Registration Questions

Call: 202-684-2034
Email: eventregistration@bisnow.com

Request Speaker Information

Speaker Topics

Tell us a Little More

Speakers and Panels

Working with Developers To Bring Projects To Life

Knowing The Needs of Your Clients, Creating Cost-Efficient Strategies & Understanding A Project From The Inside Out

Paul Bishop

Paul Bishop

Founder

Bishop Design

Perla Lichi

Perla Lichi

Founder

Perla Lichi Design

Alejandro Echeverry

Alejandro Echeverry

President

Stiles Architecture Group

T.J. Sabo

T.J. Sabo

Chief Creative Officer

Royal Palm Companies

Igor Reyes

Igor Reyes

Principal

Nichols Architects

Jorge Garcia

Jorge Garcia

CEO

garciastromberg

Maureen Mascaro
Moderator

Maureen Mascaro

Founder & Chief Project Officer

The Common Area

Alejandro Echeverry

President

Stiles Architecture Group

Mr. Alejandro Echeverry was promoted to President of Stiles

Architecture in 2022 after four years with the company. He is a

licensed architect with nearly 20 years of professional experience in

architecture and construction management. In his prior role as Vice

President, Alejandro worked alongside the President to oversee daily

activities of the group and ensure project success and profitability.

Additional responsibilities included business development activities

and the future vision for the group, as well as mentoring and

empowering the team to achieve personal and group objectives.

Prior to joining Stiles, Alejandro served as the Vice President of Atkins

Caribe. While at Atkins, he formed part of the BU leadership group

and managed the Miami Division for the Publix Remodel program.

He has worked on such notable projects as Publix on the Bay,

designing and managing the addition to the Carlos Zapata iconic

flagship supermarket on Miami Beach, overseeing 250 Publix remodel

projects in the Miami and Lakeland Divisions and managing several

interior projects that have been published in retail publications.

Alejandro received both his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in

Architecture from Florida International University, as well as his

Masters Degree in Construction Management. He is a licensed

architect in both Florida and Puerto Rico and North Carolina. He

holds a Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) certification as

well as a PMP Certification from PMI (Project Management Institute).

T.J. Sabo

Chief Creative Officer

Royal Palm Companies

Mr. Sabo has been a pioneer in real estate and hotel advertising, brand management and strategic relationships that consistently add value to hospitality and residential projects. With degrees in both Finance and Law, he brings a unique perspective to the industry and is considered an expert in most real estate development and an imagineer in the hotel space. Successfully participating in over 53 projects in over 6 countries he and his team have delivered more than $8 billion in assets since 2002 with clients like Related Group, Rilea, RPC, Euro-American Group, ProCasa, Integra, Brack Capital, Key International, NEO, Chetrit Group, BCOM, Roy Stillman, AIMCO and others.

Under his guidance as Chief Creative Officer, RPC has created the Paramount Residences brand (3 towers) , Legacy Hotel and Residences (under construction), the "Grand Reserve" masterplan in Puerto Rico, Elevate Apartments (under construction) and others.

Igor Reyes

Principal

Nichols Architects

Igor Reyes graduated from Florida A&M University where he received his Bachelors in Architecture in 1993, and originally joined Nichols Architects in 1999 as a project manager. Working at the firm, Igor has been involved with many of the award winning designs such as 1450 Brickell, International Finance Bank, as well as other innovative designs such as VUE, Marriott at Miami World Center, and Met 2 at Metropolitan Miami. As a principal, he has concentrated on the further development of the design culture and the marketing of the Nichols Architects legacy. Representative clients of the firm include hospitality and development giants such as Marriott, Westin, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Waldorf Astoria, Starwood, St. Regis, “W” Rosewood, Fairmont, Regent, Loews, Nikko, and Hilton.

Jorge Garcia

CEO

garciastromberg

An honor graduate of the University of Miami, Jorge is the driving force behind the firm’s growth and development since 1987. Prior experience includes earning a reputation with highly acclaimed architectural as well as land development firms, where he grew to understand the importance of leadership within an organization, the community, and the unique ability of integrating innovative architecture with rational business criteria in a balanced format.

