Larry Alexander, President and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) and a 30-year veteran of the hospitality and tourism industry, has transformed the Bureau into the leading organization responsible for facilitating tourism economic development in Metro Detroit. His introduction of a 10-year tourism vision for the region in 2002 and the creation of a Tourism Economic Development Council to maintain accountability for that vision has led to several efforts now well underway to achieve regional beautification; service training of hospitality industry workers; and infrastructure improvements, including a critical review of regional facility space.

In addition to creating a long term tourism vision, Alexander runs the 50-person Bureau and its $12 million budget with the efficiency of a blue chip corporation. He leads an innovative, multi-award winning convention sales, marketing and convention services effort that has often exceeded CVB industry standards for its performance in its 108-year history.

Alexander navigated the efforts to land some of the world's most coveted sporting events, including Super Bowl XL in 2006 and the 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four. He also created and leads the Detroit Metro Sports Commission, a subsidiary of the Bureau responsible for landing the 2003 and 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games, the 2008 Women's International Bowling Congress, and contributing to the successful bid for the 2005 MLB All Star Game.

Before stepping into his current DMCVB role, Alexander was an executive in the for-profit arena. He was the Managing Director of the Westin Hotel - Detroit Renaissance Center (now under Marriott ownership), responsible for the marketing and operations of one of the nation's largest hotels. He also served as General Manager of The Westin Miyako in San Francisco; The Westin-O'Hare in Chicago and The Westin Hotel Cincinnati.

Alexander is a board member of The Parade Company, The Automobile National Heritage Area, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Michigan Kidney Foundation New Detroit and Autism Society of America - Oakland County Chapter. He is also a member of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau. He resides with his wife and daughter in Troy, Michigan.

Throughout the multifamily housing and hospitality industries, Barbara Hale is known for

her enthusiasm, synergy, and unbridled passion for sales. As Executive Vice President of

Village Green Holding, directly overseeing the management company and three of its’ sister

corporations, Barbara acts as an irreplaceable force, assisting associates in implementing best

business practices while also encouraging them to brazenly reach beyond their goals. Regardless

of the task, Barbara is determined to aggressively grow business within Village Green and V-

Suites through fostering strong networking relationships, boosting corporate culture, and

communicating a clear and focused business strategy.

Following her graduation from Central Michigan University in 1989, Barb obtained a

Sales and Operations position at the renowned Hyatt Hotels Corporation. For 12 years, she

worked diligently with Hyatt to increase company revenue, establish beneficial business

relationships, and successfully leverage the company’s brand. Before moving on, she held

various positions with her final title being National Sales Director. After Hyatt, Barbara

accepted a position as Director of Global Accounts for Starwood Hotels and Resorts where she

spent five years structuring the corporation’s international brand and growing profits worldwide.

In this role, Barbara utilized her strengths in business development, brand management, and also

her go-getter attitude to create partnerships that are still effective and profitable for the company

to this day.

Parting from the hotel industry, in 2007, Barbara undertook the role of Director of Sales

and Marketing for Leading Apartments, and for four years, she labored relentlessly to mold the

company into V-Suites, LLC, the corporate housing powerhouse that stands today. In January of

2014, Barbara also accepted the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at

Village Green Holding and immediately championed that role, eagerly surpassing company goals

and growing annual business by 15% with a 35% operating margin. Barbara’s keen business

acumen and success in sales and marketing did not go unnoticed, and in early 2016, she earned

the role of Senior Vice President of Business Development at Village Green. In less than a year,

Barbara achieved pivotal partnerships with new ownership groups and exponentially increased

business revenue and brand reach. In March of 2017, Barbara’s performance earned her the

prestigious title of Executive Vice President of Village Green Holding where she currently

oversees the sales, marketing, and branding strategies of all Village Green companies.

Outside of her exceptional efforts with V-Suites and Village Green, Barbara is a full-time

mom of three, often spending her weekends cheering wildly at her son’s football games or

daughter’s volleyball matches. Additionally, she is a supportive wife to Richard Hale and an

avid sports fan. Barbara is also a member of the Corporate Housing Providers Association.

