Zach is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Lagniappe Capital Partners, focusing on concept expansion, real estate development, and operations. He currently serves on the board of directors for LCP portfolio companies Divert Brands and Voicebox Karaoke. Zach was most recently with TOCA Football, leading the US operations of TOCA Social, a sports entertainment concept built around soccer. Prior to TOCA, Zach spent two years at GameStop, leading their internal innovation practice. To kick off his career, Zach spent eight years with Topgolf where he helped develop and open 55+ venues and led the company’s initial international expansion efforts. Zach is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Southern Methodist University (MBA).

Tyler Washburn is the Senior Vice President of Venues and Experience at Cosm, where

he leads the company’s guest experience and experience design efforts across the

design, development, and venues operations teams. With over a decade of experience

in hospitality, Tyler leverages his expertise in food and beverage, operations and

training, and guest-facing service to develop unparalleled experiences at Cosm venues.

Having begun his career in the architecture industry, Tyler successfully led the design

and construction of over $1.5 billion multi-family and mixed-use developments. He then

joined Mirasol Capital, the private equity and venture arm of the Winn Family Office led

by Stephen T. Winn, where he served as Design Director and developed the idea for

immersive entertainment venues, now known as Cosm. Today, Tyler’s know-how and

leadership play an integral role in positioning Cosm to completely redefine the way the

world experiences content.

Tyler earned his BA and MA in Architecture, as well as an MBA, from Texas State

University.

As Trademark’s VP of Experience, Stephany is involved in every facet of the customer experience when they step onto a Trademark property. Stephany effectively activates the common areas across the company’s national portfolio and creates hospitality-driven guest experiences that attract experiential retailers to Trademark’s properties. These retailers are seeking brand alignment and opening in locations that create exceptional guest experiences beyond the lease lines. From elevating the valet to integrating technology-centric solutions for brick and mortar retailers, Stephany has a unique perspective on the topic and would be a great addition to the Experiential Retail and Retailtainment panel.

“Shams S. Merchant is an industry-leading commercial real estate attorney at Jackson Walker LLP and advises clients on a wide range of commercial real estate and business transactions ranging in value from $1 to $250 million, encompassing the acquisition, divestiture, financing (interim, construction, permanent, mezzanine, CMBS, and life insurance), leasing, and development of both commercial and residential properties including raw land, retail, multi-family, office, industrial and warehouse, hotel, data center, sports & recreation facilities, telecommunications, hospitality, build-to-suite, self-storage, student housing, condominiums, mixed-use & lifestyle developments, and adaptive reuse & conversion projects. Shams’ practice is Texas-based but national in scope. He has represented well-known national and Texas-based real estate investors and developers, deal sponsors, capital partners, private and public investment funds, regional and multi-national companies, landlords, national tenants and some of the largest real estate companies in the world.

Shams has a passion for adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects and has represented clients in numerous adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects in Texas, 4 of which received the Development of Distinction award by the Urban Land Institute and 2 of which received the Landmark Award for Houston’s Top Real Estate Projects by the Houston Business Journal.”

John has been an indispensable member of the MAA team since graduating in 2004.

His contributions as a designer, director, and leader have been instrumental in developing and advancing MAA's architecture, interior architecture, marketing, and graphic finesse since its inception. John remains actively involved in the local architecture community, and his nomination and completion of the Emerging Leaders program at the Dallas chapter of the AIA are a testament to his expertise and leadership in the field.

John's work is not limited to his own designs. He also provides a positive learning experience for other team members and clients through each daily process. He is responsible for keeping the firm at the forefront of 3-D and visualization technology and sharing his knowledge and skills with colleagues and clients.

John's design and project contributions span the globe, including the United States, Nigeria, and China. His experience includes corporate architecture and interiors, multi-family and single-family residential, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality. Recently, John spent time in China collaborating with other designers in architecture, 3-D imagery, and master planning. His portfolio includes several master plans and architectural designs, including projects in Niamey, Niger, and Abuja, as well as Dallas, Texas.

John's experience, client interaction, design skills, and overall understanding have placed him at the forefront of MAA's design progression, determination, collaboration, and vision for the future. He continues to think at all scales and in all areas, inside and outside the box. John's goal is to provide all MAA's clients with the experience of seeing the vision before it becomes a reality.

Nicole is a licensed architect in multiple states, LEED AP, and is always looking for ways to bring sustainability into her current projects. She graduated from the Fay Jones School of Architecture where she received a Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Art. She's been involved with a variety of projects, and one of her independent projects, One Fifty One, won the IIDA Red Award for the best new design in the Hospitality category. She's spent over 10 years working with the Topgolf account and developed the concept from three venues to over fifty nationwide with multiple prototype buildings.

Nadia transitioned into real estate after a 15-year career in behavioral health. In 2014, she founded a very successful construction company, Petersen Construction, specializing in building custom homes and construction management services—that eventually led to a partnership with Wolverine Interests.

Nadia focuses on helping cities activate their central business districts through P3’s. Her roles at Wolverine Interests include feasibility analysis, entitlement, acquisition, development management and project capitalization.

Nadia has exceptional knowledge of construction management, oversees multifamily development projects, and works closely with FHA MAP Underwriter on the 221 (d) (4) New Construction.

As a tech enthusiast, Nadia creates and implements strategic road maps and tech recommendations to ensure the company is optimizing technology in the most efficient manner. Nadia manages the asset management software that involves managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, and utilization of software within the organization.

Firmly committed to the philosophy, enriching people’s lives through communities, Nadia enjoys being involved in mixed-use developments where she can enrich the lives of others by creating environments and experiences—valued community assets that we call mixed-use developments.

