Houston Workplace of the Future

Edward has served as Griffin Partners' leader since 2002, managing the company's strategic direction, guiding investment and development practices, and overseeing day-to-day management operations and has 30 years of commercial real estate experience.

Matt Damborsky oversees Skanska’s commercial real estate development operations in the Houston market. Since joining Skanska in 2015, he has led the development of Capitol Tower and worked with the West Memorial teams to bring both phases of that development to completion. With nearly 10 years of experience in the real estate business, Matt has contributed to the development of more than 2 million square feet of commercial office space representing approximately $1.5 billion, including the Shell Woodcreek Campus Expansion and the redevelopment of Shell Oil Company’s Westhollow Technology Center, both in Houston. Matt graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and also has a Master of Business Administration from Rice University. Matt is based in Skanska’s Houston office, located at 3009 Post Oak Boulevard, the company’s first development in the market.

Aaron Thielhorn serves as a Managing Director for Trammell Crow Company where he oversees the firm’s office and mixed-use development and investment initiatives in the Houston region. Additionally, Aaron supports the Austin business unit by providing strategy and execution assistance for urban projects, including the Thomas C. Green Water Treatment Plant redevelopment, a 2.3 million square foot urban mixed-use development. In this role, Aaron provides leadership to the TCC team in the planning, design, finance, leasing, development, and operations of commercial properties. Aaron specializes in the development and acquisition of Class A office buildings. During his tenure at TCC, he has been responsible for the execution of 7.1 million square feet of office and mixed use development projects with a total capitalized value of 2.4 billion. Aaron began his career with TCC in 1999 as a Financial Analyst. From 2000-2003, he was a member of the Capital Markets Group where he participated in the marketing and disposition of 5.8 million square feet of institutional office, industrial, and retail investment properties. In 2003, he joined the Development and Investment team in his current role, and was named a Principal in the firm in 2006.

Rand Stephens is Principal and Managing Director of Avison Young’s Houston office. He founded the office in 2010 and has guided it into one of Houston’s largest commercial real estate brokerage companies, as recognized by the Houston Business Journal. Rand also spearheaded the firm’s Texas expansion with the opening of offices in Dallas and Austin by acquiring Dallas-based Dillon Corporate Services, Inc. and Austin-based Commercial Texas. As Avison Young increases its presence in the Houston market, Rand continues expanding service lines with the recruitment of quality professionals, as well as strategic acquisition and organic growth. During his distinguished career, Rand has completed more than $5 billion in office, industrial and land transactions. He is a well-respected and highly accomplished commercial real estate professional with more than 30 years of experience in leasing, sales, development, acquisition and disposition. Rand Stephens Principal and Managing Director Credentials and professional affiliations − Dartmouth College - Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science − Past President, Society of Industrial Office Realtors (SIOR) - Gulf Coast chapter − Past Board Member, Houston Office Leasing Broker Association (HOLBA)

Jonathan Enav seamlessly bridges the gap between real estate investment and technology innovation. With a foundation in Engineering from Imperial College London and an MBA from Harvard Business School, he has successfully maneuvered his career across diverse landscapes. Jonathan's work involves directing strategic real estate investments across the U.S. and the Caribbean, as well as fostering the growth of regional tech startups. His balanced blend of academic grounding and practical experience fuels his ability to create value in each venture, championing a vision of sustainable growth and mutual success.

Beau Bellow is a Senior Vice President and National Director within JLL Houston’s Office Tenant Representation group. Beau exclusively advises users of office space including Fortune 500 corporations, as well as international, national, regional and local companies in the oil & gas, financial, professional services, healthcare, technology, non-profit and legal industries, regarding optimal real estate solutions. Beau advises clients on both lease and own strategies regarding a single location or entire portfolio. He specializes in delivering client-focused solutions that align business strategies, corporate culture, and financial objectives. Beau possesses more than 16 years of diverse real estate experience. He started his career as a financial analyst/broker at The Staubach Company before pursuing an MBA at Columbia Business School. Prior to rejoining JLL, he worked at The Lionstone Group, a Houston-based private equity company. While at The Lionstone Group, he focused on national office acquisitions on behalf of a $1.5 billion fund. Since rejoining JLL, he has been involved in transactions totaling in excess of $1 billion including headquarters relocations, office dispositions, lease renewals/restructures, and new lease transactions.

