Market Watch

Decoding Interest Rates, Inflation, and Investment Trends

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  Matteo Pacifici

  Matteo Pacifici serves as Principal for TCC and is responsible for sourcing and executing new residential and mixed-use development opportunities for the Austin office across Central Texas. Since joining TCC in 2016, Matteo has been directly involved in completed and ongoing developments totaling over 5.3 million square feet, with total project costs in excess of $2.0 billion, including developing over 2,300 residential units for High Street Residential, TCC’s residential subsidiary. In his current role, Matteo oversees every aspect of the development process including entitlement, design, financing, construction, asset management and disposition activities. Prior to joining TCC, Matteo served as an analyst and associate at Wells Fargo Securities, where he jointly managed a $10 billion fixed-income derivative portfolio, and structured interest rate and currency hedging solutions for middle market corporations and institutional real estate clients.

  Trammell Crow Company

  Principal

  Matteo Pacifici

  Principal

  Trammell Crow Company

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  Jeff Diltz

  Jeff Diltz is responsible for managing all aspects of development and investment projects for Alliance Residential in Austin and San Antonio. Prior to joining Alliance, Mr. Diltz served as a Director at M-M Properties and Director of Acquisitions at Allen Harrison Company where he developed and acquired multifamily and commercial. Mr. Diltz started his career as an Analyst at Houlihan Lokey in Dallas. Over his career, Mr. Diltz has been responsible for the acquisition and development of over 12,000 apartment units including garden, mid-rise and mixed use product types. Mr. Diltz graduated with a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Real Estate from Georgetown University.

  Alliance Residential

  Managing Director, Austin/San Antonio

  Jeff Diltz

  Managing Director, Austin/San Antonio

  Alliance Residential

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  Patton Jones

  Patton K. Jones, vice chairman of Newmark’s Central Texas office, is responsible for the Austin and San Antonio conventional multifamily capital markets business, which includes multifamily investment sales, land, equity and debt. Patton oversees business development, market research and all aspects of property disposition. The collective business lines produce roughly $4 billion in sales annually. Patton is often recognized as a top producing broker for the multifamily investment sales team companywide. Prior to joining Newmark, Patton was co-founder of an aviation parts company. He lived and worked in London and Hong Kong and was responsible for sales in 33 countries. The company grew 9,200% in three years and was the winner of numerous business awards: It ranked No. 1 in “Houston’s 100 Fastest-Growing Businesses” in 1999 by the Houston Chronicle, ranked No. 7 in Dun & Bradstreet and Entrepreneur magazine’s “Hot 100, America’s Fastest-Growing New Businesses 1999,” and was recognized as having one of the aviation industry’s best web sites by Forbes Magazine in 2000. Additionally, Patton’s past work experience includes single-family patio home development, energy trading and serving as an international sales manager for a Fortune 500 tech firm.

  NEWMARK

  Vice Chairman, Multifamily Capital Markets

  Patton Jones

  Vice Chairman, Multifamily Capital Markets

  NEWMARK

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  Gary Bechtel

  Gary Bechtel leads the investment management leadership teams with direct oversight of all portfolios. Gary Bechtel served as President of Money360 and was responsible for developing and executing Money360’s expansion strategy. Gary also served on Money360’s Credit Committee and Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Company, he was Chief Lending/Originations Officer of CU Business Partners, LLC, the nation’s largest credit union service organization (CUSO). Previously, Gary held management or production positions with Grubb & Ellis Company, Meridian Capital, Johnson Capital, FINOVA Realty Capital, Pacific Southwest Realty Services and Hometown Commercial Capital. Gary began his career with the Alison Company and over the past thirty-four years has been involved in all aspects of the commercial real estate finance industry, as a lender and as an intermediary, including the origination, underwriting, structuring, placement and closing of over $10B in commercial debt transactions, utilizing various debt structures which have included permanent, bridge, equity, mezzanine and construction on transactions of $1M to $250M. These transactions were placed with a variety of capital sources that included life companies, commercial banks, credit unions and equity and mezzanine funds, on property types that included office, retail, industrial, multifamily, hospitality, self-storage and manufactured housing. He is or has been a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, California Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, and International Council of Shopping Centers. Gary has spoken at numerous industry events and written articles and has been regularly quoted in a number of regional and national publications.

