Dallas-Fort Worth Experiential Retail & Mixed-Use

As founder and CEO, Terry Montesi has led Trademark Property Co. through over 30 years of innovative, community-focused development. Under his leadership, Trademark has worked on more than $4.6B and 21M SF of some of the most placemaking-centric retail and mixed-use properties in the United States. Terry is the driving force behind Trademark’s collaborative, community-driven approach to development. Pulling from his 40-plus years of industry experience, he has cultivated a company philosophy that is defined by constant innovation, creating meaningful guest experiences, and long-term thinking. Terry’s commitment to constant evolution and long-time support of the core tenets of Conscious Capitalism led him to create Trademark’s own conscious development model, The Conscious Place, setting the tone for a continued focus on innovative and experiential retail and mixed-use places. Terry is also the host of Leaning In, Trademark’s podcast focusing on the future of mixed-use real estate. Terry sits on the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Board of Trustees and The University of Texas Development Board; is a member of the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors Hall of Fame, the World Presidents’ Organization, and the Urban Land Institute (ULI); and has served on numerous committees and judging panels for ULI, ICSC and the Texas Exes. As an active participant in the Fort Worth community Terry holds, or has held, leadership positions with the Union Gospel Mission of Fort Worth, Christ Chapel Bible Church, the Trinity Habitat for Humanity, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and Junior Achievement. In addition, he is an enthusiastic supporter of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Before founding Trademark in 1992, Terry was a principal and co-founder of Huff, Brous, McDowell & Montesi, Inc., Fort Worth’s largest commercial brokerage and management firm. Earlier in his career, he worked for Lincoln Property Company. In 1986, he and his brother became Blockbuster Video’s fourth franchisee. Terry earned his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and BBA from the University of Mississippi. He and his wife live in Fort Worth, TX and are proud parents to three grown children.

Zach is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Lagniappe Capital Partners, focusing on concept expansion, real estate development, and operations. He currently serves on the board of directors for LCP portfolio companies Divert Brands and Voicebox Karaoke. Zach was most recently with TOCA Football, leading the US operations of TOCA Social, a sports entertainment concept built around soccer. Prior to TOCA, Zach spent two years at GameStop, leading their internal innovation practice. To kick off his career, Zach spent eight years with Topgolf where he helped develop and open 55+ venues and led the company’s initial international expansion efforts. Zach is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Southern Methodist University (MBA).

Tyler Washburn is the Senior Vice President of Venues and Experience at Cosm, where he leads the company’s guest experience and experience design efforts across the design, development, and venues operations teams. With over a decade of experience in hospitality, Tyler leverages his expertise in food and beverage, operations and training, and guest-facing service to develop unparalleled experiences at Cosm venues.   Having begun his career in the architecture industry, Tyler successfully led the design and construction of over $1.5 billion multi-family and mixed-use developments. He then joined Mirasol Capital, the private equity and venture arm of the Winn Family Office led by Stephen T. Winn, where he served as Design Director and developed the idea for immersive entertainment venues, now known as Cosm. Today, Tyler’s know-how and leadership play an integral role in positioning Cosm to completely redefine the way the world experiences content.   Tyler earned his BA and MA in Architecture, as well as an MBA, from Texas State University.

As Trademark’s VP of Experience, Stephany is involved in every facet of the customer experience when they step onto a Trademark property. Stephany effectively activates the common areas across the company’s national portfolio and creates hospitality-driven guest experiences that attract experiential retailers to Trademark’s properties. These retailers are seeking brand alignment and opening in locations that create exceptional guest experiences beyond the lease lines. From elevating the valet to integrating technology-centric solutions for brick and mortar retailers, Stephany has a unique perspective on the topic and would be a great addition to the Experiential Retail and Retailtainment panel.