As Managing Director of Workplace Experience & Strategy, Adam supports owners, occupiers, and investors across the Transwestern platform nationwide, using tangible data to help them make informed and confident real estate decisions, influencing how space is provided, occupied, and managed. An industry thought-leader, Adam’s expertise includes facility planning and programming; campus planning; occupancy and workplace strategy; organizational performance measurement; design advisory; and change management program development and delivery. He has a documented history of delivering effective real estate and design solutions informing strategy at Santander Bank, Sephora, Morgan Stanley, Nike, WPP, Sheltering Arms, Cumulus/Westwood One, Brookfield, iMentor, and others. Adam earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University and a masters in Urban Planning from Hunter College. And, when not working at the intersection of people and the built environment, you can find him tending the pumpkin & eggplant in his garden, with his wife and two daughters in Larchmont, NY.

Miranda joined Caldwell Companies in 2010 and now serves as Vice President – Investments. Miranda is responsible for the due diligence process of underwriting the financial feasibility and development viability of potential investment opportunities in order to grow our commercial and residential portfolios. She participates in evaluating development and disposition strategies for portfolio assets along with assisting in the sourcing of debt and equity capital. Miranda began her career with Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLC as a real estate analyst in 2008. While with Deloitte Miranda performed appraisals, site inspections, audit support appraisal reviews, market studies, rent studies, lease abstracts, and leasehold interest valuations for property types including retail, office, industrial, land and multi-family properties. Miranda graduated from Texas A&M University, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2006 and her Master of Real Estate in 2008. She was a member of the Aggie Women’s golf team and she still enjoys playing. Miranda and her husband Brad are members of Houston’s First Baptist Church. They both served on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Gate Keepers Committee and participated in the MS150. In her spare time she enjoys spending time cooking, traveling, fishing, cycling and watching Aggie football with her husband.

Marcellus Parker is the Sr. Director of Real Estate for North America for International Workplace Group (IWG), which owns Spaces and Regus, among other global office brands. For nearly a decade at IWG, Marcellus has helped grow their premiere network in North America from 350 locations to more than 1,200 coworking and flexible office centers, spanning across more than 21M square feet. In addition to opening new locations, Marcellus oversees the lease renewals of the existing IWG portfolio in North America, helping to ensure each legacy location always serves the real estate needs of IWG’s broad client base. Prior to joining IWG, Marcellus helped deliver best-in-class tenant representation services to some of the largest corporate accounts with JLL. A North Carolina native, Marcellus graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife and 6-year-old son, and enjoys traveling, watching almost any kind of live music, and cheering on his beloved Tarheels.

As the Director of Market Research for Colliers International, Lisa Bridges brings 35 years of commercial real estate experience to the firm. Lisa initiates proactive market research projects to further the business goals of the company. She writes and prepares 36 market reports annually which include quarterly reports on Houston’s retail, office, industrial and healthcare properties. Further, she prepares statistical ownership reports for various clients as well as an annual Houston Economic Overview. Lisa also creates market presentations, trade journal articles, and other marketing materials in support of the company's business endeavors. She works with senior management in planning the company's marketing strategy and public relations support for local and national conferences, luncheon meetings, recruitment programs, and special events. Lisa works closely with the company's brokers to develop effective custom market research material specific to both existing and potential clients. She is a native Houstonian and has been married to her husband, Gary, for 30 years. They have raised three sons and have five grandchildren.

