Registration Questions

Call: 202-684-2034
Email: eventregistration@bisnow.com

Request Speaker Information

Speaker Topics

Tell us a Little More

Event Host

Prima at Paseo South Gulch

Prima at Paseo South Gulch

Prima at Paseo South Gulch is the 16-story, 278-unit new development residential tower at the center of SomeraRoad’s Paseo South Gulch. Prima offers studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences with high-design finishes, floor-to-ceiling windows, and best-in-class building amenities. The building additionally has 18,000 SF of Class-A office space and 8,000 SF ground-level retail. The ground floor of Prima is home to leading locally and nationally acclaimed retailers such as longevity center, Next Health; smoothie and juice bar, SunLife Organics; and forthcoming concepts like Florentine sandwich shop, All'antico Vinaio. Prima sits at the center of SomeraRoad’s Paseo South Gulch, a $1B mixed-use microneighborhood development project – one of the largest and most exciting in Nashville. Paseo South Gulch currently consists of Prima and two historic adaptive reuse projects, Voorhees and Antiques, with future phases including the much-anticipated Pendry Nashville Hotel & Residences expected to open in 2027. In addition to the retail at Prima, Paseo South Gulch retailers include the iconic Carter Vintage Guitars; barbershop and speakeasy, Blind Barber; Maiz de la vida from James-Beard nominated Julio Hernandez; Australian eatery, Two Hands; and future tenants such as Barista Parlor, Catbird Seat and Patterson House, and more.

Speakers and Panels

Follow the Money: Investment and Acquisition Trends in Multifamily

With Millions Trading in Multifamily Assets, Learn Where and What Residential Investors are Bullish On

Matt Ferrari

Matt Ferrari

Founder / Managing Partner

PXV MULTIFAMILY

Ian Ross

Ian Ross

Founder & Managing Principal

SomeraRoad

Stephen Keller

Stephen Keller

Managing Director

Alliance Residential

Harvey Wadsworth

Harvey Wadsworth

Managing Director

Portman Residential

Brent Barcus

Brent Barcus

Managing Partner

i65 Capital Investments

Vincent Lefler
Moderator

Vincent Lefler

Executive Managing Director

Newmark

Ian Ross

Founder & Managing Principal

SomeraRoad

Ian Ross founded SomeraRoad Inc. in 2014 to take an entrepreneurial and creative approach to value-add, opportunistic real estate in non-core markets. Previously, Ian was a Managing Director at Triangle Capital Group, a firm he helped develop shortly after its inception. At Triangle, Ian managed the Acquisitions and Asset Management units, focusing on the purchase of hard asset real estate, non-performing loans, and securitized mortgage products, as well as the conception and execution of value-add business plans. Ian sourced, underwrote and structured investments, in both the CMBS and CRE arenas, and focused on the development of strategic relationships, firm oversight, and risk management.

Prior to joining Triangle, Ian spent two years working as an analyst for Jefferies & Company in its Investment Banking Division where he focused on raising both debt and equity, as well as providing advisory services for companies in the financial services and real estate sectors. Ian initially began his professional career working on Morgan Stanley’s CMBS origination and securitization platform.

Ian received an MBA from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and graduated with honors from Emory University with a Bachelors in Business Administration. Ian serves on Manhattan’s Community Board 5 and sits on the Public Safety & Quality of Life, and Transportation & Environment committees. Additionally, Ian is the Founder and Chairman of The Asperger’s Awareness Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 that strives to raise awareness and funding for high-functioning forms of Autism.

Stephen Keller

Managing Director

Alliance Residential

As Managing Director at Alliance Residential, Stephen Keller is responsible for sourcing and executing new development opportunities in the Tennessee market. His duties include site selection, negotiating land purchases for development, capitalization, and managing the entitlement and design processes. Since joining Alliance in 2019, Stephen has been involved in the execution of over 1,500 multifamily units in the Atlanta and Nashville markets. Prior to joining Alliance Residential, Stephen was a part of the Debt and Structure Finance team at CBRE helping to source over $500 million in debt and equity for multifamily, office and industrial products across the Southeast. Mr. Keller graduated from the University of Alabama where he earned a B.B.A. in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate.

