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In-person Event Covid-19 Guidelines & Restrictions

This event will be in-person and have both a vaccinated and non-vaccinated seating section. Please note that the venue does require mask wearing at all times while inside.

Speakers and Panels

Dan Jones

Dan Jones

Senior EVP - Asset Management and Construction

Hartman Income REIT

Dan Jones

Senior EVP - Asset Management and Construction

Hartman Income REIT

Dan Jones has served as Senior Executive Vice President of Asset Management and Construction at Hartman Income REIT Management, Inc. (Hartman) since 2018. Mr. Jones, has over 25 years of diverse experience in construction, property management, financial analysis, and development in the commercial real estate industry. Mr. Jones’ priority at Hartman is to deliver the best-in-class building and tenant improvements while featuring sustainable practices to reduce landfill waste and energy consumption.

Before joining Hartman, Mr. Jones worked for multiple top commercial real estate leaders and Fortune 500 corporations. In his previous roles at Hines, PM Realty Group, Chevron, Stewart & Stevenson, and CenterPoint Energy, Mr. Jones served as a portfolio manager of office, retail, and industrial space, managing more than 7.5 million square feet.

While at PM Realty Group, Mr. Jones directed over 100 employees and provided services across the property management, building engineering, training, and quality control departments. Jones also held an integral role on the development team for a new 18 story, 385,000SF, Class A+ office building in the Greenway submarket in Houston, TX. The project was completed in 2015 and was the first new office building in the submarket in almost 30 years.

Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University and has been a contributing member of The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) since 1992. Mr. Jones enjoys volunteering at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and playing golf in his spare time.

Deep Ellum Deep Dive

Historical Re-Developments, Major Multifamily Developments & Preserving the Charm That Makes Deep Ellum so Unique

Brian Purcell

Brian Purcell

Managing Director

Asana Partners

Imran Sheikh

Imran Sheikh

CEO

Milkshake Concepts

Stephanie Hudiburg

Stephanie Hudiburg

Executive Director

Deep Ellum Foundation

Steven Upchurch

Steven Upchurch

Principal & Co-Managing Director

Gensler

Jon Hetzel

Jon Hetzel

Partner

Madison Partners

Greg Gordon
Moderator

Greg Gordon

President

Gordon Highlander

Brian Purcell

Managing Director

Asana Partners

Brian R. Purcell is a Managing Director of Asana Partners. Purcell has 12 years of commercial real estate experience in acquisitions, portfolio management, asset management, development, dispositions, and leasing in major markets in the United States. At Asana Partners, Purcell is a member of the Investment Committee and has overall responsibility for acquisitions.

Prior to Asana Partners, Purcell was a Director of Asset Management at USAA Real Estate Company, an investment management firm with over $15 billion in assets under management. In that role, Purcell oversaw a commercial real estate portfolio of over two million square feet located in the central region of the United States. Prior to his role in Asset Management, he was a Director of Portfolio Management, focusing on investments for multiple funds and separate accounts.

Prior to USAA Real Estate Company, Purcell was a Vice President at Lincoln Harris focused exclusively on retail real estate. Purcell began his real estate career at CBRE Group where he focused on shopping center investment sales and retail brokerage.

Purcell is a member of the Urban Land Institute, where he currently serves on the Capital Markets Council, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Deep Ellum Foundation.

Purcell earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a concentration in Real Estate and Corporate Finance, where he was the recipient of the Trammel Crow Residential/Leonard Wood Fellowship and a Dean’s Fellowship, and currently serves on the faculty. Purcell is a graduate of Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Imran Sheikh

CEO

Milkshake Concepts

Born and raised in London, UK, Imran Sheikh co-founded and serves as the President & CEO of Milkshake Concepts and brings a wealth of industry experience from his previous professional and business endeavors.

Imran graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London, with a BSc in Economics and Management and went on to work in finance and thereafter, as a management consultant. His career to date has spanned healthcare, fashion and hospitality in a variety of senior management roles and also as a partner.

