Yesim Sayin Taylor is the founding Executive Director of the D.C. Policy Center.

With over ten years of public policy experience in the District, Yesim is recognized by policymakers and advocates as a source of reliable, balanced analyses on the District’s economy and demography.

Before joining the D.C. Policy Center, Yesim lead the team within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer that scored the fiscal impact of all legislation the District considered. She frequently testified on high profile legislation and worked closely with the executive and Council staff to ensure that policymakers fully understand the fiscal implications of their proposed legislation. She co-founded and blogged at District Measured and her work was highlighted in Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, City Paper, and the Governing Magazine, among others. Yesim also has worked in the private sector, and consulted with international organization on a large portfolio of public finance topics.

Yesim holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Bogazici University, located in Istanbul, Turkey.

Jim Lapides is SVP and Head of External Affairs, where he leads award-winning, multidisciplinary initiatives that support thriving rental communities across the country. Before joining NMHC, he held positions at the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Association of Home Builders, and worked with Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation and AARP while at FleishmanHillard. He holds a B.A. from Denison University and a M.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

Sharon Wilson Géno is the president of NMHC. She is a 30-year veteran of the housing industry, during which she has helped guide numerous for-profit, nonprofit and governmental entities around housing affordability, community development and other housing policy challenges.

Sharon most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS), the housing and healthcare affiliate of the Volunteers of America parent organization and one of the largest nonprofit affordable and mixed-income/mixed-use housing operators in the nation. VOANS operated 240 properties and nearly 13,000 units in over 40 states during her tenure.

She originally joined the organization as its Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and provided advice and counsel to the organization on a wide variety of legal matters, including housing operations and housing development issues.

Before joining Volunteers of America, Sharon was a partner in a private practice in Washington DC, where she advised on housing and community development projects, government contracting, corporate structure, internal governance, and compliance with federal, state and local laws.

During her career, Sharon has served as both in-house counsel and outside General Counsel for various types of organizations. Her legal experience includes providing advice regarding government and non-government contracts, nonprofit organizations, corporate formation, litigation, employment law, tax law, and other topics. She has also taught courses on housing law and policy at The George Washington School of Law and Georgetown University.

She has also worked on legislation and advocacy efforts related to affordable housing programs on both the local and national levels. Sharon has a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center, a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from St. Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University.

David Borden is a Managing Director at Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group, one of the

nation’s preeminent boutique commercial real estate capital advisory firms. David

specializes in originating and executing cutting-edge capital markets financing solutions

throughout the capital stack, including debt and mezzanine financing, preferred and joint

venture equity. David joined Ackman-Ziff in 2013 in the firm’s New York City

headquarters and has since relocated to the Washington DC metropolitan area, where

he leads the firm’s MidAtlantic efforts in addition to many other markets throughout the

country.

Prior to joining Ackman-Ziff, David led acquisitions at Newcastle Realty Services, a New

York City full-service real estate investment and operations firm. David holds a B.A. in

economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a J.D. in Law from Hofstra

University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law, and an M.B.A. in Finance from Hofstra

University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business. David is a licensed attorney, admitted to

practice in the state of New York.

As President and CEO, Toby Bozzuto provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for more than 3,400 employees across the country and guides future growth of Bozzuto’s homebuilding, multifamily development, construction and management divisions. Bozzuto manages 105,000 apartments and 3.5 million square feet of retail space across the U.S. The company has been nationally recognized as a Great Place to Work and named a Top Workplace by The Washington Post for nine consecutive years and a Top Company for Executive Women by Seramount for four consecutive years.

In July 2024, Toby was named Chair of Colgate University’s Board of Trustees, becoming the youngest person to serve in that position. An active contributor to his community, Toby serves as an executive committee member of the Policy Advisory Board for the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University and a member of the Board of Visitors for the Shock Trauma Center at The University of Maryland Medical Center and M&T Bank’s Directors Advisory Council. He previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Gilman School and Kennedy Krieger Institute, on the National Advisory Board for ULI’s Terwilliger Center for Housing, as a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Maryland Health and Higher Education Facilities Authority. A regular guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Harvard Business School Executive Education program, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, Georgetown University, Cornell University, the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, Toby strives to share his insight and passion for creating community.

Toby has been featured in leading media outlets such as CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, the Washington Business Journal, Huffington Post and the MIT Sloan Management Review.

Maintaining a culture of kindness in the workplace is essential to Toby's vision for the company. He proudly joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge as well as Catalyst CEO Champions for Change, committing himself to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion throughout all levels of the workplace. In recognition of these efforts, he received the Champion of Immigration Award from the Washington English Center. Most recently, Toby was named to Washington Business Journal's Power 100 list and The Daily Record’s Power 100 List for the third year in a row. In 2022, he received the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s Martin K. Alloy Excellence Award. He was recognized as one of Washington D.C.'s 25 Most Powerful Real Estate Players in 2020 by the Commercial Observer, named a 2019 Commercial Real Estate Influencer by The Business Journals and was ranked in the Baltimore Business Journal’s Power 10. His many recognitions also include Developer of the Year by the District of Columbia Building Industry and Maryland Building Industry Association, Commercial Property Executive Rising Leader and the William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year Award from the Baltimore Museum of Industry, which he accepted alongside his father, Tom Bozzuto, in 2016.

