Registration Questions

Call: 202-684-2034
Email: eventregistration@bisnow.com

Request Speaker Information

Speaker Topics

Tell us a Little More

Event Host

145 South Wells

145 South Wells

145 South Wells is the only new construction concrete loft building in the Loop, conveniently located close to both the CTA and Metra. This boutique office building features extremely efficient floorplates with an abundance of natural light. At 12,000 SF, smaller tenants can have full floor presence and signage. 145 South Wells features class-leading amenities, with the 20 th floor rooftop dedicated to a workout space, yoga/spin studio, conference rooms, espresso/martini bar, billiards, golf simulator and exterior terrace including grilling, firepits and outdoor TV’s. Space is available for Tenant Improvements today.

Moceri+Roszak is a Chicago based real estate developer specializing in urban in-fill multi-family residential and commercial office developments.

Speakers and Panels

Fireside Chat With Founder & Chairman Of Golub & Company: Eugene Golub

Eugene Golub

Eugene Golub

Founder & Chairman

Golub & Company

Dave Pezza
Moderator

Dave Pezza

Partner

White & Case LLP

Eugene Golub

Founder & Chairman

Golub & Company

Eugene Golub continues to play a visionary role in the firm’s success – even after nearly six decades in the business. As the founder of this family-owned, privately-held real estate company, Gene built a strong foundation for the firm, with a career spanning nearly 60 years, multiple real estate cycles and two continents. Gene's considerable influence and excellent reputation in the international financial and business arena led the company’s achievement of a key milestone in 1989, establishing development activities in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. Just prior to the return of market-driven economies to the region, the company became the first U.S. real estate firm to undertake development projects there, and continues its role as the region’s preeminent developer. In recognition of his long and distinguished career, Gene has been honored with the Central & Eastern European Lifetime Achievement Award; the Eurobuild Lifetime Achievement Award, and the real estate industry’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Urban Land Institute.

Dave Pezza

Moderator

White & Case LLP

David Pezza is a partner in the firm’s real estate group and is located in White & Case’s Chicago office. Mr. Pezza’s practice focuses on sophisticated real estate transactions, including the representation of private and institutional investors, and owners and developers in connection with the acquisition, disposition, development and financing of commercial real estate properties. He has also been involved in the negotiation and structuring of joint-venture agreements with respect to the various transactions he has been involved in.

Mr. Pezza’s experience includes a wide range of asset types, including mixed use projects, land for development, retail properties, office buildings and hospitality projects.

How To Prepare For A Downturn

Lance Wright

Lance Wright

Managing Director, Head of Central Region Origination

ACORE Capital

Kieran Jennings

Kieran Jennings

Managing Partner

Siegel Jennings Co.

Jacob Proctor

Jacob Proctor

Vice President

KeyBank

Mike Moceri

Mike Moceri

Partner

Moceri + Roszak

Brandon Svec

Brandon Svec

Director, Market Analytics

CoStar Group

Graham Grady
Moderator

Graham Grady

Partner, Taft

Founder, Chicago Emerging Minority Developers Initiative (CEMDI)

Lance Wright

Managing Director, Head of Central Region Origination

ACORE Capital

Lance Wright is a Managing Director for ACORE Capital and operates out of the firm’s Dallas, Texas

office. He manages the Central Region for ACORE which includes both the Southwest and Midwest

areas of the United States and he originates roughly $1 billion of debt volume per year.

Prior to his current role, Lance was a Regional Director at GE Capital Real Estate where he oversaw the

origination efforts in the Central portion of the United States. While at GE, Lance was named one of the

“20 Rising Stars in Real Estate” by Institutional Investor News in 2008. Prior to this position, Lance was a

Senior Director at GE and was consistently one of the top producers within North America Lending.

Lance has been actively involved in the real estate finance industry since graduating from SMU in 1990.

He joined GE in 2001 from Heller Financial where he was Director. Earlier in his career, Lance worked

with Amresco in Dallas.

Currently a Vice Chair of the 1,250-member ULI North Texas Chapter, Lance is an active member in the

national ULI Student Housing Council (STHC), and is also a member of NMHC, MBA, ICSC and The Real

Estate Council (TREC).

Lance has a BBA in Finance from SMU and an MBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Arlington.

