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Speakers and Panels

Jonathan Hipp

Jonathan Hipp

CEO

Calkain Companies

Dave Dochter

Dave Dochter

Principal

Dochter & Alexander Retail Advisors

Kathy Hollinger

Kathy Hollinger

CEO

Greater Washington Partnership

Paul Weinschenk

Paul Weinschenk

Chief Operating Officer

Peterson Companies

Peter Cole

Peter Cole

Managing Director

Madison Marquette

Bryan Voltaggio

Bryan Voltaggio

Executive Chef & Owner

AGGIO, VOLT, Lunchbox, Family Meal, RANGE

Kathy Hollinger

CEO

Greater Washington Partnership

Kathy E. Hollinger serves as the CEO of the Greater Washington

Partnership (GWP), a first-of-its-kind alliance uniting leading

employers across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC to

collaborate in building a vibrant, economically competitive, and

prosperous place to live, work and build a business. Prioritizing

the economic growth of the region, Kathy directs GWP in its

mission to catalyze collaboration, convenings, thought leadership,

and collective action. She connects stakeholders across public,

private, and nonprofit sectors to address shared opportunities and

challenges in some of the region’s most pressing issues, including

skills and talent, regional mobility, infrastructure, and economic

growth and innovation. Through strategic alliances, focused

investments, and pioneering initiatives, she relentlessly works to

find practical, impactful, and visionary solutions to the region’s

challenges.

Prior to GWP, Kathy led the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and its

Educated Eats Foundation as President and CEO. Her tenure marked a period of dramatic

growth for the region’s food service industry, culminating in national recognition including Bon

Appetit’s 2016 Restaurant City of the Year, ZAGAT’s Hottest Food City of 2016, and the

prestigious arrival of the Michelin Guide to Washington, DC in 2016.

Kathy’s leadership has earned widespread recognition. She has been named to the region’s

Power 100 list for five consecutive years (2021-2025), honored as Washington Business

Journal’s COVID-19 Response CEO Leader of the Year, and recognized as the 2021

Washington Woman of Excellence by Mayor Muriel Bowser and Person of the Year by

Downtown DC’s Business Improvement District.

Her career spans public service and private sector leadership. Kathy served on the DC City

Council, working with Councilmembers Charlene Drew Jarvis and Kevin P. Chavous. She was

later appointed Film Commissioner by Mayor Adrian Fenty. Kathy also led external affairs for

Comcast in Washington, DC. She holds degrees from American University and George Mason

University, where she received the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Kathy is an active member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC, and the Chair of

Leadership Greater Washington. She contributes her expertise to the Washington Business

Journal’s Leadership Trust and the American City Business Journals’ Bizwomen Leadership

Council.

Kathy resides in Washington, DC with her husband Anthony, son Bijan, and their dog Kalli.

Paul Weinschenk

Chief Operating Officer

Peterson Companies

Paul Weinschenk is Chief Operating Officer at Peterson Companies where he oversees all aspects of the company’s retail, office, and industrial operating portfolios, including asset management, leasing, risk management, and marketing.

Previously, he was Vice President and Managing Director for the Retail Division at Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (WRE) and oversaw the growth and operations of WRE’s then 2.4 million square foot retail portfolio.

Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Peterson Companies as Vice President of Retail Development and was instrumental in the development and leasing of Fairfax Corner, Virginia Gateway and East Market among others.

He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and served a three-year term as State Director for Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. Paul is also past President of the University of Virginia School of Architecture Foundation.

Paul holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from The Keenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina.

Peter Cole

Managing Director

Madison Marquette

Peter Cole is Managing Director and Head of Development for Madison Marquette’s Eastern Region. He is responsible for ground up, mixed-use and urban waterfront development activities.

Mr. Cole joined Madison Marquette in 2015 as an accomplished senior executive with more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. He is responsible for some of Madison Marquette’s most prestigious assets including District Wharf in Washington, DC.