Gabriella “Gaby” Rowe is the CEO of Station Houston, a growing hub for startup technology companies, corporate innovation and entrepreneurship in Houston, Texas.Station Houston has emerged as a leader in the city’s startup ecosystem, its membership now includes over 180 startups, 350 members, 130 mentors, and dozens of high-impact strategic partnerships with corporations that represent the key industries driving Houston’s economy. Gaby is responsible for taking Station Houston to the next level as a dominant global innovation hub and an important partner in the development of Houston’s much-anticipated innovation district. Prior to Station Houston, Gaby was an education executive, investment banker and management consultant in New York City for more than 25 years. Gaby received her Bachelors of Arts from Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and all coursework for a Masters from Bank Street College of Education in New York City, New York. Gaby and her husband, Kenny, have four children. She is an avid runner and an football fan and can be found practicing her “pitmaster” skills on her family and friends most weekends.

Jonathan Kraatz is the first Executive Director for the U.S. Green Building Council Texas Chapter. In 2015, Kraatz was named Interim Executive Director over the formation of USGBC Texas, bringing together green building resources and knowledge from across the state. He facilitated the merger of the four Legacy U.S. Green Building Council Chapters in Texas, and accepted the permanent role in January 2016. Previously he served as Executive Director for the USGBC North Texas Chapter since 2010, he was hired as the Chapter’s media and communications strategist and was quickly promoted to more responsible positions within the organization. He earned a LEED Green Associate credential in 2010 and speaks regularly about the Chapter’s mission, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and building sustainability. Kraatz has presented best practices workshops to national audiences for USGBC and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Dallas Fort Worth Association Executives in 2013, 2015, and 2017.  He was also named part of Who’s Who in Energy by the Dallas Business Journal in 2012, 2013, and again in 2014. Kraatz is also part of the Dallas 2030 District Leadership Council and the Advisory Council for the City of Fort Worth Better Buildings Challenge serving as its Co-Chair beginning in 2017. In 2015 he was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award, a premier volunteer awards program encouraging citizens to lead a life of service from the President of the United States, for his efforts with the USGBC Chapter Network Evolution Working Groups. He holds a degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University and credits being challenged early in his career by great mentors for the flexibility and adaptability that has shaped him as a leader.

Chris Lewis is a co-managing principal at Lee & Associates- Houston. Chris specializes in landlord and tenant representation in the office sector of the Houston commercial real estate market. With over 25 years of real estate expertise, coupled with his extensive knowledge in tenant relocation, tenant expansion, lease negotiations, market analysis and property marketing, Chris has proven himself to be highly respected in the brokerage community. He utilizes a hands-on approach to oversee the needs of his diverse client portfolio, which allows him to successfully negotiate deals to procure office space and/or execute complex lease transactions. Over the past four years alone, he has completed over 300 transactions at $250,000,000 in transaction value. Upon completion of college, Chris started a career in real estate with Griffin Partners, Inc. as an analyst. Chris was eventually promoted to Vice President of Brokerage Services for Griffin Partners, Inc., and grew the brokerage arm of the company to lease millions of square feet of space in the Houston area. Chris remained with Griffin Partners for 14 years, until he was offered the opportunity to start the 55th office for the California based national real estate company, Lee & Associates, in 2014. Chris has grown Lee & Associates from 8 brokers to nearly 45 brokers in the past four years; putting the company on the map as one of the top 10 brokerage houses in the city of Houston. Chris was nominated for Best CEO of a small company in 2017 by the Houston Business Journal for his efforts. In addition, he has also led and participated in various professional speaking engagements and has been published in a multitude of high-profile business periodicals.

Sharon Steinberg, a registered architect and Principal for Stantec’s Houston studio, has two decades of experience providing interior architecture services, project management, and leadership with a focus on Workplace Design. She is a member of the CoreNet Global Association for Corporate Real Estate and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Her background includes a concentration in academic, corporate, and institutional design, specializing in planning and programming and real estate strategy. Her real estate acumen and broad experience in the design and construction process enhances Stantec’s growing Commercial practice in Texas.