Chicago Repositioning and Conversions Summit

As part of the Investment & Innovation global hub, Jonathan Pearce counsels Ivanhoé Cambridge regional teams on all leasing and development activities to ensure alignment with the company’s strategic objectives. Jonathan has 30 years of experience in office & industrial leasing and the sale of corporate investment assets throughout North America. His responsibilities also include leasing for all owned (managed and non-managed) properties and developments in Canada and the Continental US, currently comprising more than 120 million square feet in multiple markets. Ivanhoé Cambridge currently has four office developments under construction or pre-development in Austin, Denver, Toronto and Mexico City, and a variety of industrial projects under development North America. Jonathan also serves on the board of IDI Logistics, a leading US logistics investor and developer based in Atlanta, that is co-owned by Ivanhoé Cambridge. Jonathan holds a BSc. (Hons) in Urban Land Economics and is a Professional Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

In his role, he is responsible for planning, lease negotiations, on-boarding new tenants, and development throughout the company's 4 million sf portfolio. Throughout his three years at Somerset, he has served as a lead liaison between design, engineering, and legal teams for the company's signature projects, including the monumental two-million-square-foot adaptive reuse of the former Bell Labs facility in Holmdel, now known as Bell Works. Today, Ken is the development lead on Somerset's second adaptive reuse initiative in Hoffman Estates, where the company is applying its innovative 'metroburb' concept in transforming a former AT&T facility into a self-contained mixed-use hub, complete with a mix of office, residential, retail, dining, and hospitality components.

Chad Huber is a Vice President of Operations for W.E. O’Neil’s Chicago region. In addition to his responsibilities providing day-to-day operational oversight for the company, Chad serves in the Project Executive capacity for some of W.E. O’Neil’s most complicated projects throughout Chicago. Most recently, this includes the conversion of the upper floors within the historic Daniel Burnham-designed Continental and Commercial National Bank Building at 208 S. LaSalle from office space to a luxury hotel property. He is also leading the team that just broke ground on a new hotel off Michigan Avenue, the RIU Plaza. Chad is an expert in guiding clients and project teams through the intricacies of building complicated hospitality projects, and applies lessons learned from all of his projects to continuously improve W.E. O’Neil’s construction practices.

Scott Sattler is a partner in the firm’s Chicago, IL office. He serves as a trusted advisor to real estate developers and managers, professional services companies, manufacturers, construction contractors, and wealthy families. A key component of Scott's client relationships is the assistance he offers when they face significant decisions as well as daily business needs. Scott has extensive experience in accounting, taxation, and business consulting, with a specialized focus in the real estate sector. He also assists clients with due diligence and related advice regarding mergers, acquisitions, and the disposition of companies and their assets. He also advises clients, utilizing trust/estate and partnership tax laws, on structuring for both estate and income tax purposes for business and asset acquisitions and dispositions, including tax deferred exchanges. Scott has extensive knowledge when it comes to assisting closely held companies and individuals with all aspects of financial matters, with an emphasis on advising pass-through entities and their owners. Previously, Scott was a partner at Shepard Schwartz & Harris LLP, which joined Citrin Cooperman in 2022.

George Sorich is a Registered Architect with more than 30 years of professional experience in mixed-use, multi-residential design. He is an accomplished leader of multidisciplinary teams across North America and the UK. George has an innate ability to identify emerging housing trends and translates that knowledge to early-stage designs enabling clients, owners and investors to capitalize on ROI. As leader of the Residential sector at NORR, George has identified three key trends that have staying power for the foreseeable future. These trends include work-from-home spaces, adaptive reuse opportunities and integrated development strategies. His focus is finding value and incentives in office-to-residential and office-to-hotel conversions with a greater vision of urban regeneration to attract capital to downtown cores through land and asset redevelopment.

As Vice President of Multifamily for Lessard Design, Christopher brings more than 20 years of experience in the architectural and construction profession. He is well-versed in all phases of project development, from conceptual design through contract administration. Through his technical experience, Christopher has worked on projects within diverse markets, including commercial, mixed-used, and multi-family residential – meeting aggressive deadlines and providing the best solutions to meet the schedule demands and client needs. At Lessard Design, Christopher works closely with clients to provide innovative projects to local communities and manage the overall success.