Toby is happily married and the proud father of three beautiful children. He is an avid musician, a rare book collector and enjoys cooking for his family.

As President of The Menkiti Group’s Neighborhood Transformation platform, Caroline Kenney is responsible for oversight and strategic direction of the Company’s $2 Billion Real Estate Development pipeline, 60-property portfolio of mixed-use operating assets, and $50 Million Obsidian Catalyst Fund. The firm’s Development and Asset Management portfolios extend along the Eastern Seaboard, with major concentrations in the Washington, DC, and Boston, MA regions.

Prior to joining The Menkiti Group in the Fall of 2024, Caroline enjoyed a nearly 20-year tenure with Urban Atlantic, completing over $1 Billion in mixed-use, mixed-income real estate projects and spearheading landmark public-private developments such as the 66-acre Parks at Walter Reed (DC), 45-acre Cheverly Hospital Redevelopment (MD), and 350-unit mixed-income Trella multifamily development in Charlotte (NC). She has worked with a wide range of public partners including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; multiple agencies of the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County; and housing authorities in Washington, Tampa, Greensboro, Charlotte, Memphis, and Baltimore. Early in her career, Caroline worked with affordable housing developers East Lake Management and Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (both Chicago based).

Caroline holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BA in Political Philosophy from Wheaton College (IL). She serves on the Board of Jubilee Housing, the Advisory Committee of the ULI Washington Women’s Leadership Initiative (past Chair), and the Leadership Council of the ULI P3 Product Council (Blue Flight), and serves in multiple capacities with the Ward 7-based Peace Fellowship Church (DC).

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.

Tim DeWispelaere is an executive director at PGIM Real Estate. Based in Arlington, Virginia, he is responsible for originating a broad range of multifamily mortgage products on behalf of the Agencies – Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA, with additional access to the firm’s proprietary capital sources and bridge loan capabilities. Before joining PGIM Real Estate, Tim was Senior Vice President with KeyBank Real Estate Capital, there he served as senior mortgage banker. Prior to that, Tim spent nearly 7 years at Fannie Mae, serving as senior asset manager

and director, national account manager of Multifamily. Prior to that he held roles responsible for financial and asset management at Fortress Capital Investors, Monarch Capital and Great Atlantic Management.

Tim has a bachelor's degree in accounting from James Madison University and a master of Business Administration from William & Mary – Raymond A. Mason School of Business.

Ted is Managing Director of Acquisitions at GAIA and oversees all aspects of the firm’s acquisitions and capital market activities. He has over a decade of direct real estate investment experience across multiple asset classes and capital structures. He started his career at J.P. Morgan where he spent 5 years most recently as a Real Estate Associate. Thereafter, he spent over 10 years in acquisitions at a diverse group of private equity funds and developers such as the Lightstone Group to primarily focus on value-add and opportunistic investments, special situations, and development projects across the country.

Throughout his career, he has overseen a variety of complex transactions, joint ventures, and recapitalizations exceeding $2B in aggregate value. Ted holds a B.S. from Syracuse University and a M.S. in Real Estate from New York University.

Josh Solomon brings a keen eye for lucrative opportunities to every investment made. He leads acquisition and development activities, evaluates and negotiates new investment opportunities, and manages the strategic business plans of each asset.

Prior to co-founding the DSF Group, he served as Vice President in the Partners Group of AEW Capital Management, where his group acquired commercial and multifamily properties throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. He holds a B.A. from Northeastern University and an M.B.A. in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Josh lends his expertise to the service of his community, sitting on numerous boards such as NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board, Heading Home Inc., which pioneered programs to end homelessness in Greater Boston and the Nashoba Brooks School. He enjoys spending time with his family and has a passion for baseball as the owner of the Hartford Yard Goats, the AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Connor Locke, Managing Director, works within Walker & Dunlop’s Washington, D.C.-based Debt and Structured Finance Group. He is responsible for new loan origination and specializes in multifamily executions through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, Life Company, Bridge and Bank loan executions. In addition to conventional multifamily, Mr. Locke focuses on student, affordable, and manufactured housing, where he leverages his more than 14 years of multifamily finance experience, ranging from one-off loan executions to large structured and portfolio transactions.

Mr. Locke joined Walker & Dunlop in 2009 as a member of the multifamily finance underwriting department and was promoted in 2013 to his current position. Since that time, Mr. Locke has been directly involved in more than $14 billion in multifamily mortgages nationwide. In 2017, Mr. Locke was featured on Commercial Observer’s “Top 25 under 35” list, which showcases the industry’s top debt originators and brokers under the age of 35.

Mr. Locke graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he was captain of the lacrosse team and an All-American selection.

Geri Borger Urgo serves as President of Agency Lending for NewPoint Real Estate Capital, where she leads the strategic expansion of the firm’s national origination platform.

