Bill Irby is a United States Naval Academy alum with more than 25 years of senior

management experience in uncrewed air and maritime systems, actuation hardware,

ISR systems, and communication systems. He served as a Vice President at Northrop

Grumman, one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology

providers, generating $30 billion annually. Most recently Bill was President of MTI and

Steel Partners Holdings L.P., a diversified global holding company with operations in

industrial products, energy, defense, supply chain management and logistics.

An former advisor to Ghost Robotics and immediate past Chairman of the Association

for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Irby also served as COO of Martin

UAV, successfully teaming to achieve the sale to Shield AI , and Sector President at L3

Harris Technologies, directing the Reconnaissance Mission Systems division providing

world-class complex systems development and integration, ISR capabilities, senior

leader communications systems and aircraft modification services/sustainment.

He holds a Master’s degree in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University

and a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from the United States Naval Academy. He also

serves as an Advisory Board member of Secmation and LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion

Solutions.

For more than 20 years, Jamee Jolly has been leading

organizations, driving economic development, and uniting

communities. Jamee joined The Real Estate Council in 2024.

Previously, Jamee led Uptown Dallas, Inc. (UDI), guiding the Public

Improvement District (PID) through its third decade of public realm

enhancements and community engagement.

In 2022, Jamee won her party’s nomination for the Texas House of Representatives for District 70

(Plano, Richardson, Dallas, and Allen). Although just 1.3% shy of the nomination, Jamee was able to

garner strong community-wide support from 49% of voters.

Prior to campaigning for office, Jamee served as the Executive Director of Plano ISD’s Education

Foundation. She engineered collaborations between the school district and business community to

support and elevate key programs that benefited students. From 2010-2019 Jamee lead the Plano

Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO. Under Jamee’s leadership, the Plano Chamber

received 5-Star Accreditation and recognized as Chamber of the Year in 2018 by the US Chamber of

Commerce.

Jamee has worked with numerous membership and trade organizations including the Greater Dallas

Restaurant Association, Collin County Association of Realtors, Florida Institute of CPAs, as well as a

previous role with The Real Estate Council as Public Policy and programs Director. She provided

administrative and lobbying support for the Woodall Rodgers Deck Park effort (now known as Klyde

Warren Park).

Jamee Jolly is a mission-driven, senior executive with proven successes and her ability to manage

cross-functional teams and connect partners to deliver high-quality solutions is what makes her an

invaluable asset. She has earned the CAE (Certified Association Executive), IOM (Institute for

Organization Management) and CCE (Certified Chamber Executive) designations.

Jamee has served on multiple boards, including: the Plano Rotary Club, the Texas Association of

Business, and the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives. She is a Leadership Plano Class 30

Graduate, City of Plano Government Academy Graduate, and was named Collin County 40 Under 40

by the Collin County Business Press.

With a master’s degree in Sport Marketing from Florida State University, Jamee is an avid Florida

State Seminole fan. She has an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and sports studies from Texas

A&M – Commerce. She and her fur-children, Maks and Mollie, live in Plano.

Carrie Smith is Executive Vice President at Franklin Street, where she leads the firm’s national Leasing line of business and plays a key role in advancing the company’s strategic growth initiatives. As a member of the executive team, Smith helps guide the firm’s leadership and long-term vision.

With more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience, Smith specializes in both occupier and landlord representation. She has supported the expansion of local, regional, and national tenants while overseeing a portfolio of more than four million square feet of retail space throughout North Florida. Her client roster includes nationally recognized brands such as Panda Express, Jimmy John's, Dollar Tree, Raising Canes, CAVA, First Watch, Kimco Realty, Noble Properties, Crow Holdings, FrostPoint Capital and Last Mile Investments.

Smith joined Franklin Street in 2010 and previously served as Regional Managing Partner, where she oversaw the growth of the Jacksonville office and played a key role in recruiting agents and staff. Prior to being named Executive Vice President of Retail, Office, and Industrial in 2025, she served as Senior Vice President of Retail Agency Leasing and Tenant Services.