He moved to Dallas in 2013 as the Managing Partner of Aftershock London, a UK based women's apparel retailer. In 2015, he co-founded Milkshake Concepts which owns Stirr, Vidorra, Citizen - the soon to open Harper’s - and Serious Pizza, and is primed for accelerated growth in the next 24 months.

Steven Upchurch

Principal & Co-Managing Director

Gensler

Steven Upchurch is a Principal and Co-Managing Director of Gensler Dallas, and a practice area leader for the firm’s hospitality practice. With over three decades of design, planning, management, and real estate development experience, Steven actively grows and diversifies Gensler’s various practice areas with a focus on the firm’s culture, its people, and platforms. He applies his knowledge of local, regional, and international markets to deliver impactful and memorable experiences to owners, developers, operators, and brands.

Jon Hetzel

Partner

Madison Partners

Jon Hetzel has worked at Madison Partners since May of 2007. Mr. Hetzel manages Madison’s underwriting, acquisitions/dispositions, financing, zoning, permitting, asset management for infill Dallas properties, and brokerage activities. Mr. Hetzel is also Madison’s spokesman for a wide variety of issues relating to Deep Ellum and Lower Greenville. He has taken the lead on helping to revitalize the two historic and truly unique Dallas neighborhoods.

Mr. Hetzel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in economics. In addition, Mr. Hetzel studied for a year at the London School of Economics. Mr. Hetzel is the President of the Deep Ellum Foundation, which manages the Deep Ellum PID, Chair of the Deep Ellum TIF Board of the City of Dallas, Boardmember of the Collin Creek Mall TIF Board of the City of Plano, and Boardmember of the Greater Dallas Planning Council. Mr. Hetzel is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute and The Real Estate Council. Mr. Hetzel has an active Texas Real Estate Broker’s License.

Greg Gordon

Moderator

Gordon Highlander

As a third-generation builder, Greg Gordon has spent the last 25+ years continuing his family’s legacy in construction and real estate. The guiding passion through it all has been a passion for serving others. Whether it’s serving clients, subcontractors, employees, or his own family, Greg truly believes in the principle of servant leadership combined with the commitment to excellence. It’s with these in mind, that Greg founded Gordon Highlander in 2007. Under Greg’s leadership, Gordon Highlander has experienced tremendous growth becoming one of the top General Contractors in DFW. Recently the company was awarded the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Places to Work award, further reflecting Greg’s ongoing commitment to the people around him.

Uptown Dallas Update

Attracting Anchor Tenants, Major Grocery Store Developments & The Hurting Hospitality Sector

Mahesh Tharoor
Opening Remarks

Mahesh Tharoor

Regional Director

SageGlass

Joel Behrens

Joel Behrens

Managing Director

Trammell Crow Company

Colin Fitzgibbons

Colin Fitzgibbons

President

Hunt Realty Investments

Jon King

Jon King

Brookfield Properties

SVP

Tip Housewright

Tip Housewright

Principal and CEO

Omniplan

Ryan Chismark

Ryan Chismark

Partner

Morrison & Head

Bryce Jackson
Moderator

Bryce Jackson

VP

Thirty-Four Commercial

Mahesh Tharoor

Opening Remarks

SageGlass

As the regional director for SageGlass, Mahesh leads the sales and business development strategy for

the Western and Central Regions of the United States.  With over 25 years of professional experience

and an extensive background in energy-related technologies, Mahesh offers extensive expertise on

energy efficiency and sustainability in the built environment. His profession certifications include

Certified Energy Manager, Certified Demand Side Management Professional, Business Energy

Professional and Six Sigma Black Belt.

SageGlass, the global leader in smart window technology, helps create low-carbon buildings that

enhance occupant wellness by delivering the world’s best dynamic glass.

