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Speakers and Panels

State of Life Sciences in Worcester

Jon Weaver

Jon Weaver

President & CEO

Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives

Raphael Nir

Raphael Nir

Co-Founder

ABI LAB

Craig Blais

Craig Blais

President

Worcester Business Development Corporation

Jennifer Schultz
Moderator

Jennifer Schultz

Partner

Nixon Peabody

Jennifer Schultz

Moderator

Nixon Peabody

Jennifer Schultz is a partner at the law firm Nixon Peabody, LLP, and the Leader of the Nationwide Real Estate Development Team. Jenn specializes personally on large-scale complex mixed-use development in and around the Boston area, Worcester, and Providence, RI. She and her team have successfully permitted over 10 million square feet of development over the last 6 years, including over 4 million square feet of lab/R&D space. Nixon’s national development team includes more than 26 lawyers and professional staff across seven offices.

Building Communities: Multifamily & Mixed-Use Development

Michael Lozano

Michael Lozano

VP Development

Trinity Financial

Peter Dunn

Peter Dunn

Chief Development Officer

City of Worcester

Jim Lambert

Jim Lambert

Managing Director

Wood Partners

Vinod Kalikiri

Vinod Kalikiri

Principal

VHB

Fernando Domenech

Fernando Domenech

President

DHK Architects

Joshua Lee Smith
Moderator

Joshua Lee Smith

Partner

Bowditch

Michael Lozano

VP Development

Trinity Financial

Michael Lozano, Vice President of Development, joined Trinity in 2016 and oversees development projects in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He manages the development team of professionals and consultants through the site acquisition, design, financing, construction, and marketing phases of each project. Mr. Lozano has extensive experience with complex financial transactions, particularly those utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic Tax Credits. Recently completed projects include the redevelopment of the Washington Village public housing site in Norwalk, CT into a new 273-unit

mixed-income transit-oriented development renamed Soundview Landing and the redevelopment of the former Worcester County Courthouse into 118-units of new mixed-income apartments. He is currently leading the redevelopment of the Curtis Apartments public housing site in Worcester into a vibrant new mixed-income community, 150 Centre Street at Shawmut Station, a transit-oriented mixed-income project in Dorchester, MA, and Merrimack/Decatur, a new affordable housing development in downtown Lowell, MA. Prior to Trinity, Mr. Lozano was the team-lead on over half a dozen award-winning affordable housing developments for a prominent national non-profit development company

and several local community development groups, and before that was an architect at a Boston-based firm. Mr. Lozano has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University and a Master of Arts degree in Urban Planning from Tufts University.

Vinod Kalikiri

Principal

VHB

Vinod Kalikiri is a Principal with VHB, and is based out of their Worcester office. He handles transportation planning and permitting for a wide range of private and public sector projects in southern New England. Supported by VHB’s deep bench of planners, engineers and designers, he delivers on complex projects in key areas of multi-modal mobility and land use and access planning. He enjoys working on projects that leverage public funding to address development and infrastructure needs while fostering environmental stewardship.

Fernando Domenech

President

DHK Architects

Fernando Domenech, President of Boston-based DHK Architects, Inc., is a highly regarded

leader in the field of affordable housing. His projects have been broadly recognized with

awards for their numerous contributions to the revitalization of inner-city neighborhoods as

well as their creative planning, imaginative urban design and excellence in architecture. The

extensive range of public and private housing developments he has designed over the past

decades are located throughout the Northeast and Puerto Rico. Actively involved in the Boston

community, Fernando has served on numerous boards and commissions -- most recently

including the Steering Committee comprised of real estate and civic leaders appointed by

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, advising on reforms to Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code.

Joshua Lee Smith

Moderator

Bowditch

Joshua Lee Smith is a land use and real estate lawyer at Bowditch, focusing on complex commercial real estate matters involving permitting, acquisitions, leasing, environmental compliance and financing. His clients primarily consist of developers, public and private corporations, public utility companies, colleges and universities and lending institutions. He works on a variety of matters involving urban and suburban developments and retail, office, public utility, industrial, education and hotel projects.

Opening Remarks From The Podium

Darnell Dunn

Darnell Dunn

Director of Business Recruitment

Worcester Chamber of Commerce

Why You Can't Miss This Worcester Commercial Real Estate Event

What You'll Learn:

  • Affordability is increasingly becoming an issue in this market. What is the local municipality doing to tackle this issue?

  • The biomanufacturing workforce grew by 18% in Worcester County. What is contributing to the growth in this market?

  • Is the $31-$45 per SF for lab space, attracting investment and biotech companies to this market?

  • CBRE has ranked Worcester as the 15th best life sciences market for research talent. How is this market continuing to foster talent?

  • How are developers capitalizing on strong fundamentals to attract businesses and residents to Worcester?

  • What is the unique opportunity presented in pursuing Worcester multifamily?

  • How can renters continue to support the high cost of living in some of the new developments coming on the market?

How you'll do more business:

Enhance your business by gaining a stronger understanding of Worcester and Central Massachusetts. commercial real estate market. Understand the strong fundamentals pushing demand from owners and tenants. Hear from city officials and developers on the future of Worcester CRE, its life sciences market and the current opportunities present for investors.

Who You'll Meet: Network with a diverse group of industry leaders, including developers, financiers, urban planners, policymakers, and real estate experts. This event is a melting pot of ideas and strategies, fostering connections and collaborations in the Central Massachusetts real estate market.

Why should you attend:

Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Northeast Event Producer, Joshua Piquion at joshua.piquion@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ally.araco@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

WORCESTER'S 2024 PROJECTS, ARTICLES & CURRENT EVENTS

Venue

AC Hotel by Marriott Worcester
125 Front Street
Worcester, MA 01610

Ballroom / Floor: Wachusett Ballroom A – 1st floor


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Agenda

Time Activity
1:30 PM
2:30 PM
Coffee, Breakfast & Networking
2:30 PM
3:15 PM
State of Life Sciences in Worcester

1.) Worcester has continued to experience growth in this sector. Learn more about why tenants are attracted to this market.
2.) Explore the local community cluster and their role in growing biotech companies.

3:15 PM
3:30 PM
Networking Break
3:30 PM
4:15 PM
Building Communities: Multifamily & Mixed-Use Development

1.) Learn how developers are continuing to produce more housing despite economic headwinds.
2.) Analyze the number of conversion projects taking place in the market.

4:15 PM
4:30 PM
Post-Event Networking

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