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Call: 202-684-2034
Email: eventregistration@bisnow.com

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Speakers and Panels

Keynote Interview

Lee Matecko

Lee Matecko
Keynote Speaker

Lee Matecko

Global VP

Whole Foods Market

What's New?

Emerging Retail & Mixed Use Hot Spots

Ben Bufkin
The Domain

Ben Bufkin

Principal

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Brandon Bolin
Saint Elmo Project

Brandon Bolin

Founder & CEO

GroundFloor Development

John Rosato
Seaholm Development

John Rosato

Principal

Southwest Strategies Group

Ben Bufkin

The Domain

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Concentration

Responsible for development activity and underwriting at the Domain, a mixed-use transit oriented redevelopment of the former IBM facility in north-central Austin. Upon completion, the Domain will contain more than 8 million square feet of commercial mixed-use product.

Relevant Experience

Prior to his Domain responsibilities, Ben spent two years as the Acquisition and Finance Associate at Endeavor. During that time, he was involved in over $310 million of acquisition / disposition activity and over $240 million of project financing. Prior to joining Endeavor Real Estate Group in October, 2004, Ben spent two years as a Senior Real Estate Analyst in the Dallas office of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler (HFF) where he was involved in over $325 million of real estate financing.

Education & Credentials

Bachelor of Arts, Economics - The University of Texas at Austin

Professional/Community Involvement

Executive Board of Directors - Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Texas - Board Chair

Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Texas - Mentor and 2010 State of Texas Big Brother of the Year

University of Texas Real Estate Finance and Investment Center - Advisory Council

Urban Land Institute - Member

Saint David's Episcopal Church - Member

Fishers of Men - Board Member

University of Texas Real Estate Finance and Investment Center - Associate Council

Real Estate Council of Austin - Transportation Committee

Urban Land Institute - Young Leaders, Austin

International Council of Shopping Centers - Member

Texas Real Estate Commission - Licensed Salesperson

Saint David's Episcopal Church - Member

Brandon Bolin

Saint Elmo Project

GroundFloor Development

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GroundFloor. Prior to forming GroundFloor in 2009, Mr. Bolin

practiced law at Jackson Walker L.L.P. as a Land Use Associate. While there, Mr. Bolin worked with some

of the top development companies in Dallas-Fort Worth on land development, zoning and public incentive

matters. During law school, Mr. Bolin worked with the in-house counsel of Hillwood Capital on the $2

billion Victory Park Project, and with Harvest Partners on the $750 million Park Lane Project. After law

school, he took a position in acquisitions with INCAP Fund assisting with the River District land assembly

in the North Oak Cliff area of Dallas. Mr. Bolin is a graduate of the Dedman School of Law at Southern

Methodist University where he was inducted as a Barrister and received the John F. Kennedy award given

annually to two of the top graduating law students. Mr. Bolin is a graduate of The City College of New York,

graduating Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

John Rosato

Seaholm Development

Southwest Strategies Group

John C. Rosato applies his 30 years of commercial real estate experience to all of Southwest Strategies' four service areas of planning and development, investments, brokerage, and public agency consulting. He has been a general partner in over 30 real estate partnerships responsible for the management of all activities of the partnerships including acquisition, development, financing and investor relations.

He was a general partner and planning consultant for the 230,000-square-foot Penn Field, named the Best Mixed-Use Development of 2004 by the Austin Business Journal. He manages real estate acquisitions and leasing for Austin Travis County MHMR, a public agency with more than 60 commercial and residential buildings. Mr. Rosato recently coordinated project management for a $9 million joint public works project for the City of Austin and Travis County, and has provided relocation consulting for those displaced by construction of State Highway 130. He is currently the Managing Partner for Seaholm, a $150M mixed use development in downtown Austin.

Mr. Rosato earned a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas School of Architecture. A licensed real estate broker, he has furthered his education with courses in the psychology of marketing, real estate contracts and appraisal.

He serves as President of the Heritage Society of Austin and was the Chair of the Downtown Austin Alliance board of directors. Previously he served on the Citizens Planning Committee, the Robert Mueller Redevelopment Task Force, and the Capital Metro develop enhancement guidelines for South Congress Avenue, and he has provided consulting services to Victoria Bank and the University Catholic Center at UT.

His memberships include ULI, International Right of Way Association, Commercial-Investment Division of the Austin Board of Realtors and the Commercial Leasing Brokers Association.

View From The Inside

Tenants' Outlook

Dewitt Peart
Transforming Congress Ave.

Dewitt Peart

CEO

Downtown Austin Alliance

Mike Rypka

Mike Rypka

Owner

Torchy's Tacos

Michael Heyne

Michael Heyne

Founder & CEO

VertsKebap

Kevin Fincher
Moderator

Kevin Fincher

Partner

Padgett Stratemann & Co

Dewitt Peart

Transforming Congress Ave.

Downtown Austin Alliance

Dewitt (De) Peart leads the DAA team in fulfilling its mission of preserving and enhancing the value and vitality of downtown Austin.

De became the President and CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance in February 2015. He guides the DAA’s vision and strategy, supervises staff and ensures the organization’s fiscal health. He also leads its advocacy efforts, acting as head liaison to the DAA board of directors and informing public officials and the community of our priorities.

Prior to taking the helm at the DAA, De served as executive vice president, economic development and public affairs at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and is president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA) and president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce – both affiliates of the Allegheny Conference. The PRA markets the benefits of conducting business in southwestern Pennsylvania to companies worldwide that are growing, relocating or expanding and supports the growth of existing employers in the Pittsburgh region.

Summary

Did you know Austin is one of the hottest retail markets in the country? Join Bisnow for our inaugural Retail & Mixed Use event as we discuss how Austin has become a focal point for retail and mixed use developments.

From local retailers to national developers, come hear our all- star panelists talk about new hot spots, potential challenges, and the tenants' own perspective!

As always, there will be plenty of networking time both before and after our panel discussions!

Venue

Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto Blvd
Austin, TX 78701

Ballroom: Lonestar Ballroom
Floor: Ballroom Level


$10

Agenda

Time Activity
1:30 PM
2:30 PM
Breakfast & Networking
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
Keynote Interview: Lee Matecko
3:00 PM
3:30 PM
What's New? Emerging Retail & Mixed Use Hotspots
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
View From the Inside - Tenants' Outlook
4:00 PM
4:30 PM
Post Panel Networking

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