Harvey Wadsworth

Managing Director

Portman Residential

Harvey comes to Portman Residential from Mill Creek Residential Trust where he led development operations for the Atlanta region, and prior to that, Jamestown Properties. He brings a strong focus on mixed-use development, urban high-rise construction and strategic multi-family development to our team, managing national operations and overseeing strategy and execution. Harvey has spent his fifteen-plus real estate career building Atlanta, and has been involved in the development of more than 4,000 multifamily homes with a total capitalization of over $1.2 billion. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, Real Estate Group of Atlanta, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Brent Barcus

Managing Partner

i65 Capital Investments

A 2nd generation real estate investor. While spending nearly 30 years in the music

and audio entertainment industry as a performer, music director, mix engineer and

sound designer for Global Brands, Bands & Networks such as Shania Twain,

WarnerBros. Discovery & NASCAR, Brent has always kept a pulse on residential

investing thru flips, short-term rentals and new construction.

However, it was his passion for multifamily properties that led him to shift his focus

to apartment buildings and complexes. Thru constant education and mentors,

Brent has developed a deep understanding in identifying undervalued properties,

vetting lead sponsors and a passion to align investor’s financial goals with the

ideal asset.

Our approach to investing is grounded in a commitment to meticulous research

and due diligence. My belief that by taking the time to thoroughly analyze market

trends, potential risks, and investment opportunities, we can identify the most

promising multifamily properties and make smart investment decisions for us and

our investors.

In addition to his expertise in real estate, Brent is known for his strong

interpersonal skills and his ability to build lasting relationships with his clients and

partners. He takes pride in providing exceptional customer service and in working

closely with investors to understand their unique goals and objectives.

Today, Brent is a Co-General Partner in over 750+ units, and he continues to seek

out new investment opportunities that align with his commitment to delivering

superior returns for his investors.

Vincent Lefler

Moderator

Newmark

Vincent Lefler joined Newmark in 2020 and currently serves as an Executive Managing Director in the company’s Nashville, TN office, covering TN, AL and KY. A 20-year investment sales veteran, Lefler has substantial expertise in commercial real estate, specializing in multifamily properties, land, and equity placement. He has handled over $8B in transactions with both institutional and private clients.

Lefler joined Newmark after serving as National Director for nine years with JLL. In this capacity, Lefler opened the Nashville office and was responsible for leading a team of four brokers and overseeing transactions in TN, AL and KY. Prior to that, Lefler was a Vice President with Apartment Realty Advisors in Atlanta, GA for seven years. Lefler was a tertiary market specialist and handled transactions in TN, AL, SC and GA.

Building Nashville's Future: Multifamily Development, Design and Construction Outlook

Discover the Trends Dominating the Music City's Top Residential Projects

Jason Koehn

Jason Koehn

President

Albion Residential

Luca Barber

Luca Barber

Senior Managing Director, Development

Mill Creek Residential Trust

Andrew Donchez

Andrew Donchez

Partner, Head of Development

SomeraRoad

Nick Benjamin

Nick Benjamin

Principal

VELA Development Partners

Lauren Miller-Wilmoth

Lauren Miller-Wilmoth

Associate

Smith Gee Studio

Emily Trapani
Moderator

Emily Trapani

Head of Sales

GFiber

Jason Koehn

President

Albion Residential

Jason led the formation of Albion Residential in 2016 as a re-branding of Village Green

Development. As President, Jason Koehn is directly responsible for the development and

implementation of Albion’s overall business strategy and portfolio composition and in the

five years since the founding of Albion he has led the company’s growth to 5,000 apartment

units. His oversight includes the development, acquisition, project financing, and asset

management for the company’s portfolio as well as maintaining and managing

relationships with partners and lenders to maximize the profitability of each individual

asset.

Jason joined Village Green in 2008 and from 2011 to the founding of Albion in 2016, Jason

served as a member of the Board of Directors of Village Green and also served as the Chief

Investment Officer. Prior to joining Village Green, Jason was a Director of Structured Equity

Investments for GE Capital. Earlier in his career, he was also employed by McShane

Corporation, Equity Office Properties Trust and served as an officer in the United States

Army.

Jason received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois and

his Master of Business Administration in Real Estate/Finance from the Kellogg School of

Management at Northwestern University where he was named the Top Real Estate Student

in 2003.

Luca Barber

Senior Managing Director, Development

Mill Creek Residential Trust

Luca Barber serves as Senior Managing Director of Development in Nashville, Tennessee. His responsibilities include managing all aspects of the development process, including site acquisition, due diligence, entitlements, design, financing, and disposition of Mill Creek communities. Since 2010, Mr. Barber has participated in more than $4.5 billion of commercial real estate transactions and has a professional background in mixed-use development, acquisitions, and multifamily investment sales.