  Red Oak Capital

  CEO

  Gary Bechtel

  CEO

  Red Oak Capital

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  Kevin Jacobson

  Kevin Jacobson serves as the President of Foxen, a leading provider of insurance compliance solutions and financial services to property owners, managers, and their residents. Since joining Foxen in 2022, Kevin has overseen all company functions, playing a pivotal role in shaping its strategic direction and internal operations to drive extensive and sustainable growth. Kevin is a multi-time COO and CFO of high-growth, technology-enabled companies, having led prior organizations through periods of growth, capital raising, and other significant milestones. Having started his career in finance, working in investment banking and private equity, Kevin brings great perspective on value-creation to his executive role.

  Foxen

  President

  Moderator

  Kevin Jacobson

  President

  Foxen

Mixed-Use Impact on Multifamily Performance

Integrating Residential and Commercial Spaces in Austin to Create Community and Drive Value

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  Kevin Burns

  Kevin Burns is the CEO of Urbanspace Real Estate + Interiors. His legacy began at the age of 22 when he founded Urbanspace Real Estate. Today, 20 years later, Kevin’s entrepreneurial drive continues to flourish with the recent opening his new 15,000 square foot office and furniture showroom downtown at the base of The Independent. Kevin’s zest for Austin and the urban lifestyle fuels his vision for his business that has evolved into four pillars including real estate, project marketing, interior design and modern furniture. His firm has served as the exclusive brokerage on numerous projects including Seaholm Residences, The Independent and 44 East Ave. Kevin is an urban community advocate and an active contributor to the Shoal Creek Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation and Waterloo Greenway, while also giving back by mentoring young talent through RECA and ULI. Kevin remains actively involved in real estate, topping $1 billion in sales throughout his career and earning Austin Business Journal’s Top Realtor award in 2020. He is a multi-year member of Elite 25, Austin’s top luxury agent group. Kevin is also an active member/former board member of Entrepreneur’s Organization, former board member and executive committee member of The Real Estate Council of Austin and former chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Urban development council. True to his lifelong enterprising spirit, Kevin recently opened Codependent, a conceptual coffee + cocktail bar located at the base of The Independent, where high-end design meets Austin hospitality. Kevin and his wife, Paula, live, work and play downtown with their two daughters and two Doodles, Finn and Eloise. They enjoy traveling, sailing, skiing and the many perks that the urban lifestyle offers.

  Urbanspace

  CEO

  Kevin Burns

  CEO

  Urbanspace

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  Alex Ohrn

  Alex is a Managing Director and local lead for Hines in Austin, responsible for the execution and management of development and acquisition projects in Austin and San Antonio. He joined Hines in 2018 and has helped build a pipeline of over 1.6 million square feet of new office and multifamily projects. Notable projects include ‘T3 Eastside’, a 100,000 square foot mixed-use office project in East Austin, Hines’ first heavy timber project to feature multifamily units, ‘Varenna Lakeside’, a 336-unit multifamily project in Georgetown, and ‘Retreat at Easton Park’, a 349-unit multifamily project in SE Austin. Alex earned his MBA from the University of Texas, and his BA in Economics from Arizona State University.

  Hines

  Managing Director

  Alex Ohrn

  Managing Director

  Hines

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  David Kanne

  David oversees and leads all of LV Collective’s endeavors. He possesses a unique ability to create and inspire forward-thinking design and innovation, incorporating a keen understanding of complex capital structures combined with a knowledge of how to practically execute a timely and cost-effective construction project and bring the concept into existence. His leadership and direction of the company, paired with a heart for the success of everyone involved, has curated a unique environment in which team members thrive and enjoy collaboration while deftly producing cutting-edge projects with unmatched market appeal. David founded LV Collective in 2012 with the vision and passion to help shape the future of Austin’s real estate landscape. Since its inception, the company has acquired, developed and managed student housing, multi-family, creative office, residential, retail, restaurant, mixed-use and office assets valued in excess of $1.4 billion. LV Collective primarily employs value-add and opportunistic strategies to generate above-average, risk-adjusted returns for its investors. The company’s expertise spans ground-up development, adaptive reuse, value-add acquisitions and strategic re-positioning projects. LV’s structure as a privately held company allows for flexibility to underwrite and execute deals of all asset types, sizes and structures in order to secure the best opportunities in the market. David is very involved in several neighborhood groups such as University Area Partners and The Central Austin Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee, as well as local and national organizations such as The Real Council of Austin, ULI, and NMHC. David graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he received his B.S. in Construction Engineering. David is married to his wife, Lauren, and they reside in Central Austin with their two children.