“Shams S. Merchant is an industry-leading commercial real estate attorney at Jackson Walker LLP and advises clients on a wide range of commercial real estate and business transactions ranging in value from $1 to $250 million, encompassing the acquisition, divestiture, financing (interim, construction, permanent, mezzanine, CMBS, and life insurance), leasing, and development of both commercial and residential properties including raw land, retail, multi-family, office, industrial and warehouse, hotel, data center, sports & recreation facilities, telecommunications, hospitality, build-to-suite, self-storage, student housing, condominiums, mixed-use & lifestyle developments, and adaptive reuse & conversion projects. Shams’ practice is Texas-based but national in scope. He has represented well-known national and Texas-based real estate investors and developers, deal sponsors, capital partners, private and public investment funds, regional and multi-national companies, landlords, national tenants and some of the largest real estate companies in the world. Shams has a passion for adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects and has represented clients in numerous adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects in Texas, 4 of which received the Development of Distinction award by the Urban Land Institute and 2 of which received the Landmark Award for Houston’s Top Real Estate Projects by the Houston Business Journal.”

Milton P. Anderson Design Excellence Award 2014 KRob Delineation Finalist 2014 Micro Housing Competition People’s Choice 2013 Future 43/44 Arquitecturas (International Edition) 2014 Columns Magazine, Creative on the Side 2012 Milton Anderson Award for Design Excellence 2017 John has been an integral part of the MAA team since graduating in 2004. His roles as designer, director, and leader have been critical to the development and advancement of MAA’s architecture, interior architecture, marketing, and graphic finesse since he started. John stays active in the local architecture community and was nominated for and completed the Emerging Leaders program at the Dallas chapter of the AIA. John not only does the work, but provides a positive learning experience for other team members and clients through each process every day. John is responsible for keeping the firm at the cutting edge of 3-D and visualization technology and for teaching and sharing the skills with co-workers and clients. John has designed and contributed to projects all over the world as well as the United States. He recently spent time in China collaborating with other designers in architecture, 3-D imagery, and master planning. His experience includes, corporate architecture and interiors, multi-family and single-family residential, retail, mixed use and hospitality. Recent master plan and architectural designs include projects in Niamey, Niger, and Abuja in Nigeria and Dallas, Texas. John’s experience, client interaction, design skills, and general understanding put him at the forefront of MAA’s design progression, determination, collaboration, and vision for the future. John continues to think at all scales and in all areas in and out of the box. His goal is to provide all MAA’s clients the experience to see the vision before it becomes a reality.

Nicole is a licensed architect in multiple states, LEED AP, and is always looking for ways to bring sustainability into her current projects. She graduated from the Fay Jones School of Architecture where she received a Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Art. She's been involved with a variety of projects, and one of her independent projects, One Fifty One, won the IIDA Red Award for the best new design in the Hospitality category. She's spent over 10 years working with the Topgolf account and developed the concept from three venues to over fifty nationwide with multiple prototype buildings.

Nadia transitioned into real estate after a 15-year career in behavioral health. In 2014, she founded a very successful construction company, Petersen Construction, specializing in building custom homes and construction management services—that eventually led to a partnership with Wolverine Interests. Nadia focuses on helping cities activate their central business districts through P3’s. Her roles at Wolverine Interests include feasibility analysis, entitlement, acquisition, development management and project capitalization. Nadia has exceptional knowledge of construction management, oversees multifamily development projects, and works closely with FHA MAP Underwriter on the 221 (d) (4) New Construction. As a tech enthusiast, Nadia creates and implements strategic road maps and tech recommendations to ensure the company is optimizing technology in the most efficient manner. Nadia manages the asset management software that involves managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, and utilization of software within the organization. Firmly committed to the philosophy, enriching people’s lives through communities, Nadia enjoys being involved in mixed-use developments where she can enrich the lives of others by creating environments and experiences—valued community assets that we call mixed-use developments. Nadia’s sphere of influence expands beyond real estate and into the community at large. She is actively involved in and understands the value of communities, its schools, and its divergent neighborhood dynamics. Her community involvement validates her label to more than merely a real estate professional, but further a trusted advisor. Nadia is notorious for her integrity and equanimity in difficult situations; her background in behavioral health plays a dominant role in her ability to thrive in any arena. As an active member of the nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) both as Chair of the Small-Scale Development Council and UrbanPlan for Public Officials, Nadia is a workshop instructor for UrbanPlan which is a lively, interactive six-hour workshop for local decision-makers including mayors, city council members, plan commission members, and senior staff. Nadia’s problem solving expertise in walk-able, mixed-use development, land planning, community development, and zoning has given her the opportunity to participate in Technical Assistance Panels. TAP’s are part of the ULI Advisory Services program. These one- to two-day work sessions address land use challenges that require local knowledge to resolve. She also served as a board member of the Dallas Builders Association and was active on the Government Relations Committee. Nadia grew up in East Texas where she received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from the University of Stephen F. Austin then achieved her Masters in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. Nadia holds a Texas Real Estate license. In her free time you can find Nadia staying active by participating in Ironman events, trail running through the mountains, and exploring yoga events with her husband and three children.

