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The Torrance

The Torrance

The Torrance is a 310,000 sq.ft. office building in central Torrance, sitting adjacent to the amenity-rich Del Amo Mall. It boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center with weekly Yoga and HIIT classes, a boutique coffee shop by Steelhead coffee, and an onsite operations team that truly makes you feel at home.

Speakers and Panels

David Walker

David Walker

CEO

Engine Real Estate

Marisa Katnich

Marisa Katnich

Director of Strategic Commercial Management

LAX

David Walker

CEO

Engine Real Estate

David began his real estate career over 20 years ago in the structured finance side of the business. In 1994, David joined Nomura Securities in New York and subsequently moved to Los Angeles to co-head the Western Region loan origination effort. While at Nomura Los Angeles, David was responsible for originating in excess of $5 billion in debt and equity investments over a 5-year period. He then went on to establish the Los Angeles office of CDC Mortgage Capital where he helped to position CDC as an innovator in the CMBS market. In 2002, after 3 years at CDC, David moved to Bear Stearns in Los Angeles as Managing Director and group head for large loans, originating over $1 billion in debt per year for 2 consecutive years. In 2004, David moved to the principal-side of real estate and founded Pacific Star Capital, a Los Angeles-based shopping center owner/operator. Under his leadership, PSC assembled a portfolio of shopping centers across the country with a combined value of over $200 million. In 2007, David stepped away from the day-to-day operation of Pacific Star to become president of JRK Birchmont Advisors and its $203 million private equity fund, Birchmont Capital Partners I. Under his leadership as president of the fund division, David was responsible for investing in 13 separate real estate investments ranging from multifamily to office properties, worth an estimated $1 billion. In 2009, David returned to Pacific Star to rejoin with co-founder Aria Mehrabi in the daily operation of Pacific Star Capital and its various investments. In 2014, David established Engine Real Estate with Jeffrey Birkmeyer. David holds a BSM from Tulane University in New Orleans and is a member of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors and is an active fundraiser for the hospital with his wife, Elyse.

Marisa Katnich

Director of Strategic Commercial Management

LAX

Marisa Katnich is Director of Strategic Commercial Management for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).

She assumed the position in July 2016.

As Director of Strategic Commercial Management, Katnich is responsible for acquiring and assembling

right of way for LAWA’s Landside Access Modernization Program, a $5-billion-dollar program to reduce

traffic congestion at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) through development of an automated

people mover, consolidated rental car facility (ConRAC) and intermodal transfer facilities. Katnich is

also responsible for directing revenue generating landside concessions including parking, rental cars,

and shared ride van contracts.

Professional Experience

Prior to serving as Director of Strategic Commercial Management, Katnich was LAWA’s Director of

Landside Business Management, responsible for managing revenue and expense contracts integral to

landside operations including the parking portfolio for LAX, Ontario International Airport, and Van Nuys

Airport, taxicab dispatch, shuttle service, and FlyAway bus service.

Prior to LAWA, Katnich worked in the Real Estate Division of the Port of Los Angeles.

Education

Katnich has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University Long Beach.

Repositioning Assets

Capital Investments That Maximize Returns

Dennis Cruzan

Dennis Cruzan

Founding Partner

Cruzan

Matt Sebree

Matt Sebree

Director Leasing & New Business, West Coast

Simon Property Group

Rich Fragapane

Rich Fragapane

VP Development & Construction

The Muller Company

David Jacobson

David Jacobson

EVP

Nadel Architecture + Planning

Andrew Harper

Andrew Harper

Managing Director

HFF

Bob Ruth

Bob Ruth

President

The Ruth Group

Patrick Winters

Patrick Winters

Owner, Principal & Design Director

Nadel

Stacy Meronoff
Moderator

Stacy Meronoff

Leasing Director

Cruzan

Dennis Cruzan

Founding Partner

Cruzan

Dennis is the founding partner of Cruzan. He has over 35 years of experience in commercial real estate, including development, acquisitions, finance, leasing, and asset management. Previously, Dennis served as co-manager of JMI Realty’s hospitality, office, and multi-family development activities and acted as development partner with the Padres for the Ballpark District in downtown San Diego. Prior to working for JMI Realty, Dennis was the CEO and chairman of Burnham Real Estate (now Cushman & Wakefield); a founder and principal of Centremark, a development and investment company specializing in office, industrial, and multi-family real estate in Southern California; and the development partner at Oliver McMillan, focused on leasing, acquisitions, and project management. Dennis received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University and was a member of SDSU’s jazz band.

Andrew Harper

Managing Director

HFF

Mr. Harper is a Managing Director in the Los Angeles office of HFF with more than 18 years

of experience in commercial real estate. He specializes in office and land investment sales

throughout Greater Los Angeles. Mr. Harper has closed in excess of $6 billion in

transactions, encompassing more than 25 million square feet throughout Southern

California. Mr. Harper joined the firm in September 2011. Prior to HFF, he was a Vice President in the

Institutional Capital Markets Group at Grubb & Ellis. Before that, he worked at Cushman

and Wakefield, first as an Appraiser and later as Director in the Capital Markets Group in

downtown Los Angeles.

