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Powering Prosperity: Leadership Perspectives on Montgomery County’s Economic and Real Estate Future

Thomas DiBello

Thomas DiBello

Commissioner

Montgomery County

Jamila Winder

Jamila Winder

Commissioner

Montgomery County

Darby Doyle

Darby Doyle

Business Representative

Bucks & Montgomery County, Plumbers Local Union 690

Stephen Forster
Moderator

Stephen Forster

Director, Commerce Department

Montgomery County

Development, Redevelopment and Positioning Montgomery County for the Future

Mark Nicoletti

Mark Nicoletti

President & CEO

Philadelphia Suburban Development Corporation

Michael Markman

Michael Markman

President

BET Investments

Mike Bowman

Mike Bowman

President & CEO

Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

Chris Egan

Chris Egan

Director, Acquisitions

Hightop Development

Pete Staz

Pete Staz

Principal

Core Development

Kyle Speece

Kyle Speece

Managing Principal

Emergent Real Estate Partners

Dave Brown
Moderator

Dave Brown

VP

CBG Building Company

Michael Markman

President

BET Investments

As President, Michael Markman oversees acquisitions, leasing, financing and development for BET Investments, a real estate management and development company that owns, manages, develops and leases shopping centers, office buildings and apartment complexes throughout the United States. Mr. Markman was formerly general counsel of a publicly traded New York Stock Exchange real estate investment trust (REIT) with over $500 million in assets where he managed all legal matters. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the Temple University School of Law and is member of the Pennsylvania Bar. He is a Commissioner in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, past chairman Abington Township Planning Commission, a member of the Board of Directors of the John A. Robbins Company and on the Board of Trustees at Ursinus College. Mr. Markman is a frequent speaker on industry topics and serves on the boards of various charitable groups.

Mike Bowman

President & CEO

Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

Mike Bowman is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality and gaming industries, having worked in several senior level positions for Hilton Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide, Rush Gaming and Caesars Entertainment. He was recently named President of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFCTB). Previously he served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the organization. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of Valley Forge Casino Resort, responsible for all gaming, entertainment, hotel, food & beverage, and convention business — along with all strategic gaming operations and marketing and managing a staff of 1001 employees. He has achieved numerous hospitality industry accolades. Twice he has been awarded Caesar’s annual top leadership award and Manager of the Year for Wyndham Worldwide, while being responsible for all property operations in the Caribbean and northeast hotel resorts. He maintains active involvement in several community service organizations including the Jewish Community Center of Margate. In addition, Bowman has partnered professionally and personally with organizations such as the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, the Asian Heritage Festival and Mission Kids. He also works with various charities and homeless advocacy support groups in the area. Professionally he maintains a presence on the Valley Forge Casino Resort board of directors, reporting to Ira Lubert of Lubert Adler Real Estate Funds. He is also a board member of Upper Merion’s Board of Community Assistance and chairman of the board for Peddler’s Village in Bucks County. In addition, he serves as an executive board member for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and most recently was appointed to the board of the Montgomery County Development Corporation. A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he and his wife, Karen, reside in New Jersey with their two daughters, Oksana and Anastasia.

Kyle Speece

Managing Principal

Emergent Real Estate Partners

Kyle is the co-Founder and Managing Principal of Emergent. He leads the company’s efforts across our five primary service lines: origination; development; consulting; investing; and renewable energy integration. All of these efforts are conducted with a preference and eye toward affordable multifamily use where strategically beneficial.

Prior to Emergent, Kyle worked for multiple large, nationally-ranked, full-service development companies. He was responsible for new business identification and all aspects of project management in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and has significant experience with myriad financing sources including low-income housing and historic tax credits, federal HUD and FHA programs, and numerous state and local sources.

Kyle holds a degree in Communications with double-major in Economics from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Real Estate Development from Johns Hopkins University.

