Registration Questions

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

Request Speaker Information

Speaker Topics

Tell us a Little More

Speakers and Panels

Overcoming Regulatory & Design Challenges on the Waterfront

The Nuances of Permitting Across Miami, Broward, Palm Beach & A New Wave of Front Row Parking with Special Marinas and Docks For Yachts and Boats

Asi Cymbal
Nautico District - Fort Lauderdale

Asi Cymbal

Chairman

Cymbal DLT

Chris Schlank
OLARA - West Palm Beach

Chris Schlank

Founder & Managing Partner

Savanna

Chris Gandolfo
Pier 66 - Fort Lauderdale

Chris Gandolfo

SVP

Tavistock

Laura Tauber
One Kane - Bay Harbor

Laura Tauber

Principal

TAUBCO

Jorge Garcia
Pier 66 - Fort Lauderdale

Jorge Garcia

CEO

garciastromberg

Danilo Nanni
MSC Cruises Terminal - PortMiami

Danilo Nanni

Principal

DeSimone

Josephine Campeau
Moderator

Josephine Campeau

President

Camaco Development

Asi Cymbal

Nautico District - Fort Lauderdale

Cymbal DLT

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.

Chris Schlank

OLARA - West Palm Beach

Savanna

Mr. Schlank is a Founder and Managing Partner of Savanna. At Savanna, Mr. Schlank sits on the investment committee and is in charge of construction and redevelopment and shares responsibilities for asset management, sales and marketing and acquisitions. Mr. Schlank has overseen the acquisition and redevelopment of more than 70 real estate assets, comprising over 20 million square feet of space and nearly $3.8 billion of total capitalization, including raw land development sites, apartments, office buildings, industrial to residential conversions, retail and warehouse/distribution properties. Prior to founding Savanna, Mr. Schlank was a project manager for the Westside Federation for Senior Housing, a New York-based developer of low-income housing. Mr. Schlank received an MS in Real Estate Development from the Columbia School of Architecture and a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Schlank is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University where he teaches a seminar in Real Estate Finance to graduate students in the Columbia Architecture School’s Real Estate Master’s Degree Program.

Chris Gandolfo

Pier 66 - Fort Lauderdale

Tavistock

Chris Gandolfo is the senior vice president of development for Tavistock Development Company. In his role, Gandolfo leads and oversees the development and construction of the revitalization of the iconic Pier Sixty-Six property in Fort Lauderdale.

Jorge Garcia

Pier 66 - Fort Lauderdale

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.

Danilo Nanni

MSC Cruises Terminal - PortMiami

DeSimone

A Principal in DeSimone Consulting Engineering’s Miami office, Danilo Nanni, PE, has led some of the firm’s most complex, high-profile, and award-winning projects. His work on the Aston Martin Residences tower on the Miami waterfront earned an ENR "Best of the Best Award" last year. Danilo led the project team and DeSimone structural and façades teams for the design and construction of the newly completed MSC Cruises terminal in PortMiami.

Currently, he’s leading the structural design for Calle 8 and for Seaway in Miami. Other exceptional developments include Paramount Miami Worldcenter, a 1.3 MSF, 60-story residential tower at the Miami Worldcenter complex; and the Panorama Tower, a 2.6 MSF, 868-foot-tall structure —the tallest building in Florida.

Mr. Nanni received his Structural Engineering degree from the Polytechnic in Milan, Italy, and earned an MBA from the University of Miami.

Major Projects & The Future of South Florida’s Waterfront Development

Waterfront views are priceless. Hear how developers are selecting sites and developing to maximize value and match the prestige of the location.

Peter Baytarian
Nautilus - North Palm Beach

Peter Baytarian

Founder & Managing Partner

Forest Development

Carlos Melo
Aria Reserve - Edgewater

Carlos Melo

Principal

Melo Group

Shahab Karmely
Faena Residences Miami

Shahab Karmely

Principal

KAR Properties

Bryan Cho
South Flagler House - West Palm Beach

Bryan Cho

EVP

Related Ross

Kevin Davenport
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental - Brickell Key

Kevin Davenport

SVP

Swire Properties

Lisa Holt
Moderator

Lisa Holt

Head Chief

Ivy Risk Strategies

Peter Baytarian

Nautilus - North Palm Beach

Forest Development

Peter Baytarian is the Founder and Managing Partner of Forest Development, a multi-faceted team of

real estate development professionals with decades of experience. Forest Development acquires and

develops undervalued and primarily waterfront properties in or adjacent to growing cities in Florida.