Bob Ruth

President

The Ruth Group

Trammell Crow Company/Tooley & Company 1982 to 2007Prior to starting The Ruth Group, Mr Ruth was the Area President for the Trammell Crow Company based in Los Angeles, California for 9+years. He was responsible for all facets of Trammell Crow’s strategies, planning, and growth, as well as management of the company’s top team of real estate professionals. Trammell Crow Company was the largest full service real estate company in California with 46 million square feet of office, industrial and retail, in addition to major development projects that represent approximately $740,000,000 under development. The largest project developed by Trammell Crow Company was directed by Mr. Ruth, whereby he structured the original acquisition of the Century Plaza Towers and then ABC Entertainment Center to the newly developed 2000 Avenue of the Stars project in Century City.Prior to Trammell Crow Company he was the Principal of Tooley & Company for 17 years before he sold the company to Trammell Crow Company. During that period of time he acquired, developed, managed and leased a number of prominent projects throughout Southern California.Mr. Ruth has been honored nationally for his outstanding achievements in the development, marketing and management of several prestigious real estate projects. The Commercial Property News publication voted Mr. Ruth one of the 10 "Stars to Watch" in America. In addition, Mr. Ruth was highlighted by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 10 most influential people in real estate in Los Angeles. He was recently recognized by NCCJ for the “Humanitarian of the Year”.

Patrick Winters

Owner, Principal & Design Director

Nadel

Patrick Winters has over 25 years of professional experience working with leading architecture and design firms. Skilled at all aspects of project conceptualization, organization and presentation, as well as an in-depth understanding of technical fundamentals and construction practices, he is able to manage simultaneously diverse projects and responsibilities. Patrick also has experience in the management, design, and construction of high-profile building projects. He is a Principal, Design Director, and Partner at Nadel Architects.

Stacy Meronoff

Moderator

Cruzan

Stacy is responsible for leasing services at Cruzan. His primary role involves coordination of in-house leasing efforts for new leases and renewals. Stacy also provides strategic support to the asset management, acquisitions, property management and construction management teams. Prior to Cruzan, Stacy was a Vice President at CBRE for nine years, focusing on office properties in leasing and sales. Stacy was named the CBRE “Rookie of the Year“ for San Diego County in 2006. He graduated from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Stacy was an NCAA Division I college tennis player at Cal Poly, where he was on the Big West Conference All-Academic Team and was also named All-Big West First Team. Stacy served from 2012-2014 as the Lead Volunteer for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, overseeing training and leadership development for all 28 Relay For Life’s in San Diego County. In his spare time, Stacy enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, fitness, and is an avid sports fan.

LA Emerging Markets

Tim Harris

Tim Harris

COO

LA Lakers

Michael Galvin

Michael Galvin

Director of Waterfront & Commercial Real Estate

Port of Los Angeles

Kate Bartolo

Kate Bartolo

Founder - Land Use Advisor

Kate Bartolo & Associates

Ilan Kenig

Ilan Kenig

CEO

FMB Group

Bill Bloodgood
Moderator

Bill Bloodgood

SVP

CBRE

Tim Harris

COO

LA Lakers

Overseeing Los Angeles Lakers business-related endeavors and marketing efforts for 16 years, Tim Harris brings more than 26 years of combined experience to the organization, currently serving in a multifaceted role as Chief Operating Officer/SVP, Business Operations/Chief Marketing Officer. Responsible for the Lakers’ day-to- day business operations, Harris oversees the team’s broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing, community relations, game entertainment and digital media departments. Furthermore, Harris works closely with team President Jeanie Buss, helping maintain relationships with broadcast and corporate partners while having a hand in all Lakers marketing efforts. Adding to his extensive scope of responsibilities, Harris serves as a Lakers Alternate Governor, and he represents the club at team president meetings. Beginning his career working for Dr. Jerry Buss in 1990, Harris was tasked with promoting and marketing the team’s arena at the time, The Great Western Forum. By 1995, after much success in his role, Harris would become Vice President of Marketing for the building. Following the sale of the Forum in 1997, Harris was responsible for managing the Lakers transition out of Inglewood to the state-of- the-art STAPLES Center as well as the new team training facility. At the conclusion of the club’s move, Harris was brought on board to focus his efforts strictly on the Lakers, originally serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. A standout soccer player at UCLA, Harris played four seasons as goalkeeper (1980-83), earning second team All-American honors in 1983 and finishing his career ranked third on the school’s career victories list. He was later named to the UCLA Athletic Department Hall of Fame as one of the school’s 25 all-time greatest athletes. Harris, who graduated from UCLA with a degree in sociology, went on to play five years professionally (1984-89), including three for the Dr. Buss- owned Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team in 1985. An Inglewood native, Harris currently resides in Manhattan Beach with his wife Choel and their three children: Jude (11), Dane (9) and Gage (5).