Prior to joining Madison Marquette, Mr. Cole was Regional Managing Director with Fisher Brothers in Washington, DC where he successfully negotiated the entitlement, design and delivery of Station House. As Senior Managing Director with The Clarett Group, Mr. Cole handed all residential, office and mixed-use projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He came to the region in 2001 when he opened Tishman Speyer’s Washington, DC office.

Mr. Cole holds a Bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College and a Master of Science in real estate investment from New York University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for DCBIA, is a mentor at the Economic Club of Washington, DC, is a member of ULI serving on the Urban Development and Mixed-Use Council (UDMUC) national Product Council, and is actively involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington.

Retail Trends

Joe Sitt

Joe Sitt

CEO

Thor Equities

Henry Fonvielle

Henry Fonvielle

President

Rappaport

Grant Ehat

Grant Ehat

Managing Partner

Willard Retail Partners

Tim Steffan

Tim Steffan

President, Eastern Division

Retail Properties of America, Inc

Edward de Avila
Moderator

Edward de Avila

Senior Development Director

Madison Marquette

Joe Sitt

CEO

Thor Equities

Joseph Sitt is President and CEO of Thor Equities, a global leader in urban real estate development,

leasing and management of commercial, residential, retail, hotel and mixed-use assets. Mr. Sitt is also

CEO of Thor Retail Advisors, a premier leasing agent and exclusive representative of global retailers in

their search for prime locations; Chairman of Thor Urbana, which develops and acquires retail, office

and mixed-use properties in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla and other large Mexican cities; and

Chairman and Managing Principal of Thor Urban Property Funds, an investment vehicle serving pension

funds, investment banks, top-tier college endowments and foundations.

Mr. Sitt was awarded the 2014 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Harvard professor

Michael Porter and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) have also honored him for his

commitment to fostering healthy competitive business conditions and new opportunities in inner city

neighborhoods. He has served on the board of the Real Estate Roundtable in Washington D.C., the

Department of Real Estate at Baruch College, and is a member of the Partnership for New York City. Mr.

Sitt founded women’s clothing retailer Ashley Stewart, expanding the company to 380 stores in over 100

cities. He is a graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Henry Fonvielle

President

Rappaport

As the President of Rappaport, Henry Fonvielle oversees the leasing strategy for third-party

landlord and tenant representation services and all shopping centers within the company’s

extensive portfolio. Dedicated to reinvigorating, designing, and constructing top-tier mixed-use

developments and shopping centers within the D.C. market, Henry utilizes over 35 years of

experience in the retail industry to create well-organized and exceptional projects from

conception to completion. With comprehensive knowledge in a wide array of retail types

including urban, mixed-use, neighborhood, lifestyle, and power centers, Henry is recognized as

a trusted retail advisor and an expert in the commercial real estate industry.

His ability to form and cultivate close-knit partnerships within his team and among his clients

enhanced Rappaport’s reputation as a well-respected and experienced firm committed to

cultivating places. Under his leadership, the company’s leasing and brokerage portfolio soared

from 35 to over 170 properties. Prior to joining Rappaport, Henry was Senior Vice President and

Retail Department Head for the Vornado/Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty.

Henry is Co-Founder of the Skyland Workforce Center Leadership Council, member of the

Executive Leadership Team for the Alzheimer’s Association – Ride to End ALZ, Emeritus

member of the Foundation Board and Ball Chair of Children’s National Hospital, member of the

Bisnow Diversity Board, Board member for Tall Ship Providence Foundation, Board member

and Gala Chair for Atlas Performing Arts Center, and At-Large member of the Board of the

USTA-Mid-Atlantic. Henry formerly served as Vice-Chair for Washington Tennis and Education

Foundation, Board member for Federal City Council and Washington DC Economic Partnership.