  LV Collective

  CEO

  David Kanne

  CEO

  LV Collective

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  Kevin Foltermann

  Kevin has nearly 20 years of experience in the AEC industry, with 18 of those working with DCA Construction, now part of W.E. O’Neil. Kevin worked his way through the ranks from project manager and estimator to director of operations, and is now a vice president leading our team in the Austin region. He has led major projects in the Austin and greater Texas markets, most recently completing 300 Colorado, a 32-story office building in the heart of downtown. Outside of his construction responsibilities, Kevin enjoys volunteering as a coach for the Lake Travis Youth Association and is also involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas.

  W.E O'Neil Construction

  Vice President

  Kevin Foltermann

  Vice President

  W.E O'Neil Construction

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  Jordan Bernstein

  In his role at Mint House, Jordan is responsible for driving the strategic direction and implementation of the company’s growth and development. Jordan brings nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, beginning at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he held various roles across the Global and North America Development organizations, including global strategic planning, and managed and franchised hotel development in the United States and Caribbean. He joined IHG Hotels & Resorts in 2017, focusing on owner relationships and transactions, asset management, and upscale development. Most recently, Jordan was Vice President of Business Development for First Hospitality, responsible for developing new third-party management partnerships nationwide. Mint House is a premium residential hospitality operator in the short-term rental category. With over 25 assets in over 20 markets open or signed and growing across the U.S., Mint House partners with real estate owners to operate full-building hospitality projects, as well as operating contiguous floors within high-end, multi-family buildings. Mint House serves the rapidly growing traveler demand for upper-tier apartment style accommodations, from business transient stays to 30-day plus stays.

  Mint House

  Head of Development Strategy and Operations

  Jordan Bernstein

  Head of Development Strategy and Operations

  Mint House

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  Preston Patten

  Preston Patten is an Shareholder at Winstead PC. His current practice is focused on real estate development with an emphasis on structuring residential, mixed-use and office condominiums, and residential and mixed-use communities. Preston also represents developers in their creation and administration of property owner associations.

  Winstead

  Shareholder

  Moderator

  Preston Patten

  Shareholder

  Winstead

Multifamily Momentum in Motion

Projects Transforming Austin's Landscape

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  Marcy Phillips

  Marcy Phillips joined Crescent Communities in 2025 as Managing Director of Central Texas, bringing more than 25 years of multifamily and mixed-use real estate experience. She provides visionary leadership for the region’s platform, guiding strategic growth, site acquisition, entitlements, capitalization, design, and execution to deliver exceptional communities and long-term value. Prior to Crescent Communities, Marcy previously held senior leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of Development at Ryan Companies and Vice President of Development at AMLI Residential. She is a Founder and CEO of MRP Delta Investments, LLC. Her extensive development portfolio spans major markets—Austin, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, and Kansas City with total market capitalization exceeding $3 billion. Marcy is a recognized leader in the commercial real estate industry, actively engaged with organizations including ULI, RECA, NMHC, and CREW Network. In 2022, she was named one of ATX’s most influential trailblazers in CRE. She was a finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power in 2014 and a nominee again in 2018. A past President of the CREW Austin Chapter, Marcy also served on the CREW Network National Nominating Committee in 2018. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Austin Alliance, contributing to its Economic Development Committee, and participated in the City of Austin’s East Riverside Corridor Regulating Plan Working Group. Deeply committed to community service, Marcy supports numerous civic organizations—from youth sports programs to the Central Texas Food Bank, The SAFE Alliance, and the Austin Humane Society—and actively mentors young women. Marcy earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2001, triple-majoring in Real Estate & Urban Land Economics, Finance, and Risk Management. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and a licensed Texas Real Estate Salesperson.