While at SMU, Lance was a member of the 1986 SMU Mustang football team

Lance has been married to his wife, Angie, for 19 years and they reside in University Park, Texas. They

have three children – Christian (age 16), George Nicholas (age 14) and Alexandra (age 10). Lance

enjoys watching his children’s sports teams, playing golf, traveling, and reading in his spare time.

Kieran Jennings

Managing Partner

Siegel Jennings Co.

Kieran Jennings is Managing Partner at Siegel Jennings Co., L.P.A. Previously a Certified Public

Accountant (CPA), Kieran focuses his practice on real property taxation and general state and

local tax litigation. He has successfully tried cases before administrative boards, tribunals,

courts, and appellate courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court. Kieran has experience in

managing real property tax appeals throughout the U.S. and Canada and assists clients in due

diligence property acquisitions, tax planning, and structured agreements between taxpayers

and taxing jurisdictions.

Kieran is the Vice President and a member of the Executive Board of the American Property Tax

Counsel (APTC), a national organization of which Siegel Jennings is a founding member. Kieran

was the 2022 Chair and 2023 Vice Chair for the Central and Northern Ohio Chapter of the

Counselors of Real Estate and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Northern

Ohio Chapter of NAIOP. Kieran regularly conducts seminars and workshops on various property

tax issues for industry groups like the National Retail Round Table, The Ohio Society of CPAs,

Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT), National Business Institute, and Lorman Education

Service.

In 2016, Kieran was awarded the CRE (Counselor of Real Estate) credential by The Counselors of

Real Estate, an international group of high-profile real estate practitioners who provide expert

advisory services to clients on complex real property and land-related matters. Of the over

150,000 practitioners in commercial real estate today, fewer than 1,100 currently hold the CRE

credential.

Mike Moceri

Partner

Moceri + Roszak

Mike Moceri, partner at Moceri+Roszak, is intimately involved in all aspects of the firm’s developments. Trained as an Architect, Mike can analyze a potential development site with both design and proforma in mind. His education includes a Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He also received a Master Degree in Integrated Building Delivery from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Mike is also a project architect at Thomas Roszak Architecture. Mike's professional experience includes

single and multi-family residential projects, commercial office projects, classroom repurposing, and hospitality renovations. Notable projects include InterContinental Hotel Miami (renovation), JeffJack Apartments, Linea Apartments, 145 South Wells.

Brandon Svec

Director, Market Analytics

CoStar Group

Brandon Svec is a Director of Market Analytics with the CoStar Group, where he leads the firm’s research and analysis on the Illinois and Wisconsin multifamily, office, logistics and retail markets. Prior to his current role, Brandon was Vice President of Research and Product Development at Inland Real Estate Investment Corporation, where he developed fund strategy and led firm-wide research initiatives. Prior to this role, Brandon was Vice President and Director of Due Diligence at Inland Securities Corporation, where he was responsible for reviewing and approving over $1 billion of real estate security offerings. Prior to his time at Inland, Brandon was a due diligence analyst at First Allied Securities, where he primarily focused on due diligence of REITs and closed-end real estate funds. Brandon’s past additionally includes commercial real estate loan underwriting and portfolio management experience. Brandon previously held Series 7, 24, and 66 securities licenses and is a MBA candidate at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, where he is finishing his studies in real estate finance and investment.

Graham Grady

Moderator

Founder, Chicago Emerging Minority Developers Initiative (CEMDI)

Graham Grady is a partner at Taft Law where he advises real estate developers, investors and property owners. He assists clients in building consensus with local elected officials, government entities, community organizations and other stakeholders. As a former Zoning Administrator, Buildings Commissioner and Ex-Officio member of the Chicago Plan Commission, his practice encompasses zoning, land use, economic incentives, building code compliance, licensing, construction agreements, government and legislative approvals.

Graham helps clients obtain government entitlements and solve

problems with units of local government. With a focus on the city of

Chicago and Cook County, he helps secure necessary approvals

for land developments in the Chicago metropolitan area. A

consensus builder and negotiator, he maintains excellent relations

with community organizations, local elected officials and other

stakeholders. Graham provides legal counsel for compliance,

regulatory, public policy and encompasses zoning, land use,

building code compliance, licensing, construction agreements,

government contracts, procurement and legislative approvals.