Ms. Borger Urgo joined NewPoint in 2021 as a member of its founding leadership team and Head of Originations. She has since tripled the size of the firm's Agency and Proprietary Lending production teams and driven the firm's notable increase in multifamily volume. Her focus on client advocacy and operational efficiency has been pivotal in establishing NewPoint as a market leader.

Her past experience includes a wide range of multifamily finance roles, including GSE production and underwriting, acquisitions for a national multifamily investment platform, and advisory work for a family office focused on multifamily operations. Prior to NewPoint, Ms. Borger Urgo spent nearly 15 years at Freddie Mac Multifamily leading Loan Production and Institutional Relationship Management efforts.

Ms. Borger Urgo earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

CURRENT ROLE

Mr. O’Grady has more than 22 years of multifamily debt, equity and investment sales

experience in the Washington, D.C. and Mid-Atlantic markets. He has deep expertise

in debt structure and origination, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA

financing, as well as equity placement and investment sales for acquisitions,

refinancing and recapitalization opportunities. He joined KeyBank March 2025 and

leads their Commercial Mortgage Group throughout Maryland, Virginia, Washington,

DC and the Carolinas.

PAST EXPERIENCE

Throughout the course of his career, Mr. O’Grady has handled more than $1

billion in real estate financings and investment sale transactions throughout the

U.S.

Prior to joining KeyBank, he was the Mid Atlantic Managing Director for

multifamily agency lending with Greystone. Before joining Greystone, he was a

Managing Director for multifamily and manufactured housing community

agency lending with SunTrust Commercial Real Estate (formally Pillar

Finance). In addition, he led the investment sales and brokerage team at

Vanguard Realty Group (now Promark Partners) in Rockville, Maryland,

working with private, institutional and high-net worth clients on Mid-Atlantic

multifamily and commercial properties, including conventional, repositioning

and affordable assets. His experience also includes representing lenders,

consulting services, REO sales and receiverships. Earlier in his career, Mr.

O’Grady held a Senior Associate position within the National Multi Housing

Group of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services. He won

numerous awards and sold more than $250 million in real estate transactions

throughout the US, including approximately 5,000 multifamily units, office, self-

storage, mixed-use and single-tenant net leased properties.

Kristin Connall is a vice president of development for Akridge and is responsible for coordinating all aspects of commercial real estate development activities from acquisition to completion, including financing, entitlements, design, construction, marketing, and leasing.

Kristin has more than ten years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Since joining Akridge, she has overseen The Stacks, a proposed 2.1 million-square-foot mixed-use development located in the Capitol Riverfront’s Buzzard Point neighborhood on the Anacostia River. The project is adjacent to DC United’s new Major League Soccer stadium, Audi Field and will contain approximately 2,500 residential units as well as retail, hotel, and office space. Phase 1 of The Stacks broke ground in 2022.

Prior to joining Akridge, Kristin was in commercial real estate lending with CapitalSource, then transitioned to commercial real estate acquisitions and development at StonebridgeCarras, where she worked on the entitlement of a 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use project in Alexandria, VA. She has held subsequent development roles at Forest City and EastBanc, overseeing urban mixed use projects in Southeast and Northwest Washington, DC. Prior to her real estate career, Kristin worked for two of the largest private equity firms in the Washington region, American Capital and Allied Capital, where she evaluated both existing and prospective middle market investments.

Kristin is an active member of Urban Land Institute (ULI), and participated in the ULI Young Leaders Mentorship Group from 2013 to 2015, and ULI’s NEXT program from 2018 to 2020.

Kristin graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Marketing. She earned her MBA in Finance and Economics from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

Mark leads the Eastern U.S. for Lowe with responsibility for all commercial activities, includingm investments, development and management. With “hands-on” involvement, Mark has completed many large and complex projects as significant place-making and mixed-use developments involving multiple asset types including office, residential, retail, and hospitality uses. Some notable multi-family projectsinclude The Hepburn, CityVista, Gallery 64, and multiple office-to-residential conversions including Park & Ford in Alexandria, VA, and The George in Montgomery County, MD. Current projects include the development of a 500-unit residential building in partnership with Howard University and the redevelopment of 1250 Maryland Avenue, another office-to-residential conversion project. Mark also leads Concord Communities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lowe, dedicated to building and preserving affordable housing. Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Federal City Council and board member of the Southwest BID.

Beth Winters is a Vice President with over 24 years in construction, all with Whiting-Turner. She attended Towson University and received her Bachelor's Degree in Communications. She has extensive experience in mixed-use, residential, and hospitality projects. Throughout her time at Whiting-Turner, Beth has become a strong leader, successfully delivering several mega projects from preconstruction through construction. Beth has been involved in Bisnow, Women in Construction, WBC, NAIOP and many other external organizations for many years. She enjoys sharing her expertise and learning from others in the industry. Outside of work, Beth spends time with her family and labradoodle, and loves the outdoors and hiking.

As Vice President - Technical Services, James is a member of the executive

leadership team who shapes, guides, and implements the organization’s

technical agenda and advances Marx|Okubo’s core capabilities in

architecture, engineering, and construction services.

