Jeff Diltz is responsible for managing all aspects of development and investment projects for Alliance Residential in Austin and San Antonio. Prior to joining Alliance, Mr. Diltz served as a Director at M-M Properties and Director of Acquisitions at Allen Harrison Company where he developed and acquired multifamily and commercial. Mr. Diltz started his career as an Analyst at Houlihan Lokey in Dallas. Over his career, Mr. Diltz has been responsible for the acquisition and development of over 12,000 apartment units including garden, mid-rise and mixed use product types. Mr. Diltz graduated with a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Real Estate from Georgetown University.

Scott joined Partners from Marcus & Millichap, where he led the Southeast Florida division. During his tenure he grew the division from 24 to 70 agents and more than tripled bottom line profit. Prior to that role he spent six years as Managing Principal of the Southern California division for Waddell & Reed, a publicly traded, full service financial services company specializing in comprehensive financial planning.

Scott has conducted numerous seminars for companies/institutions such as University of Alabama School of Business, UCLA Anderson School of Business, Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business, International Investor Conference Group, Inland Empire Economic Forecast Conference, Colliers, NAI Global, CBRE, Grubb & Ellis, ICSC, BIA, Keller Williams, Remax, Century 21, Sperry Van Ness, Marcus and Millichap, California Association of Realtors, CCIM and many others. In addition, Scott has served on the Board of Directors of multiple companies and the Real Estate Advisory Board of Florida International University.

Scott is a three-time honoree as one of the South Florida Business Journal’s Power Leaders (2018, 2019, 2020). He has trained, coached and mentored over 3,000 commercial real estate agents, brokers and investors and successfully closed over $4 billion of commercial real estate properties in 24 states.

Mr. Graul spearheads the off-market acquisition strategy for PCC. His background in acquisitions and brokerage has equipped him with comprehensive expertise in identifying, evaluating, and structuring multifamily investments throughout PCC’s target markets.

Before his tenure at PCC, Hunter served as Vice President of Investments at DB Capital Management. There, he was instrumental in the acquisition of over 3,000 multifamily units across Texas, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, significantly contributing to the firm’s growth and its expansion into new markets.

Earlier in his career, Hunter distinguished himself as a broker at Marcus & Millichap and Institutional Property Advisors. During his six years in these roles, he specialized in the disposition and acquisition of multifamily properties for both private and institutional clients, successfully closing transactions totaling more than $800 million.

Hunter earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Real Estate from the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. He is an active member of both the Urban Land Institute and The Real Estate Council of Austin.

Pawel (Paul) Hardej (Principal), is an architect, developer, entitlement expert and community steward. He combines the vision and passion of a long-time entrepreneur with the steady hand and structured approach of a corporate professional, allowing him to interface naturally with a wide range of clients and partners. He has been directly responsible for the acquisition, design, development or redevelopment of almost $2 billion of mixed-use, condominium, multi-family communities totaling over 2,000 units, as well as multiple retail and entertainment properties. Pawel has also negotiated millions of dollars in incentives, tax credit deals and complex entitlements and is considered a zoning and urban planning expert. Prior to founding Metropolitan, he was an Executive Vice President at Lincoln Ventures and also served as Vice President of Development at Intracorp, one of North America’s largest residential developers, where he managed the development of multiple projects, including the 49-story 44 East condominium high-rise project in downtown Austin, TX. Pawel started his career in Chicago, IL, his first adopted hometown in the United States as the founder and CEO of Metropolitan Development Enterprises where he developed numerous award winning mid-rise and town home projects over a ten year stretch.

A native of Warsaw, Poland and now residing in Austin, TX, Pawel studied Architecture at both Warsaw Politechnic University and at the University of Detroit Mercy and also at the International Academy of Merchandising & Design in Chicago.

Lee is a tax principal with more than 10 years’ experience in tax compliance and planning for small to mid-size closely held businesses and their owners. He possesses knowledge of corporate, partnership, fiduciary, gift and individual taxation.

Marcy Phillips joined Crescent Communities in 2025 as Managing Director of Central and North Texas, bringing more than 25 years of multifamily and mixed-use real estate experience. She provides visionary leadership for the region’s platform, guiding strategic growth, site acquisition, entitlements, capitalization, design, and execution to deliver exceptional communities and long-term value.