Whether at home with her family or in the boardrooms of Village Green, Barbara’s success is

built upon her passion for those around her. As an inherent leader, she has excelled in each of

her professional roles by exhibiting a wealth of business knowledge, an unmatched sense of

professionalism, and an immense willingness to learn, innovate, and motivate.

Dietrich A. Knoer is a principal of the Platform, a development company dedicated to the rebuilding of Detroit. He is responsible for developing new business, setting strategic direction, and running the day-to-day business of the Platform. Dietrich has 20 years of domestic and international development and investment experience. He is passionate about the resurgence of Detroit and the opportunities that are derived from the urbanization of American cities. He is the formerchief investment officer for Redico LLC, Southfield, a real estate development and investment company in Detroit. He earned an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, and a bachelor’s in economics from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany. He is involved in several non-profit organizations that are making a difference in the life of inner city Detroit residents, and is a communicant at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Based out of Detroit, Michigan, Charlie Krisfalusi is a Vice President in the company’s FHA Finance group. Mr. Krisfalusi has over five years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and has expertise in the lending programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. He is responsible for originating multifamily loans, with a focus on the Midwest region.

Before joining Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Krisfalusi was a director at Pillar Financial, a division of SunTrust Bank. There, he was responsible for providing permanent multifamily loans through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, CMBS providers, life companies, and bridge executions. His experience includes the review of nearly $2 billion worth of all multifamily asset types across the country.

Mr. Krisfalusi attended Arizona State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business. Outside the company, Mr. Krisfalusi is active in the commercial real estate finance industry and holds memberships with the Urban Land Institute, Property Management Association of Michigan, Apartment Association of Michigan, Midwest and National Association of Housing Cooperatives.

Joshua Messier is a Managing Director with Hunt Real Estate Capital. Based in

New York, Mr. Messier is responsible for structuring and marketing the firm’s

platform of mortgage banking products throughout the United States.

Mr. Messier began his mortgage banking career with Hunt Real Estate Capital

in 2007. Prior to joining the firm he was an Assistant Vice President at Brown

Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) where he was the Business Line Controller for

the Investment & Wealth Management division, responsible for the financial

planning and analysis of a $42 billion portfolio of assets. Prior to BBH, Mr.

Messier spent four years at Lehman Brothers as a Financial Analyst in the

Fixed Income and Strategic Business Planning divisions.

Mr. Messier holds Bachelor of Science degrees in finance and information

management and technology from Syracuse University.

Kimberly Dowdell has designed or managed over $100 million in assets as a licensed architect, a real estate project manager and a city government official. Her career with major architectural firms in Washington, D.C. and New York coupled with her real estate experience with Levien & Company in New York and her tenure working with the City of Detroit have all rounded out Kimberly’s experience as an equitable development professional. Kimberly is a native of Detroit and a lecturer at the University of Michigan.

Kimberly earned a Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art and Planning, where she currently serves on the Cornell University Council and Alumni Trustee Nominating Committee. Her graduate degree is from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she earned a Mid-Career Master of Public Administration as a Sheila C. Johnson Leadership Fellow in the Center for Public Leadership (CPL). She currently serves on the Alumni Council for CPL.

Kimberly moved back to Detroit to focus on urban revitalization and real estate development in May 2015. She became a partner of Century Partners in June 2017.

As a member of the CBRE team, Jack specializes in all aspects of commercial real estate. His previous experiences enable him to provide added value and expertise to his clients through the various stage involved with real estate transactions.

Prior to joining our Southfield Team, Jack served as an Account Executive for First Franklin where he was able to continually exceed customer’s expectations regarding services and products. His ambition enabled him to be voted Rookie of the Year, AE Mentor, Franklin Club (a top 5% producing club) and AE Master Series Speaker. Additionally, he has years of experience as a professional real estate appraiser, where he appraised complex properties and portfolios throughout the Midwest region of the United States. His focus on lease analysis, feasibility and demand studies allowed him to provide solutions that met each client’s individual needs and objectives. He has successfully built client relationships through his approach and ability to derive unique solutions for his clients.

