Barbara Melvin knows firsthand what ambition and willingness to take a challenge head

on can accomplish. As the first woman to lead a top 10 U.S. operating container port, her

skilled leadership guided many of the port’s significant achievements, including

deepening the Charleston Harbor to 52 feet, making it the East Coast’s deepest harbor.

Barbara has held numerous leadership positions during her 25 years with SC Ports. What

began as a career in government relations and external affairs, advanced to port

operations and being named the SC Ports’ Chief Operating Officer in 2018, before

becoming CEO in 2022. Since taking the helm in 2022, she has been recognized as a

2023 Leading Woman by SC Women in Leadership, a 2023 Rainmaker by DC Velocity,

and was unanimously selected to receive the Outstanding Women in Supply Chain Award

from supply chain management students at the University of Tennessee.

Barbara proudly leads the SC Ports team as they efficiently move cargo through the Port

of Charleston and South Carolina’s two rail-served inland ports.

Mayor William Cogswell, a dedicated lifelong resident of Charleston, assumed office on January

8th, 2024, with an unwavering commitment to prioritizing the needs of the city's residents.

Grounded in the principles of Smart Growth, Safe Communities, and Sound Governance, his

leadership ethos is geared towards shaping a vibrant and sustainable future for Charleston.

With a rich background in real estate spanning over two decades, Mayor Cogswell has played a

pivotal role in revitalizing historic properties, transforming them into thriving urban centers such

as the Cigar Factory, GARCo Mill, and the Navy Yard. Drawing upon his extensive experience,

he brings a keen understanding of the nuances of development, distinguishing between what

constitutes responsible and sustainable progress. His vision is to leverage these lessons to

guide Charleston forward into a future marked by responsible growth.

Prior to assuming mayoral duties, Cogswell served in the state legislature, representing District

110 for six years. During this period, his impact was felt across the state, contributing to

statewide teacher pay raises and spearheading the largest income tax cut in the history of

South Carolina. Notably, he championed a crucial bill that delivered free prescription eyeglasses

to thousands of Title One students in the tri-county area, showcasing his dedication to fostering

positive change at both the local and state levels.

Ben Yelm serves as vice president and regional manager of Marcus & Millichap’s Carolinas and Southern Virginia region.

Transitioning to management in 2017, Ben brings over a decade of commercial real estate experience to his leadership role. During his time as an agent, he specialized in retail property investments and served as an associate director for both the National Retail Group and the Net Leased Properties Group. He advanced to senior associate in 2016, earning a sales recognition award that same year.

Before joining the firm in 2013, Ben was a middle school world history teacher and basketball coach. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Miami University in Ohio and a master’s degree in technology and education from Lesley University in Massachusetts.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Ben has lived in the Carolinas for over 20 years. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Katie joined the East West Partners family in 2016 and is the Managing Partner for the Charleston market, overseeing development and acquisitions, managing investor relations, and leading the Charleston team. Katie started with East West in Denver focusing on project management for The Coloradan and then as the Director of Acquisitions. Katie moved to Charleston in 2020 to manage the development of The Cape on Kiawah. Before joining East West Partners, Katie worked in finance for William Blair & Company and J.P. Morgan, led business development efforts for multiple nonprofits, and was a real estate development associate and LEED consultant for Navarro Lowery. She earned an MBA from the University of Denver and a BA from Duke University.

Since joining SPP in 2019, Brad Cooke has been a driving force behind the organization's development strategy, responsible for defining and implementing an ambitious vision for the organization. His experience includes managing award-winning mixed-use projects in the highly competitive New York City market. Returning to Tampa, Mr. Cooke actively shapes the city's cultural and urban landscape through his service on the boards of the Tampa Theatre and the Tampa Historic Streetcar. He is also a prominent voice on urban issues within the community. Mr. Cooke graduated summa cum laude from The University of Florida, with honors from Washington University in St. Louis, with additional post-graduate studies in finance and real estate development from New York University. Mr. Cooke currently oversees the development of SPP’s Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Charleston, South Carolina’s first Four Seasons, in downtown Charleston.

As Senior Vice President at Brookfield Residential, Brent Gibadlo leads the Charleston regional office, guiding the development of Nexton—a nationally recognized 5,000-acre mixed-use community in Summerville, S.C. In addition to overseeing Nexton’s growth, Brent manages lot servicing operations, ensuring seamless execution and long-term sustainability.

Since 2009, Brent has played a pivotal role in shaping Nexton’s vision, steering its transformation into one of the nation’s premier master-planned communities. Upon completion, Nexton will feature more than 10,000 homes and apartments, alongside over 6 million square feet of commercial space. With deep expertise in community development, Brent continues to drive innovation, growth, and excellence across every aspect of Nexton’s expansion.