Prior to Crescent Communities, Marcy previously held senior leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of Development at Ryan Companies and Vice President of Development at AMLI Residential. She is a Founder and CEO of MRP Delta Investments, LLC. Her extensive development portfolio spans major markets—Austin, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, and Kansas City with total market capitalization exceeding $3 billion.

Marcy is a recognized leader in the commercial real estate industry, actively engaged with organizations including ULI, RECA, NMHC, and CREW Network. In 2022, she was named one of ATX’s most influential trailblazers in CRE. She was a finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power in 2014 and a nominee again in 2018. A past President of the CREW Austin Chapter, Marcy also served on the CREW Network National Nominating Committee in 2018. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Austin Alliance, contributing to its Economic Development Committee, and participated in the City of Austin’s East Riverside Corridor Regulating Plan Working Group. Deeply committed to community service, Marcy supports numerous civic organizations—from youth sports programs to the Central Texas Food Bank, The SAFE Alliance, and the Austin Humane Society—and actively mentors young women.

Marcy earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2001, triple-majoring in Real Estate & Urban Land Economics, Finance, and Risk Management. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and a licensed Texas Real Estate Salesperson.

Candiss Escobar is a managing director of real estate for Greystar in Austin] , Texas. Active in

the multifamily industry since 1985, she joined Greystar in 2008. Candiss oversees 75 properties which equates to 23,00 units in the Austin Market.

Her knowledge spans a variety of multifamily asset types and investment strategies, including full rehabs, repositioning communities, lease ups, new construction,

mid-rise, high-rise, and mixed-use. Candiss has expertise in several markets across the country and

specializes in assessing underperforming assets and executing improvement strategies while providing

world-class customer service for the residents and clients. She has extensive knowledge working with all

types of clients ranging from institutional owners, REIT structures, private equity, and small ownerships.

She also holds the Institute of Real Estate Management CPM® designation, as well as the CAM and CAPS

designations from the National Apartment Association. Candiss has served as a board member of the

Austin Apartment Association, and as a member of Commercial Real Estate Women. She received the

Austin Greystar Regional Property Manager of the Year award, and was awarded Austin Apartment

Association Property Supervisor of the Year as well.

As a KW Partner, Wesley fosters a collaborative environment, emphasizing diversity, efficiency, excellence, and teamwork. With over 18 years of experience, Wesley is a multi-family expert who has worked on garden-style, wrap, and on-structure projects. His deep expertise in balancing design with constructability ensures high-quality and functional developments. Wesley has overseen notable projects like the award-winning 1221 Broadway Lofts in San Antonio, which transformed an abandoned structure near the Pearl into 307 apartments featuring lush courtyards, and an on-structure pool with Riverwalk views. Wesley’s strategic vision and innovative approach consistently lead to successful multi-family developments. During this conference he will share insights on trends in multi-family development, design excellence, and urban living.

April Morris is the Vice President of Hotwire Communications’ Southwest Region, covering Arizona and Nevada. With more than 15 years in the telecom industry, she brings extensive expertise in residential and multifamily properties. April is well-versed in managing business development and account management teams, having managed a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across three million homes. April develops and implements strategic sales visions to increase market penetration and drive sales initiatives throughout the region. She also supports her team of Business Development Executives through education and motivation, fostering a passion for promoting Hotwire’s services. Her efforts not only impact the Southwest Region but also contribute to company-wide initiatives through local leadership.

As the Practice Group Manager for the Living sector for Arcadis in the US West & Mexico, Jan is an expert in residential, hospitality and mixed-use projects. He is dedicated to people, placemaking, and constant growth and has been cultivating his expertise on complex, large-scale projects throughout his career. This translates into a multitude of skills, providing a tailored and creative approach for every project and client. Jan’s knowledge applies not only to project typologies, but to the various countries in which the projects reside. Living and working across the globe, Jan is acutely aware of cultural diversities and thrives in delivering projects suited to unique environments. Strategic thinking for the betterment of the company and clients is always on the forefront of his mind.

