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Drawing People In Through "Retailtainment"

Fred Baca

Fred Baca

Managing Principal

MLB Capital Partners

Larry Levine

Larry Levine

President

Levcor

Will Donaldson
Politan Row

Will Donaldson

CEO/Founder

Politan Group

Dale Schwartz

Dale Schwartz

Founder & CEO

Pinstripes

Benjamin Berg
B&B Butchers, B.B. Lemon, B.B Italia

Benjamin Berg

Founder

Berg Hospitality Group

Nick Hernandez

Nick Hernandez

Managing Director, Retail Services

Transwestern

Jeff Samples
Moderator

Jeff Samples

Chairman and CEO

IBC Bank Houston

Fred Baca

Managing Principal

MLB Capital Partners

"Fred Baca joined the team of MLB Capital Partners LLC in the summer of 2013. Fred’s leadership, management and marketing skills will provide a solid basis for the company’s accelerated development as a major player in the area of commercial real estate.

Fred began his life as an entrepreneur. He diligently began developing Baca Publications and “The Baca Report”, the longest-running commercial transaction reporting service in Houston, the “Commercial Transactions Report” (1971-current) which cataloged sales of non-residential properties by geographic codes and street location, building type, financial data, seller and buyer.

During the 1980s Fred developed “The Databank”, a series of commercial property reporting services including: The Baca Report, a comparable sales report dealing with commercial real estate transactions; The Apartment Survey, the total inventory of multi-unit apartment complexes with amenities, units size and availability, ownership and location with directions; The Office Building Survey, total inventory of multi-tenant commercial office properties with information on ownership, availability, occupancy, rentable area and values; and finally The Foreclosure Report, a monthly listing of properties posted for imminent foreclosure by which investors purchased distressed properties from owners or lenders. These varied reports became a valuable informational resource during the expansive years of the early ‘80s as well as the depressed era of the mid and late ‘80s.

In the 1990s Fred, as Baca Landata, a co-venture with Houston based Stewart Title Company, developed the first Internet “smart” map of The Greater Houston Area and the first Internet distributed GIS mapping product for the Harris County Appraisal District. Baca Landata also created the first public record back end to the MLS system allowing Houston area Realtors to instantly research over 2.5 million properties via their proprietary listing tool.

By 1998, after leaving the co-venture with Steward Title Company, Fred started Baca Information Group (BIG), another data service that surveyed Houston Office and Industrial properties for tenant occupancy, rental rates, new development and vacancy availability data. In 2000, Baca merged Baca Information Group with Comps, Inc, a San Diego based nationally distributed CRE information service. That entity later sold to and became a part of the CoStar Group, the largest vendor of commercial real estate information in the world. The base of commercial multi-tenant occupancy data that Baca built for Houston is still in use today.

Fred became President (2001 – 2009) for Colliers International in Houston. Under his guidance Colliers grew fourfold in revenue; more than doubled its size to include over 40 brokers and emerged as a dominant multidiscipline commercial brokerage house in the highly competitive Houston market. Subsequently, Fred served two years as a member of the Executive Management team for McDade, Smith, Gould, Johnston, Mason +Co. By 2010, he became President of the newly formed Mason Partners in November of 2010 and served as its President until it was sold to Avison Young in December 2012. In January 2010, Cartifact announced Fred had joined their diverse and talented executive team as CEO. Fred’s depth of knowledge in the fields of data mining and cartography are thought to be a vital ingredient to help growth and expansion into new markets in the areas of web and mobile mapping, worldwide."

Larry Levine

President

Levcor

Mr. Levine founded Levcor, Inc. in 1980 and serves as both its President and driving force. He has been involved in the development, leasing and management of over 20 million square feet of retail centers and office buildings during his career. Mr. Levine served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant with the Military Police Corps. He received a BBA from Texas A&M University as well as advance courses in Real Estate Finance, Management, Appraisal and Law from the University of Houston. Prior to establishing Levcor, Mr. Levine was with Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokerage Company from 1974 to 1980, where, as a Senior Broker, was involved in investment property sales, leasing and site acquisition. His expertise was first established in the repositioning of under-performing properties on behalf of third-party owners. Malls, neighborhood and community shopping centers throughout Texas were leased to stabilization with major tenants. These anchor/major tenant relationships remain to this day. While at Coldwell Banker he was ranked in the Top Ten in both the Houston Division and the Region, which included the competitive markets of Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Mr. Levine is a Sustaining Member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and being an alumnus of Texas A&M University, is a member of the Board of Directors of both the International School of Business and Mays Graduate School of Business. He is a member of AIPAC, a member of Congregation Beth Yesheren and serves on the board of directors of JINSA and on the Executive Committee of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In October 2000, Larry Levine was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the Texas A&M University School of Business. He maintains his Real Estate Broker’s License and in addition to the above, is very active in numerous business, social and political activities throughout Houston and the State of Texas and on a national level.

