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Event Host

Hotel Drover

Hotel Drover

Nestled in the new, reimagined Mule Alley district, Hotel Drover, an Autograph Collection hotel, celebrates the rich history and lore with its inviting design and core values, embodying the same pioneering spirit and key principles of honor and dignity exemplified by the drovers and great cattlemen and women of their time. A place where simple pleasures and one-of-a-kind experiences blend effortlessly to become special memories, Hotel Drover intentionally connects guests to the history of the Wild West with an invigorating offering of outdoor adventure, authentic experiences, art, and local cuisine. Aspiring to be a token of appreciation for the lively culture and history of the Stockyards, Hotel Drover is a post for the modern-day pioneer, the traveler compelled by the same authenticity and draw that the drovers of their time once felt.

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Our commitment to your safety

We have been inspired by the industry’s enthusiasm as we return to live events and have been thrilled to safely host more than 5,500 executives this summer. As we continue to overcome and emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, we know the best way through the latest developments and to keep the industry thriving is by working together. As such, we are updating our event safety guidelines & protocols as follows:

  • Facial coverings will be required by all staff & attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be made available at the door.

  • Temperature checks will be conducted at entry.

  • Attendance at the event will be capped and no tickets will be sold at the door.

  • Contact tracing procedures will be employed for any reported exposure.

  • Socially distanced seating will be available in the main event space.

  • Enhanced sanitization protocols will be adhered to throughout the event space including regularly disinfecting surfaces throughout the event and hand sanitizer provided to all attendees.

As local regulations and guidance evolve, the CRE industry continues to lead the way forward. We look forward to gathering safely to do what we do best: network, connect, and engage to do more business. We look forward to hosting you soon.

Speakers and Panels

Creating An Entertainment District

Chad Estis

Chad Estis

EVP of Business Operations

Dallas Cowboys

Sean Decker

Sean Decker

EVP, Sports & Entertainment

Texas Rangers

Jason Boso

Jason Boso

Concept Creator & Culture Crusader

Brain Storm Shelter Restaurants

Jim Watry

Jim Watry

COO

Texas Live!

Trenton Price
Moderator

Trenton Price

President

Vision Commercial Real Estate

Chad Estis

EVP of Business Operations

Dallas Cowboys

As Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Dallas Cowboys and AT&T Stadium, Estis works

with the business leadership team to grow and strengthen the businesses. His area of expertise includes corporate

partnerships, stadium suites and ticket sales, media and branding and third party events. His contributions have

been numerous and industry defying as they include the most successful stadium suite and seat license sales

campaign, a newly developed tour and catered event business, as well as several new business concepts for a

professional sports organization. He is also leading the organizations new headquarters and world training facility

project “The Star” which will open in Frisco in August of 2016. On this project, he has developed and executed new

concepts such as the Cowboys Club that will help engage fans in ways never done before. He has also helped local

organizing committee’s bring the NBA All-Star game, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, Academy of Country Music,

NCAA National Championship Football Playoff Games and WrestleMania to North Texas. He has strategically

created an industry-leading tour and catered event business and his teams continue to set the bar for revenue

generation.

Legends provides an integrated solution for creating a unique atmosphere for guests through Global Planning,

Global Sales and Hospitality divisions synchronizing a 360 degree solution across its four platform—North

America Professional, Collegiate, International and Attractions. As Executive Vice President of Legends, Chad Estis

is responsible for working with the leadership team and business leads to grow and strengthen the business. With

deep-rooted industry relationships, he focuses on the development of large-scale projects, while remaining

involved on a day-to-day basis on Global Sales existing partnerships. Chad’s contributions to Legends during his

tenure have been numerous and company defying. Most notably he spearheaded the creation and growth of Global

Sales and led the division to become one of the most influential in its industry. As well, his vision to bring CSL

International into the Legends family identifying a natural synergy and creating an industry advantage that has

evolved to include Global Planning in Legends 360-degree business solution.

Before joining the Cowboys organization, Estis served as Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer of the

Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena from 2006-07. In this role, Chad oversaw all sales, marketing,

community relations, communications, website and game operations.

Estis became VP of Sales and Business Development for the Cavaliers in 2001. Since that time the Cavaliers saw

attendance increase on average from 11,497 during the 2001-02 to 20,430 in the 2006-07 season. Estis also led

the effort in adding several new premium-seating concepts to The Q. These include the Key Private Bank Court

Club for floor seat holders, the Mercedes Benz Club and new in 2006-07 the Platinum Lounge and Suites. All of

those areas are sold out.