Brandon serves as Senior Vice President, leading multifamily development efforts across Ryan’s South Central division, including strategic growth in the Austin and Dallas markets. With more than 15 years of national real estate experience, Brandon brings deep expertise in delivering large-scale multifamily projects from conception to completion. He is responsible for shaping Ryan’s multifamily go-to-market strategy, building and guiding high-performing teams, and serving as the executive point of contact for customers and equity partners.

Throughout his impressive career, Brandon has led the development of thousands of multifamily units nationwide. His background includes a range of product types and geographies, with specialized experience in master-planned communities and complex mixed-use developments. Known for his collaborative leadership style and results-driven approach, Brandon is passionate about building high-quality, community-oriented projects that meet market demand and exceed stakeholder expectations.

He is an active Urban Land Institute (ULI) member and serves on the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Tax Committee. Brandon’s leadership reflects a commitment to operational excellence, innovation and long-term value creation in the multifamily sector.

Frank leads on deal selection and capital structuring at MNO Partners. He previously worked as a project manager and financial analyst at Aspen Heights Partners and was involved in a variety of multifamily development projects at the Greylock Property Group. His experience includes development, asset management, capital markets and acquisitions. He graduated with an M.S. in Finance from Boston College and a B.S. in Economics from Wake Forest University. Frank also served as a Company Commander in the Texas Army National Guard and is a graduate of the US Army’s Ranger School

Mark Hart, AIA, NCARB, LEED is the founding member and CEO of Mark Hart Architecture (MHA). A graduate of The Ohio State University, he relocated to Austin in 1997 and has since built a distinguished career in multifamily, high-rise, and high-density mixed-use architecture, with over 30 years of experience primarily in Central Texas.

His commitment at MHA centers on transforming clients' visions into reality. As CEO, he leads business development, strategic planning, and client relations, while also overseeing the architectural production process from initial site studies to the completion of construction documents and administration.

Mark has over seen the design and production of 5,000+ units in the Austin area mainly in the Urban Core and West Campus neighborhood.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys running the trails of Town Lake and cherishes time spent with his wife and two sons.

Mark Cunningham is a seasoned telecommunications professional with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, Mark has held key roles at leading companies such as Multiband, AT&T, and currently serves as a Senior Director of Multifamily Sales at DIRECTV.

With a steadfast commitment to excellence, Mark has specialized in the delivery of broadband and video services to multifamily residences. His expertise lies in managing complex operations and fostering strategic partnerships between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and DIRECTV’s bulk video services division.

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark currently oversees DIRECTV's multifamily business, ensuring the seamless integration of services and optimizing customer experiences. His leadership and dedication continue to drive success in the telecommunications sector.

Janusz Sakowicz is the Chief Development Officer and Managing Partner at Colt Builders, where he leads national and regional strategy across preconstruction, estimating, and project execution. Since joining Colt in 2013, Janusz has been instrumental in expanding operations into new markets and driving scalable systems that have enhanced performance across the company’s multi-regional platform.

With over 15 years of experience in commercial construction, Janusz has worked in nine states across the U.S., holding leadership roles and playing a key role in Colt’s growth. Prior to Colt, he managed construction teams in Massachusetts, where he began his career while earning a degree in Political Science in Worcester, MA.

Janusz specializes in multi-family, senior living, and student housing projects—key segments of focus for Colt Builders. His project experience ranges from complex urban infill developments to large-scale, garden-style communities.

In his current role, Janusz oversees key development functions that support Colt’s growth, with a focus on operational efficiency, client relationships, and strategic partnerships. He works closely with field leadership and executive teams to ensure alignment between project delivery and long-term business objectives.

Janusz is passionate about building strong teams, fostering innovation in construction operations, and delivering results that exceed client expectations.

Nhat Ho is a licensed professional engineer, civic leader, and the President of Civilitude Engineers & Planners, a fast-growing, Austin-based civil engineering and planning firm. With a reputation for tackling complex land development projects, Nhat has led Civilitude in delivering impactful public and private work across Central Texas including the Google Tower, the Texas Military Department’s Training and Innovation Center at Camp Mabry, and the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.