Tim Steffan

President, Eastern Division

Retail Properties of America, Inc

Timothy Steffan has joined RPAI as President – Eastern Division, and is responsible for executing the strategic plan for the Company’s eastern region portfolio, including the oversight of asset management, leasing, property management and re-development. Prior to joining RPAI, Mr. Steffan was Senior Vice President, Asset Management and Commercial Leasing for Macerich’s Eastern region, which included partner relationships, strategic objectives and performance metrics, budgeting and forecasting, return analysis/pro forma modeling on development projects, and other company initiatives including Parking Revenue. In addition, he led the company’s commercial leasing ventures including Tysons Tower at Tysons Corner Center. Mr. Steffan received a B.A. from Syracuse University and a M.B.A. in Real Estate and Urban Development from The American University in Washington, D.C. He is also a licensed real estate broker in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Edward de Avila

Moderator

Madison Marquette

Edward A. de Avila, Senior Development Director, leads and manages the delivery of complex mixed-use developments for Madison Marquette. Over 25 years of retail mixed-use experience on notable projects overseeing all retail functions, has given him the background and expertise to address the challenges of how to create meaningful destinations in the midst of this new economy. His project experience includes horizontal and vertical mixed-use, development in suburban markets and urban districts and, all facets of mixed-use development. Ed has been with Madison Marquette since February of 2016, and focused on distinguishing The Wharf, a new regional destination and urban neighborhood, comprising 3.2 mi sf of residential, office, hotel, retail, and cultural space. His oversight includes the leasing and delivery of retail, including design, development and delivery. He also is responsible for the redevelopment of the historic Fish Market and the 240,000 square foot class A office building designed by KPF, and accompanying market goods at the pedestrian level. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, he was Vice President of Development for Lerner Enterprises and managed the repositioning and redevelopment plan for White Flint Mall. Prior to joining Madison, Ed served as CEO of Village Partners in California, a mixed-use development company overseeing strategic planning, new business development, and overall management. Previously, he managed the entitlement and development of the showcase Country Club Plaza’s $240 million development program. In addition, as Managing Director of AMC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Centertainment, Ed saw the expansion of their large theatre formats and their participation in various suburban and urban mixed-use entertainment centers. Ed’s local accomplishments began overseeing the retail delivery of Reston Town Center’s first phase development, as well as Georgetown Park’s Phase II expansion.

He completed numerous management and sales training at IBM, where he began his professional career, following his studies at California State University of Fullerton. Ed is an active member of Urban Land and ICSC, and active participant serving on various councils and technical assistance panels.

Bringing a Restaurant to Life

Concept, Finance, Development, Design and Construction

Dan Simons

Dan Simons

Owner

Founding Farmers

Scott Kinlaw

Scott Kinlaw

SVP

EagleBank

Tom Dailey

Tom Dailey

President

Potomac Construction Services

Allison Cooke

Allison Cooke

Principal

CORE architecture + design

Scott Museles
Moderator

Scott Museles

Shareholder

Shulman Rogers

Dan Simons

Owner

Founding Farmers

Within the industry and among his own team, Dan Simons is known for his energetic leadership style and passion for hospitality. An impressive career in the management ranks at several large, high-volume restaurants helped to propel him toward starting his own firm, which he founded in 2004 with mentor Michael Vucurevich. The two form a well-balanced partnership based on mutual respect and a shared vision. Founding Farmers, which they launched in 2008 with North Dakota Farmers Union, is the accumulation of their many years of industry experience, as well as their successful working relationship.

As a skilled communicator, Dan is frequently called on to serve as the voice of Founding Farmers, whether he’s inspiring potential investors or sharing his knowledge at hospitality and educational events. The responsible practices, which form the backbone of Founding Farmers are an extension of the way he strives to live his own life. He takes great pride in being able to continually incorporate new methods and initiatives that give back to the environment and the community. He has been the recipient of a variety of awards within the restaurant industry and the business world that honor his commitment to sustainability and socially responsible practices.