An active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Smith has served on the Next Generation Committee, North Florida Idea Exchange Committee, and Florida ICSC Committee Co-Chair. Smith currently services on the Advisory Board for North Florida ULI, and the Florida Retail Product Council Group for ULI Florida. She has also been recognized for her professional achievements by organizations including Real Estate Forum and the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Smith earned a degree in International Affairs from Florida State University.

Kevin Brooke serves as a Vice President in Trammell Crow Company’s Austin Business Unit. In this role, he is responsible for sourcing and executing development opportunities in Austin and Central Texas. More specifically, he manages the design, capitalization, leasing and disposition of development projects. Since joining the company in 2017, Mr. Brooke has been involved in a wide range of projects and product types totaling more than 5 million square feet.

Mr. Brooke began his career at Wells Fargo Securities on the Commercial Real Estate Capital Markets and Finance team, where he was involved in the issuance of more than $10 billion of commercial mortgage backed securities.

Ben Molk serves as Senior Vice President, Investments for Crescent Real Estate LLC and is based in Denver. Mr. Molk’s responsibilities include oversight of the office vertical. In this role he is responsible for acquisitions, dispositions and asset management, as well as working jointly with the leasing and property management teams in Crescent markets. Previously at Crescent he oversaw over 1 billion dollars in acquisitions, management and dispositions and directly managed all phases of the firms Boulder assets.

Mr. Molk joined Goff Capital Partners (“GCP”) as Vice President in February of 2007 prior to its conversion to Crescent Real Estate LLC in 2016. While at GCP, Mr. Molk was involved in the acquisition of over 1 million square feet of office. Prior to joining GCP, Mr. Molk worked at Chotin Asset Management where he developed the bond surveillance software and acquisitions models utilized in the re-securitization of over 6 billion dollars of mortgage-backed securities.

Mr. Molk graduated from The University of Montana in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science.

Steve Dietz is a Managing Director at HqO. HqO is a provider of software and services to the commercial real estate industry, enabling owners and operators to provide the best experience to their tenants and customers, and giving unrivaled data and insights into their portfolios. In this role, Steve is responsible for new business activity, management of existing client relationships, product delivery, and customer success. Prior to the Managing Director role, he was responsible for Product Management and UX Design for three years. Steve has been building and marketing products for fifteen years, and in addition has deep strategic analysis and M&A experience.

Before founding QIP, Chad was Vice President, Acquisitions for Hillwood Investment Properties, where, from 2004 to 2012, he focused on development and acquisition opportunities in numerous markets nationally. In addition to helping lead the company’s acquisition team Chad coordinated over $1 billion in dispositions. He also played an integral role in the sourcing and structuring of numerous institutional joint ventures and development partnerships. Prior to joining Hillwood, Chad was a Director of Leasing and Dispositions with Emerson Partners, a Dallas based owner and operator of office and industrial properties.

Billy is a Managing Director at Transwestern with expertise in the Office and Industrial sectors.  He is a Dallas native and

7 th generation Texan. He has been in the real estate industry since 2004. He started his career as a commercial appraiser

and spent 13 years at Cushman and Wakefield. His real estate career has taken him across the country representing

various clients with lease negotiations, acquisitions, dispositions, sale leasebacks, portfolio review and economic

incentive consulting.

Billy won the 2013 Dallas Business Journal award for the Best Urban Office Deal of the Year when he represented Reel FX

with their headquarters acquisition of a 73,000 RSF former Yahoo warehouse in Deep Ellum. In addition, Billy has an

extensive background representing distribution and manufacturing companies, energy firms, fintech groups and law

firms.

With over 20 years and 4 million square feet of workplace interiors experience, Lillian is a problem solver with a collaborative spirit and unimpeachable commitment to her clients. She meets the demands of each project by staying focused on the possibilities. She has overseen the strategy, planning, and design for more than 1.2 million square feet of global energy projects. A former Regional Practice Area Leader for Financial Services Firms, Lillian also has expertise in all workplace interiors including technology, product development, legal, and management services. She received her Bachelor of Interior Design from Louisiana State University.

