Dallas State of the Market

Michael Ablon is the founding partner of PegasusAblon, a multidisciplinary developer and investor focused on the integration of emerging markets and evolving demographic trends. Combining this strategy with nationally recognized institutional capital and private capital, PegasusAblon focuses its practice specifically in the Dallas/Fort Worth area–where they have developed a commanding understanding of the growth patterns and demographic shifts. Mr. Ablon has completed numerous noteworthy projects in the course of his pursuit of a cutting edge ethos. He is fortunate to have led the redevelopment of the Dallas Design District from a warehouse/showroom district of the 1950’s-­‐1970’s into a vibrant neighborhood with showrooms and galleries, unique restaurants and local retailers, and lofts and apartments while maintaining the history, vibe, and character of the district’s past. In addition to the Design District, PegasusAblon has aggregated a dominant presence in the Preston Center Office Submarket, which has the highest-­‐ average rent and occupancy of any office submarket in Dallas/Fort Worth. Mr. Ablon’s multifamily experience includes the creation of highly innovative developments in the high-­‐growth Frisco submarket and the Design District, among others. PegasusAblon has a reputable award-­‐winning focus on quality and is honored to have been recognized for Best Multifamily Design Projects, the Dallas Regional Chamber Momentum Award- Community Investor, Best Deal Award for Best Public/Private Partnership, 100 Fastest Growing Companies, and named the #1 Best Place to Work in DFW for small companies. Mr. Ablon’s work within PegasusAblon has led to the completion of over a $1 billion of investment transactions in DFW since its inception in 2007. Mr. Ablon received his Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Architecture degrees at the University of Texas at Austin, and earned his Master’s Degree from Harvard University. Early in his career, Ablon worked as an apprentice under the world- ­‐renowned theorist and architect Robert Venturi in Philadelphia and has been a visiting lecturer at multiple universities including Harvard and Yale. Prior to founding PegasusAblon, Mr. Ablon held senior positions at Hillwood Development, CarrAmerica, Cousins Properties, and The Retail Connection. Among other awards and recognitions, he is a recipient of a Lloyd Warren Travelling Fellowship in Europe for the Paris Prize Competition, a two-­‐time finalist for the Fulbright United States Scholar Fellowship for architectural theory, named one of the 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas/Fort Worth, and the first recipient of the Pioneer Award for Real Estate Impact in Dallas. Mr. Ablon is heavily involved in the community, including being the founding Chairman of the Trinity River Corridor LGC, focused on the development of a great new central park for Dallas - The Harold Simmons Park, Chairman of the TREC Foundation, Vice Chair of The Real Estate Council, Vice Chair of Legacy Senior Living, and on the Advisory Board of the Coalition for a New Dallas, and on the Dallas Advisory Board of BBVA Compass Bank.

Greg joined Granite Properties in 2000 and oversees operations, development, human resources and corporate administration company wide. He also focuses on development, leasing and growth opportunities for the Dallas office. Prior to joining Granite, Greg was vice president of business development and corporate marketing of Paric Corporation, a design build and construction firm where he also served on the Executive Committee. Previously he was a senior associate with CB Richard Ellis and a national sales representative for IBM Corporation. Greg served as a past president and is a current board member of the NAIOP Corporate. He is a board member of The Real Estate Council and member of Downtown Dallas, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, a board member of Plano Economic Development Board and Stars Children\'s Charities. He is a general associate of SIOR and CCIM designee. Greg received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his MBA from the University of Dallas.

Scott Beck has helped finance billions of dollars-worth of high-profile projects throughout the country. Mr. Beck was also instrumental in the development and design of Trophy Club, a 2,400 acre master planned city in Texas. Legacy projects are his passion, hence his vision for the 430 acre Dallas, Texas district, “Dallas Midtown” which includes the $4 billion redevelopment of Valley View Mall. Mr. Beck has worked at some of the top financial institutions in the country. As an Associate Vice-President at JP Morgan Chase and Co.’s Lab Morgan, he focused on new business formation and corporate strategy for the bank globally. Prior to joining JP Morgan Chase, Mr. Beck was a member of SG Cowen’s leveraged Finance Group, where he provided support to clients who access the high yield and leveraged finance capital markets. Preceding SG, Mr. Beck was a senior auditor at Ernst and Young LLP. Mr. Beck received a Masters of Accounting from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin where he completed his B.B.A. Mr. Beck is a member of the Board of Directors of United Texas Bank and is President of Beck Properties Trophy Club. Additionally, Mr. Beck serves on the boards of various educational and charitable organizations.