Allison Cooke

Principal

CORE architecture + design

Allison Cooke, Principal & Director of Hospitality Design at CORE architecture + design (CORE),

is committed to listening and forming true design partnerships with her clients to help them realize

their ambitions in built space, at all scales. She leads and grows the firm’s restaurant and retail

work, while providing editorial feedback on interiors projects in their broad portfolio. She is

focused on expanding the firm’s boutique hospitality and retail practice in DC and the greater mid-

Atlantic region. Clients love her ability to seamlessly shift between conceptual brainstorming and

straightforward conversation about technical requirements. She is also responsible for public

relations and marketing initiatives and continuing education opportunities within the firm and

broader community. A natural leader and presenter, she regularly participates in speaking

engagements across the country focusing on the nuances and challenges of retail and restaurant

design. Allison has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Miami University of Ohio. She

is NCIDQ Certified and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Scott Museles

Moderator

Shulman Rogers

“Scott Museles is more than my attorney. He is one of my most important business advisors.” Janeen Gelbart, co-founder of Indiggo Associates LLC, a provider of leadership training platforms goes on to say, “He helped me raise my first million dollars of investment. He and his colleagues at Shulman Rogers help me manage the legal and business issues around investors, employees, alliances, vendors, and intellectual property. He has been a true partner in starting my business and helping me to make it successful.”

Scott counsels start-up, early-stage and mature private companies, small-cap and micro-cap public companies, placement agents and investment banks, and investment fund sponsors on a wide range of transactional and business law matters. His practice emphasizes public and private placement offerings, mergers and acquisitions, angel and venture capital transactions, crowd-funding, private equity and real estate fund formation, reverse mergers, roll-ups, SEC and state securities blue sky compliance, corporate governance and general corporate law.

For his clients that do not have in-house legal counsel, Mr. Museles often serves as the client’s "outside general counsel", taking a leadership role in managing the clients’ legal matters and providing effective and efficient solutions that are consistent with his clients’ business objectives.

Throughout his career, Scott has counseled clients on business transactions and general corporate matters in a wide variety of industries, including hospitality, technology, government contracting, fuel distribution, medical device, real estate, business services, retail, aviation, sports and entertainment, restaurants, alternative energy, medical marijuana and specialty contracting. Scott has advised buyers and sellers on scores of transactions and, in addition to providing M&A advice, he has helped companies raise millions in private and public investment funds. As an important added value, Scott routinely helps his clients identify investors.

Scott is Co-Chairman of the Firm’s Business and Financial Services Department and Chair of the Firm’s Securities Practice Group. Prior to joining Shulman Rogers, he served as Of Counsel at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. Scott began his career as an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Corporation Finance, where he worked on IPOs, mergers and other securities regulatory matters for companies in the investment banking, securitization, gaming, hotel, restaurant and leisure industries.

Summary

Would you like fries with that sweater? Bisnow and a team of elite panelists will break down the trends in consumer demand, the hot submarkets to watch, and the innovative strategies that restaurateurs and retailers are using to gain market share.

What is e-commerce's real impact on brick and mortar? Who is investing in the DC region, and where? Can the restaurant sector continue to sustain its growth, or is there a threat of a downturn in consumer activity looming on the horizon?

Join Bisnow and our all-star panelists as we answer these questions and more in what promises to be an interesting and exciting morning complete with breakfast and networking.

Join the fun on Twitter by using hastag #DCRandR and follow @BisnowDC!

Venue

Franklin Court
1099 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005


McPherson Square Metro Station
Colonial Parking - 1100 13th St NW
LAZ Parking - 1155 14th St NW
Franklin Court Parking Garage - located at the right hand side of L Street at 1099 14th Street, NW. It is managed by Penn Parking.

Agenda

Time Activity
11:30 AM
12:30 PM
Coffee, Networking, & Breakfast
12:30 PM
1:15 PM
Bringing a Restaurant to Life
1:15 PM
2:00 PM
Retail Trends
2:00 PM
2:30 PM
Postgame Networking