Florida Multifamily, Mixed-Use, Condos And Affordable Housing Summit

Camilo Miguel founded Mast Capital in 2006 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer, focused on investment strategy and risk management. He has an extensive real estate, financial and political network, with expertise in investment structuring, complex debt and equity products, execution and development. Mr. Miguel has built the firm into a leading investor and developer of high-end residential, hospitality, office and retail projects, with a particular focus in high barriers-to-entry markets. Prior to founding Mast, he founded and served as President of Vertica Group, a land investment and repositioning company, where he oversaw all aspects of the businesses, including acquisitions, entitlements, operations and asset management. Before this, he co-founded Clear Title Group, a boutique real estate title insurance company focused on offering closing services to luxury condominium and home developers, buyers and sellers, which quickly grew into a distinguished market leader in its segment. Mr. Miguel graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Jean Francois Roy is the founder and president of Ocean Land Investments, Inc. Founded in 1990, Ocean Land Investments acquires and thoughtfully develops prime waterfront property, providing luxury residences and improving the overall aesthetic of previously underutilized sites. With more than four decades of entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Roy first achieved success developing Canada’s third largest portfolio of retirement homes and senior care facilities. He moved to South Florida from his native Quebec in the late 1980s, and soon founded Ocean Land Investments’ unsurpassed reputation with the vision to elevate and fulfill the potential of waterfront properties. Having developed numerous luxury condominium projects throughout his career, Mr. Roy continues to play an instrumental role in bringing developments to fruition. Under Mr. Roy’s leadership, Ocean Land Investments acquires approvals for redevelopment and provides the equity needed for builders to obtain construction loans. The company’s long-term investment approach and collaboration with premier builders and sales teams have led to an enviable record of success. Ocean Land Investment’s unsurpassed reputation for integrity is bolstered by Mr. Roy’s commitment to building lasting relationships with property owners, neighbors and civic leaders. Ocean Land Investments has strategically purchased waterfront property throughout South Florida, redeveloping land along the state’s east coast with modern condominium towers. The company’s past projects include 2080 Ocean Drive in Hallandale Beach; Aquazul in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; Trump Hollywood in Hollywood Beach; The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Singer Island, Palm Beach; and Lake Place Condominiums in West Palm Beach; among others. “Today, Ocean Land Investments is revitalizing waterfront property in the East Las Olas Isles of Fort Lauderdale with the development of luxury condominium projects. Situated on Hendricks Isle and Isle of Venice just off of Las Olas Boulevard, the contemporary developments introduce modern architecture and upscale amenities to complement the isles’ natural beauty and waterfront lifestyle. Low-rise condominium tower AquaVita opened in 2015, AquaLuna was completed in 2016, and AquaMar was completed in 2017. Additional projects, AquaBlu and AquaVue are presently under construction. Recently, Jean Francois has announced plans for Riverwalk Residences of Las Olas, a first-of-its-kind luxury senior living facility in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Chris Moore is the Managing Director, Florida Development for Waypoint and is responsible for Waypoint’s development sourcing, strategies and activities for future growth within the Florida region. Mr. Moore has over 30 years of experience in commercial and real estate development. Prior to joining Waypoint, Mr. Moore was an Executive Vice President at Meyers Group. Mr. Moore graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

Chris Black is a Senior Originator and Regional Manager with KeyBank Real Estate Capital in Boston, MA. Mr. Black oversees the National Multifamily Accounts Group and is responsible for permanent financing needs for KeyBank’s largest and most prolific multifamily clients. The National Multifamily Accounts Group is partnered with KeyBank’s Institutional Real Estate Group’s offices in Boston and Atlanta. Together they specialize in structured finance, lines of credit, portfolio executions, non-traditional borrower structures, corporate recapitalizations and institutional borrowing entities. Additionally, Mr. Black heads up KeyBank’s Southeast Region with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Atlanta. Mr. Black and his team originate over $3 billion of permanent loans annually through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in addition to life companies, banks, CMBS, HUD, and debt funds which places him in the top echelon of originators, perennially. Mr. Black has been working in commercial real estate for 23 years and has been with Key for 17 years.