Born in Vietnam, Nhat brings a global perspective and deep commitment to community-building, sustainability, and inclusive infrastructure. He combines broad technical expertise spanning architecture, engineering, permitting, and planning with a collaborative leadership style that prioritizes innovation and results.

Nhat was named the Real Estate Council of Austin’s Member of the Year and has received numerous honors including the Austin Under 40 Award and the City of Austin’s Net-Zero Hero recognition. He serves on the boards of RECA, the Long Center, and the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, and is a former City of Austin Water & Wastewater Commissioner. He is also a graduate of Leadership Austin, AARO’s McBee Fellowship, and MIT’s Leadership & Innovation Program.

For more information, please visit civilitude.com/nhat_ho

Jason Arechiga joined The NRP Group in 2012 as a Land Acquisition Specialist and now serves as Senior Vice President of Development.

He is responsible for the company’s affordable housing and mixed-income portfolio throughout Texas. His primary duties include sourcing and entitling new projects, from land acquisition to the start of construction, and he does the preliminary underwriting of all development deals.

Arechiga fosters strong working relationships with housing authorities, government agencies, and other development partners, ensuring a smooth and collaborative approach to achieving shared goals. These relationships and shared goals have led to many creative approaches to financing affordable housing throughout the state of Texas. He serves on the board of the Texas Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies and is an active member of the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers.

Prior to joining NRP, Arechiga was the co-owner and manager of Hillstar Investments, a single-family residential development firm in South and Central Texas for more than a decade. He also served as an adjunct professor at Alamo Colleges teaching both Texas and U.S. history courses. Arechiga currently serves as the board chair of Any Baby Can, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing direction and guidance for families of children and youth with special needs. Arechiga holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University.

Awais Azhar is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Community Advisory Council.

Azhar is the executive director of HousingWorks Austin, where he works to advance housing affordability in the Central Texas region through research, educational initiatives and advocacy.

He serves as vice chair of the City of Austin Planning Commission and chair of the Project Connect Community Advisory Committee. Azhar is also a member of the Austin Economic Development Corp. board and Capital Metro Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community Advisory Group.

Azhar is a community and regional planning PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. He holds a Master of Science degree in community and regional planning and a Master of Public Affairs degree from UT Austin.

Jake oversees all aspects of The BLVD Group with primary emphasis on corporate strategy,

investments and capital raising. He has a 16-year track record of success in real estate

investment and extensive experience building and scaling alternative investment platforms.

During this time, he has closed over $1.2 billion in investments across multiple asset classes.

Prior to joining BLVD, Jake served as Chief Operating Officer for a Dallas based investment firm

focused on strategic investments in the US and Europe. In this capacity, he was responsible for

driving overall operational strategy and optimizing the growth and performance of the firm’s

various investment platforms.

Prior to this, Jake served as head of acquisitions for several investment firms where he was

responsible for structuring and executing the overall investment strategy including acquisitions,

dispositions, financing, and asset management.

Jake received a degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Epps works out of ASCP's Atlanta office and leads originations for the American South Real Estate Fund(s). He is responsible for managing partner relationships and sourcing LP and preferred equity investment opportunities for the funds in workforce and affordable housing projects across the funds' 10-state footprint. To-date, ASCP has capitalized more than $1B of projects across more than 7,000 units. Mr. Epps graduated with a BBA in Finance from Georgia State and an MBA from Georgia Tech.

Greg Cox is the Director of Business Development at Forthea, a leading performance marketing agency headquartered in Houston. With over 15 years of experience driving revenue growth and digital transformation across B2B and B2C sectors, Greg specializes in building high-impact strategies that connect marketing investments to measurable business outcomes.

At Forthea, Greg leads new business acquisition efforts, working closely with enterprise clients in commercial real estate, construction, manufacturing, and professional services to unlock growth through SEO, paid media, and analytics. His client-first approach and deep understanding of the Houston market have positioned him as a trusted advisor to brands seeking scalable and sustainable results.

A dynamic speaker and sales strategist, Greg brings practical insight and a data-driven mindset to discussions around marketing innovation, lead generation, and the evolving digital landscape. He is passionate about helping companies grow smarter by aligning sales goals with marketing execution.