With a commitment to delivering exceptional projects that balance comfort with a deep respect for context, Executive Director Ian Mills, AIA, plays a pivotal role in shaping MA’s portfolio across the U.S. From large-scale residential developments to boutique hotels, he thrives on creating authentic places where people feel connected and inspired.

In Charleston, Ian is currently leading the delivery of the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences on Meeting Street—a landmark development that will bring luxury accommodations, branded residences, and world-class amenities to the heart of the historic district. His recent Charleston work also includes overseeing the delivery of The Nickel Hotel on Upper King Street, a boutique 50-key residential-style hotel that opened this summer.

Ian’s ongoing project work includes similarly ambitious mixed-use developments, such as the St. Regis Hotel & Residences in downtown Nashville, as well as the adaptive reuse of a historic Beaux-Arts bank as a boutique hotel in New Orleans. Ian also recently oversaw the delivery of two signature towers in Tampa’s Water Street District: The EDITION Hotel & Residences, the city’s first five-star hotel, and Asher/ROOST Tampa, a residential hybrid that blends long-term rental, short-term stay, and a resort-style amenity experience.

Across all projects, Ian is known for his hands-on leadership and dedication to creating meaningful, memorable places that resonate with a distinct sense of place.

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.

Jim Sewell serves as a Senior Managing Director for Investment Sales out of the

Charleston, SC office. Jim has more than 25 years of multifamily sales experience in the

Southeast, with a track record that includes over $6 billion in transactions across all risk

spectrums. He specializes in the Carolinas and coastal Georgia markets, leveraging his

extensive knowledge in multifamily site selection, development, and dispositions. His

experience spans the entire multifamily industry, making him an asset in guiding clients

through every stage of the process.

Prior to joining Berkadia, Sewell was a part of CBRE’s Southeast Multifamily Team where

they focused on covering South Carolina and the Southeast coastal regions.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He is

actively involved in several professional organizations, including the National Multifamily

Housing Council (NMHC), Urban Land Institute (ULI), and the American Economic

Association.

Dan Doyle joined The Beach Company in 2004, with the role of expanding the company’s multi-family residential real estate portfolio throughout the southeast. Today, as President and Chief Operating Officer, Dan is responsible for all development, marketing, asset and property management functions of The Beach Company. He has more than 30 years of real estate industry experience, with the majority spent in the multifamily development and management sectors.

Dan’s undergraduate and graduate degrees are from The University of Michigan. His community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, Operation Home, and past Board Member of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, its Executive Committee and Chair of its Developer’s Council. Dan is also an active member of The Cathedral of St. John The Baptist parish and serves on its Finance Council. Under Dan’s leadership, the company’s development department has expanded to more than 20 areas in the Southeast to include dynamic emerging cities such as Greenville, SC, Nashville, TN, Richmond, VA, and Huntsville, AL.

Mr. Farver is the Founding Partner of Fourthline Capital Management, LLC (“FLC”) and is responsible

for directing the firm’s strategic growth and day-to-day operations. FLC owns and oversees a diverse

portfolio of commercial real estate assets, including hospitality, retail, industrial, multi-family, and

office properties exceeding $500 million in value, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern

United States.

Mr. Farver has over two decades of experience in the commercial real estate industry, after starting

his career in investment sales, Mr. Farver has been acting as a principal since 2004, where he has

been directly involved in the acquisition and administration of a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in total

acquisition basis. Mr. Farver’s experience and expertise lie in sourcing and structuring investments

and joint-venture partnerships for both structured equity, joint-venture equity, and wholly-owned

long-term generational portfolio construction. FLC is intentionally structured for long duration

ownership of exceptionally located assets using a low-leverage model. FLC is not fund-based as it

directly invests the equity of its principals and related family enterprises alongside other family

offices and private investors.

Mr. Farver also serves as the Co-Chairman of the family office serving his own family’s enterprise.

Mr. Farver is a fourth-generation shareholder of a manufacturing business founded by his great-

grandfather in 1925, which his family still owns and controls. Mr. Farver was integral to the formation

of their family office more than two decades ago, which was also a catalyst for his desire to work

alongside other SFO’s and private investors who share a passion for aligned partnerships and a

“investor as partner” mentality. In his chairman role Mr. Farver focuses on investments, family

enterprise governance, and transition dynamics in multi-generational privately held businesses.

