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Speakers and Panels
Fireside Chat: San Felasco Tech City
Inside the live-work-play community redefining how innovation, housing, and sustainability intersect in North Central Florida
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Mitch Glaeser
Owner/Developer
San Felasco Tech City
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Britt Woodall
Director, Special Projects
Vobile
Mayoral Keynote Roundtable
A look at economic growth across Alachua County
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Harvey Ward
Mayor
City of Gainesville
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Tim Marden
Mayor
City of Newberry
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Landon Harrar
Economic Development Manager
Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce
From Research Hub to Regional Growth: How Innovation Is Shaping Gainesville & Alachua County’s Next Development Wave
Where Tech, Talent, and Expanding Communities Converge to Drive New Demand
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Anthony Lyons
VP
AMJ Group Inc.
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Blake Fletcher
Head of Development
Fletcher Family Companies
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Karl LaPan
Director - Incubation Services
University of Florida
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Teresa Callen
Commercial Sales and Leasing Specialist
Portal Realty
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Jamie Telchin
Managing Director
Hillpointe
Why Attend Bisnow's Inaugural Gainesville State of the Market
Why It Matters:
Gainesville and greater Alachua County are at an inflection point. Anchored by the University of Florida’s $20B economic footprint, the region is no longer just a college town, it’s emerging as a powerhouse for healthcare, life sciences, tech, and advanced manufacturing. From San Felasco Tech City’s live-work-play model to a fast-growing biotech cluster, next-gen housing initiatives, and large-scale distribution wins, the area is redefining what growth looks like in North Central Florida. With billions in projects planned or underway, new public-private alignments, and surrounding communities like Newberry, Alachua, and Hawthorne seeing rapid expansion, the momentum is undeniable. For developers, investors, city leaders, and innovators, now is the time to connect with the people shaping this transformation.
What You’ll Learn:
How Gainesville’s integration of UF’s research, innovation, and tech ecosystem is fueling economic expansion well beyond campus.
Why Newberry, Alachua, and Hawthorne are emerging as growth engines for housing, mixed-use, logistics, and advanced industries.
What San Felasco Tech City and other live-work-play models reveal about the future of sustainable, self-sufficient communities.
The role of public-private partnerships in unlocking density, permitting flexibility, and new infrastructure investments.
How healthcare, life sciences, and AI are creating high-paying jobs and reshaping land use and housing demand.
What opportunities and challenges come with balancing rapid growth against conservation and community character.
Why the “North Central Corridor” is positioning itself as a national hub for biotech, aerospace, distribution, and next-gen industries.
How to navigate municipal processes while ensuring compliance with conservation requirements
Related articles:
https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/featured/newberry-announces-66-million-investment-in-agfoodtech-park
https://www.bisnow.com/jacksonville/news/commercial-real-estate/gainesville-florida-cre-investment-portal-realty-studiob-131688
http://keycrew.co/journal/gainesvilles-real-estate-market-faces-limits-from-college-town-reputation-expert-says/
https://www.jll.com/en-us/newsroom/acr-refinances-gainesville-multifamily-portfolio
For questions regarding content and speaking, please email our Event Producer, Elizabeth Herrgott, at elizabeth.herrgott@bisnow.com. Want to get involved? Contact Jordan.Hinsch@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ariel.fromm@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.
Venue
Hilton University of Florida Gainesville
1714 SW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32607
Ballroom: Century Ballroom
Floor: Lobby
Complimentary Self-Parking for Event Attendees
Agenda
| Time | Activity |
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1:00 PM
2:00 PM
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Registration, Breakfast & Networking
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2:00 PM
2:30 PM
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Mayoral Keynote Address
Mayor Harvey Ward shares how Gainesville is balancing its university-driven momentum, housing and infrastructure needs, and regional partnerships to shape a future that’s inclusive, sustainable, and positioned for national leadership |
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2:30 PM
3:00 PM
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Fireside Chat: San Felasco Tech City
San Felasco Tech City is more than a development, It’s a live-work-play ecosystem with the largest outdoor solar array in the county, a biotech cluster, and even the region’s most eco-friendly fire station. With 65+ companies and end-users already calling it home, Tech City has become proof of concept for how innovation, housing, and sustainability can work hand in hand. In this fireside chat, you’ll hear directly from the developer, partners, and businesses shaping this groundbreaking community. |
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3:00 PM
3:15 PM
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Networking Break
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3:15 PM
4:00 PM
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From Research Hub to Regional Growth: How Innovation Is Shaping Gainesville & Alachua County’s Next Development Wave
Gainesville’s expanding tech and life sciences ecosystem is fueling a new era of commercial and residential development across the region. As emerging companies scale and new housing, hospitality, mixed-use, and distribution projects rise in Newberry, Alachua, and Hawthorne, the entire county is experiencing unprecedented momentum. This panel explores how developers, investors, and local leaders can meet the dual challenge of supporting innovation-driven growth while balancing affordability, infrastructure, and long-term community needs. |
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4:00 PM
4:30 AM
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Post-Event Networking
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Sponsors
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PS - Want the attendee list for free?
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