As Principal at ARCO/Murray, Trevor works within the Industrial and Tenant Improvement divisions where he oversees strategic growth opportunities throughout the US. His current project list of end-user clients includes food processors and cold users, distribution, trucking and logistics companies. Utilizing experience of real estate development, investments and construction, he maintains a global perspective of the project goals and ensures alignment of all stakeholders. As an entrepreneur, he prides himself on understanding the innerworkings of our clients’ businesses and working within our team to find solutions to their real estate needs. At the top of his favorite achievements is when he earns the business of a skeptical prospect and then creates a Raving Fan of ARCO and a friend through the process of construction. Trevor is an avid sportsman and enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys.

Trevor graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance

As Vice President of Strategic Development & Innovation, Kim primarily focuses on advancing strategic initiatives related to the Alliance development program. Kim works closely with various business units within Hillwood to advance long-term development strategies and partnerships. She serves as the master developer for Landmark and Frisco Station.

A salesman at heart, Jeremy’s primary focus is on filling our buildings and new business development.

At Cawley Partners Since: 2012

Graduated From: Texas A&M

Jessica Collins is the director of design, Interiors in HOK’s Dallas studio. As a process-driven creative, she works collaboratively with clients and project teams, taking pride in not just the end result but also the service, delivery and design experience. Jess approaches design with ingenuity and interdisciplinary thinking to create curated and authentic spaces that celebrate the client’s brand, values and ethos while elevating the human experience.

An active member of the design community, she serves on the Programs Committee for the Real Estate Council, is a founding member of the American Society of Interior Design’s (ASID) x10 Collective, and is a past board member for International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) Southern California chapter. Jess routinely appears in panels and articles on workplace strategy and employee engagement and was named to ASID’s “Ones to Watch” list recognizing emerging leaders in the field of interior design.

With over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, Heather Konopka is a trusted expert

in land development, investment sales, office and 1031 exchanges across the Dallas–Fort Worth

Metroplex. As Managing Director of a Sperry Commercial franchise, she combines deep market

knowledge with strategic foresight to guide clients through complex transactions, always with

integrity, precision, and heart.

Heather holds the prestigious CCIM designation (earned in 2005) and was recently invited to

join The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), an elite global organization recognizing seasoned,

high-impact advisors. Her commitment to professional excellence is matched by her dedication

to mentorship, having served as a CCIM instructor and a mentor with Project Destined, where

she helped develop future leaders in commercial real estate.

Her leadership journey includes senior roles at Marcus & Millichap and C21 Commercial, as

well as ownership of a successful Sperry Van Ness franchise. In 2004, Heather helped launch

Keller Williams' first commercial division alongside co-founder Joe Williams, a pioneering

move that reflected her entrepreneurial spirit.

Heather has advised on a wide range of asset classes, from industrial and multifamily to

residential land development. She’s especially known for sourcing off-market multifamily deals

and guiding clients through land entitlement processes, often drawing on her background as a

principal in commercial land ventures.

What truly sets Heather apart is her relationship-driven approach. She serves her clients not only

as an advisor but as a trusted partner, passionate about their success and committed to delivering

results with care, transparency, and respect.

When she’s not closing deals or scouting new opportunities, Heather cherishes time with family,

friends and faith, she enjoys fine wine, and finds peace sailing or soaking in sunsets at the lake or

beach.

Awards & Affiliations

• Counselors of Real Estate (CRE)

• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM Since 2005)

• Top 10 at Sperry 2025

• Top 5 at Sperry 2024

• 2022 Globe St. Women of Influence – Investment Sales

• NAR National Commercial Award (2018)

• William C. Jennings Outstanding Commercial Transaction Award (2017)

• Sperry Van Ness (SVN) Achievers Award – Top 10

• C21 #2 in the Nation (2021), #4 in the Nation (2018)

• Active in CCIM, NTCAR, TAR, NAR, and MetroTex Commercial