Dale Schwartz

Founder & CEO

Pinstripes

Mr. Schwartz has extensive experience in the formation, financing and expansion of various companies. In 2006, he founded Pinstripes, Inc. and is currently CEO of this unique bowling/bocce/bistro venture. In 2000, he was Co-Founder, Co-CEO of Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Inc., a distinctive natural pharmacy retailer. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Schwartz was Chief Executive Officer of Infigen, Inc., a private biotechnology company developing its proprietary nuclear transfer/cloning and genomic technologies. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Financial Officer of Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company commercializing its Nobel prize-winning genetic engineering technology. From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Schwartz was a Principal with Odyssey Partners, L.P., a private limited partnership engaged in leveraged buyouts, venture capital and recapitalizations. From 1983 to 1985, he was an Analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Mergers & Acquisitions department, and from 1979 to 1988 he was Founder and President of D & J Sealcoating, Inc., an asphalt sealcoating company. Mr. Schwartz has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University and a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.

Benjamin Berg

B&B Butchers, B.B. Lemon, B.B Italia

Berg Hospitality Group

Born in New York City, Berg has been in the restaurant business for over 17 years working for

upscale steakhouses in key markets including Las Vegas, Mexico City and his hometown. He

began his career as an in-house butcher with a proud family heritage rooted in the restaurant

business. His great-grandfather was a kosher butcher in Chicago, his grandfather owned the

iconic Orange Julius juice stand in Los Angeles and his brother is a well-known chef who has an

impressive resume working for restaurateurs such as Daniel Boulud and Andrew Carmellini.

In June 2015, Benjamin Berg opened his first concept, B&B Butchers & Restaurant, an upscale

steakhouse and traditional butcher shop on Washington Avenue, to rave reviews from critics,

celebrities and Houstonians. In December 2017, he purchased Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano, a

traditional, family-owned and operated restaurant located in Houston’s Energy Corridor since

1981. Now named Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana, Berg along with his brother and Executive Chef,

Daniel Berg, are serving fresh, rustic Italian-American food in an approachable, neighborhood

setting with first-class service. After successfully opening a second location of B&B Butchers &

Restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas in January 2018, he formed Berg Hospitality Group, which

conceives, launches and operates restaurants in Texas with a commitment to giving back to the

local communities. The budding culinary group is also responsible for creating B.B. Lemon, an

elevated eatery and bar serving classic, straightforward food and cocktails, which opened in

November 2018 across the street from B&B Butchers & Restaurant in Houston, and Benjamin,

his namesake restaurant set to open in late 2019 inside a luxury apartment building in

downtown Houston, along with more concepts to come. With a true passion for the hospitality

industry, all of Berg’s restaurants focus on offering excellent service, unique atmospheres and

unparalleled experiences for their guests.

Prior to his career in restaurants, Berg worked for The Point, a luxury hotel company voted the

#1 small hotel in the country at the time. He began as a bellman and worked his way up,

learning every detail of the different facets of the hospitality business. He brings this same,

service-oriented mindset to his restaurants. Berg received a Master of Hospitality Management

from Cornell University and a B.A. in Art History from Tulane University.

Highlights of the awards and honors Berg has received include:

o Named “Honorable Mention” in the Houston Business Journal 2016 40 Under 40 Awards

o Recipient of the Preservation Houston 2016 Good Brick Award for the rehabilitation of the

former Dittman Bakery Building into B&B Butchers & Restaurant

o Recipient of the Houston Business Journal 2018 40 Under 40 Awards

o Named a “Hurricane Hero” by Houston CityBook, KPRC-NBC 2, Houston Chronicle and

PaperCity Houston for his charitable efforts after Hurricane Harvey

o Named a “Leader and Legend” in 2018 by Houston CityBook

Nick Hernandez

Managing Director, Retail Services

Transwestern

Nick plays a leading role in the strategic direction and leadership of Transwestern in the

area of retail services on a regional and national basis. With his Houston team, he is

responsible for overseeing and executing retail transactions in the greater Houston

market place. A specialist in tenant representation, Nick’s client portfolio includes many

national and local retail and restaurant tenants such as Darden Restaurants (Olive

Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, Yard House,

Cheddars, and Bahama Breeze), Acme Oyster House, Lidia’s Italy, The Men’s

Wearhouse, The Children’s

Place, J. Alexander’s, Le Bilboquet, Ocean Prime, Mercantil Bank, Larry North Fitness,

Star Furniture, Memorial Hermann, Voicebox Karaoke, Original Pancake House and

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. Using his skills in the urban/lifestyle retail environment, Nick

has been involved in Houston’s most high profile lifestyle/mixed use developments,

including Market Street at The Woodlands, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, Sugar Land

Town Square, CityCentre at Town & Country, West Ave at River Oaks and High Street.

Nick currently leads a team that is working on Houston’s most dynamic mixed-use

projects including River Oaks District, CityPlace at Springwoods Village, Imperial

Market, Allen Center, Capitol Tower and The Shops at Houston Center.

Jeff Samples

Moderator

IBC Bank Houston

Jeff Samples comes to International

Bancshares Corporation with over 40 years

of experience in the area of commercial

lending. As Chairman and CEO, he oversees the

commercial banking department, which has over

$1.4 billion in funded loans. While directing this effort, Jeff is personally responsible for a loan portfolio of over

$1 billion. In addition, he manages both retail and commercial lending officers and oversees the credit

department. For the past twenty-seven years he has served on the IBC Bank Houston Board of Directors.

Prior to joining IBC, Jeff served as division manager of commercial banking at BBVA-Compass Bank. He

received his credit training at Interfirst Houston (now Bank of America). His area of expertise is commercial real

estate with a focus on retail centers, multi-family, and lot development.

Jeff maintains active involvement in several community service organizations. He has coached multiple baseball,

basketball, and soccer teams for youth in the local community. He has previously been a board member of the Be

An Angel charity which serves multi-handicapped children and YES College Prep, a charter school for at-risk

children. Jeff currently serves on the Board of Covenant House Texas. He most recently was named chairman of

the CHT Guts + Glory Corporate Obstacle Challenge for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Jeff received his BBA-Finance degree from Baylor University where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

and The Baylor Student Foundation. Jeff is an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. He is married and

has four children and three grandchildren.

Mega Mixed-Use Projects Creating Identity

Steve Ybarra

Steve Ybarra

Managing Principal

The Platform Investment Group

Ryan McCord
Generation Park

Ryan McCord

President

McCord Development

Jim Carman
Bridgeland Central

Jim Carman

President, Texas Region

Howard Hughes Communities

Jonathan Zadok

Jonathan Zadok

Owner

Zadok Jewelers

Scott Arnoldy
M-K-T

Scott Arnoldy

Managing Director

Triten Real Estate Partners

Lilly Golden

Lilly Golden

President

Evergreen Commercial Realty

Ray Duerer
Moderator

Ray Duerer

President

CDA Architects

Ryan McCord

Generation Park

McCord Development

Ryan McCord joined McCord in 2003 and has served as President since 2008. Founded in 1973, McCord is a leader in commercial real estate and has a great track record of success in urban infill and green field development. Since joining MDI, Ryan has led more than three-quarters of a billion dollars of transactions in office, retail, multi-family, condo, bond, and land throughout Texas and across the country.

Today, Ryan’s focus is on developing Generation Park, the newest and largest master planned economic center in Houston. Located on Beltway 8 in the Lake Houston area, over $500MM / 2MM SF of Office, Retail, Civic, and Industrial have been constructed in Generation Park since breaking ground in 2014. Hospitality and Multi-family are set to start construction in 2017. At 4,000 acres Generation Park is by far the largest contiguous property on Beltway 8, has the most frontage (2.5 miles) and is the closest to Downtown, both airports, all major sporting venues, and the Texas Medical Center.

McCord takes seriously the stewardship owed to such a significant development opportunity in the Greater Houston Area and is focused on creating the greatest possible value for the entire region.

Prior to joining McCord, Ryan served as Risk Manager for GE Capital Real Estate in Tokyo and participated in over $2 billion of equity and debt transactions in Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea and the Czech Republic.

Ryan holds a B.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and currently serves on the board of the Herman Park Conservancy.

Jim Carman

Bridgeland Central

Howard Hughes Communities

Jim Carman is President of the Houston Region at Howard Hughes. He is responsible for leading

the development of three award-winning master planned communities: The Woodlands, Bridgeland

and The Woodlands Hills.

