Kinjal Patel serves as President of McHugh Construction, bringing more than 25 years ofnleadership experience in the construction industry. He leads the firm’s strategic direction while continuing to build upon McHugh’s 128-year legacy of delivering complex, high-profile structures across the country. Under Kinjal’s leadership, McHugh has strengthened its expertise in high-rise construction, sports and entertainment, luxury residential, hospitality, and specialty-use facilities.

Kinjal has also helped expand McHugh’s presence in mountain, resort, and luxury lifestyle markets, including ongoing work at Dobson Ice Arena. He is highly focused on strategically building teams capable of executing logistically complex projects in constrained urban environments, active operating facilities, and challenging resort destinations where precision, coordination, and adaptability are critical to success. Prior to joining McHugh, Kinjal served as Construction Executive General Manager for the Midwest region at Lendlease, overseeing regional operations and business development across multiple sectors.

Prior to founding City Pads LLC, Andy Ahitow was the founder of Chicago Apartment

Finders (“CAF”), a company he grew to 5 locations with 150+ employees. During his

helm at CAF, Andy formed a development partnership with Marc Realty Residential

(“MRR”) where as Director of Development, he oversaw the construction of

approximately $338M of real estate value. He also expanded CAF into property

management to manage the rapidly growing portfolio. The success of CAF was

recognized by Coldwell Banker and in September 2015 Andy sold the company to

pursue and focus on his own development projects. Following the sale, City Pads LLC

was started with the vision of developing residential properties that match his own

personal attention to detail with forward thinking projects that combat the demand of

modern renters looking for convenience, style and value. In the 4 years since its

conception, City Pads has acquired and developed 15 developments worth

approximately $111M in real estate value. Andy is responsible for overseeing all

operations of the company’s growth and current $111 million portfolio.

With nearly 20 years’ experience working in the development and construction industry, Matt blends his leadership, energy, entrepreneurship, and team building acumen with a healthy balance of micro and macro management across all businesses under the LG Group umbrella to create lasting value for the company and clients we serve.

As COO, Matt is constantly pushing and challenging his teams. His oversight of all company operations, including all phases of the development process, ensures exceptional output while maintaining unparalleled culture and opportunity. Externally, Matt connects with clients, partners, architects, and investors to ensure LG delivers for all involved.

Matt grew up in Naperville, Illinois and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management. If not enjoying his home in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago with his wife and three young children, Matt can be found enjoying the outdoors, often skiing, golfing, hiking, or fishing in Sawyer, Michigan and Big Sky, Montana.

Sebastian is a Partner and Creative Director at RIOS, overseeing large-scale mixed-use projects with a focus on interdisciplinary design seamlessly integrating architecture, landscape, and urban design to maximize value across a diverse range of projects, from office conversions to large-scale urban regeneration. His placemaking strategies emphasize uncovering and highlighting key details to create engaging, cohesive environments that resonate with diverse communities. His work is defined by a commitment to transforming spaces into vibrant, sustainable environments that drive economic growth and community revitalization.

Recent projects led by Sebastian include The 1901 Project, a $7 billion transformative development at the United Center on Chicago’s West Side, ROW DTLA, where RIOS transformed a historic industrial complex in Downtown Los Angeles into a vibrant urban district, and the ongoing creation of the West End Mixed-Use District in Cincinnati, surrounding the TQL Stadium.

Dan Nielson is a Vice President, Team Lead, Senior Project Manager at Clune

Construction. Dan’s interest in the construction industry started at a very young age, when he had the opportunity to work with his father, who also worked in construction. Although Dan enjoyed doing the hands-on building, he eventually realized he’d rather be the one overseeing a construction project. In 2011, he joined Clune as an intern, and has worked his way up through the ranks to become an officer of the company. Known in the construction industry for being reliable and easy to work with, Dan has completed more than 1.5 million square-feet of high-end interior build-outs during his tenure at Clune. Among his most significant accomplishments is a three year build-out of a Chicago law firm, which he managed from pre-construction to closeout. He enjoys seeing projects come together from start to finish and loves rising to the challenge on unique and complex spaces. Dan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Western Illinois University.