Before joining Mill Creek, Mr. Barber was the Vice President of Development and Acquisitions for Lincoln Property Company in Nashville, Tennessee. During his time at Lincoln, he worked on various mixed-use developments, including Nashville Yards, a 15-acre urban redevelopment in the central business district. He was also responsible for acquiring stabilized assets and potential development sites.

Before joining Lincoln Property Company, Luca worked with MetLife Real Estate Investors in Atlanta, Jones Lang LaSalle in Washington, D.C., and Roseland Property Company in the New York Tri-State area.

Mr. Barber holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in Chapel Hill, where he served as the Lead Manager for the KFBSF Real Estate Private Equity Funds, a series of three diversified, value-add, and opportunistic closed-end investment vehicles. Luca graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.

Andrew Donchez

Partner, Head of Development

SomeraRoad

Andrew is a Partner, Head of Development at SomeraRoad, overseeing all aspects of the firm’s ground-up development platform with a current pipeline of multifamily projects, in excess of $1.5 billion in total cost. Andrew has over 15 years of experience in development. Prior to joining SomeraRoad, Andrew served as Vice President of Development for Mill Creek Residential Trust, where he led the development of 1,400+ residential units exceeding $600 million of development value. Andrew previously helped build RXR Realty's development platform, overseeing the construction of 1,400+ residential units totaling more than $700 million of value during his tenure. He also worked at Toll Brothers, Inc. and Ashley Development earlier in his career.

Andrew received a B.S. in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, son, and daughter.

Nick Benjamin

Principal

VELA Development Partners

Nick is a Principal of VELA Development Partners with over fourteen years of experience developing urban mixed-use and multifamily projects. Before co-founding VELA, Nick was a Vice President of Development for Cordish Companies where he was responsible for overseeing entertainment district and multi-family development projects, including One Light and Two Light in Kansas City, as well as One Cardinal Way in St. Louis. Nick was responsible for the development of these and other projects from the ground up; from incentive negotiation, to entitling, to unit mix and programming details, to training and overseeing the leasing and property management teams. Nick began his career at Simpson, Thacher, & Bartlett as an associate attorney. Nick graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree before earning a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Lauren Miller-Wilmoth

Associate

Smith Gee Studio

Lauren is a recognized leader in Nashville's urban multifamily market and leads one of the largest architectural teams as an Associate at Smith Gee Studio. With experience designing thousands of multifamily units, Lauren has been instrumental in taking several of Nashville's prominent projects from concept to completion. Her passion for creating livable spaces tailored to residents' needs drives her commitment to understanding the modern urban apartment dweller.

This dedication inspired her to create and publish The Living Lowdown, a bi-annual study that tracks and analyzes trends in Nashville's multifamily market. Through partnerships with local apartment management companies and the development of a resident user survey, Lauren provided clients with insightful market feedback, empowering them to make informed design decisions.

Emily Trapani

Moderator

GFiber

Emily Trapani is a tech business leader with over 15 years of experience, including more than 8 years in leadership at Google, creating and executing sales strategies and innovation for technology products and services. As the Head of Retail at Google Fiber, she oversees strategy, innovation and operations in retail and other non-traditional sales and service experiences for the company's high-speed internet offerings.

She has an invariable track record of delivering results and growth for Google Fiber and its parent company, Alphabet Inc., by developing and managing various sales channels and partnerships, including B2B, B2B2C, multifamily, direct, indirect and nontraditional. She is also an author and a futurist, who has published two books and a podcast on technologies and industry trends. She is passionate about empowering women and underrepresented groups in technology and STEM, and volunteers as an instructor and facilitator for several Google programs and initiatives.

How to Win Residents and Influence Renewals: Exploring Today's Top Operations Trends

From Management to Amenities and Everything in Between

Keri Walker Pfeifer

Keri Walker Pfeifer

Managing Director, Operations, Southeast

Bozzuto Management Company

Tammy Lee

Tammy Lee

Area Vice President

Willow Bridge Property Company

Amy Heskett

Amy Heskett

Senior Director, Real Estate

Greystar

Rajen Shastri

Rajen Shastri

CEO

Akara Partners

Jordan Bernstein

Jordan Bernstein

Head of Development Strategy and Operations

Mint House

Will Hitzemann
Moderator

Will Hitzemann

Regional Director

Foxen

Keri Walker Pfeifer

Managing Director, Operations, Southeast

Bozzuto Management Company

Keri Walker Pfeifer is the Managing Director at Bozzuto, having joined the company in 2009.

With over 25 years of experience in property management, Keri has established herself as a

leader in the industry, specializing in new development planning, lease-up strategies, and the

repositioning of value-add properties. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a keen ability

to build high-performing operations teams that consistently deliver exceptional customer service,

earning Bozzuto top industry rankings for online reputation.

