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  Blake Cordish

  Blake L. Cordish is a Principal and Partner of The Cordish Companies.  The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately-held, family ownership.  During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Commercial Real Estate, Entertainment Districts, Sports-Anchored Developments, Gaming, Hotels, Residential Properties, Restaurants, International Development and Coworking Spaces. Mr. Cordish is responsible for the Real Estate Development division of the company.  One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute (ULI) Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located.  The Cordish Companies has developed and operates multiple highly acclaimed entertainment destinations throughout the United States, many falling under the Company’s Live! Brand which is highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. Welcoming over 55 million visitors per year, these properties are the most visited destinations in their respective regions including casino resorts, restaurants, hotels, sports-anchored entertainment districts and more. Mr. Cordish holds a B.A. degree from Princeton University where he played on the varsity tennis team.  Mr. Cordish currently resides in Lutherville, MD with his wife and three children and is involved with a variety of philanthropic and civic endeavors including serving as a trustee for Johns Hopkins University.

  Cordish Companies

  VP

  Keynote Interview

  Blake Cordish

  VP

  Cordish Companies

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  Dustin Watson

  With more than 20 years of experience as an architect and designer, Dustin Watson, has overseen projects ranging from small retail repositioning projects to shopping malls, town centers, large scale urban mixed-use development, high rises, and resort destinations worldwide. He is best known for creating dense, richly detailed, sustainable, mixed-use environments, streetscapes, and neighborhoods with layers of texture, designed to work together to create a true experience and a memorable sense of place. As the founder of inPLACE Design, he is passionate about designing spaces that are both memorable and engaging. Tackling some of the largest, most prestigious planning and mixed-use retail assignments worldwide, Watson’s work spans the globe to include projects from the Ridgmar Mall redevelopment in Fort Worth Texas, Wayward Smokehouse/Curious Oyster in White Marsh Maryland, and the award-winning project Royal Venya Resort in Bali Indonesia. He works closely with developers who understand the importance great places have on the value of their assets. As a global expert who is passionate about designing spaces that are both experiential and inspiring, he is a frequent speaker at top industry conferences and contributing author for numerous trade publications. Additionally, Watson is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the American Institute of Architects, and serves on the board of the Neighborhood Design Center.

  inPLACE Design

  Founding Principal

  Keynote Moderator

  Dustin Watson

  Founding Principal

  inPLACE Design

Retail, Restaurant, & Mixeduse

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  Eugene Poverni

  Mr. Poverni’s expertise encompasses structuring and managing of the development life cycle, from project feasibility studies, to site control, financing, syndication, construction management, asset stabilization and disposition. Mr. Poverni founded the firm in 2011 and continues to be the driving force behinds its growth, and is thankful for the talented people that work at PSG to help make its’ projects and business lines a success day-in and day-out. Mr. Poverni holds a J.D. from the George Washington University, and an M.B.A from the University of Maryland.

  Poverni Sheikh Group

  CEO

  Eugene Poverni

  CEO

  Poverni Sheikh Group

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  Brad Shapiro

  Brad founded the Jabber Five Real Estate Group in 2006 and is responsible for the strategic decisions necessary to effectuate a successful transaction. Brad dedicates his time to identifying and underwriting prospective acquisitions and dispositions. He also actively seeks to cultivate and foster new and existing relationships with well respected participants within the capital stack. Prior to the creation of Jabber Five, Brad worked from 2004-2006 at LNR Property Corporation in Miami Beach as a Loan Asset Manager. There, he managed a portfolio of performing and non-performing securitized loans. In two years, Brad resolved over 120 loans with an aggregate loan balance of approximately $1 billion. From 2002-2004, Brad worked as an Associate at The Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group in New York City where he structured senior and mezzanine debt as well as joint-venture equity. He participated in over $500 million of real estate financings including acquisitions, recapitalizations, joint-venture equity arrangements and note sales. From 1999-2001, Brad worked as an Acquisitions Analyst at Equity One, Inc., one of the largest retail REITs in the country. At Equity One, Brad was involved in the acquisition of two REITs with an aggregate portfolio of over 50 grocery-anchored shopping centers valued at approximately $450 million at that time. Brad holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Michigan and is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Maryland. Brad is an active member of the Baltimore Angels, the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association, the Charles Street Development Corporation and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

  Jabber Five

  Principal

  Brad Shapiro

  Principal

  Jabber Five

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  Jeff Kayce

  Jeff is responsible for expanding joint venture opportunities and overseeing a pipeline that exceeds $1 billion of mixed-use and multifamily developments throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. He has led the development of various communities, including Liberty Harbor East, Anthem House, Cathedral Commons, Union Wharf, The Fitzgerald, Flats170 at Academy Yard and Arbors at Arundel Preserve. Prior to joining Bozzuto in 2004, Jeff was Director of Development for Signature Properties in Baltimore City. Jeff is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, a board member of the inner-city youth UMAR Boxing Program: “No Hooks Before Books,” and the multifamily council chair for the Maryland Building Industry Association. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Maryland, College Park where he graduated magna cum laude and he co-founded the school’s Real Estate Development Club.

  Bozzuto

  SVP

  Jeff Kayce

  SVP

  Bozzuto

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  Michael Morris

  Develops, leases and/or manages 10 food halls & public markets with more than 175 active vendors manages a full-service real estate development, brokerage & operations firm with a unique focus on large-scale retail placemaking and experiential real estate. Manages a brokerage team of five agents, leasing 250K square feet of retail space per year, representing both landlords & tenants, as well as more than 55 food hall / public market stalls per year Acts as outsourced real estate department for numerous retail clients (Site Selection, Design Management, Construction Management, Permitting, Procurement).

  Cana Development

  Principal

  Michael Morris

  Principal

  Cana Development

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  Drew Romanic

  Drew heads The Martin Architectural Group's commercial division, managing a spectrum of retail and mixed-use commissions from grocery anchored strip fit-outs to overall master planning and design of regional lifestyle centers. Drew maintains a hands-on approach with his projects – from design and construction documents through construction administration. His duties specifically entail client representation during construction and leasing efforts. In addition to the composition of Lease Outline Drawings, Tenant Manuals, and tenant fit-out permit and construction documents, he can provide tenant coordination between fit-out and shell documentation as well.

  Martin Architectural Group

  Principal & Partner

  Drew Romanic

  Principal & Partner

  Martin Architectural Group

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  Eric Brown

  As Senior Vice President of Operations and one of the three Principals of KBE Building Corporation, Eric is responsible the day-to-day operations of KBE’s Mid-Atlantic operations. Eric sets divisional strategy, oversees Operations and Estimating functions and is responsible the financial results of the firm. Specific responsibilities in addition to the firm’s Mid-Atlantic operations include the Special Projects Division and board member of Elite Construction Services. Eric graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from Babson College and has 30 years of construction and business experience. (Joined KBE in 1991, acquired the firm in 2007).

  KBE Building Corporation

  Principal

  Moderator

  Eric Brown

  Principal

  KBE Building Corporation