Jorge’s primary focuses are corporate leadership, design, vision, collaboration, and growth development for the firm’s philosophical ideals. Jorge is a licensed architect in thirteen states with expertise in the design of national and international facilities including hotel & resorts, commercial, institutional, mixed-use developments, and residential, projects. He is a sought-after authority on the realities and challenges clients face in the planning, approval and entitlement processes found in today’s challenging development environment.

Maureen Mascaro

Moderator

The Common Area

Maureen Mascaro is the Founder of The Common Area, a boutique owner’s representation firm advising commercial and high-end residential clients. She serves as a strategic partner to ownership, guiding projects from early planning through construction and delivery with a focus on protecting outcomes, aligning teams, and driving disciplined execution.

Maureen brings a full-lifecycle perspective shaped by her work alongside developers, landlords, and real estate advisory firms, with deep experience navigating the complexities that arise between deal conception and project completion. She founded The Common Area in 2018 to deliver a more transparent, accountable, and owner-aligned approach to project execution.

A South Dade native, Maureen offers a nuanced understanding of the local market and its evolving development landscape. Her work now spans projects across Florida and the wider Southeast region as well as Texas, New York, and The Bahamas, along with complementary business ventures including Mango Management and Building Standard.

Designing for the Future

The Continued Demand for Class A Buildings, Implementation of Sustainability Practices, and Analyzing the Market to Ensure a Competitive Project for the Future

Kobi Karp

Kobi Karp

President

Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design

Diana Farmer-Gonzalez

Diana Farmer-Gonzalez

Principal & Co-Managing Director

Gensler

Tony Cho

Tony Cho

Founder

Metro 1 and Future of Cities

Miguel Yelos San Martin

Miguel Yelos San Martin

Principal

YSM Design

Christian Vidal

Christian Vidal

EVP

G Alvarez Studio

Meredith Zenkel
Moderator

Meredith Zenkel

Vice President

Poppin

Kobi Karp

President

Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design

Kobi Karp is the Founder and Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc (KKAID). Kobi Karp founded the firm in 1996 and has been the Principal-in-Charge of design since that time. KKAID is a full-service architectural and interior design firm providing a vast array of services, ranging from the design of large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures.

Educated at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology, Kobi Karp earned degrees in both Architecture and Environmental Design. Subsequently, Kobi Karp began his career working on major hospitality and all- inclusive resort projects throughout the United States and the Caribbean. His restoration design techniques have contributed to a renaissance in one of this country’s most cherished areas, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District which is internationally recognized around the world.

Kobi Karp has developed expertise in design over the last 20 years, working with a wide range of project types, sizes, complexities, and budgets. It is through this last quarter century working in warm weather climates that KKAID has garnered international acclaim and been selected to spearhead numerous resort projects. Developers and builders in the Caribbean, Black Sea region, and the Middle East have relied on the firm for their design eye and planning.

Kobi Karp is a recognized member of the American Institute of Architects, honored for his award-winning designs and buildings and he is a licensed Professional Architect in 9 states and in Abu Dhabi (UAE). His firm has been featured in renowned national and local publications based on their major contributions in the preservation of historical areas.

Diana Farmer-Gonzalez

Principal & Co-Managing Director

Gensler

Diana Farmer-Gonzalez is the Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Miami office. She has over 30 years of professional experience in a wide range of interior design and architecture projects throughout South Florida as well as Latin America and the Middle East. Diana's experience ranges from leading clients and creating project teams from project inception through project completion for both high design and specialized technical spaces for architecture and interior projects. Ms. Farmer-Gonzalez has expertise design projects ranging from hospitality, multi-family residential, retail, commercial office buildings, workplace and branded environments to aviation interiors and higher education projects. Ms. Farmer-Gonzalez is a frequent lecturer, and her work has been featured in several industry publications. Passionate about mentoring young designers and design education, Diana is sought out to be a guest lecturer and student mentor at Florida International University’s College of Communications, Architecture + The Arts, where she also serves on the Deans Leadership Advisory Board, the Interior Architecture school’s advisory board and was a FIU Torch Award recipient for outstanding contributions to the profession of design and architecture. Diana is an active member of the International Interior Design Association, serving currently as a Board Member for the International Chapter, is a long-standing Associate member of the America Institute of Architects and was named “Interior Designer of the Year” by the AIA’s Miami Chapter. Diana earned a B.S. in Interior Design from Florida International University and studied Architecture at the University of Colorado School of Design and Planning.