Before reuniting with the Cavaliers (Estis’ career in sports began with the Cavaliers as a telemarketing

representative in 1994), Estis was the Vice President of Sales for the Tampa Bay Lightning for two years. This

followed his position in sales management for Palace Sports & Entertainment, which included properties such as

the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Shock (WNBA), Detroit Vipers (IHL), Pine Knob Music Theater and Meadowbrook

Music Festival. While at Palace Sports & Entertainment, Estis created the entry level inside sales program which

has been a success throughout much of the NBA.

Estis also spent 1996-1998 as a Client Services Manager for the leading executive recruiting firm in sports,

Teamwork Consulting.

Estis is a 1993 graduate of Ohio University and a 1994 graduate of Ohio’s Sports Administration Masters Program.

Estis was a four-year letter winner on Ohio’s basketball team and captained the 1994 MAC Championship team.

Sean Decker

EVP, Sports & Entertainment

Texas Rangers

Sean Decker was promoted to Executive Vice President, Sports & Entertainment in January 2020 after

serving as a Senior Vice President, Operations & Events since June 2017.

Decker is responsible for the expansion and growth of the organization’s Rangers Events Division.

Additionally, he leads the teams Retail and Authentics Department and is responsible for the oversight of the

two Minor League teams owned by the Rangers.

Previously, Decker spent four years as the Rangers Vice President, Ballpark Operations. He joined the

club in 2010 and has served in several roles including Sr. Account Executive, Suite Sales and Director of Sales

and Assistant Vice President of Rangers Enterprises.

Decker began his career in professional baseball as Operations Assistant with the Pacific Coast

League’s Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 2008 and also worked as Assistant Director of Baseball Operations for

MLB’s Arizona Fall League and as Corporate Marketing Manager for the Texas League’s Frisco RoughRiders

before joining the Rangers.

Decker currently serves on the board for both the Arlington and Dallas Sports Commissions.

A native of Grapevine, Texas he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Studies

from Tarleton State University.  Sean and his wife Renni have a son, Rhett, and reside in Colleyville.

Jason Boso

Concept Creator & Culture Crusader

Brain Storm Shelter Restaurants

Jason Boso found his way into restaurant development after stints as a stockbroker, ad salesman, and scuba instructor. His culinary path began with his frustration that he couldn’t get a decent burger in Dallas without going to a steakhouse and paying 20 bucks –so off to culinary school he went. Jason’s passion is identifying what people want and need and developing creative concepts around those ideas. At least that’s how he explains why he owns a Toilet Seat Art Museum, a ferris wheel, and America’s largest beer stein collection.

After culinary school, Chef Boso opened Twisted Root Burger Co. in 2006.Twisted Root landed on the national radar after being featured onFood Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in 2009. Twisted Root has since been named a Nation’s Restaurant NewsHotConceptand featured in QSR's 11Sizzling Better-Burger Concepts to Watch.

Jason’s bar garden concept, Truck Yard, was built in 2013 around a sprawling backyard with a rotating cast of local food trucks, multiple bars and a cheesesteak restaurant. Truck Yard has been featured as one of Travel & Leisure’sBest Sports Bars in America, on the Travel Channel’s‘101Best Places to “Chow Down” in the US’ andon the Booze Traveler episode covering the Best Bars in the US. Second Rodeo Brewing Co., opening late 2020, puts a prison rodeo spin on Truck Yard’s bar garden environment and in lieu of food trucks customers will find Chef Boso’s take on chicken wingsalongside the classic Truck Yard cheesesteaks.

Second Rodeo’s brewery, helmed by veteran brew master Dennis Wehrman, founder of the first microbrewery in the Dallas metroplex, will be open for touring and tasting, and Truck Yard’s favorite bottled and craft draft cocktails are featured at the full bar.

Brain Storm Shelter Restaurants, Jason’s restaurant management company, oversees Twisted Root, Truck Yard, and his other concepts: By The Horns Brewing (brewpub), Tacos & Avocados (tacos), Hart Hall (event space), and the Greenville Theater, which features weekly improv comedy. All of that keeps Jason’s hands and creative mind just busy enough to keep him out of jail.

Jim Watry

COO

Texas Live!

Jim Watry is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Texas Live!, one of the largest and most

exciting sports-anchored developments in the country. The project, located in the heart of the

Arlington Entertainment District adjacent to Globe Life Field, Globe Life Park and AT&T

Stadium, features over 200,000 square feet of best-in-class dining and entertainment space, a

5,000-capacity outdoor event pavilion, as well as Live! by Loews – Arlington, TX, a 300-room

upscale hotel with 35,000 square feet of convention, meeting, and special event space.