  Crescent Communities

  Managing Director, Central Texas

  Marcy Phillips

  Managing Director, Central Texas

  Crescent Communities

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  Matthew Bunch

  Matthew Bunch serves as Managing Director of Development for the greater Austin and San Antonio regions and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the development process, including site acquisition, due diligence, entitlements, design, financing, and disposition of Mill Creek communities. Mr. Bunch has over 20 years of multifamily and single-family real estate experience across all aspects of the development process. Prior to joining Mill Creek, Mr. Bunch served as the Vice President of Acquisition and Development for The Fortis Companies, where he led development efforts for multifamily and mixed-use projects across the Washington, D.C. region. Prior to his tenure at FORTIS, Mr. Bunch spent 15 years in public homebuilding with PulteGroup in various management roles in land acquisition, strategic planning, and marketing to successfully execute the Pulte, Del Webb, and Centex brands across the Northeast Region. Mr. Bunch received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University. He is an active member of the Real Estate Council of Austin and the Urban Land Institute.

  Mill Creek Residential

  Managing Director - Development

  Matthew Bunch

  Managing Director - Development

  Mill Creek Residential

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  Rodrigo Cantu

  Rodrigo has worked in the real estate industry for close to a decade, holding various roles on both the development and equity sides of the business. In his current capacity at River City Capital Partners, Rodrigo contributes to the team by identifying, analyzing, and overseeing the execution of all development opportunities. Prior to joining RCCP, he worked at D-Delta Real Estate Investments, a Private Equity Real Estate Firm based out of Austin. There, he played a key role in their investment team, allocating close to $100M of equity in several projects in Texas and Colorado, and led the crafting of the investment thesis and framework for a $100M+ fund. Before transitioning to real estate, he worked at Deloitte Consulting as a management consultant in their Strategy and Operations practice, where he helped redesign operating strategies for e-commerce, healthcare, agricultural, and real estate businesses. Rodrigo received his BS from Southern Methodist University in Management Science with a minor in Economics and his MBA from The University of Texas at Austin with a Real Estate Concentration. He also serves as an associate council member at the UT Real Estate Center and is an active participant in the Hispanic Austin Leadership Program, organized by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

  River City Capital Partners

  Director of Development

  Rodrigo Cantu

  Director of Development

  River City Capital Partners

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  McDaniel Wyatt

  McDaniel Wyatt serves as National Accounts Director for Humphreys & Partners Architects (HPA), one of the largest multifamily design firms in the country. Wyatt oversees HPA’s relationships with many of the country’s largest real estate developers, helping to onboard their projects from initial feasibility and entitlements, and continuing through design and construction. Since joining HPA in 2015, Wyatt has been part of nearly 60 completed multifamily projects, totaling over 12,000 units, helping his clients navigate a variety of financing programs, including the HUD 221(d)(4) program and tax credit projects in several states. Wyatt serves on the Leadership Board for ULI-Louisiana, is a graduate of Louisiana State University, and holds a Masters of Real Estate Development from Auburn University.

  Humphreys & Partners Architects

  National Accounts Director

  McDaniel Wyatt

  National Accounts Director

  Humphreys & Partners Architects

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  Ken Mendez

  Ken Mendez started in the built environment solutions in 1996, and has worked in several capacities in the Architecture & Design industry. Gaining expertise from a multitude of teams and manufacturers, he has served as a District Account Manager for both Kimball and Teknion, then moving on to Vice President of Sales for both Office Pavilion, and Workplace Solutions. For three years, Ken was the Regional Director for Knoll for the Houston Region. He currently utilizes his expertise in the multifamily market at Division Six and CORE Office Interiors in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. His bold approach puts people, process, and technology at the forefront of his go-to-market strategy. Ken excels at his job because of the care and growth he provides for his clients and employees to maximize their potential and ensure they each have the solutions and tools they need to succeed.