In the land use area, his experience includes securing all types of

land use entitlements through planned developments, zoning map

amendments, special uses, variations, text amendments and public

way approvals. He represents property owners, real estate

developers and every classification of real estate including retail,

residential, commercial, industrial and myriad specialized land uses.

He regularly represents clients before the Department of Buildings

and the Fire Department. In addition, he has obtained approvals

through boards and commissions, including the:

• Building Board of Appeals

• Chicago Plan Commission

• Committee on Standards and Tests

• Chicago Plan Commission

• Committee on Zoning

• Chicago City Council

• Commission on Chicago Landmarks

• Community Development Commission

• Zoning Board of Appeals

Graham also serves as legal counsel to one of the five annuity and benefit funds of the City of Chicago,

advising in a broad range of areas including compliance with the Illinois Pension Code, investment

management agreements, open meetings and freedom of information act compliance and the fiduciary

obligations of the trustees of the pension fund.

State of Chicago

Neighborhoods to watch, Trends, and Attracting Businesses to Chicago

Eleanor Gorski

Eleanor Gorski

Acting Commissioner, Dept of Planning & Development

City of Chicago

Andrea Zopp

Andrea Zopp

Managing Partner

Cleveland Avenue

David Trolian

David Trolian

Division President & CEO, Northern Region

Clark Construction

Bobby Goodman

Bobby Goodman

Co-Founder

Truss

Tim Swanson

Tim Swanson

Chief Design Officer

Skender

David Wolff
Moderator

David Wolff

Partner

Kirkland & Ellis

Eleanor Gorski

Acting Commissioner, Dept of Planning & Development

City of Chicago

After progressing in a series of leadership

roles in City government, Eleanor Esser

Gorski was appointed Executive Director of

the Cook County Land Bank Authority

(CCLBA) in August 2020. Gorski brings

more than 25 years of planning, design and

economic development experience to the

CCLBA as it embarks on plans to expand

its inventory to create more affordable housing and economic opportunity partnerships within

Cook County. The Cook County Land Bank works to efficiently return vacant properties to

productive use in underserved communities throughout the county by partnering with community

developers, small business owners and prospective homebuyers. It is the largest land bank by

geography in the country, with a current inventory of more than 1,700 properties.

Before leading the CCLBA, Gorski served as Director of Design and Planning for the University

of Illinois at Chicago. From 2019 to 2020, Gorski led the City of Chicago Department of Planning

and Development (DPD) as First Deputy Commissioner and Acting Commissioner. Prior to this

role, Gorski led the Bureau of Planning and Design for DPD, leading work on the City’s

Industrial Corridor Modernization Initiative and the Fulton Market Innovation District Plan,

creating the fastest-growing commercial sector in the city. Gorski has held many other

leadership roles within the City, including director of the Landmarks Commission for five years.

Projects she has managed include the five-year renovation of Wrigley Field, the planning for the

Obama Presidential Center, the renovation of most of the early skyscrapers in the Loop as well

as the preservation of the Carson Pirie Scott State Street store (now Target).

A hallmark of Gorski’s work is the way it centers equity and community, integrating design,

planning and historic preservation. Notable projects include the creation of a community review

process for the Chicago Plan Commission and numerous design guidelines for city landmark

districts and neighborhoods. Her work in financial incentive legislation provided groundbreaking

assistance for small businesses in communities of need through the Neighborhood Opportunity

Fund and helped to preserve landmarks with the Class L tax incentive.

Gorski is a licensed architect with degrees in architecture, art history and history. She is a fellow

of the American Academy of Rome, where she studied the integration of new construction and

old in Rome, Berlin and Amsterdam. She is also a fellow of the University of Chicago Civic

Leadership Academy. Gorski sits on the Local Advisory Board of LISC Chicago, the alumni

board of the University of Illinois School of Architecture and the Board of the Illinois Medical

Andrea Zopp

Managing Partner

Cleveland Avenue

In her current role at Cleveland Avenue Ms. Zopp leads the organization’s work investing in and

supporting minority and women entrepreneurs and their companies. Previously she served as

President and CEO of World Business Chicago, where she led the organization’s mission of

inclusive economic growth, supporting businesses, and promoting Chicago as a leading global

city. Prior to joining WBC, she served as Deputy Mayor, Chief Neighborhood Development

Officer for the City of Chicago.