In the first decade of her career at Bozzuto, Keri played a pivotal role in the company's market

expansion into New England.

In 2017, her leadership was tapped for a new challenge as she was selected to spearhead the

company’s growth into the Southeast, overseeing our Southeast markets. Inclusive of The

Carolinas, Nashville, Atlanta and Florida. She continues to drive Bozzuto’s success, focusing on

operational excellence and team development to cultivate leadership talent within the

organization.

Keri’s leadership extends beyond operations; she is an integral member of Bozzuto’s senior

executive team and serves as an officer of the company. In her role, she is responsible for driving

accountability and optimizing the performance of the business across her assigned regions. Keri

is also dedicated to developing strong client relationships, leveraging these connections to secure

new business opportunities for Bozzuto and align the company’s growth with its strategic goals.

A strong advocate for mentoring, Keri plays a key role in shaping Bozzuto’s future by

identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders. Her focus on both operational success

and the development of people underpins her leadership philosophy, ensuring that the company’s

values and culture continue to thrive as Bozzuto grows.

In her role as Managing Director, Keri’s responsibilities include overseeing portfolio operations

to achieve strong financial performance, building and leading diverse teams to achieve optimal

results, and managing client relationships to ensure alignment with business objectives and brand

standards. Through her dedication, Keri has played a significant role in Bozzuto’s success and

continues to shape its trajectory in the years to come.

Amy Heskett

Senior Director, Real Estate

Greystar

Amy started her career in the multi family industry with Post Properties in 1995; working her way up

from Leasing Consultant to Community Manager. She worked on several communities throughout the

Atlanta area and achieved Manager of the Year in 1998. In 2004 she joined United Residential

Properties, a privately held firm located in Macon, GA. While with United Residential, Amy oversaw a

portfolio of 2,200 Class A communities throughout the Southeast. Amy then joined First Communities in

2008 and was a part of the Century Portfolio working exclusively with Centennial Investment Group as a

Senior Property Manager and Area Manager. The focus was on value-add opportunities throughout the

Atlanta market. In 2015 she joined Greystar as a Regional Manager and has worked with both third-

party clients and the Greystar Investment Group. Amy was awarded Regional Manager of the Year in

2016 and 2018. She was a part of lease ups with the Overture brand in 2017. In 2018 she was promoted

to Sr Regional Manager and moved to exclusively work on the Greystar Investment Group communities

with a focus on value add. In May of 2019 Amy and her family relocated to Nashville and she is currently

the Director of Real Estate with Greystar and oversees a portfolio of 24 communities and just under

7,000 units. The portfolio will nearly double in size with the pre-development opportunities over the next two years. She has a BBA with an emphasis in Marketing from Georgia Southern University.

Rajen Shastri

CEO

Akara Partners

Rajen Shastri has spent over 12 years working in senior management roles across the spectrum of the commercial real estate value chain, from being an investment professional at a global real estate institutional investor to acting as a Principal at an operator/developer. His vision for Akara partners is to offer investors the ability to participate with a vertically integrated real investment firm, allowing them to capture value from the elimination of the inherent information asymmetry between investors, operators and developers.

Prior to founding Akara Partners in 2013, Rajen was a Principal, CIO and Co-COO of Campus Acquisitions (“CA”) a developer and operator of student housing assets from 2009-2013. While at CA, Rajen led the capitalization and monetization of over $1 billion in student housing assets across the U.S., including the $627 million sale of a portfolio of assets to American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC) in 2012.

Prior to CA, Rajen worked at Syndicated Equities and Jones Lang LaSalle, where he identified and structured commercial real estate investments across asset types both in the U.S and Internationally.

Rajen has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He serves on the Kellogg Alumni Real Estate Board, is a member of YPO, Windy City Chapter and is on the Board of Advisors for the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the University of Wisconsin School of Business.

Jordan Bernstein

Head of Development Strategy and Operations

Mint House

In his role at Mint House, Jordan is responsible for driving the strategic direction and implementation of the company’s growth and development. Jordan brings nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, beginning at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he held various roles across the Global and North America Development organizations, including global strategic planning, and managed and franchised hotel development in the United States and Caribbean. He joined IHG Hotels & Resorts in 2017, focusing on owner relationships and transactions, asset management, and upscale development. Most recently, Jordan was Vice President of Business Development for First Hospitality, responsible for developing new third-party management partnerships nationwide. Mint House is a premium residential hospitality operator in the short-term rental category. With over 25 assets in over 20 markets open or signed and growing across the U.S., Mint House partners with real estate owners to operate full-building hospitality projects, as well as operating contiguous floors within high-end, multi-family buildings. Mint House serves the rapidly growing traveler demand for upper-tier apartment style accommodations, from business transient stays to 30-day plus stays.