  Division Six

  President/Partner

  Moderator

  Ken Mendez

  President/Partner

  Division Six

Tenant-Centric Trends

Navigating the Preferences of Austin's Residents

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  Greg Coutant

  As Senior Director of Development for StreetLights Residential, Greg Coutant works through the acquisition, due diligence, and entitlement processes for both active and potential projects. Throughout Greg’s career, he has gained experience with residential and commercial land development projects in Texas. Greg’s expertise lies in site selection, entitlements, civil design, project bidding and construction administration. Prior to joining StreetLights, Greg worked at Jacobs Engineering as part of the company’s Land Development group. He also gained early career experience at Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers working as a project manager. Greg is an active member of The Real Estate Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas.

  StreetLights Residential

  SVP, Development

  Greg Coutant

  SVP, Development

  StreetLights Residential

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  Felipe Castillo

  Mr. Castillo has over 22-years of experience in commercial real estate and development with another 9-years in architecture. He is also an Architect and a U.S. Army Veteran, plus, holds both a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Architecture degrees from Texas Tech University. Throughout Mr. Castillo’s real estate development career, he has led real estate development efforts for multiple build-to-rent, multifamily, and high-rise mixed-use development projects, moreover, he has personally managed over 29+ zoning cases for multiple development projects across the United States. Before coming to PlaceMKR, Mr. Castillo was the Managing Director for Urban Moment, a Build-to-rent/Single-family-to-rent Texas based development firm with over a $1BN in equity allocated toward BTR/SFR developments. He led the company’s corporate development, partnership, and acquisition strategy. During and prior to his period with Urban Moment, he has been working on BTR/SFR and multifamily development efforts for several years, with numerous communities developed and/or breaking ground. He has an extensive understanding of the BTR/SFR development process and has a versatile background which understands real estate development from multiple points-of-view. Prior to Urban Moment, Mr. Castillo was the Chief Operating Officer for De La Vega Capital and led the company’s strategy and growth with an emphasis on De La Vega’s national real estate development efforts. Prior to De La Vega, Mr. Castillo was the Senior Vice President for HALL Group and lead the development efforts for HALL; he oversaw real estate endeavors, entitlements, design, and financial oversight for all new ground-up development projects for Dallas, Frisco, and Napa.

  PlaceMKR

  Partner

  Felipe Castillo

  Partner

  PlaceMKR

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  Julie Roberts

  Julie Roberts is the Owner and Principal of Thrive Interior Design, she brings 15+ years of diverse Interior Design expertise in Multi-Family, Commercial and High-End Residential Design. Julie holds a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Baylor University and is a registered interior designer. Julie and her team take pride in approaching every project uniquely by first listening and understanding the needs of the project and then creating designs that expand and enhance the visions of our clients. When not in the office Julie is busy with her husband and 3 young children.

  Thrive Interior Design

  Principal, Owner

  Julie Roberts

  Principal, Owner

  Thrive Interior Design

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  Layne Spencer

  VP

  Luxer One

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  Brent Corn

  Brent Corn, Director of Sales- ADT Multifamily, is a consumer electronics veteran with more than two decades of experience in the industry. Over the past 10 years, Brent has specialized in the IoT/Automation vertical, with a focus on SaaS for multiple markets, including the multi-family, hotel, commercial lighting, security, and single-family spaces. Outside of work, Brent cheers for Arsenal football club and has been known to learn a song or two on the guitar.

  ADT Multifamily

  Director

  Brent Corn

  Director

  ADT Multifamily

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  Jennifer Seay

  Jennifer is the Founder and CEO of Art + Artisans. She has helped clients create meaningful, impactful spaces for the past 22 years. Jennifer is passionate about helping her clients succeed and showing them how art can be part of the strategy to achieve their vision and attract their ideal market. She believes that art creates spaces with unique identities that people love and want to visit again and again, bringing countless positive experiences that inspire and build community. Jennifer views her primary role today as Chief Relationship Builder both with clients and within her team. Jennifer has built a culture at A+A deeply rooted in delivering excellence in both client service and quality of work delivered. Developing and nurturing trust with clients, team members, artists and vendors is what has enabled Art + Artisans’ success for 22 years. Jennifer has led many large commercial projects across the country with clients who understand the importance integrating art to tell a story, convey their brand, build community, and engage people. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and has lived in Austin for over 30 years. She has served on the Executive Board of CREW Austin and as a Guardian Angel for the Center for Child Protection. In 2018, she was a nominee for the Austin Business Journal's Profiles in Power, a finalist for the Austin Business Journal's CEO of the Year in 2019, and a Bisnow honoree for Women Leading Austin Real Estate in 2024.

