, Clayton State University College of Business, Bisnow, Clayton County Public Schools and Head Basketball Coach for his son’s 14U AAU Team. A committed husband and father of three, James attributes much of his foundation to the skills and knowledge he received while attending the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in Albany, GA. A former Youth of the Year, James credits the program for providing much needed community resources like mentors, structure, and hope.

Starr Cumming, Retail Director for Hines, is a commercial real estate executive with 26 years of comprehensive experience in the retail real estate industry in the areas of property management, development, marketing, placemaking and leasing. While working for Bayer Properties, Cousins Properties, The Rouse Company, General Growth Properties, North American Properties, and STARR Sales & Leasing LLC Starr oversaw tenant coordination, income generation, sales productivity, client relations, strategic planning, budget preparation, and property management for multiple assets throughout the U.S. For the past 20 years Starr has been primarily focused in the Specialty Leasing and Ancillary Revenue sector of the retail and mixed-use industry generating revenue for properties. Since joining Hines in 2015 Starr has grown the ancillary revenue at Atlantic Station 200%+. Starr is a 20+ year member of the ICSC and in 2021 Starr received the Connect CRE Women in Real Estate Award for Atlanta & Southeast for 2021 as well as was a nominee for the 2022 Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Best in Real Estate-Special Use award for the Overtime Elite Deal at Atlantic Station.

Amy Carenza is the chief commercial officer at ActivePure, where she has global responsibility for the development and implementation of commercial strategy for the company. Prior to joining ActivePure, Carenza enjoyed a distinguished career in financial services spanning the last 20 years. She has worked across a diverse range of industries and advised numerous mid and large-cap companies on the evaluation of strategic alternatives and optimal execution in debt and equity capital markets, domestic and international treasury, global trade and risk management. She previously worked for Bank of America and most recently PNC, where she was a Managing Director in Corporate & Institutional Banking. While at PNC, she also played an integral role in the creation and subsequent launch of PNC's Organizational Financial Wellness business, providing customized solutions, strategies and thought leadership to human resource executives for employee financial wellness. Her dedication to research and innovation in the financial space has garnered multiple patents. Amy is a member of The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and is active in the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of International Facility Management Association (IFMA).