Steven DeFrancis is the founder and CEO of Cortland. He has more than 25 years of experience in complex multifamily development and management, specializing in unique development and value-add opportunities. Since its founding in 2005, Cortland has expanded into a global, vertically integrated, multifamily real estate investment, development, and asset management company. Anchored on providing a beautiful, yet affordable living environment and an enriched lifestyle to its residents, the company has adopted the unique approach of internalizing the majority of the functions dedicated to achieving those two objectives – from construction and design to product development.

Steven and his team manage a portfolio of multifamily assets located in twelve states, primarily throughout the Southeast, Midwest, and Texas. Internationally, Cortland maintains a global materials sourcing office in Shanghai and a development and management platform in the UK. The company employs more than 2,000 associates and owns and manages more than 60,000 apartment homes. Cortland is a National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Top 50 Owner and Manager and is ranked 6th among Atlanta’s “Top Workplaces” in the large employer category (2019).

Steven earned his bachelor’s degree in Real Estate from The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He is a member of The Buckhead Coalition and serves on the board of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership. He is also a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, The Urban Land Institute, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.

Norman Radow established The RADCO Companies in 1994, founded on his lifelong passion to improve the

lives of people and neighborhoods. Norman was born and raised in public housing in Brooklyn, New York. His

harrowing experiences as a young boy showed him firsthand the influence that property management and

public policy can have on the quality of life for residents and the greater community.

Norman founded The RADCO Companies, a real estate investment firm, in 1994 focusing on developing for-

sale urban condominiums until 2006. Then it pivoted to manage workouts and became the leading

restructuring firm in the United States, overseeing much of Lehman Brothers’ real estate assets in bankruptcy.

RADCO identified multifamily as the next investment opportunity coming off the Great Recession in 2010.

Since then, RADCO acquired and invested in approximately 30,000 apartment units in 15 markets and

completed and sold over 100 multifamily transactions totaling $3.2 billion. Norman launched Radco

Residential in 2014, to deliver superior human-centric data-driven property management, construction, and

asset management services for The RADCO Companies’ rapidly evolving portfolio and for third party clients.

The company delivered substantial operational success while embracing a warm and nurturing culture and

cutting-edge business practices while always delivering on life lessons that Norman learned in his youth.

In addition to multifamily, RADCO’s Hospitality Division was created in 2021 in response to the pandemic’s

operational and capital markets disruptions. RADCO has since acquired twelve hotels in three states and

continues to seek out hospitality assets in the southeast US as well as other markets.

Norman was the long-time chairman of Kennesaw State University’s Board of Trustees, serves on The Board

of New York Law School, and along with his family, is an active philanthropist. He has received many awards

for his service to the community. In 2020, the State of Georgia Board of Regents named “The Norman J.

Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences” after him. Norman was awarded an honorary PhD in 2023

from KSU. He also earned a Juris Doctor from New York Law School and a BA in history from SUNY

Plattsburgh.

Michael Bull, CCIM, founder and CEO of Bull Realty, is an active commercial real estate advisor. He is a licensed broker in nine southeast states and has assisted clients with over 6 billion dollars of transactions over his 30-year career.

Mr. Bull founded Bull Realty in 1998 initially with two primary missions: to provide a company of brokers known for integrity and to provide the best disposition marketing in the nation. Now Michael and his brokers provide disposition, acquisition, project leasing, tenant representation and advisory services in all major property sectors. Michael personally leads a team focused on office investment sales.

You may know Michael as host of America's Commercial Real Estate Show. The popular weekly show began broadcasting in 2010 and today is heard by millions of people around the country. Michael and other respected industry analysts, economists and leading market participants share market intelligence, forecasts and success strategies. The show is available on-demand on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and the show website, www.CREshow.com. If you get a chance, see Michael speak at commercial real estate events around the country.

Mr. Bull’s articles have been published nationwide including in the National Real Estate Investor, France Media Publications, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Multi-Housing News, Shopping Center Business, The Broker List, LoopNet and Nation’s Restaurant News.

Michael’s involvement with professional organizations include CCIM Member, National Association of REALTORS, the International Council of Shopping Centers, Atlanta Leaders Group, Real Estate Group of Atlanta, the Atlanta Press Club, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Michael's hobbies include music, comedy and performance boating.