Nadia’s sphere of influence expands beyond real estate and into the community at large. She is actively involved in and understands the value of communities, its schools, and its divergent neighborhood dynamics. Her community involvement validates her label to more than merely a real estate professional, but further a trusted advisor. Nadia is notorious for her integrity and equanimity in difficult situations; her background in behavioral health plays a dominant role in her ability to thrive in any arena.

As an active member of the nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) both as Chair of the Small-Scale Development Council and UrbanPlan for Public Officials, Nadia is a workshop instructor for UrbanPlan which is a lively, interactive six-hour workshop for local decision-makers including mayors, city council members, plan commission members, and senior staff.

Nadia’s problem solving expertise in walk-able, mixed-use development, land planning, community development, and zoning has given her the opportunity to participate in Technical Assistance Panels. TAP’s are part of the ULI Advisory Services program. These one- to two-day work sessions address land use challenges that require local knowledge to resolve. She also served as a board member of the Dallas Builders Association and was active on the Government Relations Committee.

Nadia grew up in East Texas where she received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from the University of Stephen F. Austin then achieved her Masters in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. Nadia holds a Texas Real Estate license. In her free time you can find Nadia staying active by participating in Ironman events, trail running through the mountains, and exploring yoga events with her husband and three children.

Robert E. Young, Jr., is Executive Managing Director for Weitzman. Young utilizes his extensive

brokerage and management experience on Weitzman business development and brand promotion.

Young also directs the statewide initiative to grow all of the business lines of the Weitzman platform.

Additionally, through active International Council of Shopping Centers involvement and national

leadership in the Retail Brokers Network, Young works to extend the firm's reach and presence with

clients, prospects and the overall industry at large. Prior to joining Weitzman, Young was senior

managing director for Kennedy‐Wilson. His extensive commercial real estate career also includes

service as executive vice president and managing director in charge of the Dallas operation for Grubb

& Ellis and as executive vice president for BEI Management, Inc.

Young serves on the Board of Directors and was the 2009 President of the Retail Brokers Network, a

nationwide retail networking group whose member companies specialize in retail real estate

brokerage. RBN’s independent firms work together on a regional and national level in tenant

representation, project leasing and investment sales. Young also is a member of the North Texas

Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR) and is past president of its board of directors. In

addition, he is a member of the Realtors Commercial Alliance national board of directors and is

active in The Real Estate Council, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Urban Land

Institute and the International Development Research Council. Young co‐authored a chapter in

“Leasing for Non‐leasing Professionals,” a book published by the International Council of Shopping

Centers. He is a regular instructor for ICSC nationwide educational programs and was dean for the

ICSC University at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and is now a faculty

member of ICSC's John T. Riordan School for Retail Real Estate Professionals.

Young received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Southwestern University in

Georgetown, Texas.

Steve Graham brings together a rare combination of expertise in architecture, construction, development and leasing. His career has embraced all of these talents and interests resulting in development experience focused on the largest and most-complicated commercial development challenges. Before launching Stellar Development Steve spent the previous 10 years as the Vice President for Destination Development for RED Development. Steve contributed greatly to the leasing, development and strategy behind some of RED’s biggest shopping centers, including The Legends Outlets of Kansas City, The Promenade at Chenal and The Legends at Sparks Marina.

Steve’s success lies in forging strong relationships with everyone from anchor tenants to community leaders, and from his wealth of knowledge of public financing structures and how to create successful public/private partnerships.

Steve received a BS in engineering and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin and his Masters in Architecture from the University of Kansas. Steve is well known in the destination attraction industry and is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars related to tourism-driven retail development.

As Vice President of Development at Portman Residential, Scott oversees the sourcing, entitlement, acquisition, and development of mixed-use and multifamily properties throughout Texas and the Southwest.

Prior to his tenure at Portman, Scott served as a key member of the development team at StreetLights Residential, where he skillfully managed the entire development process for both active and prospective projects across Texas and Florida.

Scott’s journey in real estate began at Jacobs Engineering, where he refined his expertise as a civil engineer within the land development division. Notably, his projects at Jacobs included the development of master-planned communities spanning thousands of acres.

Committed to advancing the industry, Scott actively engages with The Real Estate Council and ULI. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. Additionally, Scott is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas.

Zach Sams joined Kensington Vanguard in November of 2016 after serving as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Fidelity National Title’s Dallas/Fort Worth division from 2012-2016. Zach is focused on expanding KV’s footprint in the D/FW, Texas, Arizona and National markets. From selling real estate for to business development roles at prominent local and national title insurance companies, Zach has been active in the in the real estate market since 2005.

Prior to the title industry, Zach attended The Golf Academy of America in San Diego, then spent two years playing professional golf on various mini tours in Southern California. Zach is a Veteran of the US Army. Zach lives in Argyle, TX with his wife Amber and their two boys 11&13. In his free time Zach enjoys playing competitive amateur golf and traveling with his wife and kids.

Trademark Property Co. is a full-service real estate firm that specializes in creating community-focused retail, multi-family and mixed-use properties. As CEO, I lead a team of over 100 professionals who share my passion for placemaking, value creation and innovation. Together, we have invested in, operated, developed, or redeveloped more than 21 million square feet of properties valued at over $4.5B across the United States, creating meaningful experiences and long-term solutions for retailers, office tenants and communities.

I have 40 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, with a background in leasing, investments, and development. I hold an MBA in Real Estate and Finance from The University of Texas at Austin, and was a partner at Huff Brous McDowell and Montesi, a real estate brokerage, management and advisory firm. I am also an active member of several industry and academic organizations: I am on the board of the ICSC, a Governor of the Urban Land Institute, and on The University of Texas Development Board. Additionally, I host a monthly podcast called Leaning In, where I discuss trends and best practices in commercial real estate with my industry partners and peers.