Future of Montgomery County

Federal Realty is one of the oldest real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the country and was formed in 1962 here in the Washington D.C. area. Federal is a publicly owned company trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:FRT). The company is a proven leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of some of the best recognized and special retail destinations in the country including Bethesda Row, Pentagon Row and Congressional Plaza in suburban D.C.; Santana Row and Third Street Promenade in California; Barracks Road in Charlottesville Virginia and 80 more interesting and community-enhancing shopping environments. The company is and has been guided by New Jersey native Don Wood since 2002 who, along with a dedicated and passionate management team and their staffs, is committed to a philosophy of balance in all that they do. From environmental and socially responsible initiatives and operations, to supporting the communities in which they do business, to the creation of true retail social destinations that improve the quality of life for many, to providing a superior return to its stakeholders; Federal Realty is proud of its long history and corporate citizenry. Don has been with Federal Realty since 1998, where he is a Trustee and has served in positions from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Operating Officer to President before being named its Chief Executive in 2002. Prior to his affiliation with Federal, Don spent 8 years at New York-based ITT Corporation where he served in various capacities, including Deputy Controller and Chief Financial Officer, of wholly-owned subsidiary Caesars World, Inc. The first 7 years of his career were spent at accounting firm Arthur Andersen, leaving in 1989 to work for client Donald Trump as the Vice President of Finance for the newly acquired Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Don is very active charitably through his work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 2002, Don took the reins of the Breath of Life Gala, at the time a fledgling event supporting Cystic Fibrosis research, and, with the help of a committed and tenacious team of volunteers and CFF staffers, grew the Gala into what has consistently been one of the most financially and experientially successful events in Washington D.C. and the number one gala nationally for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Don’s daughter, Rachel, was born with the genetic disease. Don received his Bachelor of Science degree from Montclair State College in 1982, where he graduated with honors and subsequently received his CPA from the state of New Jersey. He is a past chair of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and also serves on the Board and Chairs the Investment and Strategic Advisory Committee of Post Properties (NYSE:PPS), an Atlanta-based apartment company. He is also a member of the U.S. Capital Chapter of the World President’s Organization (WPO), and was previously named “Entrepreneur of the Year in Real Estate” by professional services firm Ernst and Young. He has been married to Stacey Sykes Wood for 26 years and has four children who he is immensely proud of named Ian (24), Jason (22), Kevin (21) and Rachel (21).

A founding principal of Stonebridge, Douglas Firstenberg directs firmwide strategic planning, oversees landmark development projects, and plays a key role in major transaction negotiations. Under his leadership, Stonebridge has developed several of the region’s most innovative and successful urban mixed-use properties, including breakthrough transit-oriented developments and public/private initiatives. Mr. Firstenberg has more than thirty-five years of real estate industry experience, leading complex development projects totaling more than 10 million square feet and $4 billion in value. Mr. Firstenberg started his career with K.S. Sweet Associates, a Philadelphia-based real estate and investment firm where he was named partner. In 1993, he co-founded Stonebridge Associates in Washington, D.C., and led the transformation of the firm into an urban infill mixed-use developer. Mr. Firstenberg graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts and currently serves in leadership roles of several industry and charitable organizations.

Bryant Foulger serves as both Managing Principal and Chairman of the Board of Directors and is a member of the Investment Committee. In his current role, Mr. Foulger draws on more than 30 years of real estate and management experience to provide approval and oversight of the CEO’s vision and strategy. Mr. Foulger was recently appointed to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s transition team and is also involved with the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, the Greater District of Columbia Chapter of the Leadership Council for the Mayo Clinic, the Montgomery County Business Advisory Panel, and is a trustee emeritus of the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. Mr. Foulger attended Brigham Young University and serves on numerous professional and charitable boards.

John L. Ziegenhein is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Chevy Chase Land Company, overseeing the company’s new development and two-million square feet of commercial and residential properties. John has over 20 years of experience in real estate development and management, most recently as Chief Operating Officer at McCaffery, Inc. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc., Urban Land Institute, and National Multifamily Housing Council. John currently serves on the Land Company’s Executive Committee, and is active locally serving on the Board of the Arlington Food Assistance Center and Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.