Ms. Zopp has held executive leadership positions at several Fortune 500 companies. She was

General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer at Exelon Corporation and served as

Senior Vice President General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Sears Holdings

Corporation. Ms Zopp also served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Sara Lee

Corporation. As the former President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, she led the

nationally-recognized organization's focus on expanding economic opportunity in underserved

communities. Andrea also served as a federal and state prosecutor, serving as an Assistant

United States Attorney and as the first woman and African American First Assistant in the Cook

County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Ms. Zopp currently serves on the board of Relativity a global e-discovery and document

management software company and has served on the boards of Urban Partnership Bank and

Andrew Corporation. She is the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Chicago State University and

also serves on the boards of the Henry Ford Health System, the Economic Club of Chicago, the

Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Black Ensemble Theater as well as the

Chicago Police Board. She received her BA in History and Science from Harvard University and

her JD from Harvard Law School

David Trolian

Division President & CEO, Northern Region

Clark Construction

As Division President and CEO of the Northern Region, David Trolian provides executive leadership for Clark's Chicago office and presence throughout the Great Lakes region and Midwest. He is responsible for the company’s overall operations, including the acquisition and execution of work, business functions, and client relations and community engagement. Dave began his career with Clark in 1995 and brings more than two decades of construction industry experience. Dave is Treasurer of the Builders Association (Chicago chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America) and also serves on the organization’s Labor Relations Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has received continuing education through Northwestern University’s Masters in Project Management Program. Under his watch, Clark has significantly grown its Chicago presence through a diverse range of project types, including commercial office, residential, hospitality, lab/science, higher education and government facilities. Notable projects underway and completed include:

· 110 North Wacker

· Union Station Redevelopment

· 150 North Riverside

· 300 N LaSalle

· Midway Airport Terminal/Concourse Redevelopment

· McCormick Place (7 projects)

o Marriott Marquis, Wintrust Arena, Hyatt Expansion, West Hall, North Hall, Hyatt Regency, Central Plant

· Argonne Nat'l Lab (4 projects)

Bobby Goodman

Co-Founder

Truss

Bobby Goodman manages strategic brokerage initiatives and business development at Truss and is the commercial real estate subject matter expert. He also oversees the company’s newest platform, Truss CRE. Bobby combines his extensive background in real estate with Truss’ marketplace vision, helping shape a new era in leasing commercial space. Bobby is a recognized industry visionary, never satisfied with the status quo. Bobby’s mission is to simplify and streamline the entire leasing process to make it easy for Truss customers. Prior to starting Truss, Bobby held positions for international real estate firms JLL, Colliers and Mark Goodman & Associates, completing transactions for some of the largest companies in the world. Goodman has been named Most Influential Real Estate Brokers by Crain’s Chicago Business. He holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Psychology from the University of Colorado.

Tim Swanson

Chief Design Officer

Skender

im leads Skender’s team of architects and designers—bringing his passion for integrating the design and construction process to the firm’s clients. In his former position of Chicago office director at CannonDesign, he was the youngest office leader in the history of the century-old firm. Throughout his decade there, Tim oversaw a team of more than 200 architecture, engineering, and planning experts. He also led its City Design practice, a national group focused on helping cities around the world grow and prosper. Having lived in Abu Dhabi, rural India and major American cities like New York and Chicago, Tim brings a unique, global perspective to his design work. He is an advocate for smart growth and sustainable development, working with leaders at the intersection of urban planning, public health, and education. Tim earned a Master of Architecture with a specialization in urban development and infill from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and undergraduate degrees in fine arts and economics from Colgate University.

Mixed-Use Mania

The Future of Multifamily Is Mixed-Use

Dan McCaffery

Dan McCaffery

CEO

McCaffery Interests

Thomas Roszak

Thomas Roszak

Principal

Thomas Roszak Architecture

James Letchinger

James Letchinger

Founder & CEO

JDL

Sean McCarthy

Sean McCarthy

Regional VP

Comcast

Wesley Prato
Moderator

Wesley Prato

Partner

CohnReznick

Thomas Roszak

Principal

Thomas Roszak Architecture

Thomas Roszak has been involved in architectural design and construction for over 32 years. His work includes a wide range of building types, including commercial and institutional projects, with a special concentration on urban residential architecture, for which he personally has overseen the design, development, and construction of more than 5,500 units with a market value in excess of $3 billion. Mr. Roszak opened his first architecture, development, and construction office in 1997. Soon after, he established Thomas Roszak Architecture, a firm dedicated to creative, innovative, and environmentally effective design. His keen insight coupled with a unique design process allows him and his team to challenge preconceptions, resulting in innovative and technically advanced design solutions. Mr. Roszak also founded and currently leads the construction management company SteelGrass, an eco-design-build firm focused on new technology and sustainability.

