Dina AryanZahlan serves as the Deputy Executive Director of Development at the

Port of Los Angeles, guiding the strategic growth of the nation’s busiest container

port. Since joining the executive leadership team in 2023, she has overseen a

workforce of more than 450 professionals across Construction, Maintenance, and

Engineering, ensuring the delivery of complex capital projects that sustain the

Port’s global reach.

With more than 25 years of service at the Port, Dina previously held the role of

Chief Harbor Engineer, where she led the planning and design of major

infrastructure initiatives. Her leadership has shaped some of the Port’s most

transformative efforts, including terminal modernization, multimodal

transportation improvements, the LA Waterfront Program, and pioneering

electrification and sustainability projects that advance the Port’s environmental

Dina is a licensed Civil Engineer in California and holds both a Bachelor of

Science in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree from the University of

Southern California. She is also a Project Management Professional (PMP®) and

Senior Certified Professional (SHRMSCP). She contributes to the engineering

community as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of

Engineering at California State University, Long Beach.

Recognized for her mentorship and advocacy, Dina is committed to expanding

opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in engineering. Her industry

leadership earned her the distinction of WTSLA 2022 Woman of the Year,

honoring her impact on transportation and her dedication to developing future

leaders.

As the development manager for Newcastle Partners, Courtney performs comprehensive duties related to the purchase, finance, development, and sale/lease of properties. Specific duties include processing entitlements and overseeing construction. She directly manages the development of an average of 12 ground-up projects per year and oversaw the construction of 5 projects in 2022, managing a total construction budget of over $58 million. Courtney has also raised over $300 million in equity on behalf of the firm. Courtney is involved in NAIOP SoCal, as the Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee and a member of the NAIOP SoCal Board of Directors. She previously held a seat on the CREW Orange County Board of Directors and chaired CREW Orange County's Emerging Leaders committee.

Shawn Jenkins is the Founder and President of BCC Contracting, Inc., a Southern California-based industrial and commercial general contracting firm specializing in tenant improvements, warehouse facilities, and commercial construction. Since founding the company in 2008, Shawn has grown BCC into an $80 million-dollar annual business recognized for delivering high-quality projects, strong client partnerships, and exceptional execution.

Shawn’s career began with service in the U.S. Navy, where he enlisted in 1992. The discipline, leadership, and work ethic he developed during his military service laid the foundation for his career in construction. In 1994, he launched his first business, a roofing company, gaining valuable entrepreneurial experience early in his career.

He later joined a prominent Irvine-based general contractor, where he advanced to Senior Estimator and led preconstruction efforts on major commercial and industrial projects. In 2005, Shawn transitioned to the owner side of the business by joining First Industrial Realty Trust as Construction and Development Manager, overseeing development and construction projects while gaining a deep understanding of real estate investment, asset management, and client expectations.

Recognizing the opportunity to build a company centered on quality, relationships, and accountability, Shawn founded BCC in 2008. Today, he leads a team of 25 professionals, delivering industrial and commercial construction projects throughout California while focusing on operational excellence, client service, and long-term growth.

As a speaker, Shawn shares practical insights drawn from every side of the industry—as a tradesman, entrepreneur, contractor, developer, and business owner. His experience offers a unique perspective on leadership, construction management, navigating market cycles, and building organizations that thrive in an evolving industry.

David is a partner in the Orange County office and a member of the Real Estate Group. He advises clients on a broad range of real estate transactions, but has a particular focus on construction, design, and development. David represents global technology companies, entertainment companies, developers, and institutional owners on various project types, including data centers, entertainment studios, office, industrial, multifamily, mixed-use, and retail.

David has successfully negotiated design and construction agreements for some of the country's most interesting projects, including numerous data centers, multi‑phased entertainment studios, mixed-use, and industrial developments. Most recently, he has represented clients with data center development projects planned throughout the country, where he drafted and negotiated agreement templates addressing all stages of development.

David is an advisory board member of the University of California, Irvine’s Center for Real Estate, and a member of the Notre Dame Club of Orange County.

During law school, he earned Dean's List honors, was a judicial extern for the Honorable Mark. D. Houle of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, and served as a senior editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Legislation.

Joe Vargas, based in Bakersfield, joined Wonderful Real Estate in July 2017 as

President of the Real Estate Development team. Joe has over 35 years of

experience in the real estate industry and has held executive positions with

Grubb & Ellis, Cushman & Wakefield (where he served in several key leadership

roles, including President of the West Region), and Executive Vice President at

Lee & Associates. In his role with Wonderful, Joe oversees industrial

development projects in the Central Valley.