Will Hitzemann

Moderator

Foxen

Will Hitzemann is an accomplished sales professional with over 10 years experience in

Software/Tech sales industry. Currently serving as a Regional Sales Director at Foxen,

Will is engaged in strategic sales initiatives to bring Foxen’s innovative solutions to

clients. Foxen is a provider of solutions that mitigate risk and build financial wellness for

multifamily property owners and operations and their residents. Through its proprietary

renters insurance compliance and rent reporting platform, Foxen enables investors and

properties to reduce risk, increase asset value and drive operational efficiency. Prior to

joining Foxen, Will has worked for other established tech companies including: Oracle

(ORCL), CoStar Group (CSGP), Zumper. In addition to tech, Will is also experienced in

Commercial real estate and Mortgage Banking. Will is committed to delivering results

that drive business transformation and success.

Why You Can't Miss this Conference

 What You'll Learn:

  • How will the Federal Reserve's rate cuts impact multifamily investors and those bullish on acquisitions in the Nashville area?

  • How can regional policy and the incoming administration impact housing opportunities, affordability and more in and around Nashville?

  • What are the top trends and amenities that Nashville's residents are seeking?

  • From low rental growth to rising operating expenses, what strategies can multifamily property owners use to effectively manage margins and remain attractive to lenders?

  • With new projects and proposals for residential development slowing down, what are Nashville's residential owners doing to future-proof their existing portfolios?

Why This Matters: 

While still considered a Top 5 Market for CRE opportunities according to ULI and PWC, the Nashville residential market has experienced a slight slowdown compared to the frenzied pace of years prior. According to Multifamily Housing News, completions in 2024 remained elevated, with 4,114 units delivered in 2024 through July and another 27,062 under construction. However, net new development dropped to one-third of the volume recorded during the same period of 2023.  

From a financial perspective, investors traded $365M in multifamily assets in the last year alone, and the price per unit saw a significant 35% decline, down to $151,294 year-to-date, as of July 2024. 

Join Bisnow and our panels of top owners, investors, developers, public officials and more to learn more about the deals investors are looking for, and what trends — from more square units and amenitization to submarkets and more — are helping residents sign or renew in the Music City.

Who You'll Meet: Nashville's top multifamily owners, developers, investors, builders and more.

For questions regarding our content, or speaking and sponsorship opportunities, please email Bisnow Director of Event Production Elizabeth Baker at liz.baker@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact janet.fernandez@bisnow.com no later than 7 business days prior to the event.

Venue

Prima at Paseo South Gulch
620 8th Avenue S.
Nashville, TN 37203

For the event, please enter through the lobby entrance off of Fogg St.

Floor: 2nd


Rideshare and carpool recommended.

Nearby Parking Lots:

718 Division St.

908 Division St.

800 Lea Ave.

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
1:00 PM
1:50 PM
Registration, Breakfast and Networking
1:50 PM
2:00 PM
Bisnow Introduction & Opening Remarks
2:00 PM
2:45 PM
How to Win Residents and Influence Renewals: Exploring Today's Top Operations Trends

From Management to Amenities and Everything in Between

2:45 PM
3:00 PM
Networking Break!
3:00 PM
3:45 PM
Building Nashville's Future: Multifamily Development, Design and Construction Outlook

Discover the Trends Dominating the Music City's Top Residential Projects

3:45 PM
4:30 PM
Follow the Money: Investment and Acquisition Trends in Multifamily

With Millions Trading in Multifamily Assets, Learn Where and What Residential Investors are Bullish On

4:30 PM
5:00 PM
More Networking!

WANT THE ATTENDEE LIST FOR FREE?

Biscred gives you access to 3.6 million commercial real estate contacts and powerful filters built for CRE: search by industry, asset class experience, property count, job seniority, metros, and more. Book a demo today and get the attendee list for free when you mention this promotion.ttendee list for free when you mention this promotion.

Unlock Your Career Potential with SelectLeaders

Looking for the next step in your career or aiming to discover top talent? SelectLeaders is your destination! Whether you're seeking your next role or searching for exceptional talent, SelectLeaders connects ambitious professionals with industry-leading employers. Choose SelectLeaders to elevate your career search or talent acquisition.