Dennis Bernard is the founder and President of Bernard Financial Group (“BFG”) and Bernard Financial Servicing Group

(“BFSG”). Founded in 1991, BFG has grown into the largest commercial mortgage banking firm in Michigan financing

on average over $1 billion each year of Michigan Commercial Real Estate. BFG became a member of the Strategic

Alliance Mortgage (SAM) network in 2003 (www.samalliance.com). SAM is a national network of the largest

independently owned commercial mortgage banking firm and the third largest lending platform in the country. Mr.

Bernard is its current national President.

Mr. Bernard specializes in both debt and equity placement with commercial lenders and institutional joint venture

participants. Bernard Financial Group has also been involved in commercial mortgage servicing on construction and

permanent loan portfolios. Mr. Bernard has been involved with over 1,200 commercial real estate financial transactions

totaling over $18,600,000,000. Mr. Bernard has been engaged as both a consultant and a correspondent by over twenty

five national lenders. Bernard Financial Group’s client list reads like Michigan’s Who’s Who of owners and developers.

These transactions have included multi and single tenant office, industrial, hi-tech, retail, multi-family, manufactured

housing communities, self-storage, hotel and senior housing.

Bernard Financial Group has closed over $16,100,000,000 in financing since its inception. These included forward

commitments and immediate fundings on multi-family, retail, industrial and high-tech properties. The lenders were Life

Companies, pension funds, structured lenders, securitized lenders and quasi-government agencies. Bernard Financial

Servicing Group currently provides full cashiering servicing for over $3,800,000,000 for Life Companies and CMBS

Lenders. Bernard Financial Servicing Group is now actively sub Special Servicing for many national firms.

Mr. Bernard's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Miami University along with a MBA

specializing in Finance and Strategic Planning from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Bernard has been a lecturer on

real estate finance at the University of Michigan's Graduate School of Business. Mr. Bernard has also appeared as an

expert witness on real estate interest rates and financings in Michigan, New York and Texas. Mr. Bernard has been an

editorial contributor to The Wall Street Journal, Commercial, Inc., Crain’s Detroit Business, Michigan Real Estate

Journal, Midwest Real Estate News, National Real Estate Investors, Heartland Properties, Real Estate Forum, among

others.

Mr. Bernard has received numerous awards for his community and business involvements. Most recently, he was elected

to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) CRE Board of Governors. Additionally, he has been recognized by Crain’s

Detroit Business as a “40 under 40”, by Midwest Real Estate News as a “40 over 40” Most Influential Real Estate

Professional and Midwest CRE Hall of Fame, and by Commercial Inc. as an Elite Eight winner. He has been bestowed the

honor of the 2006 Governors Service Award for Volunteering and Community Leadership. He has also received Crain’s

Detroit Business, University of Michigan and ULI’s “Real Estate Excellence” award. Mr. Bernard was recently honored

by being awarded the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services Greenberg Leadership Award. He has also

received the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Young Leadership Award, the Jewish Community Council

Activist of the Year Award, the American Jewish Committee “Outstanding Humanitarian Award”, and was deemed

“Home Town Hero” for Oakland County for his activities and involvements on behalf of local charities. Mr. Bernard

currently sits on nine different charitable organizations Board of Trustees. Mr. Bernard has been the Vice Chair of

Michigan’s Venture Michigan Fund and currently serves as gubernatorial appointments to two other State of Michigan

Boards or Task Forces. Mr. Bernard enjoys his mentoring in the Detroit Public Schools.

Most importantly, Mr. Bernard goes home for dinner every night and spends the weekends with his family.

Jeffrey Schostak- Jeffrey Schostak received his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 2005.