Joe serves on several boards, including the board of AIR CRE as co-chair

of the arbitration committee. Joe is a two-time Olympian in Water Polo, a

Silver Medalist in the 1984 Olympics, and a 1992 inductee into the USA Water

Polo Hall of Fame.

Emily Mandrup is a pivotal leader in Southern California’s industrial real estate sector, renowned for her expertise in turnkey land development, entitlements, and construction management. With 25 years of experience, including over 15 million square feet of completed developments and more than 60 ground-up projects, she fosters a culture of excellence, guiding teams through every phase of development. Emily believes that commercial real estate is more than the concrete walls we tilt; it is about the spaces we create for people to work and grow their businesses. Learn more at www.ecm.llc

With more than 35 years of experience in architecture and design, Eric Aubort is a seasoned leader with extensive expertise across the commercial, industrial, and office sectors. He has managed a wide range of projects, from historic renovations to complex mixed-use developments, bringing a thoughtful and strategic approach to every stage of the process. Eric’s experience spans planning, design, construction documentation, and construction administration, allowing him to guide projects seamlessly from concept through completion. Known for his strong leadership, business acumen, attention to detail, and commitment to quality, he has earned a reputation for successfully delivering high-profile projects that align with client goals while meeting demanding technical and industry standards.

Dustin Rosepink founded 4 S.T.E.L. Engineering, Inc. in 2005 and has led the firm’s growth into a respected structural engineering practice serving clients throughout California and beyond. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Dustin began his professional career in Southern California under the mentorship of the late Ed Foerstel, S.E., a highly regarded structural engineer whose influence helped shape Dustin’s approach to engineering, client service, and professional excellence.

Raised as the son of an Air Force test pilot, Dustin spent his childhood living in various regions across the United States, developing an appreciation for adaptability, hard work, and building lasting relationships. He earned his Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in 2008 and his Structural Engineer (S.E.) license in 2012.

Under Dustin’s leadership, 4 S.T.E.L. Engineering has experienced steady growth by emphasizing technical excellence, responsiveness, and long-term client partnerships. His commitment to delivering value has fostered enduring relationships with many of the nation’s leading architects, developers, contractors, and design professionals.

In 2021, Dustin guided the successful acquisition of Bushra Tsai, Inc. (BTI), a well-established structural engineering firm with roots tracing back to Ajit Randhava & Associates, founded in 1979. The addition of BTI expanded the firm's expertise in commercial and industrial tilt-up construction, cold-storage facilities, and retail developments.

Today, Dustin continues to lead 4 S.T.E.L. Engineering with a focus on innovation, client success, and practical structural solutions. By combining decades of collective experience with a forward-looking approach, the firm remains committed to helping clients successfully achieve their project goals through exceptional structural engineering services.

With 21 years of experience managing public works and development projects,

Garrett Readler, PE, has built a reputation for helping complex projects move

forward through strong partnerships, responsive leadership, and practical solutions. As Southern California Managing Principal at Kier + Wright, he leads the firm’s Irvine office and oversees engineering services throughout the region. Garrett works closely with agencies, developers, and project teams to navigate the infrastructure, entitlement, and construction challenges shaping Southern California’s evolving communities, bringing a collaborative, people-focused approach to the projects shaping the region.

Ken Fields, a partner in Greenberg Glusker’s Real Estate Practice Group, practices all aspects of real estate legal transactions, including buying and selling individual properties and multi-property portfolios, construction and development and leasing of industrial, retail, and office properties, and permanent, construction, mezzanine, and other real estate secured loans. Ken's clients include industrial, retail, and office building owners and tenants, commercial brokerage firms and real estate investors and syndicators.

He has assisted clients in buying or selling billions of dollars’ worth of real estate assets, has negotiated leases affecting billions of square feet of space, and has helped clients raise hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate syndications. Ken frequently represents owners and tenants in single-tenant "big-box" leases. Ken understands his clients' business objectives and strives to help achieve those objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner. He maintains a business-like and deal-oriented approach, focusing on what is important to his clients. Among the many other transactions Fields handled in 2020, he partnered with his clients to close four of the ten largest industrial transactions in Southern California, with those four deals alone totaling approximately $750,000,000.

In 2021, Ken was recognized as a top 10 real estate attorney in California by Connect CRE in their annual Lawyers in Real Estate Awards. Ken has also been recognized in real estate law in both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. He received his B.A. from UCLA and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. He is a Founding Member and member of the Advisory Committee of the Conejo Valley Boys and Girls' Clubs, and has previously chaired the Legal Committee of Heal the Bay.