Robert E. Young, Jr., is Executive Managing Director for Weitzman. Young utilizes his extensive brokerage and management experience on Weitzman business development and brand promotion. Young also directs the statewide initiative to grow all of the business lines of the Weitzman platform. Additionally, through active International Council of Shopping Centers involvement and national leadership in the Retail Brokers Network, Young works to extend the firm's reach and presence with clients, prospects and the overall industry at large. Prior to joining Weitzman, Young was senior managing director for Kennedy‐Wilson. His extensive commercial real estate career also includes service as executive vice president and managing director in charge of the Dallas operation for Grubb & Ellis and as executive vice president for BEI Management, Inc. Young serves on the Board of Directors and was the 2009 President of the Retail Brokers Network, a nationwide retail networking group whose member companies specialize in retail real estate brokerage. RBN’s independent firms work together on a regional and national level in tenant representation, project leasing and investment sales. Young also is a member of the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR) and is past president of its board of directors. In addition, he is a member of the Realtors Commercial Alliance national board of directors and is active in The Real Estate Council, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Urban Land Institute and the International Development Research Council. Young co‐authored a chapter in “Leasing for Non‐leasing Professionals,” a book published by the International Council of Shopping Centers. He is a regular instructor for ICSC nationwide educational programs and was dean for the ICSC University at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and is now a faculty member of ICSC's John T. Riordan School for Retail Real Estate Professionals. Young received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

As Vice President of Development at Portman Residential, Scott Miller is responsible for the sourcing, entitlement, acquisition, and development of mixed use and multifamily properties in Texas and the southwest. Currently, Scott is leading development efforts for Portman’s master planned, mixed-use development in the Dallas Arts District. The project, which includes 700 apartments, a 400,000-square-foot office tower and 45,000 square feet of retail, will serve as the new connection point for Uptown, Downtown, Deep Ellum and the Arts District. Prior to joining Portman, Scott was on the development team at StreetLights Residential where he managed the development process for both active and potential projects in Texas and Florida. He also gained early experience at Jacobs Engineering working as a civil engineer in the land development group. Scott is an active member of The Real Estate Council and ULI. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas.

Zach Sams joined Kensington Vanguard in November of 2016 after serving as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Fidelity National Title’s Dallas/Fort Worth division from 2012-2016. Zach is focused on expanding KV’s footprint in the D/FW, Texas, Arizona and National markets. From selling real estate for to business development roles at prominent local and national title insurance companies, Zach has been active in the in the real estate market since 2005. Prior to the title industry, Zach attended The Golf Academy of America in San Diego, then spent two years playing professional golf on various mini tours in Southern California. Zach is a Veteran of the US Army. Zach lives in Argyle, TX with his wife Amber and their two boys 11&13. In his free time Zach enjoys playing competitive amateur golf and traveling with his wife and kids.