  Art + Artisans

  Founder & CEO

  Moderator

  Jennifer Seay

  Founder & CEO

  Art + Artisans

Green Horizons

Sustainability and Innovation in Austin's Real Estate

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  Douglas Gilliland

  Douglas Gilliland is President of Taurus of Texas Holdings which is a partnership between Triwest Group and Taurus Investment Holdings. the Managing Director of land development activities for Taurus of Texas Holdings with regional offices in Austin, Texas. Over his 40-year career, Douglas has developed almost 4,000 SF and MF units in 31 master-planned, mixed-use, and niche developments in Central Texas, North Texas, Colorado, and Kansas City MO. As part of Taurus Investment Holdings, an international investor, operator, and developer of mixed-use, residential and commercial properties across the globe, Douglas brings vast experience, resources, and a global perspective on real estate development. Headquartered in Boston MA, Taurus is currently active in regional markets in North America, South America, Europe, and India and is committed to developing sustainable commercial and residential communities.

  Taurus Investment Holdings

  President

  Douglas Gilliland

  President

  Taurus Investment Holdings

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  Judy Roessner

  Judy Roessner, with over 30 years of experience, leads Sixthriver Architects as President, emphasizing excellence in design, processes, and communication. Her expertise spans the design process, from concept to project completion, with a focus on mixed-use, hospitality, commercial office, retail, and medical office spaces. Judy prioritizes collaboration within the team and oversees firm operations and project delivery, ensuring innovative solutions. Recently, Judy launched an innovative project delivery process, assisting development clients with complex projects from feasibility through development management services. Sixthriver partners with leading real estate development service providers in Texas to expand the firm's services well beyond traditional design. Judy holds degrees in Interior Design and Architecture, is NCARB certified, and holds licenses as a Registered Architect in Texas, Missouri, Florida, and Montana. She is actively engaged in professional organizations, including AIA, ULI, RECA, the Austin Housing Coalition, and sits on the Board of the Anderson Community Development Corporation. Furthermore, she serves as an architect advisor for equity preservation and is involved in affordable housing initiatives, aiming to promote workplace health and meaningful design solutions.

  Sixth River Architects

  President

  Judy Roessner

  President

  Sixth River Architects

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  Pawel Hardej

  Pawel (Paul) Hardej (Principal), is an architect, developer, entitlement expert and community steward. He combines the vision and passion of a long-time entrepreneur with the steady hand and structured approach of a corporate professional, allowing him to interface naturally with a wide range of clients and partners. He has been directly responsible for the acquisition, design, development or redevelopment of almost $2 billion of mixed-use, condominium, multi-family communities totaling over 2,000 units, as well as multiple retail and entertainment properties. Pawel has also negotiated millions of dollars in incentives, tax credit deals and complex entitlements and is considered a zoning and urban planning expert. Prior to founding Metropolitan, he was an Executive Vice President at Lincoln Ventures and also served as Vice President of Development at Intracorp, one of North America’s largest residential developers, where he managed the development of multiple projects, including the 49-story 44 East condominium high-rise project in downtown Austin, TX. Pawel started his career in Chicago, IL, his first adopted hometown in the United States as the founder and CEO of Metropolitan Development Enterprises where he developed numerous award winning mid-rise and town home projects over a ten year stretch. A native of Warsaw, Poland and now residing in Austin, TX, Pawel studied Architecture at both Warsaw Politechnic University and at the University of Detroit Mercy and also at the International Academy of Merchandising & Design in Chicago.