Tony Cho

Founder

Metro 1 and Future of Cities

Tony Cho is a real estate pioneer, impact entrepreneur, and founder of the Future of Cities – a mission-driven consortium and multi-pronged platform invested in transforming the built environment by adopting environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies to improve the quality of urban living. Influenced by his work as founder and chairman of Metro 1 – an award-wining, forward-thinking real estate investment, brokerage, management, and development firm that he still leads - Cho’s career has focused on shaping neighborhoods and developing sustainable cities in South Florida and beyond. He has completed over $3 billion in real estate transactions since 2005.

Miguel Yelos San Martin

Principal

YSM Design

Born in Buenos Aires, Miguel spent his early childhood in Patagonia. There, he was exposed to a unique landscape that later influenced his

passion for spaces that evoke an authentic sense of place.

In 1980, after attending a language school in Cambridge, England, Miguel felt inspired to work abroad. He returned to Buenos Aires to

pursue his Architectural degree, graduating from the Universidad de Buenos Aires in 1984. While an architectural student, he interned at

AURI, SA, working on key projects for the City of Buenos Aires, including an ecological belt program with renowned architect, Rafael Viñoly.

Upon graduation, his father presented him with the opportunity to fulfill his dream of working abroad in California, from where he would

launch his architectural career in the United States.

Miguel hails from an entrepreneurial family. His mother’s father owned utility companies, his father’s father owned and operated the largest

retail store in his town, and his father was a highly successful dentist. Miguel always dreamed about running his own office. He founded YSM

Design in 1989 in addition to several other companies over the years.

Throughout his prolific career, Miguel has shown sophisticated expertise in the design of high end homes, residential and office buildings,

hotels, retail stores, and automotive facilities for significant, global corporations. He has also master planned residential and commercial

developments, both within the U.S. and internationally.

Meredith Zenkel

Moderator

Poppin

Meredith Zenkel is Poppin's longest tenured employee. A Native New Yorker, she began her marketing career at Brooks Brothers before joining Poppin as the Director of PR in 2010. As the VP of Marketing and Communications, Meredith has been an integral part of Poppin’s ongoing success, including Poppin’s 2020 acquisition by Kimball International (KBAL). With over 12 years of experience in the workplace industry, she is a well-respected voice on the future of office design and culture.

Learn More About Our Speaker's Prolific Portfolios —

Why This Matters

What You'll Learn: 

  • How will architects and designers meet the unprecedented and ever-changing demand, setting the pace and trends for the year to come?

  • How does budget play a role in creating timeless designs, and where do you allocate funds to produce solutions with longevity?

  • What challenges are architects facing when it comes to meeting all of their client demands?

  • Will implementing future-proofing with adaptability and flexibility lead spaces to increased relevance and longevity?

  • What does the “flight to quality” mean for South Florida architecture, and how are firms designing for the city's future?

  • What are some interior and exterior design changes that resulted from a focus on technology?
     

How You'll Do More Business: Hear how architects, designers, and developers are working together to overcome today's setbacks, continuing to build ESG-conscious properties, and looking toward the future of architecture and design.

Why You Should Attend: Network with top developers, architects, property managers, brokers, owners, and more.

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 we do. 

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Director of Event Production, Elizabeth Baker at liz.baker@bisnow.com 

Venue

InterContinental Miami
100 Chopin Plaza
Miami FL, 33131

Ballroom: Biscayne Ballroom


$20 valet parking

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Pre-event Networking and Breakfast
1:00 PM
1:45 PM
Working with Developers To Bring Projects To Life

Knowing The Needs of Your Clients, Creating Cost-Efficient Strategies & Understanding A Project From The Inside Out

1:45 PM
2:30 PM
Designing for the Future

The Continued Demand for Class A Buildings, Implementation of Sustainability Practices, and Analyzing the Market to Ensure a Competitive Project for the Future

2:30 PM
3:00 PM
Post Panel Networking