Jeffrey worked for Urban Retail Properties, a commercial real estate development and management

firm headquartered in Chicago, from 2005 through 2010.  Jeff focused on retail leasing and acquisitions;

where he was responsible for securing a portfolio of retail real estate for the company valued at nearly

$200MM.  Jeffrey returned to Michigan in the fall of 2010, and became the first member of the 4 th

generation of his family to join Schostak Brothers & Company Inc, where he is currently the President of

Schostak Development. Jeffrey was recently responsible for sourcing a 93,000 square foot Build-to-Suit

HQ building for the MASCO Corporation in Livonia, MI. Jeffrey’s responsibilities include overseeing all

new ground-up development projects, redevelopment of existing assets, and value-add acquisitions for

the company. As well as, leading the efforts to secure retail, office, industrial, and health care users for

Schostak Brothers 1,000 acres of vacant land in Southeastern Michigan. Jeffrey was named one of L.

Brooks Patterson Elite 40 Under 40 in 2012 and Crain’s 40 Under 40 in 2016.

Jared Friedman is the Manager of Acquisitions & Opportunities for Friedman. Prior to joining Friedman, Jared served as Senior Associate at Origin Investments in Chicago where he was responsible for underwriting, due diligence and closing of commercial real estate investments located in Denver, Dallas, Charlotte and Chicago. Prior to joining Origin, Jared worked as a Financial Analyst at Equity Office Properties where he prepared property valuation models for over six million square feet of office space and maintained investment-level performance models relating to $21B in office investments made by Blackstone. Prior to Equity Office, Jared served as a summer analyst at BMO Capital Markets in their Real Estate Investment Banking Group.

Edward A. Eickhoff is Executive Vice President Development and Operations for Imperium Group. He is responsible for overseeing development, construction and operations, including contract negotiations with tenants in the course of coordinating new development projects and the redevelopment of assets for the Company. Prior to joining Imperium Group, Mr. Eickhoff spent over 30 years at Ramco Gershenson Properties Trust, a premier national publicly-traded real estate investment trust (REIT). During his tenure at Ramco Gershenson, Mr. Eickhoff held several executive positions including Vice President of Leasing, Vice President Asset Management and most recently, Executive Vice President Development.

Throughout his career, Mr. Eickhoff has made volunteerism, especially in government relations, a priority. At the national level, he has been on the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Economic Policy Subcommittee since January of 2009 and has served as the Chair since September 2015. Additionally, in May 2017 he was appointed the ICSC Central Division Government Relations Chair. At the state level, Mr. Eickhoff has been a member of the ICSC state committee since 1990 serving as State Director (1996 – 1997 and 2004 – 2006) and as Government Relations Chair (2013 – 2016). Mr. Eickhoff also supports the ICSC PAC and is Treasurer of the Michigan Commercial Real Estate PAC. Mr. Eickhoff was awarded the ICSC William M. Sulzbacher Government Relations Award in November 2013 and the ICSC Distinguished Service Award in May 2018. Mr. Eickhoff is also Chairman of the Oakland University Economics Department Board of Advisors, a member of the Urban Land Institute and a member of the Michigan Association of Planners.

Mr. Eickhoff is a graduate of Oakland University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He maintains the Certified Retail Property Executive (CRX) and Certified Retail Leasing Specialist (CLS) designations with the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Robert Pliska, CRE, CPA serves as owner/managing director for SVN, specializing in the sale, financing, leasing, managing, consulting, auctioning and accelerated marketing of multifamily, retail, office, industrial, hotel and other investment and commercial properties. With over 40 years of commercial real estate experience, Pliska has secured over $1.5 billion in real estate transactions.

Prior to joining SVN, Pliska served as president and/or officer of several commercial real estate firms. He was the president of a full-service commercial realty firm providing sales, financing, leasing, property management and consulting services. Pliska’s past commercial development transactions boast millions in volume and ranged in product type from office, retail, multifamily, industrial and hospitality. In addition, he assisted in the financing of $500 million in real estate transactions. As a certified public accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, he advised real estate and financial institution clients.