Mr. Watry brings more than 20 years of experience in the dining, entertainment, and hospitality

industry to this role, as well as a long history of community and philanthropic involvement. Prior

to Texas Live!, Mr. Watry served as Chief Operating Officer of Ballpark Village, a dynamic

sports-anchored dining and entertainment district in St. Louis, MO adjacent to Busch Stadium,

as well as District Manager of the Kansas City Power & Light District, a vibrant nine block

dining, entertainment, retail, residential, lifestyle and office district in the heart of downtown

Kansas City, MO.

A native of St. Louis, Jim graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor's

degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. He earned the first level introductory Sommelier

designation in 2003 and second level certified Sommelier designation in 2006.

Trenton Price

Moderator

Vision Commercial Real Estate

Trenton Price is a Dallas/Fort Worth native, born and raised in Arlington, Texas. Trenton’s passion and commitment for his hometown exude through his extensive portfolio of commercial projects spanning the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, including Globe Life Park in Arlington and many office and retail properties throughout the metroplex. Trenton’s represents over 100 thousand square feet of space and over $500 million in assets. He has a BA in Finance and had a successful career as a financial planner before moving into real estate.

Trenton joined Vision Commercial in 2017 after beginning his real estate career at another local firm. Starting out as Director of Vision’s Mid-Cities/HEB portfolio he proved successful in providing client advisory services in landlord representation and investment sales. In 2019 he opened the company’s new Arlington office at Globe Life Park. In 2021 he was elected President.

Before entering commercial real estate, Trenton began his career at Spectrum Financial Group starting in financial advisory before moving over to wealth management. From there he was recruited to Cornerstone as their Executive Director of Operations. The role involved oversight of the facilities, accounting, and human resource departments. In addition to these roles, Trenton spent seven years at Tarrant County College working on both the academic and workforce-developed sides of the organization.

As a highly active and connected community member, Trenton regularly volunteers for youth sporting events with the Amateur Athletic Union and has served six years on the Tarrant County Literacy Coalition’s Board of Directors. He is a member of both the HEB and Arlington Chamber of Commerce. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, traveling, and family time with his wife and three children.

State of the Fort Worth Market

Craig Cavileer

Craig Cavileer

Co-Founder

Delightful Development Co

Artemio De La Vega

Artemio De La Vega

CEO

De La Vega Development & Capital

Jessica Miller Essl

Jessica Miller Essl

Co-President

M2G Ventures

Mark Miller

Mark Miller

SVP

Hillwood

Mary-Margaret Lemons

Mary-Margaret Lemons

President

Fort Worth Housing Solution

Aaliyah Haqq
Moderator

Aaliyah Haqq

VP

Dominus Commercial

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.

Jessica Miller Essl

Co-President

M2G Ventures

Jessica Miller Essl is the co-president of M2G Ventures, a

commercial real estate private equity and advisory development

comp any based in Fort Worth, Texas. Guided by the leadership of

Jessica and her partner, Susan Gruppi, the fast-growing company

carefully invests in distinctive mixed-use and industrial

development projects located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex

and the Austin Central Texas region.

Jessica is responsible for business development, strategy, marketing, leasing and overseeing

the company’s landlord advisory practices at M2G. Under Jessica’s leadership, the company

continues to push the envelope with innovative ways to create places users want to be. Jessica

possesses a relentless drive in truly creating value-add opportunities for all of the projects the

company touches.

Prior to starting M2G, Jessica was with Open Realty Advisors. During her tenure there, Jessica

was instrumental in the company’s landlord consulting platform. She led the strategy and

execution of the real estate roll out for Tesla and Spanx across North America. Jessica also

played a key role in the site selection and execution of other major brands, such as J. Crew,

Apple, Restoration Hardware, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Abercrombie & Fitch, to name a

few. She negotiated transactions with every major retail owner in the United States during her

time there.

Prior to joining Open Realty, Jessica was Senior Leasing Representative at Trademark Property

Company, where she specialized in the leasing strategy, execution, and project management

of super-regional malls and upscale mixed-use centers. Jessica is credited with bringing some

of the nation’s most premier specialty retailers to Trademark’s projects during her four years

there.

Jessica serves on the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, the TCU Center for Real Estate

Advisory Board, the Board for the TCU M.J. Neeley Entrepreneurial School, and the Small

Development Council for Urban Land Institute. Jessica was named Top 40 under 40 in 2017 as

well as received the Strong Partner Award from Girls Inc. of Tarrant County. She is a graduate

of Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Real

Estate with a Concentration in Leadership.