Sara's involvement with Public-Private Partnerships predates the 'P3' moniker. Her work within this space can be seen across Miami's iconic skyline. Sara's comprehensive understanding of real estate, corporate and government relations enables her to provide clients multifaceted legal guidance. Sara brings to the table over two decades of business management experience. Having served as a C-suite executive within private and public corporations and NGOs, as well as heading a government agency, gives Sara a profound understanding of the implications of complex business decisions. She is successful at helping her clients navigate the intersection of business and law having once worn their shoes.

Anthony O’Brien is the Senior Managing Director for the Jesta Group. In his role, Anthony is responsible for real estate development and acquisitions in North America. Anthony currently oversees three Million square feet of development and is responsible for driving more than $100 Million of real estate transactions annually. In South Florida, Anthony is leading the redevelopment of the Clevelander Hotel in South Beach as well as the Shuckers site in North Bay Village. Before his role with Jesta, Anthony was the Senior Vice President, Real Estate, North America, for Intrawest, the world’s leading developer of pedestrian based resorts. He managed a real estate portfolio in excess of $1 Billion in 42 active projects across 14 resorts. Anthony also worked for Bombardier Aerospace in the strategic planning department while completing an MBA at McGill University. He also holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia.

Hugo Pacanins is Partner and Chief Executive of Pinnacle's Market Rate Division. With a track record spanning 17 years in multifamily development, Hugo has played a pivotal role in the development of more than 7,000 residential units and 500,000 square feet of commercial space, exceeding $2 billion in development costs.

Hilda Fernandez is CEO of Camillus House, a nonprofit that provides emergency, transitional and permanent housing to families and individuals such as unaccompanied homeless youth, human trafficking survivors and veterans. Hilda leads a complex system of care, which serves more than 34,000 men, women and children each year through over 40 programs, including comprehensive behavioral health and social services. Hilda oversees the operation of Camillus House's multiple campuses across Miami-Dade and has expanded various programs to empower Camillus House clients to achieve financial independence. Among these initiatives is a program designed to train individuals in high-demand skills within the culinary arts, construction trade, security, and other fields.

Owner and attorney Rosemary Calcese brings more than fifteen years of experience in real estate law to her community. Rosemary is a licensed attorney in three (3) states and holds a national title license. Rosemary has represented “Fortune 500” companies, big firms, developers, contractors, and an extensive portfolio of residential clients to every closing. Rosemary wants her clients to have the same experience and options as larger companies. It’s one of the main reasons she started Transformation Title and Escrow. Most recently, Rosemary has represented a national developer for attainable housing in multiple states. Her representation has extended to state representatives, private companies, and local municipal participation.

Maty Jamal is the Chief Operating Officer at MAGASI, a prominent Miami-based property management company. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational, corporate, and business functions of the company and manages the company’s client relations. Mrs. Jamal holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate from the University of Miami and has previously worked at Lennar Commercial in Miami and Lennar Urban in San Francisco. Her professional expertise encompasses budgeting for billion-dollar real estate master community projects and acquisitions/dispositions, operations, value-add renovations, leasing, marketing, and management of a $50+ million portfolio. She has overseen the growth of every department within MAGASI and successfully grown service offerings to include short term rental and affordable housing management. In addition to her professional roles, Mrs. Jamal is actively engaged in her community. She serves as an Executive Board Member for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and holds the position of Chair for Florida Hillel's Subcommittee.