Investing in areas on the path of development empowers the team to create destinations and shape

vibrant communities. The diversified investment strategy of the company includes adding value

through strategic partnerships and opportunities with mixed-use, multifamily, luxury condominiums,

hotels, retail, restaurants, and marinas.

Forest Development has various projects in process on both the east and west coasts of Florida.

Nautilus 220, a luxury mixed-use development currently underway with completion anticipated for

Spring 2025 at 220 Lake Shore Drive in Lake Park, FL, will include 330 condominium residences in

two towers, SeaHawk Prime by David Burke, a restaurant with golf + sport simulators, a café, retail,

and office alongside the Lake Park Harbor Marina. Oculina is a luxury mixed-use development with

Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean views at 3700 Broadway, Riviera Beach, FL. The 25-story,

two tower project will include 399 condominiums, resort style amenities, a cafe, fast casual and fine

dining restaurants, retail and office. Oculina is fully entitled and sales are slated to launch in the fall of

2025.

Additionally, Peter is the Founder and Managing Partner of two firms based in New York, NY focused

on the renovation, ownership and management of high-end value-add properties including

townhomes, condominiums, and commercial sites in Manhattan. Previously he was a developer and

home builder in Cape Cod, MA completing more than 150 residences. Peter was born in Beirut,

Lebanon, attended high school at The American School in London and studied economics at Boston

University. He resides with his wife and two daughters in Palm Beach County. Peter serves as a

member of the Executive Trustee Council for the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce.

Shahab Karmely

Faena Residences Miami

KAR Properties

Led by Principal Shahab S. Karmely, New York based KAR Properties is a real estate investment and development firm.

With over 28 years of international real estate experience, Shahab S. Karmely has honed an impressive pedigree in transactional, managerial, and developmental disciplines. These, combined with an extensive background in fine arts and design, are the foundational elements of his development expertise and overall vision.

As the founder of KAR Properties LLC, and through KAR and/or its affiliates, Mr. Karmely has acquired, repositioned, and monetized over 3 million square feet of office, luxury mixed-use, and industrial space in the US, Southeast Asia, and Europe. With offices in New York and Miami, KAR currently oversees the management of a core portfolio of assets and a development pipeline in excess of 5 million square feet.

KAR has made a significant entry into the Miami market with acquisitions in excess of $200 million in established and emerging neighborhoods. The firm is currently developing 2000 Ocean in Hallandale Beach, a 38-story, a private residential enclave located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. In Downtown Miami, KAR Properties is also developing One River Point, a two-tower, 60-story development that will rise 800 feet above the Miami River.

Mr. Karmely’s background as an owner/manager and developer gives him a unique perspective and invaluable insights in analyzing and implementing the appropriate strategies for a variety of asset classes. He champions innovative and inventive approaches in response to changing market conditions, trends, and new opportunities as is required in today’s dynamic real estate markets.

Lisa Holt

Moderator

Ivy Risk Strategies

Since stumbling upon my passion for insurance in 2015 (funny backstory on my website), I have dedicated myself to helping real estate owners and developers navigate the complexities of risk management. After 6 years with one of the largest brokerages in the world, I decided to further perfect my business by starting my own firm in 2021. Forever reliable and with endless tenacity, I have created a process to make client lives easier. With Ivy Risk Strategies, I’m on a mission to make insurance less painful and (yes) enjoyable.

Keynote Address

Step aboard the world's first Yacht Condo with Crescent Seas, the residential cruise ship redefining what it means to live on the water.

