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The Submarket Showdown: Exploring Site-Selection, Leasing and Investment Trends

Who's Acquiring in the Charlotte Region, and What Unique Opportunities They See in Today's Market

Tariq Bokhari

Tariq Bokhari

Councilmember

City of Charlotte

Will Jenkins

Will Jenkins

Partner

Stonelake Capital Partners

Peggy Lamb

Peggy Lamb

Managing Director

Halstatt Real Estate Partners

Bryan Blythe

Bryan Blythe

SVP, Southeast Market Officer

Leon Capital Group

Tom Tropeano
Moderator

Tom Tropeano

Principal

Avison Young

Tariq Bokhari

Councilmember

City of Charlotte

Education: Radford University, bachelor’s degree in business administration, Information Systems.

Professional Experience: Prior to serving as the founder of the Carolina Fintech Hub and launching several of his own startup companies, Councilman Bokhari served as the Head of Innovation and Investment for FIS Global, a $9B+ fintech company. He has also held executive positions in Fortune 500 companies such as GE Capital, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia.

Civic Engagement: He has served as treasurer of the North Carolina Heroes Fund and as a board director of the Greater Enrichment Program, Charlotte Area Fund, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, and Blumenthal Performing Arts. He has spent the last two summers with elementary and middle school students at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church teaching STEM, coding and entrepreneurship.

Key Achievements: Council Member Bokhari’s accomplishments include personally recruiting over 2,000 tech jobs to the community and helping small businesses through the pandemic. Tariq created Charlotte’s leading workforce training programs, from high school to adult cohorts, generating over $30M in upward mobility investments without taxpayer dollars. He created a first-of-its-kind program aimed at using esports to impact upward mobility, workforce development and STEM education in Title 1 schools. He negotiated the creation of Moffat Park in District 6, the creation of SouthPark Community Partners, SouthPark After 5, and many major safety and placemaking initiatives, including the Loop and Backlot Trail.

Council Committee Assignments: Jobs and Economic Development; Budget, Governance and Intergovernmental Relations

Platform and Goals: His key priorities include reducing crime, supporting our police officers, leading with a roads-first transportation plan, and solving the homelessness and panhandling issues facing our community.

Awards and Recognitions: Bokhari was inducted into the 2010 Charlotte Business Journal class of 40 under 40 and was named as the 2016 Next Money Risk Taker of the Year.

Will Jenkins

Partner

Stonelake Capital Partners

William Jenkins is a Partner with Stonelake Capital Partners where he is responsible for new investments, both development and acquisitions, in Austin and Nashville.

Mr. Jenkins joined Stonelake in 2014 as an analyst, originally in the Dallas office. Mr. Jenkins is a Member of the Stonelake Investment Committee and focuses on new investments in Austin, Nashville and Charlotte and has oversight responsibility for Stonelake’s multifamily development pursuits.

Prior to Stonelake, Mr. Jenkins was a Financial Analyst at ViacomCBS in New York City. Mr. Jenkins received his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Jenkins currently sits on The Opportunity Austin Economic Development Council, the Board of Directors for the Downtown Austin Alliance, and the Board of Directors for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Central Texas. Will, his wife Megan and their four children are members of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin.

Peggy Lamb

Managing Director

Halstatt Real Estate Partners

Peggy is a Principal of Halstatt Real Estate Partners and has been with Halstatt since 2017. Prior to joining Halstatt, Peggy worked at Goldman Sachs for fifteen years and served as a member of the Management Group for the Investment Banking Division, Chief of Staff for the Financing Division, and Chief Operating Officer of the Investment Banking Real Estate Department.

Peggy currently serves on the board of directors of Starwood REIT (SREIT), where she is a member of the audit and compensation committees. She also serves on the board of directors of Starwood Credit (SCREDIT), where she is a member of the audit committee. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Florida Bergstrom Real Estate Center and as well as on the Talent and Innovation Council for the City of Naples. She is President of the Harvard Club of SW Florida, where she has served on the board for the past 10 years

Tom Tropeano

Moderator

Avison Young

Tom Tropeano is a Principal at Avison Young in the Charlotte office where he is part of a team of industrial real estate professionals specializing in the leasing, sales, and the site selection of industrial properties throughout the Carolinas. Tom's focus includes both Agency Leasing and Industrial Sales, working with a diverse range of clients, including occupiers, private owners, and institutional groups. Tom has 10 years of experience as an industrial broker.

Tom is a key member of the Agency Leasing Team, responsible for the leasing and management of over 5 million square feet of industrial properties.

Prior to joining Avison Young in the spring of 2018, Tom worked as an Associate at CBRE’s Industrial Agency and Occupier Brokerage group, where he advised institutional owners, national/global occupiers, and regional developers on the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of industrial properties across the Carolinas.