Dave Brown

Moderator

CBG Building Company

Dave Brown oversees the Philadelphia market for CBG Building Company, one of the largest and most respected national multifamily builders. Mr. Brown started his career with CBG in the DC/MD/VA area. He opened the CBG Philadelphia office in 2017. Since then he has been responsible for over $250M worth of multifamily construction in the suburbs. These projects include The Smith King of Prussia, J Creekside at Exton, and 130 Monument in Bala Cynwyd. Mr Brown grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and is an alumni of Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown. Mr Brown received his BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Video Remarks

Neil Makhija
Video Remarks

Neil Makhija

Chairman

Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

Why Attend Montgomery County State of the Market

Why This Matters: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, remains one of the strongest commercial real estate markets in the Greater Philadelphia region. With a population exceeding 860,000 people, a highly educated workforce, and a strategic location near major highways and transit hubs, the county continues to attract investment across multiple asset classes. However, shifting economic conditions, changing interest rates, and evolving workplace trends have impacted certain sectors. While industrial and life sciences remain strong, the office market is facing challenges, and developers are focusing on adaptive reuse, mixed-use projects, and transit-oriented development (TOD). Join the event for the insights, strategies, and connections needed to navigate Montgomery County’s evolving real estate landscape and identify the best opportunities for growth and investment.

What You Will Learn:

  • Montgomery County’s Market Outlook – How the county’s $100B-plus real estate market is evolving, with 860,000+ residents fueling demand for housing, retail, and commercial development.

  • Investment Trends and Capital Markets – How rising interest rates (currently hovering around 6% to 7%) and tighter lending conditions are impacting multifamily, office, and industrial transactions.

  • Emerging Development Opportunities – The hottest submarkets for growth, including King of Prussia, Conshohocken, and Lansdale, and how developers are adapting to land constraints and zoning regulations.

  • Industrial Changes and What’s Next – How industrial vacancy rates are adjusting after years of rapid expansion, and whether last-mile logistics hubs in Montgomeryville and Hatfield still have room for growth.

  • Office Market Realities and Repositioning Strategies – How adaptive reuse is transforming underperforming office buildings in Conshohocken and Plymouth Meeting into multifamily, life sciences, and mixed-use assets.

  • The Rise of Life Sciences and Innovation Clusters – Why King of Prussia and Upper Merion are emerging as major biotech hubs, and where the next wave of lab space and research facilities will be built.

  • Public-Private Partnerships &andIncentives – How municipalities like Norristown and Pottstown are using tax incentives, zoning reforms, and infrastructure investments to drive commercial growth.

  • Multifamily and Mixed-Use Boom – Where developers are focusing as Montgomery County sees some of the highest rent growth in the region, and how transit-oriented development near SEPTA stations is shaping future projects.

  • Retail Evolution and Redevelopment Trends – How properties like Suburban Square and Montgomery Mall are being repositioned for mixed-use, experience-driven retail, and alternative commercial uses.

  • Long-Term Vision for Montgomery County – How transportation upgrades, sustainability initiatives, and smart growth strategies will shape the region’s real estate market over the next decade.
     

Who Attends This Event: BET Investments, Brandywine Realty Trust, Korman Communities, Oliver Tyrone Pulver Corporation, Federal Realty Investment Trust, Bozzuto Construction Company, LCOR, Velocity Venture Partners, Walker & Dunlop, CBRE, JLL, Newmark, Trammell Crow Company, Hankin Group, Toll Brothers, King of Prussia District, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Kimco Realty, DLC Management Corporation, Regency Centers, and many more!

For questions regarding content, speaking and sponsorship opportunities please email our Senior Event Producer, Virginia Baker, at virginia.baker@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ally.araco@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Venue

Valley Forge Casino Resort
1160 1st Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Ballroom: Grand Ballroom


Complimentary self-parking onsite

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Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Registration, Networking, & Breakfast
1:00 PM
1:45 PM
Powering Prosperity: Leadership Perspectives on Montgomery County’s Economic and Real Estate Future

How County Leadership Is Shaping Growth, Infrastructure, and Investment Across the Region

1:45 PM
2:00 PM
Networking Break
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
Development, Redevelopment, and Positioning Montgomery County for the Future

Montgomery County's economy is thriving in key sectors, yet office and retail markets face challenges requiring strategic repositioning. Explore how developers and investors are leveraging adaptive reuse, infrastructure improvements, regulatory navigation and smart growth strategies to drive investment, sustain economic momentum and ensure the county remains competitive and future-ready.

3:00 PM
3:30 PM
Post-panel networking

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