Steve Sakanashi is Chairman of the Japan–Texas Economic Summit, a premier forum convening top business, government, and civic leaders to advance economic collaboration between Texas and Japan. As chief architect of the Summit, he shapes its vision, program, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen bilateral partnerships. 

Steve also serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships at ABeam Consulting, leading growth and ecosystem partnerships in the U.S. market, and as Texas State Director at Make Us Visible, advocating for Asian American representation in Texas education. 

Before returning to America, Steve spent a decade in Tokyo raising a family and serving as Director of Marketing and Global Strategy at Matchbox Technologies, where he helped launch Japan’s first government-backed gig work platform. He also founded Sekai Creator, a startup incubator that equipped Japanese students and corporations with entrepreneurial leadership skills. 

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.

As Head of Fairbourne Properties, David leads the Team in creating value in Real Estate through acquiring, owning and managing properties for its own account and in conjunction with best-in-class institutional partners.

David is responsible for developing strategic investment initiatives and guidelines for Fairbourne. He leads the Team in developing investor relationships and has oversight responsibility of Fairbourne’s management and resources. He also directs the Acquisition Team in underwriting, equity sourcing, due diligence and closing investment opportunities.

David has over thirty years of experience in the real estate industry and has collectively acquired and redeveloped in-excess of twenty million square feet of retail and office properties valued at approximately $2 billion. David’s experience and expertise in acquisition, development/redevelopment and transforming assets to value-driving opportunities has earned him a solid reputation in the industry and he is often invited to participate in round table discussions and forums.

David is a member of the Urban Land Institute (Green Council) and International Council of Shopping Centers. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Ybor City, Florida and Arlington, Texas.

Prior to joining Fairbourne, David was with a Chicago-based real estate investment firm since 1985, where he led the Acquisition and Asset Management Groups. Prior to this, he worked in the Continental Bank Real Estate Department. Mr. Harvey holds a BA in French from the University of Connecticut and an MBA in Finance from Indiana University.

Monica Luera joined Trademark in June 2010 and currently serves as Vice President –

Development, bringing over 18 years of experience in commercial real estate

development, due diligence, and project management. Throughout her career, she has

led a wide range of development activities, including entitlements, public-private

partnerships, incentive negotiations, and full project execution. Known for building strong,

collaborative relationships with owners, municipalities, and partners, Monica has played a

key role in advancing Trademark projects across multiple markets.

Her project portfolio includes the $70 million redevelopment of Victory Park in Dallas, TX,

where she managed $16 million in city incentives, as well as leading predevelopment and

entitlement efforts for several of Trademark’s projects. These include regional mall, mixed-

use, and retail developments in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Austin, Houston, and

North Texas. Currently, Monica is leading the redevelopment of Lincoln Square in

Arlington, TX, while also supporting a range of active pursuits in key growth markets

across the country.

Beyond her core responsibilities, Monica is actively engaged in both community and

industry leadership. She serves on the boards of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort

Worth (RECGFW) and Goodwill North Central Texas, and holds the role of Foundation

Champion Director for the CREW Network Foundation. Monica is also an active member

of Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) and the Fort Worth chapter of

CREW Network, where she is a Past President and continues to contribute through

ongoing committee involvement.

Her accolades include the CREW Fort Worth 2020 Susan A. Halsey Excellence in

Leadership Award, RECGFW 2018 Outstanding Young Leader of the Year, and CREW

Fort Worth 2014 Member of the Year.

Monica holds a B.A. in History from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a graduate

of the 2019 CREW Network Leadership Certificate Program, focused on leadership

development, industry training, and mentorship. In June 2022, she also completed the

CRE Analyst FastTrack Program.

Jim Minge was hired as CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union in May 2011. Jim came to Texas Trust from Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union in Live Oak, Texas.

Since joining Texas Trust he has implemented an aggressive strategic plan resulting in the credit union growing to almost $2.1billion in assets and serving almost 140,000 members. The credit union has grown from 6 to 22 branches, established a new headquarters facility, completed five mergers, and continues to implement new products and services to fulfill its’ mission of Building Brighter Financial Futures.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, a Certified Public Accountant and was appointed by the Gov. Gregg Abbott to the Texas Credit Union Commission in 2017. He was appointed Chair of the Commission in 2022.   He also serves as a board member of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation.  Jim served as the President of the Alamo Chapter of Credit Unions, Vice Chair of the Texas Credit Union League and was a Board Member for Credit Union Resources.  Jim has been married for 33 years and has a passion for fixing up old cars and old houses.   

Marty Wieder became Executive Director of the Arlington Economic Development Corporation in February 2024. Prior to joining the Arlington EDC, he served as the City of Grand Prairie’s Director of Economic Development for almost 8 years—and also previously worked with the City of Colleyville as Director of Economic Development, GSBS Architects as Director of Marketing, Planning & Project Development, as well as either Director, President or in economic development-related positions with the City of North Richland Hills, the Northeast Tarrant and Arlington Chambers of Commerce and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

Marty grew up in Arlington—where he observed the work of (and early in his career got the opportunity to work with) longtime Mayor and then-Congressman Tom Vandergriff, who is known for attracting the General Motors Assembly Plant and a Major League Baseball franchise that became the Texas Rangers. Marty attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication (1983) and later a master’s degree in urban affairs (1988). He taught as an adjunct professor in the Master of Public Administration program at UT Arlington’s College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs from 2021 to 2023.

Marty is a member of the International Economic Development Council, Urban Land Institute, and the International Council of Shopping Centers and its Community Advancement Advisory Committee. He’s been a Director on the North Texas Commission (NTC) Board of Directors and is a Class 4 (2012-13) graduate of the NTC’s Leadership North Texas program. He served as the first Board Chairman of the North Central Texas Economic Development District.

The Fort Worth Business selected Marty to its “Top 40 under 40” List in 1994. The Texas Career and Technology Council & Vocational-Technical Education Foundation of Texas recognized him and other NRH officials in 1999 as "Best in Texas" for supporting the Birdville ISD. The Northeast Tarrant Chamber granted him Chairman’s Awards in 1994 and 2001 for fostering economic development programs (which the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives recognized in 2001 as “Best in the State”) and its Gertrude Tarpley Director of the Year Award in 2003. UT Arlington selected him to be among the Recognized Alumni of the School of Urban & Public Affairs in 2013 and the Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce granted him their Leadership Award in 2015.

Marty and his wife Bonnie have four children and five grandchildren (with the sixth due in the Summer of 2025).