Architectural Digest named Mr. Roszak one of its “World’s Top 20 Architects” in 2005. He was featured in Philip Jodidio's ARCHITECTURE NOW!, no. 4, published by Taschen in 2006. In 2008, he received the American Institute of Architects’ prestigious National Honor Award. Recently, his Architecture was chosen by Modern Luxury Interiors to be the “Best Architecture Firm in 2017.” Thomas Roszak was elevated to a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2020.

James Letchinger

Founder & CEO

JDL

Jim Letchinger founded JDL Development in 1993 and to date, has developed more than 1,200 residential units with another 1,500 currently preparing to be in construction.

He launched his development career with a conversion of a 1940’s Benjamin Marshall building at 210 E. Walton St. in Chicago where he transformed 21 apartments into five unique residential condominiums. Mr. Letchinger quickly became known as one of Chicago’s most creative and respected residential developers, specializing in urban development where his expertise in entitlement and infill design provides a significant competitive advantage. Mr. Letchinger is intimately involved in all aspects of JDL’s projects, from inception to completion. His hands-on approach has helped JDL survive a number of real estate cycles.

Mr. Letchinger is a graduate of the University of Michigan. A life long resident of the City of Chicago, Mr. Letchinger is married with two grown children.

Wesley Prato

Moderator

CohnReznick

Wesley Prato, CPA, is an audit partner in the Firm’s Commercial Real Estate Industry Practice and leads the

Southwest Region in this area. Based in CohnReznick’s Chicago office, he has 16 years of experience in

public accounting, providing client services in the areas of audit, review, and other financial reporting needs.

This experience includes working with developers, hospitality owners and private equity investors of

companies in the commercial real estate industry.

Wes specializes in the commercial real estate and hospitality industries serving both real estate operators and

real estate investment funds. He is responsible for planning the engagements, supervising staff, and

coordinating all fieldwork. Other responsibilities on these engagements include determining audit scope,

selecting procedures to be applied, establishing budgets, reviewing work papers, identifying audit issues,

communicating with clients, and preparing financial statements or reports. In addition, Wes takes an active

role in working with his clients to plan and brainstorm on ways to get the next project from concept to

development.

Wes has participated nationally within the Firm in developing audit programs and techniques specifically

tailored to auditing commercial real estate and hospitality entities. He has also leads internal training classes

on commercial real estate and often speaks on panels focused in the industry.

Summary

  1. Chicago’s building code is being updated for the first time in 70 years. Will this updated code, which adopts pieces from 2018 International Building Code make it easier and cheaper for developers in Chicago?

  2. For the first time in over 10 years the Department of Housing is coming back as a stand-alone organization. How will the Department of Housing help to tackle the issue of affordability, which has been dogging the city for years.

  3. Taxes are coming. Although it may take a few years, the new way commercial properties are evaluated will have a major impact on your property. Will you need to change how you structure deals because of this?

  4. How are major developments such as Lincoln Yards, The 78, One Central, and One Chicago progressing and how will they change the city?

  5. What are Chicago's strongest fundamentals and how will they protect the city's real estate market in the next downturn?

Agenda

Time Activity
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
Coffee, Breakfast, & Networking!
2:00 PM
2:45 PM
Mixed-Use Mania

The Future of Multifamily Is Mixed-Use

2:45 PM
3:30 PM
State of Chicago

Neighborhoods to watch, Trends, and Attracting Businesses to Chicago

3:30 PM
4:15 PM
How To Prepare For A Downturn
4:15 PM
4:40 PM
Fireside Chat With Founder & Chairman Of Golub & Company: Eugene Golub
4:40 PM
5:30 PM
Lunch & Networking!!