Joel Behrens

Managing Director

Trammell Crow Company

Joel Behrens serves as Managing Director within TCC’s Dallas-Fort Worth office and of High Street Residential, TCC’s wholly-owned subsidiary specializing in the development of multifamily housing. In his role, he is responsible for the origination, financing, joint venture structuring, and execution of multi-family investments in Texas. During his tenure at TCC, Joel has executed on 7.1 million square feet of office, multifamily and mixed-use development projects with a total capitalized value of 2.0 billion totaling over 4,700 units. Joel began his career with TCC in 2008 as an Associate in the Houston office, focusing on office development. From 2009-2010, Joel served as an Asset Manager in Dallas, assisting with the investment committee process and oversight of TCC’s development projects. In 2010, Joel joined the Dallas-Fort Worth office as a Vice President where he assisted in the under writing and marketing of office, industrial and multifamily projects. In 2012, Joel took over the leadership of the Dallas-Fort Worth High Street Residential team.

Colin Fitzgibbons

President

Hunt Realty Investments

Colin Fitzgibbons is President of Hunt Realty Investments, LLC where he oversees the daily

operations of the nearly 50-year-old diversified development and investment firm.

Prior to Hunt, he was a sports reporter for The Washington Post for a short time before

entering the commercial real estate industry as a tenant rep broker for The Staubach

Company in New York City. In 2010, he joined KDC and was involved in numerous

developments in North Texas, most notably, CityLine and Legacy West, during his 10-year

tenure there. He is on the board of the Moorland Family Oak Cliff YMCA, The Real Estate

Council PAC, Downton Dallas, Inc., NAIOP and SMU's Folsom Institute.

Fitzgibbons received his MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist

University and a BA in Economics from Washington and Lee University. Fitzgibbons married

his college sweetheart, and together they have three sons and two large dogs.

Tip Housewright

Principal and CEO

Omniplan

As Principal and CEO of OMNIPLAN, Tip Housewright FAIA has led the charge throughout the country, and in DFW in particular, to create memorable spaces that connect with their communities using innovative and inspiring design solutions. Tip is the firm’s Citizen Architect, previously serving on Dallas City Plan Commission and as President of the Dallas Center for Architecture. Deciding to relocate OMNIPLAN’s offices to Uptown nearly 20 years ago and DCFA’s nearly 10 years ago, Tip has a longstanding commitment to Dallas and is passionate about its future.

Ryan Chismark

Partner

Morrison & Head

Mr. Chismark is a Partner with Morrison & Head, a Texas based property tax consulting, due diligence and appeals practice. He oversees the Dallas office working with institutional owners of commercial real estate through acquisition, development and property tax protests. Mr. Chismark’s team represents $14.5 Billion in commercial real estate in DFW. Morrison & Head is the fastest growing tax consulting practice in Texas and was recently named one of DFW’s 100 fastest growing companies for 2020. Ryan grew up in Syracuse, NY before relocating to Texas in 2012. He lives in Dallas with his wife Chelsea and his labradoodle Dwight.

Bryce Jackson

Moderator

Thirty-Four Commercial

Bryce is an VP at Thirty-Four Commercial. Prior to joining Thirty-Four Commercial, Bryce worked in business development for a start-up technology industrial firm. Bryce received a BS in Political Science and Marketing at the University of North Texas, where he led the University’s basketball team and was voted the best team player by his peers. He is passionate about servicing his clients with a do-whatever-it-takes attitude.

Bryce is invested in servicing his community through his work at Shoreline City Church and volunteering his time with the nonprofit Big Thought. He is a member of NTCAR and TREC.