Tom holds the prestigious SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) designation, underscoring his commitment to excellence and professionalism in the industrial real estate sector.

Tom is originally from New Jersey and graduated from Clemson University.

What Tenants Want: The Construction, Development and Asset Management Outlook

From Smaller Spaces to Innovations in Design-Build, How the Look and Feel of Industrial Assets are Changing for Today's Tenants

John Barker, Jr.

John Barker, Jr.

President

Red Rock Developments

Warren Snowdon

Warren Snowdon

Principal, Managing Director

Foundry Commercial

John Ratliff

John Ratliff

SVP

EastGroup Properties

Harris Morrison

Harris Morrison

Managing Director

Fortius Capital Partners

Troy Adams

Troy Adams

Vice President of Real Estate

NFI

Melissa Countryman
Moderator

Melissa Countryman

SVP

JLL

John Barker, Jr.

President

Red Rock Developments

John Barker, Jr., SIOR has been a commercial real estate professional for the last 20 years, providing companies with expertise in commercial real estate and development. John has completed millions of square feet of development-related projects from build-to-suit and sale/leasebacks to construction program and project management.

Warren Snowdon

Principal, Managing Director

Foundry Commercial

Warren Snowdon serves as Managing Director and Principal for Foundry Commercial in Charlotte, NC.

Prior to joining Foundry Commercial, Warren was with Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer serving on the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance since 1996. Warren has focused on forward thinking site selection and tenant representation as well as disposition and leasing strategies for institutional, industrial clients to rationalize supply chain networks and drive value for institutional owners. He possesses an extensive background in build to suit projects as well as investment sales for distribution and manufacturing clients.

Warren’s early career was shaped by several years spent in property management (1993-1996) and development after receiving a degree in Industrial Relations from UNC Chapel Hill. Warren is a licensed real estate broker in North and South Carolina, holds a North Carolina General Contractor’s license, is a multiple year winner of the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors (CRCBR) Deal Maker’s award, and was a recipient of the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award.

Key Assignments

Riverwalk Business Park (mulitple properties), Rock Hill, SC - 2,000,000 SF

Premier Distribution Center, Charlotte, NC - 1,400,000 SF

American Real Estate Holdings, Eastern NC –1,400,000 SF

Commerce Station, Huntersville, NC - 582, 980 SF

L & J Schmier – Westlake (3 buildings), Charlotte, NC – 565,000 SF

New York Life, Charlotte, NC – 511,200 SF

Logistics 77 at Riverwalk, Rock Hill, SC - 507,512 SF

First Industrial Buildings & Land, LLC, throughout NC & SC - 400,000 SF

Duke Energy Site, Charlotte, NC - 300,000 SF on 110 acres

Room & Board, Newton, NC - 252,000 SF

M. David Properties, Charlotte & Huntersville, NC – 225,000 SF

Agility Fuel Systems, Salisbury, NC - 200,000 SF

854 Paragon Way, Rock Hill, SC - 111,500 SF

Education, Memberships and Awards

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Bachelor degree in Industrial Relations

Licensed Real Estate Broker - North Carolina and South Carolina

Licensed General Contractor - North Carolina

Industrial Member, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) -

Member, Council of Supply Chain Professionals (CSCMP)

Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40

Member, Cushman & Wakefield Global Supply Chain Services (1996-2015)

CRCBR Top Three Industrial Producer 2009, 2012

#1 Top Producer in 2014, 2016

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer Charlotte Top Listing Leader 2011, 2012

Eagle Scout

John Ratliff

SVP

EastGroup Properties

John I. Ratliff, Vice President, is responsible for EastGroup’s operations in the Atlanta, Greenville, and Charlotte markets. Mr. Ratliff joined EastGroup in 2020. Prior to joining EastGroup, Mr. Ratliff was Vice President at Goddard Investment Group. He has also worked as an analyst at BB&T. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes College and a Masters in Business Administration from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Harris Morrison

Managing Director

Fortius Capital Partners

As Managing Director at Fortius, Harris pursues his passion for commercial real estate, merging his experience since 1998 as an owner, investor, and developer with a technical background in development, finance, brokerage, and asset management. Harris and his team have delivered numerous industrial parks including Lakeshore Corporate Park and Meadows Corporate Park, both recognized as outstanding projects. Harris and the Fortius team strive to create value for partners, tenants, and communities alike.

Harris formed the development company, Fortius Capital Partners, in 2017, to focus primarily on the development and acquisition of industrial properties in the Charlotte region. His entrepreneurial, on-the-ground, approach to uncovering opportunities and understanding market trends is a defining characteristic of Fortius Capital Partners and how the firm creates value.