Douglas Hayden boasts an impressive track record spanning over 20 years in both the Commercial and Residential real estate sectors. Alongside his team, Doug has successfully executed more than 1,600 transactions, building a reputation for diligence, innovation, and client satisfaction. Before delving into real estate, Doug sharpened his skills in the realm of business development. He held prominent roles at multiple tech startups, all of which were later acquired by industry giants such as Apple, IBM, and British Telecom. Doug's knack for identifying potential and strategically positioning businesses for success was further cemented during his tenure at SMED, an office solutions provider. Here, Doug steered the company towards integration with tech platforms like Cisco Systems, focusing on enhancing office environments with technology-infused solutions for raised flooring, walls, and ceiling systems. SMED was acquired by Hawworth in 2000. In addition to his industry accomplishments, Doug is a distinguished realtor and has been recognized with numerous community support awards throughout his career. Notably, he was part of the pioneering team that established EXP Realty in Canada, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to innovation in the real estate industry. In honor of his service and impact on communities, he is the recipient of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. With his forward-thinking vision and relentless drive, Doug Hayden continues to reshape the landscape of the real estate industry in North America and beyond.

Walid is a Manager of Commercial Development for Xfinity Communities. Xfinity Communities is the multifamily arm of Comcast, serving customers such as apartments, condos, dorms and senior facilities. Walid leads the Account Executive team, with a primary focus in the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, working with owners and associations to provide unique solutions to meet their needs. Walid joined Xfinity in 2013 bringing nearly 20 years of telecom experience with the last 10 years solely focused on Multi-family. Walid was born in Chicago and currently lives in the south suburbs with his wife and 3 kids.

Celadon Partners, LLC (“Celadon”) Celadon Partners was formed in 2020 as a joint venture between Scott Henry and Aron Weisner for the development of affordable housing. The entity evolved from Celadon Holdings, LLC, a company previously founded and operated by Mr. Henry, a former executive from JPMorgan Chase’s LIHTC investment group, since 2008. Based in Chicago, the company is active as a developer in multiple markets throughout the United States. The team brings significant affordable housing development and finance experience based on experience from a diverse set of backgrounds. The firm has completed affordable housing redevelopments in seven states totaling over 1,600 units. Overview of Project Experience & Approach The color “celadon” that combines the balance of blue’s essence of tranquility and serenity with green’s essence of growth and renewal. To us, this balance symbolizes our commitment to an environmentally sensitive approach to our work to create healthy, efficient, and affordable communities. The end goal for all of Celadon’s properties, whether they are newly constructed or redeveloped, is to be the preferred place to live in the market during the entire investment horizon and beyond. We prioritize building healthy, energy-efficient, and service-enriched living environments for our residents and the communities we work in. This requires us to carefully select the best locations and provide an attractive amenities/services and quality environment that meets the needs of the community in which it is based. We prioritize property management and are active owners to assure partners and investors that the asset will be well-maintained, while also being attentive to the needs of our resident population. Our core principles are: Reliability: Celadon Partners is proud of our commitment to deliver on promises by playing our role in meeting the housing needs of community residents throughout the construction and management periods. Creativity: Celadon uses open-minded and innovative thinking and close collaboration with community and public and private partners to find solutions to development challenges where others are unable. Experience: We have the experience to develop projects of significant scale and complexity having completed numerous affordable housing developments, building trust with our partners through transparency and collaboration, successfully utilizing tax credits and other financial products, and being a pre-qualified developer of choice for many municipal programs.

Sana Syed is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), where she has led big impact, innovation and mission advancement opportunities such as Weekend Warriors, Fresh Market, and Go Green on Racine. Trained as an architect, theologian, permaculturist and community organizer, Sana has worked with diverse global communities through several nonprofits in Sweden, Egypt, Yemen, Spain, Somaliland, India, Switzerland, and the United States. Sana is a graduate of the 2022 Civic Leadership Academy at the Harris School of Public Policy and a recipient of the Emerging Leader Award by Caux Dialogue for Land & Security, Switzerland and the Extraordinary Service in Leadership Award by the Chicago Theological Seminary. Born in Mumbai, Sana has lived in Chicago since 2008 and loves to travel, read, garden, and be.

Infuse Hospitality Founder and Chairman, Michael Schultz, brings over a quarter century of experience in the hospitality industry and a proven track record of success and profitability. From casual restaurants to fine dining establishments, his expertise and leadership combined with his passion for top-notch hospitality has yielded a very loyal following. Throughout his tenure, Michael has created numerous brands, built successful leadership teams, and has mentored countless individuals. With his many years of experience, he founded Infuse Hospitality. Infuse Hospitality creates and operates first-in-class F&B amenities for companies and organizations without the resources to do so. From mobile cart solutions, to full cafe and restaurant branding, to operational services and supply chain management, Infuse Hospitality is a one-stop-solution for the best in specialty food and beverage experiences. Operating more than 25 million square feet across North America, the Infuse Hospitality portfolio includes partners such as Tishman Speyer, Spaces, Conagra Brands, and Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL). The portfolio also boasts Infuse Hospitality’s first brick and mortar concept, Fairgrounds Craft Coffee & Tea, a first-of-a-kind cafe offering a variety of craft coffee roasters, specialty teas and fresh, chef made food under one roof. With eight locations across the nation, Fairgrounds is redefining the coffeehouse experience with more options than ever.