Building A Better City

Urban Development, Connectivity & Connecting The Urban Central Core

Artemio De La Vega

Artemio De La Vega

CEO

De La Vega Development & Capital

Kathy Stewart

Kathy Stewart

Executive Director

Uptown Dallas

David Gunderson

David Gunderson

Founder and CEO

Corsair Ventures

Noelle LeVeaux

Noelle LeVeaux

Chief Marketing Officer

Communities Foundation of Texas

John Carruth

John Carruth

Principal & Director of Design

Merriman Anderson Architects

Brian Hunt
Moderator

Brian Hunt

Chief Administration Officer

Aon

Artemio De La Vega

CEO

De La Vega Development & Capital

Artemio De La Vega is the founder and CEO of De La Vega Development, a commercial real estate firm specializing in dynamic mixed-use developments. Mr. De La Vega has more than 25 years of experience in the entrepreneurial and real estate industry, with a focus on single-tenant, multi-tenant retail centers and mixed-use developments. He brings a versatile and deep knowledge of development, master planning, entitlements, construction and capital markets to every project.

Mr. De La Vega has successfully invested, acquired, developed or redeveloped more than 100 commercial real estate projects throughout the world. Some of his more notable projects include the 900,000 square-foot Las Palmas Marketplace in El Paso, TX; the 900,000-square-foot Canyon West in Lubbock, TX; the 400,000-square-foot Kings Crossing in Shreveport, LA; as well as multiple industrial distribution and manufacturing facilities for clients such as Chrysler, General Motors, Alcoa, Yazaki, Bergamasca and more.

As a recognized leader in the commercial real estate industry, Mr. De La Vega frequently serves as a panelist for many leadership and future vision summits. He is also a guest columnist for a variety of publications and active with several professional organizations, including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and The Real Estate Council (TREC). In addition, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Chancellor’s Council of the University of Texas System, is a board member and donor to the FEMAP Foundation, and a proud donor and supporter of the Artemio De La Vega Scholarship Fund for the benefit of Hispanic students at the University of Texas, El Paso.

He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas, is a graduate of Culver Military Academy, Jr. Reserve Officers Training Corps and holds an FAA private aircraft license. Mr. De La Vega enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.

Kathy Stewart

Executive Director

Uptown Dallas

Kathy is the former Executive Director of the Lake Highlands and North Lake Highlands public improvement districts. She began at the Uptown public improvement district on November 4, 2019.

Kathy served as Executive Director for the Lake Highlands Public Improvement District (PID) since 2014 as well as the North Lake Highlands Public Improvement District (PID) since 2018. Before her role as the Executive Director, she was a board member of the PID which was established in 2009.

“We’re honored to have Kathy’s expertise to lead the UDI organization,” said Jud Pankey UDI Chairman of the Board. “Kathy has stewarded countless improvements within the city and has a proven track record of success. We’re certain her value will shine in Uptown.”

In addition to her roles and service at both PID’s, Kathy practiced law in estate planning, probate and supported small businesses in asset purchase, sales and leasing at the Law Offices of Robb Stewart before opening her own practice at the Law Offices of Katherine B. Stewart. Kathy also owned and operated the Highlands Café in Lake Highlands for 10 years.

As Kathy joins Uptown Dallas Inc., her first initiative will include assessing and implementing the organizations new strategic plan. In 2018-2019, Uptown Dallas Inc. established new goals which outline short-term and long-term expectations that will guide Uptown district into the future.

In her first meeting with the UDI board of directors, she announced, “I’m here for you and I want to hear the successes and the challenges.”

The executive director selection committee, led by Paula Peters, consisted of UDI board members: Joel Behrens, Kelem Butts, Whitney Farley, Kevin Hickman, Noelle LeVeaux, Jud Pankey, Katy Slade, Neal Sleeper and Cheryl Thompson.

Kathy Stewart will lead the Uptown Dallas Inc. staff of Michael Reeder Director of Maintenance, Anita Simmons, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Bailey Sanders Office Manager and Project Coordinator.

Noelle LeVeaux

Chief Marketing Officer

Communities Foundation of Texas

Noelle LeVeaux joined CFT in July of 2020 as chief marketing officer and serves on CFT's executive leadership team.

Noelle is an executive leader, brand expert and marketing strategist. Noelle graduated from Spelman College with a bachelors degree in mathematics and has more than twenty-five years of professional experience in marketing and communications, with a focus on building brand strategy and helping organizations and people take their brands to the next level by maximizing their efforts, resources, and ideas.