Michael Galvin

Director of Waterfront & Commercial Real Estate

Port of Los Angeles

Michael J. Galvin is the Director of Waterfront and Commercial Real Estate at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s leading container port. The Port of Los Angeles is a landlord seaport, covering 7500 acres of land and water, with more than 300 leaseholders.

In this role, Galvin is responsible for development and management of the Port’s LA Waterfront including commercial development opportunities, cruise passengers, commercial fueling, recreational marinas, hotels and restaurants that create public access to the Port’s expansive waterfront amenities.

Galvin also oversees the Port’s redevelopment program for marine oil terminals under the State of California Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standards (MOTEMS). The Port’s MOTEMS program will deliver over $200 million in capital improvements to the Port’s marine oil terminals which support regional refinery operations, LAX aviation fuel logistics and the San Pedro Bay bunker fuel market.

Appointed to his current position in April 2015, Galvin previously served as the Port’s Director of Special Projects. Galvin first joined the Port in 2004 as a real estate officer. He quickly promoted to Assistant Division Head for the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Engineering, Real Estate Division and then returned to the Port in 2005 as Deputy Director of Real Estate before promoting to Director of Real Estate in 2007. He began his City career in 2000 as a Real Estate Associate for the Bureau of Engineering.

Galvin holds a bachelor of arts in U.S. history from the University of California, San Diego and is scheduled to receive his juris doctor from Western State College of Law in 2015. Galvin is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California.

A Los Angeles resident, Galvin has been a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association since 2000.

Kate Bartolo

Founder - Land Use Advisor

Kate Bartolo & Associates

Kate Bartolo has been involved in the Downtown (DTLA) resurgence for over two decades.

Her DTLA-centric career spans her current land use and development consulting practice. It also includes time as a land use counsel/partner at The Kor Group, where she helped develop 1,500 residential units and over 100,000 square feet of retail.

Kate got her start in land use as the aide to a former LA City Councilman. Subsequently, she worked as a retail broker with CBRE, specializing in downtown Los Angeles.

Then and now, it is clear to Kate that sound creatively applied entitlements are essential to

redevelopment efforts. She also knows that the creation of safe, vibrant neighborhoods, promotion of great design and balance between commerce and residential living are the very definition of why the Downtown Renaissance is thriving.

To that end, her pro bono commitments included serving as a founder of one Business Improvement District (BID), the President of another BID and service on the board of a major homeless services provider.

Kate’s land use and development portfolio spans hotels, restaurants, ground up mid and high rise projects and adaptive reuse projects. Some of her higher profile projects include The Eastern Columbia Lofts and Barker Block Lofts.

Kate graduated with honors from UCLA and has taken extensive additional coursework in land use planning and real estate.

Ilan Kenig

CEO

FMB Group

Ilan Kenig is an accomplished entrepreneur and the CEO of the FMB Group.

He brings more than 30 years of domestic and international experience in the legal,

financial, and management aspects of real estate development projects along with a

vast knowledge of administration and team building.

A results-oriented and decisive leader, Ilan’s steady stewardship had quickly

led FMB Development to preeminence in the Los Angeles real estate world.

Over the course of his esteemed career, Ilan has secured over $100 million of

funds for a variety of real-estate transactions, and has committed to investing in

communities before and after construction.

A former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israel Defense Forces, Ilan is active with a

range of non-profit organizations, including the Israeli-American Council, AIPAC,

and Larger Than Life.

Bill Bloodgood

Moderator

CBRE

Office specialist Bill Bloodgood joined CBRE in 1992 and has consistently ranked as one of the top experts for office space in Culver City and the South Bay. Bill has been instrumental in underwriting, acquiring, leasing and disposing of many of the highest profile assets in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. In the past ten years, Bill has been involved in the sale, leasing and underwriting of over 8,000,000 square feet of institutional quality office space. Bill is a frequent speaker at industry events, has authored numerous articles regarding the South Bay office market and is often quoted in industry periodicals.

Summary

1. What creative repositioning techniques are landlords using to attract high-quality tenants?

2. What property upgrades are critical to retaining in-place tenants? 

3. What do Investors and Developers look for in emerging neighborhoods before breaking ground or investing in projects?

4. Where are the newest burgeoning neighborhoods in Los Angeles?

5. How do you maximize returns while minimizing capital improvements? 

Agenda

Time Activity
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Breakfast & Networking
5:00 PM
5:50 PM
Re-Positioning Assets: Capital Investments That Maximize Returns
5:50 PM
6:20 PM
LA's Emerging Markets
6:20 PM
7:00 PM
Post Panel Networking

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