It's not too late to register for our first Future of the Valley Summit, ThursdayJune 13 at the Sportsmen's Lodge Events Center in Studio City (sign up here). We've put together an all-star panel to examine key trends in the San Fernando and Conejo valleys. But first, a quick chat with one of our speakers, Douglas Emmett regional manager of leasing David Hitzel.

Here'sDavid with daughter Julia, son Griffin, and wife Helen at the CIF Northern Division Championship Football game in December. Over the past nine months, David has seen a dramatic increase in activity in Encino and Sherman Oaks, where the REIT owns 11 projects (including the iconic, like, totally tripendicular Sherman Oaks Galleria). While the market still has an abundance of professional services firms, the main drivers behind the increase are tech and media related companies (helped by easy access to the Westside via the 405 and 101). Woodland Hills, where Douglas Emmett owns projects like Warner Center Towers and The Trillium, is also seeing more activity.