Marc N. Duber, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Bernstein Companies (TBC), has been at the forefront of real estate management, development, and repositioning since joining TBC in 1979. As Managing Director of TBC’s Hotel and Property Management Divisions, Marc is responsible for the oversight of the firm’s privately owned hotel portfolio and its commercial real estate portfolio which currently includes over two million square feet. There is also nearly two million square feet of approved development projects currently in the pipeline. He is currently working on the largest single project of his career, Marriott’s corporate headquarters of 750,000 square feet and adjacent hotel. The office building will be fully occupied in mid to late summer by the largest hospitality company in the world. The adjacent 272 room Marriott flagship full-service corporate hotel is opening March 2022. Marc actively participates in all phases of the investment process, from evaluating potential acquisitions to oversight of asset management and strategic repositioning efforts. Marc is a 1981 graduate of American University and was appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees in May 2007. He has served as Chairman of American University's Board of Trustees since May 2019. Marc also dedicates time to many other causes in the metropolitan area including being the former Chairman of the Board at Washington Hospital Center, the largest and most comprehensive hospital serving the Washington area. He now serves on the Board and Chairs the Philanthropy Committee of MedStar Health, Inc., the parent corporation of Washington Hospital Center.

Since September 2017, Carrie Sanders has been the Division Chief for Mid-County Planning in the Montgomery County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. In this role, Ms. Sanders oversees a wide range of projects and plans, including development review and master planning, to improve the quality of life in Montgomery County by conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment. Prior to her appointment as Division Chief, Ms. Sanders served for seven years in the City of Alexandria, most recently as the Deputy Director of Transportation/Transit for the City of Alexandria, where she moved forward several major projects, including the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station and the Potomac Yard Small Area Plan, and the operation and expansion of Potomac Yard Metroway. Ms. Sanders began her career in Brussels, Belgium working in economic development. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Maryland, College Park. Ms. Sanders has presented at national and regional conferences on a variety of planning topics and she is currently a member of the Leadership Montgomery CORE 2022 program. Carrie lives in Montgomery County with her husband and their three children.

Aakash Thakkar joined EYA in 2004 as a Development Executive and now is a Executive Vice President for Acquisition and Development with EYA. His responsibilities include overall project stewardship, new deal sourcing and acquisition, site selection, and project development through the design and governmental and community approval process. Mr. Thakkar is a member of and guest speaker for the Urban Land Institute and the District of Columbia Building Industry Association. He is a member of the Smart Growth Recognition Award Jury, the Riverdale Park Mixed-Use Town Center Committee, and of the Hyattsville CDC Board. He was a member of the Obama for American Mid-Atlantic Finance Committee and a co-founder (along with his wife) of the Thakkar/Giallourakis Scholarship Fund for St. John's College High School. Mr. Thakkar has a BS in Accounting and Political Science from LaSalle University and holds both an MBA and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. Mr. Thakkar is a native Washingtonian.

TRANSWESTERN ROLE: Executive Managing Director Phil McCarthy, with his partner Keith Foery, co-manages Transwestern’s Mid-Atlantic leadership team that is responsible for the overall strategy, recruitment, business development, and financial performance for the region. Phil and Keith also serve both local and national clients on behalf of Transwestern. Phil is a member of Transwestern’s Executive Committee and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Phil began his career in commercial real estate in 1985. He has represented his clients in more than $5 billion in sales and leasing transactions. Phil’s clients have included: Fiserv, Inc., Coventry Healthcare, M&T Bank, TIAA-CREF, Boston Properties, The JBG Companies, Carr Properties, AEW , JP Morgan, Quadrangle Development, LCOR, Federal Realty Investment Trust, , American Realty Partners. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION/RECOGNITION: SmartCEO Executive Management Award Winner – 2016 ; Phil’s many community services have included the following organizations:; Board of Directors, Technology Council of Maryland ; Chairman, Monsignor Smyth Endowment Board – Blessed Sacrament School ; Catholic Charities of Washington ; Gonzaga Fathers’ Club Chair, Community Service Project; Volunteer as CYO Soccer Coach; NAIOP Maryland DC Chapter; Connelly School of the Holy Child – CYO Basketball Tournament Sponsorship Chair; EDUCATION: Phil received his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Fairfield University.

As a market president for United Bank, Steve is responsible for the management and operation of all bank offices in the Suburban Maryland area, including client relationships and new business development. Prior to this role, Steve was a commercial lender with United for 13 years, working with international, national and local real estate developers who focus on multifamily development, retail, office, residential homebuilding and industrial properties. He also serves on the board for the Catholic Charities Golf Classic and is involved in the corporate work study program with Don Bosco Cristo Rey high school, which allows students to apply classroom learning to the workplace.