Mary-Margaret Lemons

President

Fort Worth Housing Solution

Mary-Margaret Spikes Lemons, President, joined Fort Worth Housing Solutions as General Counsel in 2015 and became president in 2017. Previously she worked as a senior attorney at a boutique law firm specializing in oil and gas, and earlier as General Counsel at a locally headquartered $1.2 billion bank overseeing Risk Management, Compliance and Vendor Management.

Mary-Margaret serves on the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Apartment Association and is a past director of the Texas Association of Bank Counsel and Tarrant County Women’s Bar Association. She was honored as “Communicator of the Year” by the Greater Fort Worth Chapter of Public Relations Society of America in 2019. The Texas Wesleyan School of Law named her Alumnus of the Year in 2012 and the Fort Worth Business Press recognized her in its ‘40 Under 40’ program the same year. Her recent activities in the local community include serving as Committee Chair for The W.A.R.M. Place’s 2016 annual gala, as a member of Cancer Care’s National Cancer Survivor’s Day committee and as a YMCA youth soccer coach.

Mary-Margaret speaks frequently at housing industry conferences and at the Texas A&M School of Law. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations at the University of Texas-Arlington and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Wesleyan School of Law.

Aaliyah Haqq

Moderator

Dominus Commercial

Aaliyah Haqq, Vice President at Dominus Commercial partners with C-level executives, entrepreneurs and business leaders to explore the relationship between office space, strategy, purpose, culture, and staff retention. After spending nearly two decades in leadership development and health & human services, Aaliyah has consistently used her super powers to create the conditions for leaders, organizations, and communities to be at their best.

A strong advocate for serving the community, Aaliyah is a past Board Chair for Promise House and the National Family Preservation Network. She currently serves on Dallas CASA’s Board of Directors, is a member of the Promise House Executive Support and Assessment Team, and is a member of Hofstra University’s School of Health Professions and Human Services Dean’s Advisory Committee. To support the demands of being a corporate athlete, she plays soccer, practices yoga, and is a marathoner.

Aaliyah holds a BS from Hofstra University in Community Health and is a Licensed Texas Realtor. Her professional affiliations include CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), NTCAR (North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors), and Conscious Capitalism. She is currently the Chair of the CREW Dallas Smart Growth Committee and is a member of CREW Network’s Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force.

Opening Remarks

Chris Briggs

Chris Briggs

Senior Vice President

Buxton

Chris Briggs

Senior Vice President

Buxton

In his role as senior vice president, Chris Briggs leads cross-functional initiatives that support Buxton’s work in the public sector and commercial real estate industry. Since joining the company in 2003, Chris has held leadership positions in operations, product development, marketing, client experience, and sales – including as a consultant to Buxton’s retail and healthcare clients. He has been a featured speaker at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and the Texas A&M Mays School of Business.

Chris is actively involved in the business and educational community. He has been an adjunct instructor at the TCU Neeley School of Business MBA program, coordinated the Buxton Challenge at the Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative and Texas A&M University, served on the advisory board for the International City/County Managers Association, contributed to the Harvard Business Review, and served on the board of the University of North Texas College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS). He received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of North Texas and continued executive education from Southern Methodist University. Chris has been recognized by the UNT College of Arts and Sciences as an Outstanding Alumnus.

Event Summary

What You'll Learn:

  • Tarrant County from the Mid-Cities to Fort Worth and beyond is capturing industrial and corporate investment dollars.

  • Learn more about where investors are acquiring land and developing sites in and around Tarrant County.

  • Take a deep dive into CRE construction projects coming out of the ground in Fort Worth and surrounding suburbs.

  • What Tarrant County suburbs are braced for residential, retail and corporate growth? You'll hear directly from developers, investors, property owners, and city leaders who are ushering in a new era of Tarrant County growth and development.

  • How Arlington's sports, entertainment and restaurant districts survived the pandemic and when a return to normal is expected?

How You'll Do More Business: As land prices rise around DFW and investment opportunities and cap rates make older, established areas too costly for investors and developers, Tarrant County is braced to serve as one of the last frontiers for affordable land. You'll learn where the next 'hot spots' are for investors and developers.

Who You'll Meet: Owners, investors, developers, GC’s, engineers, architects, lawyers, brokers, tenants/ end-users, prop-tech companies, accountants and city officials.  

What Does Your Ticket Get You: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us. 

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

Venue

Hotel Drover
200 Mule Alley
Fort Worth, TX 76164

Ballroom: Barn, 1st Floor & Legacy Hall, 2nd Floor


Parking information: Valet parking only – $10.00 per vehicle

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
Opening Networking
2:00 PM
2:45 PM
The State of The Fort Worth Market
2:45 PM
3:30 PM
Creating An Entertainment District
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
Closing Networking

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