Most recently, he served as an Assistant Vice President for Marx|Okubo’s

Northeast region. Over a nine-year period, James led some of the region’s

most complex projects while spearheading initiatives to improve quality

and efficiency. He also partnered with the Regional Manager to expand

and diversify the services the region performs and the clients the region

serves.

Prior experience includes serving as a structural engineer for

investigations, repairs, and new construction projects, along with leading a

team of structural engineers and special inspectors. James also served as

a Captain in the U.S. Army prior to entering the private sector.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from

the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master’s degree in

structural engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. James

is a licensed engineer in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New

Jersey as well as a LEED Accredited Professional with the BD+C and O+M

specialties.

Maria is a transformational leader and technical expert in the real estate and construction risk management industry with 20 years of combined experience and proven background as an engineer, underwriter, risk manager and broker leading enterprise risk management and insurance programs to mitigate business risks including execution and implementation of organizational policies.

Maria’s approach is consultative and strategic. She leverages her unique combination of technical expertise to identify and treat risk, and create customized solutions that improve performance and transform operations for Contractors and Project Owners.

Maria takes the time to develop a deep understanding of her clients’ needs and operations via risk assessments and evaluate options to transfer and manage their risk. During her career, Maria has played a pivotal role in leadership changes in the organizations she has served.

Maria has been a strategic risk advisor on over 500 infrastructure, institutional, industrial, healthcare, commercial, power generating and real estate projects. Maria is a bilingual presenter and negotiator of real estate and construction risk management

and insurance topics with work experience in organizations across North America, Latin America, and Europe with exposure to cross functional teams with multiple nationalities. Prior to her risk management career, Maria worked as a bridge hydraulics design engineer.

Ulises Montes De Oca has been with Lessard Design since 2004 with a career spanning over 25

years. As Vice President, Ulises plays a key role as head of the Design Studio by providing the overall

design direction of the firm. The depth of Ulises’s experience makes him a firm-wide resource on

planning, design and project management, which has been recognized in major awards for design

excellence on projects located all over the nation.

Andrew Schwartz establishes trusting and communicative relationships with his clients, which helps him better understand their particular circumstances in order to achieve their desired goals. Andrew prides himself on being proactive, responsive and dedicated to each and every client. He serves as outside general counsel to a range of companies in various industries. Andrew focuses his practice on commercial transactions, employment law, real estate, and successful business growth, management, operation, and succession.

With his knowledge and wealth of experience in business, real estate and employment law, Andrew thoroughly understands the concerns and issues his clients bring to him. He deeply engages himself with his clients’ business, and works hard to understand what drives them. Andrew’s practice encompasses all manner of transactions related to mergers, acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and employment agreements. A particular passion is helping and advising clients on business start-ups and growing their business ventures.

His corporate representation includes drafting and reviewing contracts and structuring corporate governance, including drafting limited liability company, partnership, corporate and joint venture agreements. He frequently is asked to speak to business owners on topics such as business entity choice, navigating business controversies and disputes and practical and legal aspects of business succession planning and employment matters. Andrew frequently makes public speaking appearances, for professional associations and events

Eric Chilton serves as a Regional Vice President, overseeing operations teams and communities across South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. With nearly 30 years of experience in the multifamily industry, Eric brings extensive expertise across affordable, market-rate, student housing, build-to-rent (BTR), and single-family rental (SFR) assets. His background spans every stage of the asset lifecycle, including new construction, development, and lease-up, value-add, repositioning, and stabilization.

Before joining RPM Living, Eric managed operations as an RVP for a diverse portfolio of 8,000 units throughout Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He has earned his CAM, CAPS, and COS certifications and is currently a candidate for the IREM CPM designation.

James Hannah runs the United States business for Parity, a multifamily-focused HVAC optimization as a service company. James is currently leading the company's expansion across the United States. His career has been concentrated on accelerating the adoption of clean energy solutions within the real estate sector, especially for multifamily investors and managers. He’s worked closely with many of the largest real estate companies in the country and has advised governments, utilities, and other stakeholders on energy related policy matters.

Prior to joining Parity in 2021, James spent ten years at Bright Power. While there he held several positions, including Chief Customer Officer, and helped to transform the company from a regional energy engineering firm to a premier national provider of energy management services. Prior to Bright Power, James held positions in the renewable energy and financial services sectors. James holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Before joining JLL, Mendowa held the position of

Director of Asset and Portfolio Management at Capital

Properties, where she had oversight of a portfolio

consisting of Class A residential communities, as well as

a portion of their retail and office assets in the

Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland areas. She

previously served as a Regional Portfolio Manager at

The Bozzuto Group, where she skillfully managed over

1,600 Class A residential units and 700,000 sqft. of retail

space in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Notably, Mendowa's role as Vice President of Business

Development for the multifamily platform at Waterton

further enhanced her expertise in cultivating client

relationships and identifying new residential and mixed-

use property management opportunities across the

portfolio.