Prior to Fortius, Harris was Founder and Managing Partner at New Branch Real Estate Advisors, where he worked in commercial real estate brokerage. During this time, he continued to invest and operate industrial and commercial properties with partners in the Greater Charlotte area. Here he gained a deep understanding of the marketplace, particularly the industrial sector, and developed extensive relationships in the brokerage, banking, and construction communities. Harris worked early in his career for Bissell Companies at the project-level, where he assisted in the development, leasing and management of its office and hotel properties, including Ballantyne Corporate Park in South Charlotte. Before real estate, he began his career at Wachovia Bank.

Harris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Carolina Thread Trail and Catawba Lands Conservancy, bridging his love of nature with his passion for the built environment. He is an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Concord; former Scoutmaster of BSA Troop 3; and former board member of numerous community organizations. Harris holds his CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation, and is a member of NAIOP (National Association for Industrial and Office Properties), actively participating in his National Industrial Forum. He is also a member of the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors. Harris graduated from Washington & Lee University with a B.A. in Economics, and earned a Masters in Real Estate Development from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Troy Adams

Vice President of Real Estate

NFI

Troy Adams is the Vice President of Real Estate at NFI and leads the site selection, leasing, development,

and portfolio management of more than 70 million square feet. Troy joined the NFI team in 2013 and

works closely with the NFI operating companies, our customers, and third-party brokers to structure

creative real estate solutions and customized build-to-suits. Before joining NFI, Troy spent ten years in

economic development roles with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and Select Greater

Philadelphia.

Troy serves on the Board of Directors of the St. Joseph’s Carpenter’s Society (SJCS), a community

development non-profit located in Camden, NJ. Since its founding over 30 years ago, SJCS has

rehabilitated or developed more than 1,027 homes for sale or rent to qualifying families throughout East

Camden and the surrounding community.

Troy has an MBA with a finance concentration from Drexel University and a BA in Political Science from

James Madison University. He resides with his family in Haddonfield, NJ.

Why You Can't Miss this Charlotte Conversation

What You'll Learn:

  • From Texas to the Midwest, developers and investors from outside the Charlotte region are flocking to the area in search of industrial deals and partnerships. As other industrial markets struggle, what makes Mecklenburg County unique?

  • Regional competitiveness: As neighboring counties like Gaston County are attracting new tenants and business, Mecklenburg's costs are still high — according to Avison Young, the average price per buildable SF for land in Mecklenburg County has been $25.31 since 2023 — in comparison to other counties in Charlotte market, where the average is under $7 per buildable SF. If costs remain high due to demand, what other incentives can Mecklenburg County public officials, investors and developers offer to sway businesses to choose it as their location?

  • What are today's leases looking like, and what types of industrial assets and sizes are winning out in terms of deals and opportunity?

  • Bye-bye, big box: New groundbreakings are, under 200K SF, and higher demand for local and regional operations are resulting in leases under 100K SF. What does this mean for mega-warehouses during the e-commerce boom, and how are owners looking to utilize these assets? 

  • From location and site selection to design and development, what are top tenants looking for in today's market that differs from industrial's previous cycles? 

 

Why This Matters: While other markets may have severely cooled in 2024 for industrial deals and developments, the Charlotte region has certainly felt the pinch — but it is still pushing ahead in terms of new growth and opportunity.  A vacancy rate in Charlotte of 7.5% is due less to a loss of interest in the region for industrial deals than in  other submarkets like Gaston County picking up traction due to cheaper land and similar opportunities.  What can Mecklenburg County do to regain its position as Charlotte's dominating industrial market? Or, can surrounding counties pool together to woo top tenants to further bolster the overall economy? Join Bisnow as we look at what 2025 has in store for industrial development, investment, operations and more. 

 

Who You'll Meet: The Charlotte region's top owners, developers, investors, tenants, public officials and service providers investing in Charlotte's industrial scene.

 

For questions, recommendations, comments and press inquiries, or if you are interested in sponsoring, please email  Director of Event Production Elizabeth Baker at liz.baker@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact Sabrina Cole at sabrina.cole@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Articles You Need to Read

Venue

Charlotte Marriott City Center
100 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Room: Charlotte ABCD/Event Hub

 

Discounted $20.00 Event Parking

 
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Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Registration, Breakfast and Networking
1:00 PM
1:45 PM
The Submarket Showdown: Exploring Site-Selection, Leasing and Investment Trends

Who's Acquiring in the Charlotte Region, and What Unique Opportunities They See in Today's Market

1:45 PM
2:00 PM
Networking Break!
2:00 PM
2:45 PM
What Tenants Want: The Construction, Development and Asset Management Outlook

From Smaller Spaces to Innovations in Design-Build, How the Look and Feel of Industrial Assets are Changing for Today's Tenants

2:45 PM
3:00 PM
More Networking!

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