Mr. Carman joined Howard Hughes in 2012 and has overseen more than $3 Billion in development

projects located within The Woodlands and Bridgeland. He was responsible for leading multiple

teams in the 79-acre development of Hughes Landing, and recently announced the record-breaking

sales achievement for The Ritz-Carlton Residences The Woodlands. In 2019, Mr. Carman led the

team in a $565M acquisition of The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway.

Mr. Carman has over 20 years of construction and development experience on projects across all

asset types of real estate. His work includes mixed-use and commercial projects such as The Ritz-

Carlton, Grand Cayman, The Hughes Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Adrienne Arsht Center

for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.

Mr. Carman received his Bachelor of Science as well as Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering

from Texas A&M University. He proudly serves within the community as Chairman of the Board

for Montgomery County Food Bank. He served as Chaiman of the Board for The Woodlands Area

Chamber of Commerce from 2022-2023 and was the 2018 Montgomery County Light the Night

Corporate Walk Chair.

Mr. Carman lives in The Woodlands with his wife Leigh Ann and daughter Grace.

Scott Arnoldy

M-K-T

Triten Real Estate Partners

Scott joined Triten in 2014. As President and COO, he directs the overall strategic direction of the company by assisting with corporate development, management oversight, and M&A, with an emphasis toward its real estate platform. Since joining the company, the firm has acquired or is developing over $150M of real assets. Additionally, Scott has been involved in shaping the strategic framework for Triten’s EPC subsidiary, IAG, a global engineering and project management company focused on hydrocarbon processing plants. Since its start in 1996, IAG has executed over 200 projects totaling over $3B total installed cost. Prior to Triten, Scott was a Vice President with Stockbridge Capital, a San Francisco private equity firm focused on opportunistic investments and distressed workouts. From 2010, until leaving in late 2014, he directly sourced, executed and managed over $600 million in assets across a variety of strategies, including core & repositionings. Prior to Stockbridge, Scott worked in Dallas at Goldman Sachs (Whitehall/REPIA funds) where he worked on over $4 billion of new acquisitions. Scott graduated with a bachelors in Finance and Entrepreneurship with a minor in Accounting from Texas Christian University.

Lilly Golden

President

Evergreen Commercial Realty

A highly respected commercial real estate broker in the Houston market, Lilly Golden has been working in the industry for 25 years. She has represented retailers such as HEB, Sun & Ski, Guitar Center, Sur La Table, David’s Bridal, 99 Cents Only, Aaron Rents, and Houston’s Restaurants, leased properties for landlords such as CBL, Crescent, Freeway Properties and Tanglewood Corporation, represented investors such as Mischer Investments, Provident and Lovett Homes and completed build to suits for both Aaron Rents and Dollar Tree.

Lilly has earned the “Heavy Hitters Award” from the Houston Business Journal and the “Costar Broker of the Year Award” in 2012, 2013 and 2015. She is a CCIM, a board member of The Site Source National Retail Broker Network, the Houston chairperson for the International Council of Shopping Centers and a member of Commercial Real Estate Women. Lilly started her career as a Systems Engineer at IBM in Chicago, she joined Jones Lang LaSalle 5 years later and worked as both an office and retail broker before moving to Houston in 1993. After working for Trammel Crow, Wulfe & Co and Moody Rambin, Lilly formed Evergreen Commercial Realty in 2005.

Ray Duerer

Moderator

CDA Architects

Ray Duerer is the President of CDA Architects, a role he has served in for 11 years. Since joining CDA in 1995, Ray has worked on projects from 1500 SF interior build-outs to 150 Acre Retail Centers with over 1 Million SF of buildings. Notable Projects that Ray and CDA have completed include Valley Ranch Town Center and Master Planning for the entire Valley Ranch development in New Caney, Brazos Town Center Phases 1 and 2 in Rosenberg, and Greenway Commons (Costco – LA Fitness anchored development) in Houston. While there is an emphasis on Retail, Grocery, and Restaurants, Ray and CDA also provide Architectural Services on Industrial Projects, Office Projects, Private Schools, and Medical/Dental/Veterinary Projects and offer a valuable understanding of these different uses and how they can relate to each other.

Ray is a graduate of Texas A&M and received his Architectural license in 2001 and his LEED Accredited Professional certification in 2009. A native Houstonian and proud Texan, Ray serves in the Texas State Guard and was deployed during Hurricane Harvey in service to Texans. He has also been a Leader in the Scouting program for more than 15 years in his home community of Tomball and serving all of the Greater Houston area.