Asi Cymbal is the Chairman of Cymbal DLT Companies. Mr. Cymbal has over 30 years of experience in real estate development, construction, finance, and law. He is driven by his passion for great architecture and design, his focus on transforming communities, and his commitment to creating great wealth for his investors. He has been fortunate to work with the world’s best architects and designers (Philippe Starck, Bjarke Ingels, Enrique Norten, Jo Palma, Arquitectonica) as a first mover in neighborhoods at a critical time in their transition (the Financial District in Manhattan, Tribeca, SOHO, the Miami Design District, Wynwood, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Miami Gardens). Mr. Cymbal is grateful to his investors and proud of the fact that he has rewarded them with unmatched returns.  Mr. Cymbal raised his first fund in 2010.  That $3 million fund is now worth over $180 million.  He is focused on increasing that to $700 million by 2026. After experimenting with retirement in 2014, he came back to create a second fund during the 2020 Pandemic.  He turned that $16 million fund into $90 million in 20 months. Mr. Cymbal is currently raising a $100 million evergreen fund to be deployed into the $2 billion Cymbal DLT pipeline. Mr. Cymbal also has significant food and beverage experience. He has co-created and owned over half a dozen of the hottest restaurants and clubs in Miami, including Sra. Martinez (with celebrity chef and James Beard award-winner, Michelle Bernstein), Bardot, and gigi. Mr. Cymbal has been named by the South Florida Business Journal as a Heavy Hitter in Construction and Real Estate Development, a Top 100 Power Leader, and as one of 2013’s People to Watch. He has also appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Cymbal is the Vice Chair and board member of Florida International University’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts - Miami Beach Urban Studios. He is also a board member of Wynwood Norte, the organization that is spearheading the revitalization of north Wynwood. Mr. Cymbal was a past board member of Business for the Arts of Broward. Mr. Cymbal is a graduate of Vassar College and the UCLA School of Law. He is an experienced real estate and business attorney licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C., and is a licensed general contractor in Florida.

Felix Deloatch is an Associate Principal and Director of Florida Operations at Torti Gallas. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience working with both small- and large-scale projects in a variety of building and construction types. This work has ranged from small-budget university facility renovations to multi-million-dollar new construction. His role at Torti Gallas involves direct interaction with the Client and consultants as the project team leader working to meet fiscal and construction milestones. His recent work has focused on large and complex mixed-use buildings usually including a combination of residential, retail, office and parking. Felix has experience in resilient design, not only as it relates to climate change or natural disasters in coastal areas, but also in terms of economic and social equity resilience. The development of new affordable housing in a once blighted neighborhood; the revitalization of an empty downtown into a thriving destination - both are examples of resilient design that correspond with Mr. Deloatch’s philosophy that all communities should have a design identity that is sustainable yet evolving.

Arturo is an accomplished architect, urban designer and educator with exemplary experience in design, architecture and institutional campus planning. Arturo brings an unmatched design vision and a collaborative team-based working spirit. He has over thirty-three years of experience merging design practice, master planning, and urban design solving complex sites and programs in Healthcare, Academic and Commercial mixed-use. Arturo has worked with private and public-sector entities, developers, institutions, community-based organizations, and city regulatory agencies leading teams on projects that involve a rigorous design process and with a variety of alternative delivery approaches including P3, Design Assist, Design-Build and IPD.

Jason Fudin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Placemakr (formerly WhyHotel), based in Washington D.C. Placemakr is a venture-backed platform that operates at the intersection of hospitality and multifamily real estate. With its pop-up hotels, it operates furnished, transient stays out of the vacancy of newly built luxury apartments during the lease-up phase. With its hospitality living buildings, it operates assets as a mix of multifamily and hospitality on a permanent basis with the ability to flex the inventory between both uses. Prior to Placemakr, Jason was the VP of Strategic Initiatives at Vornado Realty Trust where he worked on developing innovative commercial real estate concepts for the organization. Over his career, Jason has managed commercial real estate development projects valued at over $2 billion and has worked in real estate development, acquisitions, and capital markets. He has his B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Management from McGill University and his M.S. in Finance and Real Estate from American University.

Gonzalo Navarro is the co-founder and CEO of ArX Creative (former ArX Solutions), a leading provider of digital visualization and marketing solutions for the real estate industry. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Navarro has become a respected authority in the industry, known for his creativity, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Originally from Argentina, Navarro began his career in architecture. In 2003, he co-founded ArX Solutions in Miami, with his brother and lifelong business partner Patricio Navarro. Since then, they have built a talented team of designers, developers, and marketers, and have expanded the company's services to include renderings, animations, conceptual design, interactive experiences, films, and VR. With a team of talented designers, developers, and marketers, ArX has helped clients bring their visions to life and achieve their goals. Under Navarro's leadership, ArX Solutions has become a trusted partner for some of the biggest names in the industry, including developers, architects, and real estate professionals across the globe such as The Related Goup, PMG, Naftali Group, Shvo, among others. He is known for his hands-on approach, working closely with clients to understand their needs and deliver solutions that exceed their expectations. When he's not running ArX Solutions, Navarro enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