Mendowa, based in the Washington, D.C. area, actively

engages in various national and local multifamily

industry organizations, including The National Apartment

Association and The Urban Land Institute,

demonstrating her commitment to staying at the forefront

of industry trends and best practices. Moreover, her

involvement in the Joint Legislative Committee for the

National Multifamily Housing Council exemplifies her

dedication to shaping the multifamily sector.

If it’s all downhill from here, grab a board!

In addition to being an architect, Ryn Burns is a grownup with a bunch of hobbies. He travels with a skateboard, makes hiphop, builds treehouses, practices yoga, meditates, teaches, works on cultural preservation with the Sapara Nation, volunteers at The Well a DC urban farm, sits on the board of Black Land Ownership, and travels whenever the winds are right. He also spends significant time dadding and making dad jokes. He is passionate about housing, design, reuse, and sustainable/nurturing projects that build and reinforce vibrant healthy communities. Let’s ride!

Patrick Garry is a seasoned business development executive with over 25 years of experience spanning telecommunications, digital media, and marketing. He currently serves as Senior Director of Business Development at Astound Broadband, where he leads strategic initiatives focused on market expansion, partnership development, and revenue growth across key regions in the western United States.

Over the past 15 years, Patrick has concentrated on deploying cutting-edge technologies within multifamily communities, helping to transform the residential connectivity experience. His work has not only enhanced the quality of life for residents but also delivered measurable operational and financial benefits for property managers and owners. Patrick’s understanding of both the technical and business sides of broadband deployment allows him to bridge the gap between innovation and execution.

With a strong track record of leadership, collaboration, and results, Patrick brings a unique perspective to conversations around digital infrastructure, smart property solutions, and the future of connected living.

Jairus Pierce is Vice President of Multifamily at Urban Pace, with 15+ years of experience in leasing, marketing, and operations, working primarily on new-development and lease-up communities across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, as well as select markets in North Carolina and Florida. At Urban Pace, he partners with owners and developers on pre-development advisory, user experience design, market and pricing strategy, and end-to-end sales and leasing execution—driving absorption velocity, reducing concessions, and maximizing asset value.

Mr. Karim has served as President of Banneker since its founding in 2005. Banneker has grown from a boutique real estate development firm to a diversified, full-service real estate and construction firm specializing in facilities and construction management with federal, state and local clients.

Since its founding, Mr. Karim has been responsible for Banneker winning more than $30MM in contracts and overseeing the construction of more than $200MM in public and private projects. Prior to founding Banneker, Mr. Karim served as General Counsel for a Washington, D.C. based development company. Before that, he served as a Corporate Associate with a large New York law firm.

Mr. Karim received a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University where he was a member of The Howard Law Journal and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, also from Howard, where he became the first undergraduate student to serve two terms on the University’s Board of Trustees.

Amy Rubenstein is the Chief Executive Officer at Clear Investment Group (“CIG”). With more than 20 years of CRE experience across multiple asset classes, CIG’s core focus has been distressed multi-family (workforce) housing. The rigorous standards to which CIG employ’s its strategy has enabled Amy and her team to deliver a 37.3% net IRR to investors, across hundreds of transactions. She has facilitated close to half a billion dollars in transactions over her career.

In December of 2022, Amy launched Clear Opportunities Fund I (“COFI”), which is making strategic investments across the US. The Fund closed in April 2024 with more than $83MM in capital raised via institutional wealth, pension funds, HNWI, RIAs and Family offices. The asymmetric risk profile of COFI, is underpinned by Amy’s decades of experience in real asset structuring, acquisition and sale, coupled with an “investor first” mentality to macro level risk factors plaguing investing today.

Amy is an avid philanthropist focusing on Arts, specifically in the theater world, and Youth, aiming to contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty in communities that CIG invests in. Amy serves as Artistic Director at Windy City Playhouse, an award winning non-profit professional theater company in Chicago with a specific focus on immersive works. Amy is a board member of YPO and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. She is a past recipient of JUF’s 36 under 36 and IREJ’s Woman of the Year- Broker. Amy graduated from Brandeis University.

Kimberly Driggins is the Executive Director of the Washington Housing Conservancy (WHC). Launched in 2018, WHC preserves affordable workforce housing, prevents displacement, and promotes economic mobility, especially for moderate to low-income African Americans and other people of color. WHC is committed to creating thriving, inclusive, mixed-income communities throughout the D.C. region.

Ms. Driggins has an extensive background in urban planning and real estate development and prior to her appointment at WHC, she served as Director of Strategic Planning/Arts and Culture for the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department for three years. Ms. Driggins also served as Associate Director for Citywide Planning for the District of Columbia’s Office of Planning from 2008-2015.

Ms. Driggins is a nationally recognized expert in urban redevelopment and placemaking and has innovative projects in both Detroit and Washington, DC. She currently serves on the boards of PennPraxis, the National Landing Business Improvement District (BID), and was Board Chairperson for Gehl Institute from 2017-2019. She has a BA degree from Hampton University, an MPP from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Ms. Driggins was awarded the prestigious Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 2015

Gabrielle Duvall has served as Southern Management’s president since 2023. Southern Management

Companies is one of the largest privately owned residential property management companies in the

U.S. The company owns and manages 77 apartment home communities comprising of more than

25,000 apartment homes throughout the Baltimore-Washington region. In addition to residential

property ownership and management, Southern Management owns, manages and operates

commercial properties as well as four hotels and conference centers.