Constantine Fourlas is a highly accomplished professional in the field of design and construction, and he currently serves as the co-founder and president of Structures Construction, LLC. With over 32 years of invaluable experience, Constantine has played a pivotal role in the overall operations and success of the company. Constantine's journey in the construction industry began with his educational pursuits at the University of Illinois, where he earned a BArch/Building Technology degree. This comprehensive background in architecture and building technology laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors. Throughout his career, Constantine has demonstrated exceptional skills in managing diverse architectural, engineering, and construction projects. His extensive expertise has been honed through his involvement in various aspects of the construction process. As a licensed architect in multiple states and a licensed mason/concrete contractor in the City of Chicago, Constantine brings a wealth of practical knowledge and hands-on experience to Structures Construction. As a testament to his commitment to professional development and staying at the forefront of industry advancements, Constantine is an active member of esteemed organizations such as the American Concrete Institute, American Institute of Timber Construction, Portland Cement Institute, and The Brick Institute Association. These affiliations underline his dedication to upholding the highest standards of construction practices and staying informed about the latest advancements in the field. Constantine's journey with Structures Construction began in 2004 when he co founded the company alongside Tim Loucopoulos. Their shared vision and complementary skill sets paved the way for a successful partnership. They first crossed paths as students at Chicago's Lane Technical High School, where their passion for design and engineering sparked their entrepreneurial aspirations. At Structures Construction, Constantine and his team offer a range of comprehensive construction services. From pre-construction and construction management to design-build and general contracting, the company excels in providing tailored solutions for a wide array of projects. Structures Construction has worked on numerous Adaptive Re-Use projects, a current one being the Lincoln Park Mews Development located at 1810-1820 N Wells Street.

Bonnie McDonald aspires to shape preservation into a more relevant and just practice. As President and CEO of Landmarks Illinois (LI), Bonnie advances the vision, mission, and programs of Illinois' only statewide preservation nonprofit organization. Her transformative thinking about preservation has led LI to focus its work on people and their important connection to historic places. She’s currently spearheading the organization’s evolution at its 50-year anniversary to enhance its relevance and to create a national model for justice, equity, inclusion and diversity in preservation practice. Bonnie is a collaborative leader and together with her board, team and volunteers, they’ve nearly doubled LI’s staff, opened its first regional office, passed vital state legislation, and played a visible role as thought leaders during her nine years as president. From 2018-2021, Bonnie served as board chair of the National Preservation Partners Network, the national nonprofit representing preservation organizations, and she is proud to have been awarded the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation Mid-Career Fellowship in 2020 to write a guidebook to relevancy in the preservation movement. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Bonnie co-chair of the Chicago Monuments Project in 2020 to help lead a truth and racial reckoning process in the city around problematic artworks. Bonnie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University.

Ralph Zucker is President of Somerset Development, one of the New York Metropolitan region’s foremost pioneers of New Urbanism and Traditional Neighborhood Design development. Throughout his career, Zucker has worked hands-on in every facet of the building and development process, and has demonstrated a commitment to working with municipalities to create innovative communities based on the principles of New Urbanism. Zucker is perhaps best known for Bell Works, the two-million-square-foot redevelopment of the former Bell Labs property in Holmdel, N.J., where he and the Somerset Development team successfully transformed the iconic Saarinen-designed research facility into a “metroburb,” a term that Somerset coined to describe the suburban building’s revival into a blossoming, downtown-style ecosystem of technology, traditional office, retail, dining and hospitality. Today, Zucker and his team are in the midst of redeveloping The Ameritech Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, originally built as the former AT&T research facility, into Bell Works Chicagoland. The 1.65-million square foot building, which has already welcomed retail and office tenants, is quickly transforming into another successful metroburb. Under Zucker’s leadership, Somerset and its projects have earned numerous industry awards and recognition for their contributions to furthering responsible development practices, including the New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for Wesmont Station, Somerset's 70-acre transit-oriented mixed-use redevelopment located in Wood-Ridge, N.J., where Somerset partnered with NJ TRANSIT to build a brand new train station that provides access to Manhattan.