Donahue Peebles, III is the Executive Vice President of The Peebles Corporation and handles new acquisitions and business development. Mr. Peebles actively pursues public and private real estate transactions in for The Peebles Corporation’s various markets, including South Florida, Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area and New York tri-state area. In addition, he maintains substantial involvement in the pre-development phase, and is capable of advancing projects through the development process through strategic partnerships, management and community engagement. In addition to his role, Mr. Peebles is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of the Peebles Emerging Developer Fund I – a $500 million investment fund for minority and women developers in markets that include New York, Los Angeles and South Florida. Mr. Peebles is the Owner and CEO of Legacy Real Estate Development, LLC a Residential Real Estate Development firm that focuses on the development and acquisition of low-income housing projects in South Florida, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area and New York tri-state area. Mr. Peebles takes an active role in The Peebles Corporation’s public image, participating in business and entrepreneurial summits, as well as real estate panels and forums. He also serves both the Washington D.C. and New York City communities by engaging with multiple philanthropies that benefit and expose youth to various opportunities in entrepreneurship. He currently works with the New York City Mission Society, Best Buddies, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., and various other organizations to improve the quality of life of impoverished and special-needs individuals on a global scale. Mr. Peebles holds a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University.

Gus Cabrera currently serves as the Director of Business Development for Resia, an award-winning, vertically integrated real estate company that specializes in developing, building, and managing quality multifamily communities across the United States. His responsibilities include identifying and pursuing new development and public funding opportunities, as well as providing support to existing operations in matters related to government regulations. Before joining Resia, Gus served as the principal of Evergreen Venture Group, a consulting and real estate investment firm, and began his career with MasTec, Inc. holding several positions throughout his tenure, including division vice president where he was responsible for operations throughout South Florida. He is a former president of the Latin Builders Association, the largest Hispanic construction trade association in the United States, and an active advocate on behalf of the building industry in Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida International University.

Drawing on his prior experience as a banker and general counsel for a private equity firm, Joe Hernandez counsels a variety of clients in negotiating and structuring complex commercial real estate transactions. He represents real estate developers, financial institutions, private equity firms, and public entities in all phases of such transactions, with deals across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. He handles acquisitions, development, financing, leasing, joint ventures, and advises clients on raising capital for real estate projects. He also represents developers and investors in the area of condominium redevelopment, which oftentimes involves the complex process of terminating an existing condominium. He helps clients navigate all stages of the process, from due diligence, joint venture structuring, and termination strategies to acquisition financing, construction financing, and mezzanine financings that facilitate the redevelopment. Joe is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), a prestigious fellowship reserved for lawyers distinguished for their skill, experience, and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of real estate law. He also serves as Chair of ACREL’s Common Interest Ownership Committee.

David brings more than 25 years of extensive experience in business development, enterprise sales, finance, digital infrastructure, telecom, and real estate development to his work as Hotwire Communications’ Senior Vice President of Business Development. Over the course of his career, Steigerwald has led technology-focused initiatives that solve complex problems for their clients through cutting-edge solutions.

Matthew leads GlobalPro’s New York office that serves the Northeast Region and is the managing partner of GlobalPro Ventures, LLC, a boutique Private Equity, Venture Capital and Real Estate Investment firm. He brings over a decade of experience in financial services and asset management with a focus on raising capital, business development and key relationship management. Matthew served as Vice President and Partner at Neuberger Berman and Rue One Investments. His business development experience is highlighted by building and growing sales regions in the U.S. and raising over $700 million in capital to date. He is an expert at building relationships with Family Offices, Independent Broker/Dealers and their respective Home Office Representatives. In 2014, Matthew was recognized by his peers who nominated him for the “Roy Neuberger” Award, the Advisor Consultant of the Year.

An internationally recognized expert, since 1985, Mr. Jones has provided complex income-producing commercial property valuation, expert testimony, litigation support, ad valorem property tax counseling and representation, appraisal review, investment advice, marketability analysis, and feasibility analysis, including highest and best use analysis for virtually all types of commercial, industrial, residential, and special purpose real estate, on behalf of financial institutions, REIT’s, government entities, publicly traded companies, and private concerns. As a former President of the Florida Association of Property Tax Professionals, and an inaugural member of the Florida TaxWatch Tax Advisory Council, Mr. Jones has addressed the Florida Cabinet, Legislature, and various state agencies on property tax policy, technical matters, and issues impacting taxpayers. In 2008, the Association successfully collaborated with other influential groups to change Florida law affecting how the assessors must develop and support valuations in defending challenged assessments, “leveling the playing field” by lowering the burden of proof for taxpayers in assessment challenges, and requiring the development of uniform rules, policies, and procedures for Value Adjustment Boards across Florida’s 67 counties to improve fairness in taxation for all Floridians. In 2011, Mr. Jones served on the Florida Governor’s Tangible Personal Property Taskforce. In 2012, the Florida legislature sought Mr. Jones’ counsel on comprehensive property tax reform legislation. For eight years, Mr. Jones taught Appraisal Valuation in the Nathan S. Collier Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) degree program at the University of Florida. The UF MSRE program has been consistently ranked in the Top Ten of all university real estate programs in the US since the 1960’s and was named the top real estate master’s degree program in the US in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Mr. Jones has been a reviewer for the most widely used university real estate textbook, Real Estate Principles: A Value Approach by David Ling, Ph.D., FRICS and Wayne Archer, Ph.D. In addition, Mr. Jones taught the appraisal course for the Florida Bankers School for five years. The purpose of the Florida School of Banking (FSB) is to provide bank personnel at the supervisory and officer level the opportunity to increase their knowledge about the banking industry and the economy. In 2017, after ten years of collaborative scholarship and hundreds of cases, Mr. Jones and Michael J. Mard, CPA/ABV, CPCU pioneered an industry breakthrough. They successfully bridged the differences between professionally accepted business and real property valuation methods to create the Daubert-tested Authoritative Allocation Method for identifying, separating, and quantifying real property, tangible personal property, and intangible assets frequently bundled in real property ownership transfers.

Jose Vargas is a dynamic and accomplished professional with a diverse background in marketing and sales. Holding an Executive MBA from Florida International University, he currently serves as the Regional Marketing Manager for Breezeline in Miami, Florida, orchestrating successful go-to-market plans and securing high-value enterprise sales. Jose's career showcases his expertise across various industries: In telecommunications, he refined communication strategies and established strategic partnerships; in retail, he achieved record-breaking sales and revenue growth in the Caribbean and Mexico markets; within financial services, he drove impressive growth and cost reduction initiatives; in pharmaceuticals, he optimized retail marketing strategies; and in public health, he launched successful public vaccine programs and strengthened public-private partnerships. His adaptability, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills transcend industries, consistently delivering outstanding results. Jose is a leader who excels in diverse professional contexts.

Victoria Cowart, CPM, NAAEI Faculty, is the Director of Education & Outreach for PetScreening. Previously, she was a direct multi-family industry member with extensive experience providing management and oversight for multifamily housing communities (conventional & subsidized), mobile home communities, and HOAs. She is a property management instructor and a proud graduate of both the NAAEI Advance Facilitator Training and the NAA Lyceum Program. Victoria obtained her degree in the Management of Human Resources and then her industry CPM designation. She was honored to be commissioned a SC "Palmetto Patriot," to receive the Charleston Regional Business Journal's Executive "Influential Women in Business," and the NAA AIMS Grassroots Member Advocate of the Year. Victoria has served the industry as President of both the local and state affiliates. She has proudly served the National Apartment Association as a Region IV Regional VP and as the Chair of four committees—most recently the Legislative Committee in 2021. Victoria is passionate about education, simplification and creating ease and understanding for industry members. Victoria is a wife, mother and a proud PetScreening pack member who also leads her own “pride” of three pound-kitties.