In his role as Vice President of Development for Habitat Affordable Group, Jeff Head manages the financing and development for our affordable housing portfolio. Between 1998 and 2013, while leading Habitat’s court-appointed receivership of the Chicago Housing Authority, he was part of the leadership team that managed redevelopment of some of the largest public housing sites in the country, including Cabrini Green, the Henry Horner Homes and the ABLA Homes developments.

Over his 20 years with Habitat, Jeff has worked with agencies such as the Chicago Housing Authority, Illinois Housing Development Authority, City of Chicago and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He has been involved in transactions that have invested more than $1 billion in Chicago neighborhood housing developments.

Prior to joining Habitat, Jeff worked on a variety of urban development programs as an assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley at the City of Chicago. He holds an MUPP from University of Illinois at Chicago College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

As Managing Director, Ryan leads Continua’s strategic sales and marketing, coordinating closely with technical design, project management, and accounting to ensure a seamless client experience. Known for his collaborative and solutions-focused approach, Ryan is a hands-on leader valued by internal teams and clients alike. His project experience includes work with top Chicago real estate, finance, and legal firms, as well as headquarters projects for three of Chicago’s major sports teams. Ryan holds a finance degree from the University of Dayton.

Aberdeen Development (AD) has been a driving force in adaptive re-use and industrial-to-mixed-use conversions for over 30 years. Founded by Joseph Panfil, a former civil engineer, AD has established itself as a leader in revitalizing industrial properties, transforming them into residential, office, and mixed-use developments that enhance Chicago’s urban landscape.

Strategy

With a focus on adaptive re-use, Aberdeen Development specializes in repurposing industrial buildings into vibrant, modern spaces. The firm has built a reputation for strategic redevelopment, breathing new life into aging structures and repositioning them to meet evolving market demands.

Market Presence

AD played a pioneering role in redeveloping Chicago’s Fulton Market District in the late 1990s, contributing to the area’s transformation into one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods. With significant holdings in Fulton Market and Bucktown, the firm continues to expand, leading the redevelopment wave in McKinley Park and other emerging markets.

Portfolio

Aberdeen Development owns and self-manages a diverse 12-building portfolio, encompassing:

Residential

Office

Mixed-use spaces

New developments

With over 1 million square feet of redeveloped space, AD remains at the forefront of Chicago’s urban renewal, blending industrial heritage with modern functionality.

Kyle is the Market Sales Manager for Nucor Construction Solutions, bringing over 30

years of expertise in the steel construction industry. A seasoned leader, Kyle heads

Nucor's Enterprise Accounts team within the Fabricated Products group. His career at

Nucor includes Sales Leadership roles with Vulcraft and the Nucor Sheet Group before

joining the corporate team.

Before his tenure at Nucor, Kyle leveraged his Structural Engineering degree from

Purdue University and a Master's degree in Business to excel in project management,

operations, and leadership roles in the structural steel construction, fabrication, and

erection sectors. His extensive background includes managing complex heavy industrial

construction projects and overseeing equipment installation.

Kyle resides in Northville, MI, with his wife and daughter, while staying closely

connected to his three adult children who live nearby.

Charlie Scharf is the Business Development Manager for Kelso Burnett. His experience in his career spans multiple facets of the construction and real estate industries. Known for his dedication and expertise, Scharf has built a reputation as a versatile leader who brings strategic vision and his vast network of contacts to come together and collaborate on projects. Prior to joining the construction industry, Scharf worked in commercial real estate, joining CBRE, as a broker in investment sales, Scharf focused on retail properties, handling acquisitions, sales, and leasing transactions. His deep understanding of the commercial real estate sector allowed him to provide invaluable insights to clients, helping them make well-informed decisions in a competitive market. This role laid the foundation for his broader expertise in real estate, while honing his skills in negotiations, market analysis, and property valuation. Working with Kelso Burnett, he is able to leverage his real estate network/knowledge to enhance the integration of construction into projects, ensuring high-quality outcomes and streamlined processes. Charlie Scharf earned his bachelor's degree here in the city at DePaul University. Charlie Scharf’s journey is a testament to his adaptability and drive, showcasing his passion for real estate and construction and his dedication to contributing to the growth of the industries he works in.