Pliska is a local and national speaker, author, radio guest, panelist and social media expert for many local and national organizations as the Counselors of Real Estate of the National Association of Realtors, the Commercial Board of Realtors, the state association of Realtors, the state association of CPA’s, the Chambers of Commerce, CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), the Real Estate Answer Forum and others on investment and commercial real estate. He is quoted in numerous publications as Globe Street, CCIM, the Counselors of Real Estate, local news publications, Midwest Real Estate News and others. He is followed by thousands in social media on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. He sits on local, national and international Boards.

Pliska’s professional activity includes: former president and member of Detroit Area Commercial Realtors; member and elected chairman of the Detroit Board of Realtors for the Detroit Metro Commercial Investment Division; member of the Michigan Association and recipient of the organization’s “Realtor of the Year” award; member of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) and recipient of the CRE designation.

Pliska’s community involvement includes: officer and/or board member of numerous community and non profit organizations, former president and recipient of membership growth awards from a CEO/President’s group.

Ari Heckman oversees the various components that make up ASH NYC. He is responsible for directing company strategy, as well as sourcing acquisitions and new business. Ari was previously the development manager at Cayuga Capital Management in Brooklyn, New York and a development associate at Cornish Associates in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ari was raised in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning at Cornell University.

David Di Rita is a founder and principal of the Roxbury Group. He has over 30 years of corporate, legal and transactional experience. David is actively involved in the firm's real estate development and advisory work, typically involving challenging and complex projects, utilizing public and private financing. Prior to the Roxbury Group, David was a corporate and transaction attorney and real estate executive including senior positions at Tower Automotive, Visteon Corporation and Johnson Controls, as well as associate and of-counsel positions at both Dickinson Wright and Foley & Lardner. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan. David serves on the Board of Directors for the downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone and is the President of the Detroit Entertainment District Association.

Susan T. Mosey has been the Executive Director of Midtown Detroit, Inc. (MDI) in Detroit, Michigan

for twenty nine years. This non-profit organization is responsible for community development,

marketing, real estate, small business development and arts programming within Detroit’s University

Cultural Center and New Center districts – an area now known as Midtown. MDI also manages public

space maintenance and security initiatives for the district. Projects that have been undertaken by the

organization under her direction include public improvements such as new streetscapes and park

development, greenway planning and construction, and residential and commercial real estate

development and management. MDI’s newest initiative is the Live Midtown Residential Incentive

Program that encourages employees of the anchors to move to Midtown. The organization also

produces a number of signature arts events, including Art X Detroit, DLECTRICITY and Noel Night.

As the founder of Sachse Construction, Todd Sachse has developed a loyal clientele of high-end customers who require detailed expertise in design and construction. He also undertakes construction projects that include the renovation of vintage buildings, office buildings, hotels, schools, shopping centers, medical office and general office build-outs, build-to-suits, retail centers, restaurants, airports and the development and construction of multi-family projects.

Todd earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1985 and upon graduation, founded and operated several businesses related to property operations and maintenance. He is a licensed builder in multiple states, in addition to being an actively involved board member for several non-profit organizations. Todd currently resides in Huntington Woods, Michigan with his wife and three children.

Jack Boarman founded the multi-discipline and award-winning firm, BKV Group, in 1978 and over the last 40+ years has expanded the company to be national student housing leader with over 190 design professionals working on projects throughout the United States. Jack is a Senior Practice Leader of Housing at BKV Group, focusing his work on the development of residential environments that utilize trend-setting ideas with a creative effort that translates client’s vision into a reality. Jack embraces a vision of growth and quality, which he incorporates in each of his designs. Jack is a renowned student housing expert, and speaks frequently at national and regional events and conferences including Interface, NMHC, Bisnow, and more. Recent and notable student housing projects Jack has designed include WaHu Student Apartments and The Marshall, both in Minneapolis, MN; Georgia Heights Apartments in Athens, GA; The Standard at New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ; The Standard at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC; and, The Standard at Auburn in Auburn, Alabama.