Case Study: Inside the renovation of Memorial Park

Partnering With The Houston Astros, Hosting A PGA Tour & Creating The Ultimate Destination!

Giles Kibbe
Houston Astros

Giles Kibbe

Executive Director and General Counsel

Houston Astros

Shellye Arnold
Memorial Park Redevelopment

Shellye Arnold

President & CEO

Memorial Park Conservancy

Bob Ethington
Moderator

Bob Ethington

Director of Research and Economic Development

Uptown Houston District

Giles Kibbe

Houston Astros

Houston Astros

Giles Kibbe is General Counsel of Houston Astros LLC, and has been General Counsel for all of Jim Crane's companies since February of 2010. His responsibilities for the Crane companies range from mergers and acquisitions, litigation, employment matters, contracts, lease agreements, real estate acquisitions, and real estate developments.

Prior to becoming General Counsel for the Crane companies, Giles was a partner at Weller, Green & Toups in Beaumont, Texas, where he focused on a litigation and corporate practice. Giles joined Weller, Green & Toups in 1995 after serving a two-year clerkship for United States District Judge Joe J. Fisher in the Eastern District of Texas.

Giles is a graduate of Louisiana State University Law School (1993) and Lamar University (1990).

Shellye Arnold

Memorial Park Redevelopment

Memorial Park Conservancy

Shellye joined Memorial Park Conservancy in 2013. Since then, Shellye and the Conservancy leadership team have grown the organization from 3 employees to over 30 and from a $500,000 annual budget to over $30 million in operating and capital expenses. Working closely with partners, Shellye and the Conservancy developed a long-range Master Plan for Memorial Park in 2015; initiated capital improvements and transitioned management and operations of 1,100 acres of Memorial Park to the Conservancy in 2016; and in 2018 secured approval for a plan to deliver over $200 million of capital improvements in Memorial Park by 2028. Fundraising is underway for this Ten-Year Plan for Memorial Park, with catalyst funding from the Kinder Foundation. This is one of the largest urban park restoration efforts underway in the U.S. Project Partners in this public-private partnership include the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Memorial Park Conservancy, Kinder Foundation, and Uptown Development Authority. The team is focused on:

· Restoring the Park’s ecological systems and creating greater resiliency

· Reconnecting the Park’s land, waterways, trails, and people

· Consolidating compatible uses together in appropriate areas

· Tending to the land and the Park’s cultural history, maintaining balance through responsible management

· And enhancing the overall Park experience and amenities

Shellye brings a background in executive leadership and change management from her nearly 20 years at Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq Computer Corporation and McKinsey & Company. Having studied public policy, Shellye spent the first part of her career with the Texas State Legislature, the Texas Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. She previously worked as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru delivering public health programs and speaks Spanish fluently. Shellye holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master in Public Policy from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School. As a native Houstonian, Shellye cares deeply about Houston’s parks, bayous, green spaces and the wildlife that inhabit them. Shellye volunteers in animal rescue and from 2011 – 2019 served as a leader for Girl Scout Troop 21, the nation’s only Girl Scout troop composed of women with differing learning abilities.

Summary

  1. What is placemaking and how can it be a catalyst for mixed-use retail development?

  2. How can investors calculate the next best foot traffic hub and what lessons can be learned in today's retail renaissance?

  3. With the urban core built out and pricey, how are developers and innovators leveraging mixed-use spaces in submarkets?

  4. How do you curate and form the identity of a place? What are the genuine pillars that truly make a place?

  5. How do occupiers define quality of life? Is it flexibility, convenience, green spaces, amenities? How do you strive for the right mix?

Continuing Education Sponsored by Commercial Gateway
Pending Texas Real Estate Commission Approval: 2hr Credit by HAR.com Provider Number 0002

Venue

The St. Regis Houston
1919 Briar Oaks Lane
Houston, Texas 77027

Ballroom: Astor Ballroom - Mezzanine Level


Valet - $14
Self-Park (Garage Across the Street) - $5

Agenda

Time Activity
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
Coffee, Networking, & Breakfast
2:00 PM
2:20 PM
Case Study: Inside The Renovations of Memorial Park

Partnering With The Houston Astros, Hosting A PGA Tour & Creating The Ultimate Destination!

2:20 PM
3:05 PM
Drawing People In Through "Retailtainment"
3:05 PM
3:50 PM
Mega Mixed-Use Projects Creating Identity
3:50 PM
4:00 PM
More Networking!

Sponsors