Gabrielle has been actively involved with Southern Management since 2006, when she began serving

as outside counsel and strategic advisor. She was a partner and member of the executive committee

of a boutique real estate law firm in Maryland prior to joining Southern Management. In 2017,

Gabrielle joined Southern Management as its general counsel and was promoted to executive vice

president in 2018.

Gabrielle has been instrumental in several of Southern Management’s most importantinitiatives

formore thanadecade. Shewaspart ofthe leadershipteam that structured, negotiatedandclosed

successful portfolio refinancings in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2025. She led the successful relocation

of Southern Management’s corporate headquarters to McLean,Virginia in 2023 and continues to

lead Southern Management’s Legislative Affairs initiatives.

Gabrielle is active within her community. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Board of

the Center Plaza Foundation, is a board member of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, the

Downtown Management Authority, and the Southern Management Leadership Program at the

University of Maryland at College Park. She is a founding member of the Montgomery County

Business Roundtable and is an active volunteer with the Sandy Spring Athletic Association.

Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctorate

from the George Washington University Law School. She resides with her husband, two children

and two dogs in Olney, Maryland.

Jamie is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the business including operations, development, and strategic planning. He is a seasoned real estate leader and senior executive with significant experience in multi-family and mixed-use investment, development, and asset management.

Prior to joining Horning, Jamie was an Executive Vice President at MidCity, where he led all development activities to build out a 4 million sf pipeline across numerous urban infill properties. Before MidCity, Jamie served as COO of Ditto Residential, where he led all development and construction-related activities as well as long-term strategic growth initiatives. His prior experience includes managing large-scale, mixed-use residential and retail projects at JBG Smith, serving as the Director of the DC Office of Zoning, and working for the DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Jamie has been active in several non-profits throughout his career, including serving in various leadership roles nationally and locally at the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Jamie holds a JD from the George Washington University School of Law and a BA from Wake Forest University.

Jon Salinas has over 25 years of experience in the planning, design, and construction industry, where he

has played a key role in shaping a wide range of projects throughout Central Texas. His expertise spans

every phase of project delivery—from conceptual planning to detailed design and construction

administration, giving him a well-rounded perspective on the complexities of the built environment.

Throughout his career, Jon has led the design and management of numerous project types, including

large-scale commercial developments, PK–12 educational facilities, high-density mixed-use complexes,

and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings in downtown urban cores. His ability to navigate diverse

building typologies reflects both his technical versatility and his deep understanding of how spaces can

serve the evolving needs of communities.

While Jon’s experience is broad, the most impactful and personally meaningful work of his career has

been in the affordable housing sector. Over the past several years, he has dedicated much of his practice

to the design and realization of housing communities for families and seniors. These projects are

grounded in trauma-informed design principles and prioritize the creation of safe, dignified, and

supportive living environments for vulnerable populations.

In addition to his focus on social equity, Jon integrates sustainable design strategies aimed at improving

energy efficiency and building resilience. His commitment to responsible, community-focused design is

evident in every project he undertakes, and he continues to be an advocate for architecture that not

only meets functional needs but also fosters healing, connection, and long-term well-being.--

Ryan is a director in Citrin Cooperman’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Practice based out of the New York City office focusing on real estate clients and specializing in providing ongoing finance operations, decision support, and special finance projects to middle-market companies. Ryan’s experience includes many different asset classes including multifamily, mixed-use, office, triple-net, retail, hospitality, and storage facilities. Ryan is the Chair of the firm’s Advisory Growth Committee and a member of the firm’s Real Estate Committee.

Ryan joined Citrin Cooperman in September 2021 after working as a director of accounting for a private equity real estate firm based in New York City.

Monty Hoffman formed Hoffman & Associates in 1993 with a single townhouse conversion and has since then transformed the company into a market leader of real estate development in the Washington, DC, metro area and beyond. With more than 30 years of experience, Monty actively leads the company’s business development and market strategy, as well as the design initiatives for every Hoffman project.

Monty has been recognized in Washington’s SmartCEO’s Future 50 list and the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100. He is a founding board member of the DC Students Construction Trades Foundation, which provides educational and apprenticeship opportunities for District students interested in design, engineering, and construction. He served on the DC Public Schools Engineering Advisory Board and is a current board member of the Federal City Council and Southwest Business Improvement District. Monty graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a Bachelor of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering Technology. He is married with three children and lives in Potomac, MD

With over 15 years of real estate, private equity and investment experience, Doug brings a wealth of knowledge to Shoreham Capital across sourcing, capitalizing, structuring, and executing transactions. Doug has overseen the investment in over $10bn of real estate investments and developments across multiple asset classes. He has successfully executed the investment, development, and management of more than 7,500 residential units across prime growth markets. Prior to Shoreham, Doug was most recently a Managing Director at the CIM Group, a $35.0bn AUM real estate private equity firm, where he oversaw the East Coast equity investments for the firm. Before CIM, Doug worked in corporate private equity for LNK Partners and began his career at Deutsche Bank in their Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Doug has a BA from Brown University with a double concentration in International Relations and Economics and received his MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Jim has served as President and CEO of Jefferson Apartment Group (JAG) since establishing the company is 2009. Jim is responsible for corporate strategy, including all operations and investment decisions. He leads the Executive and Investment Committees, as well as JAG’s Advisory Board.