  Metropolitan Development Company

  Principal

  Pawel Hardej

  Principal

  Metropolitan Development Company

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  Zachary Turov

  Business Development Manager

  EcoSmart Solution

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  Owen Harrod

  W. Owen Harrod, PhD AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an experienced project architect who has been with MWM DesignGroup since 1991. Throughout the course of his 32-year career, Owen has become vastly familiar with providing project management, architectural design, master planning, site design, environmental design, cost estimating, project permitting, and related professional services for both private and public sector clients. Owen has recently led several projects involving mixed-use and multi-family developments including Juniper Townhomes, Iris at Mueller, Mueller Berkman Townhomes, & Concourse at Mueller.

  MWM DesignGroup

  Senior Project Architect & Associate

  Owen Harrod

  Senior Project Architect & Associate

  MWM DesignGroup

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  Jason Atkinson

  Jason R. Atkinson founded Grey Wolf Engineers in early 2020 on the best practices learned from four of the top civil engineering firms in Texas. He is a sixth-generation civil engineer and surveyor who started in the business at age 13 carrying the surveying bag for his family’s firm. He has over 27 years of civil engineering experience in Greater Houston. His primary role is in project and client management.

  Grey Wolf Engineers

  President

  Moderator

  Jason Atkinson

  President

  Grey Wolf Engineers

Affordable Austin

Profitability and Social Responsibility in Affordable Housing Options

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  Cross Moceri

  Co-CEO

  Presidium Group

• 

  Candace Valenzuela

  Regional Administrator, Southwest

  HUD

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  Travis Mitchell

  After running a successful business for 10 years, Mayor Mitchell was first elected to the Kyle City Council in 2016 and then mayor in 2017. He is a proud graduate of Texas A&M university and has completed coursework for an MBA from the University of Texas. Mayor Mitchell serves on numerous boards, including Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP). Mayor Mitchell has focused on economic and real estate development throughout his time as mayor. His background and focus is to create value at the intersection between private and public organizations. He has been married 15 years and enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons.

  City of Kyle

  Mayor

  Travis Mitchell

  Mayor

  City of Kyle

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  Mandy DeMayo

  Mandy has three decades of experience in affordable housing, real estate, and community development. Prior to working for the City of Austin, Mandy served as Executive Director of HousingWorks for nearly eight years. HousingWorks Austin is a nonprofit research, education, and advocacy organization that is dedicated to increasing affordable housing in Austin. Prior to HousingWorks, Mandy provided consulting services focused on affordable housing finance and policy to a range of nonprofit organizations, including small, community-based nonprofits and multi-faceted, national nonprofit organizations. Mandy joined the City of Austin more than six years ago as the Community Development Administrator for Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department. In this position, she was responsible for managing housing and community development programs funded through local, state, and federal resources. In her role as Community Development Administrator (and later Housing and Community Development Officer), Mandy provide strategic guidance and oversight for the deployment of the City of Austin’s historic $250 million affordable housing bond. In addition, Mandy oversaw a range of Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) activities, including Private Activity Bond issuance, real estate acquisitions, and various programs administered by AHFC through the $80+ million annual Service Agreement with the City of Austin. In February 2022, Mandy was appointed as Deputy Director of the Housing Department. In this role, she oversees AHFC Programs and Real Estate, Finance and Operations, and Displacement Prevention divisions. These divisions are responsible for the deployment of $350 million in affordable housing GO Bonds (approved by voters in November 2022) and $300 million in displacement prevention programs (approved by voters in November 2020). In December 2023, Mandy was appointed Interim Director of the Housing Department. Mandy has served on a variety of Urban Land Institute’s Technical Assistance Panels as an affordable housing development expert. Over her career, Mandy has delivered hundreds of presentations to a variety of audiences, ranging from neighborhood organizations to academic institutions to business organizations to policy making bodies and elected officials. Mandy holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She was the recipient of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation Award for Academic Excellence.

  City of Austin

  Interim Director, Housing Department

  Mandy DeMayo

  Interim Director, Housing Department

  City of Austin

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  Drew Schelfhout

  Principal / Senior Land Planner

  Evolve Architects

• Moderator

  Kelsey Erwin

  Founder & Principal

  Key Project Solutions