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The New Frontier: Economic Growth & Community Identity on the Treasure Coast

Balancing Economic Momentum, Infrastructure Investment & Local Character

Linda Hudson

Linda Hudson

Mayor

City of Fort Pierce

Shannon Martin

Shannon Martin

Mayor

City of Port St. Lucie

Cathy Townsend

Cathy Townsend

County Commissioner, District 5

Port St. Lucie

Ryan Courson

Ryan Courson

Division President of St. Lucie County

GL HOMES

Wes McCurry

Wes McCurry

President

Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

Steve Garrett
Moderator

Steve Garrett

Senior Partner

Lucido & Associates

Wes McCurry

President

Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

Wes McCurry was appointed as the president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County in January 2026.

Previously Wes was the organization’s senior vice president, leading the EDC’s business attraction and retention activities. Prior to joining the EDC in 2022, he oversaw the rapid development of the City of Port St. Lucie’s jobs corridor as director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

Wes joined the city in 2018 after serving as a senior associate with the Port St. Lucie office of Fishkind & Associates, an economic and financial consulting firm involved in key financial advisory roles to special districts, local governments, redevelopment agencies and real estate developers. At Fishkind & Associates, he was tasked with management of the 8,200-acre Tradition master-planned community.

With more than 25 years of experience in community and land development, Wes also previously served as vice president of Core Communities, LLC and president of Core’s subsidiary, Tradition Development Company, LLC.

McCurry has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and has been a member of the Urban Land Institute, where he served on the Community Development Green Council, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Where Rooftops Meet Demand: The Builders, Developers & Investors Defining the Market

Underwriting Growth: Housing, Commercial Demand & Real-World Constraints

Alex Akel

Alex Akel

President

Akel Homes

Jill Marasa

Jill Marasa

Director, Development

Ashley Capital

Ted Elam

Ted Elam

Principal

Foundry Commercial

Barry Schwarzberg

Barry Schwarzberg

Principal

Northlake Development Group

Nikki Hawkins

Nikki Hawkins

President

Jumpstart Treasure Coast

Corinne Whitaker
Moderator

Corinne Whitaker

Lead Economic Development Project Manager

Florida Power & Light Company

Jill Marasa

Director, Development

Ashley Capital

Jill Marasa is the Director of Development – Treasure Coast for Ashley Capital, one of the largest

privately-held industrial real estate investment companies in the U.S. She oversees the development

activity for the Florida land portfolio, comprised of over 2,000 acres in Martin County and St. Lucie

Counties including Sunrise Grove Commerce Center, Martin Commerce Park and PCC2023.

Jill started her career in the financial services industry in New York and New Jersey and held various

economic development roles at the Business Development Board of Martin County. Prior to joining

Ashley Capital, she served as the Vice President, Business Retention and Expansion at the Economic

Development Council of St. Lucie County responsible for promoting economic development and leading

business retention, expansion and attraction efforts, as well as recruitment for new industrial

development activity.

Corinne Whitaker

Moderator

Florida Power & Light Company

Corinne is a lead economic development project manager for Florida Power & Light Company (FPL). She supports economic development efforts by providing information on sites and buildings, electric infrastructure assessments, electric rate quotes, electricity incentives and tax exemption qualifications for target industry programs including clean tech, advanced manufacturing and logistics & distribution projects.

In addition to economic development, Corinne has worked in the integrated supply chain as a procurement/sourcing specialist, negotiating service contracts for various internal business units including human resources, marketing, external affairs, customer service and corporate travel.

Prior to joining FPL in 2018, Corinne spent 13 years as an event planner, managing high profile, international events.

Corinne earned a bachelor’s degree in both commercial recreation event planning and business management from the University of Florida.

A South Florida native, Corinne resides in Jupiter with her husband and two children.

Why Attend Bisnow's Treasure Coast State of the Market

Once known primarily for its coastline and quiet charm, the Treasure Coast is now one of Florida’s fastest-growing and most dynamic regions. As population migration accelerates from South Florida, Orlando, Tampa, and beyond, the region finds itself at a pivotal moment rich with opportunity, but facing real decisions about how and where growth should happen.
 

Local governments, economic development organizations, and private-sector leaders agree on the need for smart growth, but definitions vary. From land use and density to infrastructure, affordability, and quality of life, the region is actively grappling with how to scale responsibly while preserving the character that makes the Treasure Coast unique.
 

This event explores the forces driving the region’s evolution: new employers, manufacturing expansion, incoming commercial air service, and major infrastructure investments alongside the challenges that accompany rapid growth. As higher-paying jobs arrive and population swells, community leaders must balance economic momentum with housing affordability, workforce needs, homelessness, transportation capacity, and access to essential services.
 

Beyond rooftops, the Treasure Coast now needs retail, healthcare, education, office space, logistics hubs, and lifestyle amenities to support a growing and diversifying population. Developers, investors, planners, and public officials will share real-time insights into market fundamentals, land constraints, capital flows, and construction realities offering a clear-eyed view of where growth is headed and where the next opportunities lie.
 

Whether you are considering investment, new development, or regional expansion, this event provides a comprehensive snapshot of the Treasure Coast’s economic trajectory and what it means for the next chapter of growth in one of Florida’s most promising markets.

Attendees will walk away with:
 

  • A clear understanding of the population and migration trends driving record demand for housing, jobs, and services across the Treasure Coast

  • Insight into how affordability pressures from larger metros are reshaping demographics, housing demand, and long-term planning decisions

  • Updates from economic development leaders on new employers, manufacturing growth, aviation expansion, and the industries fueling job creation

  • A realistic look at the development pipeline, from master-planned communities and residential growth to retail, medical, industrial, and mixed-use projects

  • Perspective on the region’s most pressing challenges, including infrastructure capacity, homelessness, transportation, and differing views on what “smart growth” truly means

  • Practical guidance from active developers and investors on where they see opportunity, how they’re underwriting risk, and how to navigate the Treasure Coast’s next phase of growth

For questions regarding content and speaking, please email our Event Producer, Elizabeth Herrgott, at elizabeth.herrgott@bisnow.com. Want to get involved? Contact Jordan.Hinsch@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ariel.fromm@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

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Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Registration, Breakfast & Networking
1:00 PM
1:45 PM
The New Frontier: Economic Growth & Community Identity on the Treasure Coast

This panel explores the forces driving growth from new employers and industry expansions to infrastructure investments and talent migration and the challenges that come with it.

1:45 PM
2:00 PM
Networking Break
2:00 PM
2:45 PM
Where Rooftops Meet Demand: The Builders, Developers & Investors Defining the Market

This panel brings together developers, homebuilders, brokers, and investors already placing bets in the region those breaking ground on master-planned communities, shopping centers, medical campuses, industrial projects, and mixed-use districts.

2:45 PM
3:15 PM
Post-Event Networking

Supporting Sponsors

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