Jim is an industry veteran with over thirty-two years of experience in real estate development focused on multifamily communities. Prior to forming Jefferson Apartment Group, he was President and Managing Partner at JPI East.

Additionally, Jim serves on the Executive Committee of the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Multifamily Leadership Board. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), as well as a variety of local real estate and charitable organizations. A graduate of Southern Methodist University with a BA in Business Administration, Finance and Economics, Jim is married and has three children.

Cameron Pratt has more than 15 years of real estate investment and operating experience and has been with Foulger-Pratt since 2004. As CEO, Mr. Pratt establishes the Company’s strategy and vision and has oversight of all Foulger-Pratt operating and investing entities.

Prior to joining Foulger-Pratt, Mr. Pratt worked in real estate development in California, as well as real estate investment banking and private equity in New York. Mr. Pratt holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/PRINCIPAL, GOODMAN-GABLE-GOULD/ADJUSTERS INTERNATIONAL – Mr.

Forrest has dedicated his entire career to assisting policyholders as a licensed public adjuster. He has been

extensively involved in all aspects of property loss claims, including both commercial and residential losses.

Zach has successfully represented numerous clients and is highly experienced in claim preparation, policy

interpretation, coverage analysis, loss evaluation, and negotiation. Over the years, he has played an integral role in

resolving many large and complex claims, helping property owners and organizations recover following major

losses.

Zach’s experience spans a wide range of industries, including hospitality, commercial real estate, manufacturing, and

multifamily housing. His practical approach, technical expertise, and client-first mindset have made him a trusted

advocate for policyholders navigating the complexities of insurance recovery.

Mr. Root is a co-founder and managing principal of Blackfin Real Estate Investors, LLC. Mr. Root is responsible for the acquisitions and investor relations of the venture’s investment portfolio.

Mr. Root joined Greystar’s Investment Group in March of 2011. There he was responsible for the acquisition, disposition, financing, and asset management of investments in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-West. Over his 5 year tenure at Greystar, Mr. Root acquired approximately $1.2 Billion of apartments. Prior to joining Greystar, he worked for Invesco Real Estate’s Acquisitions Group and closed over $1.4 billion in multifamily, office, retail, and industrial transactions.

Mr. Root is a 2007 graduate of Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management where he received an MBA with a concentration in real estate and finance. Also a graduate of Duke University, Mr. Root received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Certificate in Markets and Management. Mr. Root was a two-time All-American while competing on the Duke University Men’s Tennis Team and went on to compete on the ATP professional tennis tour for 3 years playing in tournaments as notable as the U.S. Open.

Mr. Root is an active member of the Real Estate Board of New York, the DC Real Estate Group, and serves on the Board of the Arlington Free Clinic. Mr. Root is an avid fly fisherman and golfer.

Joe Muffler serves as Senior Managing Director of Development for Mill Creek Residential, Mid-Atlantic. He is responsible for managing all aspects of the development process, including site acquisition, design, entitlements, financing, and eventual disposition for Mill Creek Mid-Atlantic communities.

Mr. Muffler joined Mill Creek as an Associate in 2013, and prior to his role in Development, was responsible for developing company-wide research, portfolio allocation, and investor relation strategies. Prior to joining Mill Creek, Mr. Muffler served as Director of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast divisions of Bisnow Media, Inc. He began his career at Jones Lang LaSalle, as an Analyst on the Washington, D.C. Investment Sales team, participating in approximately $1.0 billion in asset transactions.

Mr. Muffler graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature.

Steven A. Grigg is President and Chief Executive Officer of Republic Properties Corporation, and was a co-founder with Mr. Kramer. Previously, Mr. Grigg served as Senior Vice President of Western Development Corporation and he was a partner with Mr. Kramer before founding Republic Properties. Successful completion of several major development efforts by Western in the Washington, D.C. market are attributed to Mr. Grigg’s ability to successfully negotiate and resolve issues critical to public private partnerships; most notably Market Square, Washington Harbour, Republic Square and The Portals.

Prior to joining Western Development in 1985, Mr. Grigg was Vice President of Development for Blake Construction Company, where he was responsible for a variety of office and other projects. Additionally, he spearheaded marketing and bidding new construction projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Florida, Georgia, California, Maryland and Virginia.

Mr. Grigg holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of Illinois. He is a licensed and registered architect in the District of Columbia and several states. Mr. Grigg is a past President of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association and a past Chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Builders’ Council.