Russell Galbut
Keynote

Russell Galbut

Founder & Chairman | GFO

Co‑Founder & Managing Principal | Crescent Heights

Why Attend Waterfront Development Forum

Why This Matters:

South Florida’s waterfront is a high-demand, high-value asset class, attracting institutional investors, private equity firms and foreign capital looking for strong, long-term returns. With limited waterfront land available, competition is fierce — knowing where and how to invest is critical. Billion-dollar bayfront, riverfront and marina-driven projects across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties must also navigate an increasingly complex landscape of rising construction costs, stricter coastal regulations and long-term climate resiliency challenges. This event will feature the bold visionaries behind these prime projects redefining South Florida’s waterfronts for generations to come, the city officials allowing these projects to pencil and capital markets experts will also share insights and discuss opportunities. Whether you’re a developer looking for your next big project, an investor seeking waterfront opportunities or an owner navigating redevelopment challenges, this event is where the future of South Florida’s waterfront real estate takes shape.

What You Will Learn:

  • The Future of Waterfront Growth: Discover the key infrastructure improvements, policy updates, and public initiatives that will drive South Florida’s waterfront expansion and enhance long-term economic sustainability across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. 
     

  • High-Value Waterfront Submarkets: Identify which bayfront, riverfront, and marina districts in Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach offer the best risk-adjusted returns and how these markets compare to other U.S. coastal investment hubs. 
     

  • Unlocking Hidden Value in Waterfront Development: Learn how adaptive reuse, redevelopment, and creative mixed-use planning are transforming underutilized waterfront spaces into thriving commercial, residential, and hospitality destinations. 

  • The Evolution of South Florida’s Marina & Boating Industry: Understand how demand for yacht slips, luxury marinas, and waterfront amenities is shaping real estate trends and influencing new development strategies.

  • Overcoming Construction & Cost Challenges in Waterfront Projects: Gain insights into how developers are addressing rising insurance premiums, labor shortages, and material costs, and what strategies are being used to keep projects financially viable. 

  • Climate Resiliency & Sustainable Development: Learn how developers are integrating flood prevention, sea-level rise mitigation, and resilient infrastructure to ensure the long-term viability of waterfront investments. 

For questions regarding content and speaking, please email our Event Producer, Elizabeth Herrgott, elizabeth.herrgott@bisnow.com Want to get involved? Contact Jordan.Hinsch@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event.

Venue

Mayfair House & Garden
3000 Florida Ave
Miami, FL 33133

Ballroom: Magnolia Ballroom
Floor: Mezzanine


Valet parking $20

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Registration, Networking, & Breakfast
1:00 PM
1:20 PM
Keynote Address - Russell Galbut

Location, Location, Location! Waterfront real estate is some of the most coveted land in the country. Why not take it to the Sea? Join Russell as he embarks on Yacht Condos! The first of it's kind with oceanfront views that change daily, world-class amenities, and bespoke residences designed for comfort and elegance. This is not just a voyage, it’s your next address!

1:25 PM
2:10 PM
Overcoming Regulatory, Location & Design Challenges on the Waterfront

Developing on South Florida’s waterfront is no easy feat from strict zoning and environmental policies to climate-related risks and finding the right space, bringing these high-profile projects to life requires navigating a complex regulatory landscape. So how are leading developers overcoming these hurdles? Hear directly from top developers, policy experts, and industry leaders on what it really takes to break ground and succeed in South Florida’s competitive waterfront market.

2:10 PM
2:25 PM
Networking Break
2:25 PM
3:10 PM
Major Projects & The Future of South Florida’s Waterfront Development

South Florida’s waterfront is experiencing a wave of transformative development, with prime sites in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami counties attracting major investment. Developers are capitalizing on luxury residential, hospitality, and mixed-use projects, redefining waterfront living and commerce. Join the visionary developers shaping South Florida’s waterfront as they discuss how to maximize investment potential and build for the future.

3:10 PM
3:40 PM
Post-Panel Networking

Sponsors

Unlock Your Career Potential with SelectLeaders

Looking for the next step in your career or aiming to discover top talent? SelectLeaders is your destination! Whether you're seeking your next role or searching for exceptional talent, SelectLeaders connects ambitious professionals with industry-leading employers. Choose SelectLeaders to elevate your career search or talent acquisition.

PS - Want the attendee list for free?

Biscred gives you access to 3.6 million commercial real estate contacts and powerful filters built for CRE: search by industry, asset class experience, property count, job seniority, metros, and more. Book a demo today and get the attendee list for free when you mention this promotion.