Joseph F. Pitchford serves as managing director for Crescent Real Estate Equities, LLC. His responsibilities include project identification, development, and execution company-wide. Mr. Pitchford has more than twenty years of experience in commercial real estate, particularly in real estate development and project management. Prior to joining Crescent, Mr. Pitchford served as senior vice president and regional director with Concord Eastridge, Inc. and as vice president and regional partner with Hines, where he organized and opened Hines' Arizona office. Mr. Pitchford received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and his Master of Business Administration from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

Gar Herring serves as President and CEO of The MGHerring Group, a Dallas, Texas - based developer of regional shopping centers and mixed-use projects in the United States and Mexico. Over the past 35 years the company has developed more than 30 regional shopping centers, primarily regional enclosed malls, comprising more than 25 million square feet of retail space. Prior to joining The MGHerring Group in 2004, Gar worked at Donahue Schriber in Newport Beach, California, developing and acquiring neighborhood shopping centers in California and Nevada. Previous real estate experience also includes positions with Guaranty Bank, The DeBartolo Corporation and The Staubach Company. This extensive background in real estate development, acquisition, leasing and financing provides the unique skillset required in his current role, where he is responsible for all aspects of development and operations of MGHerring properties and projects, as well as leading an in-house team that includes leasing, financing, construction management, architectural services, tenant coordination, asset management, marketing and operations.

Bo serves as the President of Republic Title of Texas, Inc. Although responsible for implementing corporate strategy while maintaining and improving the organization's operating efficiency, Bo never strays from his "hands on" focus on the client. You will find him visiting with customers at any time of the day. Bo's career in the commercial title insurance business has spanned over 29 years, beginning as a closer in a small, attorney operated office, and eventually becoming the president of the largest title company in the region. Along the way, he was responsible for closing thousands of complex commercial transactions, and managing an ever-increasing number of title professionals. Bo stays involved with the community by serving on boards for The Real Estate Council, Urban Land Institute, Denton County Fresh Water Supply District 1-A, and Junior Executives of the Dallas Athletic Club. He is passionate about supporting children's charities including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Clayton Dabney Foundation for Kids with Cancer, and Treasure Street benefiting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. Bo graduated with a degree in Real Estate Finance and is a proud alumnus and football fan of Texas Tech University. He lives in Plano, is an avid golfer, enjoys coaching his five children and spending time with his family.

Corbett Nichter was named regional leader for A&P's Gulf States region in January 2013. Prior to joining A&P, Corbett held senior management positions with Turner Construction Company and CF Jordan Construction. In these roles, Corbett was responsible for business development, marketing, contract negotiations and operations, and for the overall performance of market verticals and geographic business units. Corbett serves on the boards of directors for the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center and Helping Restore Ability and has been active in the community through organizations such as the Happy Hill Academy & Home and the Presbyterian Night Shelter. He also served on the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, helping to secure financial commitments in excess of $2M annually to support the agricultural youth of Texas. In 2002, Engineering News-Record recognized Corbett with the prestigious Newsmaker of the Year Award, and in 2007 he graduated from Leadership Dallas, a program of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. Corbett earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX and his MBA from Houston Baptist University in Houston, TX. He and his wife, Heather, have two children, reside in Grapevine, TX and are members of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, TX.

Rhett started his career as a Tenant rep and Landlord broker at JLL in NYC in 2011 where he worked on a team of six including VTS Co-Founder Ryan Masiello and VTS Head of Business Development Andrew Flint. Rhett assisted in the leasing of a 2.5 million square foot portfolio in Downtown and Midtown Manhattan, while also advising technology and financial services clients in their real estate decisions. It was at JLL where Rhett found his love for real estate and technology, and from there he decided to make the jump to the start up world. Rhett officially joined VTS in the spring of 2013 and moved back home to Dallas in January of 2014 to open the Dallas office and oversee the Southeast Region. Rhett resides in Dallas, Texas but is in an airport or on an airplane about 50% of the time.