Over the course of Noelle’s career, she’s had the opportunity to market some of Dallas’ greatest institutions and put them on a global stage for recognition of their achievements. Her specialties include public speaking, writing, personal/professional brand development, public relations, media relations, content and event marketing, employee communications and culture building, consumer insights, crisis communications, leadership development, partnership building and creative idea generation.

Noelle shared that she is excited to join what she considers to be another one of Dallas’ greatest institutions, CFT, and is looking forward to continuing the momentum while bringing new ideas and innovations to go above and beyond. She shared that for her, CFT’s CMO role feels like the perfect culmination of her experience, passion, relationships and purpose.

Prior to joining CFT, Noelle most recently served as a brand strategist and nonprofit executive for Noelle LeVeaux Concepts which has included serving as the interim president for Uptown Dallas, Inc. and managing the re-branding of several businesses and nonprofits. From 2012-2017, she served as the chief marketing officer and senior vice president of marketing at Visit Dallas, the marketing arm of the City of Dallas. In 2012, she launched the award winning BIG Campaign to rebrand Dallas and raise its travel and tourism profile. From 2007 – 2012, she served as the vice-president of marketing/public relations for Children’s Medical Center, where she co-produced a 13-part television documentary that aired on the local ABC affiliate.

Noelle co-founded Dress for Success Dallas, a nonprofit for disadvantaged women and also launched Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas. Noelle is a published children’s book author, blogger, and past Ted Talk speaker. She was named to the D Magazine Dallas 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in 2016 and 2017, was named the Chief Marketing Officer of the Year by Dallas CMO Club in 2016, was named one of the Dallas Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader in 2014, was honored by Skift.com as one of the 50 top travel marketers in the world in 2013, and is a 2011 Leadership Dallas graduate.

John Carruth

Principal & Director of Design

Merriman Anderson Architects

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.

Brian Hunt

Moderator

Aon

Brian Hunt has spent more than 20 years helping his clients identify and understand how risk

could impact their businesses. He joined Aon in 2016 as an Account Executive in the Dallas

office of Aon’s Construction Services Group. As an Account Executive, he is the main point of

contact to help Aon prospects and clients think strategically about their construction-related

exposure to risk. In 2020 & 2021, Brian was named a Power Broker in construction by Risk &

Insurance magazine.

Why This Matters

What You'll Learn: 

  • The steps to creating an office environment that top tenants want to relocate to.

  • What is being done in both Uptown and Deep Ellum to help the restaurant and hospitality industries recovers.

  • The pros and cons of re-development vs new development, and the tools to save money in the development process.

Who You'll Meet: Developers, owners, investors, engineers, brokers, architects, lenders, EDC's, city officials, engineers, lawyers, restaurants, small business owners, and accountants. 

Why You Should Attend: You will hear from top players in both Deep Ellum and Uptown on the major projects currently under development, the steps being taken to recover and attract new tenants, and how each neighborhood is differentiating itself to create a true urban core. We will dive into the pros and cons of Deep Ellum versus Uptown and hear where the areas of opportunities are in each market.

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Texas event producer, Sophie McCourt at sophie.mccourt@bisnow.com

Venue

Kimpton Pittman Hotel Dallas

2551 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226
Dallas 75226

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
1:00 PM
1:55 PM
Opening Networking
2:00 PM
2:45 PM
Uptown Dallas Major Developments

Attracting Anchor Tenants, Major Grocery Store Developments & The Hurting Hospitality Sector

2:45 PM
3:30 PM
Deep Ellum Deep Dive

Historical Re-Developments, Major Multifamily Developments & Preserving the Charm That Makes Deep Ellum so Unique

3:30 PM
4:15 PM
Building A Better City

Urban Development, Connectivity & Connecting The Urban Central Core

4:15 PM
4:30 PM
Closing Networking