Mr. Farver is active an active leader, speaker and participant in both real estate and family enterprise

organizations that support his dual passions of real estate investment and multi-generational private

enterprise growth. Mr. Farver, his wife Claire, and their two children reside in Washington, DC. Mr.

and Mrs. Farver enjoy supporting organizations focused on education and mental health in addition

to establishing a scholarship at their alma matter, Wake Forest University, focused on supporting

students that are the first in their family to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Jason M. Ward is the President of Landmark Enterprises. Responsible for Landmark’s day-to-day operations, he oversees the development, asset/property management, and brokerage divisions of the firm. He is also in charge of all aspects of real estate development for Landmark, which has delivered 7 projects worth over $75 million in the past 3 years.

Mr. Ward joined Landmark after stints at several regional and national real estate firms, where he acquired extensive experience with real estate development, management, operations and marketing. His broad expertise spans the Office, Industrial and Hospitality product sectors.

Mr. Ward is a graduate of The Florida State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Residential Sciences, Real Estate. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, NAIOP, and First Scot Presbyterian Church, and he volunteers on many boards and committees to serve his local community.

A 34-plus-year veteran of the retail development industry, Lenn has been directly involved in the development, leasing, and management of millions of square feet of retail and commercial space. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Brigham Young University and a MBA from the University of Utah. Lenn is an active, long-term member of ICSC and maintains strong contacts with real estate representatives from regional and national retailers. Born and raised in Washington DC, Lenn now lives is North Charleston and serves as a Principal for RealtyLink’s Charleston office.

Quinn Balderson leads business development for Choate Construction’s South Carolina

division, where she helps shape the state’s commercial real estate future by driving

strategic growth, forging strong partnerships, and aligning construction solutions with

market needs. With deep roots in the industry and a reputation for delivering results,

she’s been recognized as a SC Biz News 2024 Woman of Influence and a 40 Under 40 honoree.

Known for her relationship-first approach, Quinn is a connector and problem-solver who brings energy and insight to every project. She’s actively involved in CREW, ULI, and

the Charleston Metro Chamber, and is a graduate of both Leadership Charleston and

the SC Ports Authority Ambassador Program.

Beyond her role at Choate, she champions initiatives that support inclusive

development, women in leadership, and community-driven growth—making her a strong

voice in shaping the next phase of South Carolina’s commercial real estate evolution.

Byron Miller leads all sales, marketing and business development efforts at SC Ports, growing and diversifying South Carolina’s cargo base.

Byron joined SC Ports in 1993 and worked in many leadership positions across the organization. Since he joined the commercial group in 2012, the Port of Charleston earned the title of the nation’s fastest growing top 10 seaport.

Byron held several roles including director of sales where he worked collaboratively with many of SC Ports’ largest customers in the automotive, manufacturing and distribution sectors and helped to develop solutions for their end-to-end supply chain objectives.

A South Carolina native, Byron has been active with various professional associations and community organizations and was previously named the Charleston region’s “Transportation Leader of the Year” and the Propeller Club Member of the Year.

He earned bachelor’s degrees in business and French from The College of Charleston, with a concentration in global logistics.

Since earning his first real estate license in New Jersey at the age of 18,

Fennelly has been representing clients throughout the country and has

worked in cities such as Princeton, San Diego, Atlanta and for the past

25 years, Charleston. Working in teams and building teams over the

years has provided some of the greatest opportunity and experiences to

Fennelly. From playing college football at the University of Rhode Island to

international sailboat competitions around the world. Those experiences

helped develop the skills, empathy and camaraderie to be part of building a

great organization such as Bridge Commercial.

As the President of Bridge Commercial, Fennelly works on long term

strategy, actively helps train young recruits and serves his various long term

clients with keen knowledge and negotiation prowess.

Fennelly is active in his community through school, sports and community

organizations and is a member of the Society of Industrial and Office

Realtors and CoreNet Global.

Based in SunCap's Charleston SC office, Derek oversees both build-to-suit and speculative industrial development efforts across the lower Southeast region. Prior to joining SunCap, Derek served Director of Industrial Development for WestRock Land & Development, where he was involved in the development of +12,000 acres of industrial land across ten campuses and completed transactions totaling $150 million. He has delivered projects for companies such as Magna International, Milliken, SHL Medical and Home Depot and has been involved with several economic development projects including Volvo Cars US, Thorne Research and Juliska.

Derek is a member of numerous professional associations, is a past board president at the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center, and is currently serving on the board of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. In 2016, he was named to Charleston Business Magazine's "50 Most Influential" list and was a member of the 2015 "Forty under Forty" class, awarded by Charleston Regional Business Journal. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from Clemson University and a Master's of Real Estate Development from Georgetown University.