Bob Keane, AIA, is a managing principal and owner of WDG Architecture, PLLC. Keane leads WDG’s

Higher Education Studio and has over 30 years of experience in the higher education sector. Prior to

joining WDG Architecture in 2004 to initiate the Studio, Mr. Keane spent 17 years at Design Collective,

Inc. (Baltimore, Maryland), where he led the design of a nearly two-and-a-half billion dollars of higher

education work. Mr. Keane’s university design experience is vast, ranging from campus master planning

and mixed-use developments, to health science and chemistry laboratories, to performing arts facilities,

and to student housing. His designs can be seen across the United States on more than 15 campuses.

Since joining WDG, Mr. Keane has directed numerous university projects, developing a national portfolio

with recent projects in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana and Michigan. Keane

has master planned and designed over 9.5 million-sf of student housing over the past 15 years,

providing public and private clients nearly 22,000 beds and wide-ranging amenities, totaling nearly three

billion dollars in higher education work. Projects have included on- and off-campus, traditional suites

and apartments, living-learning with classrooms, and retail.

In addition to his design experience, Mr. Keane speaks professionally and academically on the subjects

of urban planning, campus planning, student housing, and the profession of architecture. His ability to

conceptualize, coordinate, and explain solutions to complex design problems among team members and

client/user groups has proven invaluable to clients and the firm.

Mr. Keane has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland. He is a member of

the American Institute of Architects, and regularly participates in The Association of College and

University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and the Society of College and University Planners

(SCUP).

Jessica Dunn joined RCM&D in 2021 as a Client Executive and progressed to the role of Commercial Team Leader in 2022. She currently serves as Real Estate Practice Leader for Unison Risk Advisors and all partner firms. As the real estate practice leader for Unison Risk Advisors, Jessica is responsible for supporting all real estate accounts across the organization. She leads a team dedicated to managing real estate firms’ risk profiles. Jessica assesses overall strategy and develops proactive solutions that safeguard company assets and enhance

operational efficiency. Her team provides a range of risk management services, including exposure analysis, renewal strategy development and execution, claims consulting, and strategic planning. Combining a creative approach to tackling insurance needs with a collaborative, team-first attitude, Jessica is a reliable problem-solver clients can trust.

Jessica was named a 2024 Risk & Insurance Power Broker in the real estate category for her expertise in managing complex real estate risks on a national scale. This recognition highlights her commitment to enriching her own knowledge while delivering exceptional service to clients with expansive and geographically diverse portfolios. Prior to joining RCM&D, Jessica held roles at several national firms, most recently as an Underwriting Specialist

at CNA Insurance.

Eric Morales is the Maryland Market President of United Bank, a premier community bank headquartered in Greater Washington, D.C. As Market President, he is responsible for the

management and operation of all nine United Bank offices in the Maryland Market, including maintaining client relationships and new business development. Morales has an extensive background in commercial real estate lending, having financed the acquisition and construction of multiple commercial and residential real estate projects in and around the D.C. metro area.

He is also active in the local community, notably with United’s financial literacy programs, educating local youth through the Bank’s Teach Children to Save initiative, and volunteering with

Junior Achievement Finance Park. He has also served on the board of numerous organizations, most recently with the Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County and the Arlington

Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Eric was a proud recipient of the Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40 awards in 2024.

Prior to his time at United Bank, Morales worked as a Financial Manager at TIER REIT, Inc. and a senior associate at EY. Morales holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Meet Dominic, a DMV native and a proud member of the Magnolia Companies family.

After graduating from Towson University, Dominic joined the family business and has since become a master of his trade, with licenses in plumbing, gas fitting, HVAC, and electrical. He's passionate about mentoring the next generation of tradespeople and giving back to the community.

As an executive at Magnolia Companies, Dominic is committed to providing exceptional service and quality workmanship. He's a dedicated board member of the Luminis Health Doctors Community Hospital Foundation and loves spending his free time with family and his furry friends.

Matt became Chief Investment Officer in January 2015. He is responsible for AvalonBay’s investment strategy and oversees the Investments, Design, Sustainability/Corporate Responsibility and Market Research functions. Before assuming his current position, he was Executive Vice President—Corporate Strategy, a position he held from October 2011 until January 2015.

Prior to joining AvalonBay in October 2011, Matt was the founding principal of Abbey Road Property Group, LLC, a multi-family development and investment firm based in Arlington, Virginia since 2006 and before that a Senior Vice President at EYA (formerly Eakin/Youngentob Associates). Prior to joining EYA in 2003, he was a Regional Vice President of Development with the Company.

Matt received his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and his Masters Degree from The Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, where he graduated with honors. He is an active member of ULI and is certified LEED AP, serves on the Board of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), and is a member of the Federal City Council.

Mr. Shah joined EJF in 2018 and is a member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Shah is responsible for portfolio management activities for all real estate funds and has overall responsibility for acquisitions, financing, development, construction, and asset management related activities. In his role, Mr. Shah oversees EJF’s real estate investment strategy, capital allocation, and partnership initiatives across the firm’s real estate portfolio. Mr. Shah has over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to joining EJF, Mr. Shah was the President and Chief Investment Officer of the Multifamily Division at Kettler Inc., a real estate development firm based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Mr. Shah earned his BS in Financial Management from St. Joseph’s University and an MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute.