Mayoral Keynote Addresses

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  Dean Trantalis

  Dean Trantalis was first elected mayor of Fort Lauderdale in 2018 and was re-elected in Novembe 2020. His 2018 election represented the largest victory in city history for a candidate running for a first term as mayor. The 2020 election was also by landslide proportions and featured the largest turnout ever in a city race. Mayor Trantalis previously served on the City Commission representing District 2 for eight years. As mayor, he represents Fort Lauderdale on the Florida League of Cities, the Broward County Tourism Development Council, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Broward Workforce Development Board. He also served as a member of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force in 2020. Born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut, he attended high school at Norwich Free Academy. At Boston University, he majored in political science and graduated cum laude and with distinction in 1975. He received a Juris Doctorate in 1979 from Stetson University School of Law. Mayor Trantalis was admitted to the Connecticut and Florida Bar Associations in 1980 and has practiced law in Broward County since 1982. He maintains a successful general law practice in Broward County with some emphasis in the areas of real estate, probate, estate planning, bankruptcy, and corporate matters. His long track record of public service in our community began with his involvement in the fight for civil rights. As mayor, he is committed to improvements to the city’s infrastructure, responsible growth, community involvement in development decisions, increased fiscal responsibility in city government and the maintenance of the great quality of life in our neighborhoods. Recognized for his leadership in our community, Mayor Trantalis has received multiple awards and honors. He was an inaugural honoree of the Diversity Honors awards presented by the Harvey Milk Foundation in 2015 and was presented with their lifetime achievement award in spring 2018. He also has been honored as a Community Champion by the Broward County Commission and the Broward County Human Rights Board for his work on behalf of equal rights. In October 2019, he received the Visionary Award from the Gay and Lesbian Business Exchange of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

  Fort Lauderdale

  Mayor

  Keynote

  Dean Trantalis

  Mayor

  Fort Lauderdale

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  Josh Levy

  Mayor Josh Levy is honored to be serving in his second term as our city’s mayor. Josh grew up in Hollywood. He graduated from Hollywood Hills High School. He attended the University of Florida, where in 1996, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Josh went on to earn a Law Degree from Nova Southeastern University where he graduated with Pro Bono Honors and a Certificate of Concentration in International Legal Practice. Mayor Levy began his volunteerism with the city 24 years ago, when he served as a law clerk in the City of Hollywood City Attorney’s Office. Years later, he was appointed to serve as a member of the city’s Planning & Development Board, a position which Mayor Levy held for twelve years. Mayor Levy is a graduate of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hollywood program (Class 29) - the Hollywood Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy - and is a recipient of the City of Hollywood’s Great Neighborhoods Challenge Community Spirit Award. Today, while serving as mayor, he also serves as a member of: - the Broward County Planning Council, - the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB’s Tourist Development Council, - CareerSource Broward’s Council of Elected Officials - and also now as an Executive Committee member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Broward County's public-private partnership for regional economic development. Mayor Levy enjoys working together with his colleagues on the Hollywood City Commission as they endeavor to make the City of Hollywood: South Florida’s TOP city to live, learn, work, invest, and play. Mayor Levy thanks his family and the entire community for entrusting him with the privilege of serving as our city’s chief elected official.

  City of Hollywood

  Mayor

  Keynote

  Josh Levy

  Mayor

  City of Hollywood

• Keynote

  Rex Hardin

  Mayor

  Pompano Beach

Broward Mosaic: Diverse Perspectives on a Dynamic County

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  Noah Bachow

  Bachow Ventures is a single family office that develops and owns multifamily in South Florida. Currently Bachow Ventures has over $1 Billion in active developments in Broward County and Miami-Dade County and is actively looking for new projects.

  Bachow Ventures

  CEO

  Noah Bachow

  CEO

  Bachow Ventures

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  Austin Fox

  Austin Fox has created a very reputable, professional, and outstanding scope of work for any project he has worked on. Prior to becoming licensed, the journey had not always been so smooth. Regardless, he remained resilient and never lost sight of his end goal, to start his own firm and become his own boss. While working for multiple architectural firms while studying for his exams, Austin became fascinated by the idea of becoming an entrepreneur at a young age. Austin Fox Architecture was thus founded and created by Austin Fox. With an exponential level of growth in just a few months of being created, the company has been able to sign many projects on all sorts of levels. From multi-family apartment complexes, residential luxury homes, and commercial it is only the start for Austin Fox Architecture. To working a 9-5 job for a firm, to developing several million dollar projects with his sign and seal, Austin Fox has always presented with a superior level of professionalism, leaving each previous employer, and now his own clients with a great deal of satisfaction. Mr. Fox takes his time with each project to provide the highest quality of work for each individual client. His level of transparency, communication, and dedication has given him endless opportunities and he continues to use these assets to make him a strong entrepreneur and architect in the field.

  Austin Fox Architecture

  Founder & Principal

  Austin Fox

  Founder & Principal

  Austin Fox Architecture

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  Mike MacDonald

  As Senior Vice President / Division Manager of Kast’s South Florida Business Unit and Partner in the firm, Mike leads the Business in our region and is based at the company’s West Palm Beach corporate headquarters. Mike has 30 years’ experience as a General Contractor in the South Florida Market and has been with KAST for ten of those years. His experience and expertise include the successful pursuit, construction, and delivery of Luxury High-rise Condo, Hospitality, and Multi-Family projects. “We are proud to build our business based on highly valued relationships and uncompromising standards. I am driven by an exciting Culture, accountability, and results.” Mike is a ULI member and serves on the Multi-Family Council. In the community Mike is proud of his charitable work benefiting such organizations as, Project Lift, American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Quantum House. Mike and his wife Lisa reside in Jupiter, and he is a proud girl dad to two beautiful daughters. Mike’s vision for KAST along with his partners in the firm is to lead the organization into the next generation of the company building on the solid foundation that exists today. With their exceptional leadership KAST is strategically positioned to serve and succeed with our clients. Kast exists to make visions become reality. We build people, lead teams, and execute our mission focused on collective success.

  Kast Construction

  Senior Vice President & Division Manager

  Mike MacDonald

  Senior Vice President & Division Manager

  Kast Construction

• Moderator

  Shawn Oden

  Managing Director

  BMO Commercial Bank

Hollywood Highlight: Unveiling the Renaissance Underway in a City on the Rise

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  Timothy Wheat

  Timothy P. Wheat is a partner at Pinnacle, a Miami-based full-service real estate development and construction company that builds high-quality affordable, workforce and market-rate housing across Florida. Mr. Wheat joined Pinnacle in 2002 and is the company’s lead affordable housing developer, and has guided the expansion of Pinnacle’s portfolio throughout Florida. Mr. Wheat has overseen successful and trend-setting developments across the state, including many of Pinnacle’s efforts with local governments, public housing authorities and non-profit organizations to develop new, modern and affordable rental communities through innovative public/private partnerships. Mr. Wheat’s professional career spans nearly 40 years and has almost entirely been dedicated to the development and preservation of quality affordable housing for both families and seniors. Mr. Wheat began his career as a housing planner in Palm Beach County government, moved to the non-profit sector and then into private for-profit development. Mr. Wheat has overseen the development, financing and management of thousands of rental housing units in Florida and throughout the United States. Mr. Wheat is acknowledged as an industry advocate and an expert in fostering collaborative efforts to create affordable housing. In recognition of these accomplishments, he was appointed to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council, where he served from 2013-2017, and was elected Vice Chairman in 2016. In 2011, Mr. Wheat received the key to the City of Lynn Haven, Florida, for his role in developing affordable housing in the area. He also actively engages with multiple community organizations focused on creating affordable housing opportunities. Mr. Wheat is a founding Board Member and President of the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, formed in 2006, which develops and creates housing opportunities for both renters and homeowners utilizing a cutting-edge mechanism for preserving long term affordability. Mr. Wheat is also a Board Member of the Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County. The HLC’s “Housing for All” plan and its advocacy for affordable and workforce housing was instrumental in the adoption of a $200 million housing bond initiative approved by Palm Beach County’s voters in 2022. Mr. Wheat is a native Floridian and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Fordham University.

  Pinnacle

  Partner

  Timothy Wheat

  Partner

  Pinnacle

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  Raelin Storey

  Assist City Manager

  City of Hollywood

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  Jorge Camejo

  Jorge Camejo worked for the City of Boca Raton for over 28 years. Over this time span, he served as the Executive Director of the CRA from 1989 to 1998. In 1998 he took on the development role as CRA Executive Director and Director of the Development Services Department until 2009 and subsequently served as Director of Community Development. During his tenure with the City of Boca Raton he brought to fruition numerous projects and achievements including:  Coordinated and supervised implementation of the $44.5 million dollar Visions 90 Infrastructure and Beautification Plan for Downtown, including Palmetto Park Road, US 1 and Mizner Boulevard.  Oversaw the design, construction and implementation of all phases of Mizner Park, which opened in December of 1990.  Instrumental in bringing about the construction of Jacobson’s Department Store, enabling the store to open for the 1996 season.  Spearheaded the discussions and eventual resolution through mediation of the Boca Raton Road lawsuit resolving a dispute that existed since adoption of the first Downtown Plan in 1982.  Proposed and implemented a “Front Porch” code amendment to provide a better sense of community and architectural interest for older neighborhoods in Boca Raton.  Directed the Boca Technology Notice of Proposed Change (NOPC) for the former IBM site to revitalize the property as a major industrial site in 2001.  Coordinated the Pearl City Master Plan for the City’s oldest residential community by obtaining consensus and support from the residents and neighborhood leaders on the “Pearl City Blue Ribbon Committee” in the design and implementation strategy of the proposed master plan in 2002.  Instituted the “Blueprint for Excellence” to improve the services provided to our customers in the permitting and inspection process by obtaining feedback through open forums with the construction community necessary to implement enhancements and re-engineer processes in 2003.  Coordinating the redevelopment of the North Federal Highway corridor, obtaining input by conducting a charrette in November 2003 under the auspices of a steering committee of residents and business owners to promote such efforts.  Oversaw implementation of the Downtown Master Plan update, including Interim Design Guidelines.

  Hollywood CRA Districts

  Executive Director

  Jorge Camejo

  Executive Director

  Hollywood CRA Districts

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  Jacob Breakstone

  Development Services Manager

  BTI Partners

• Moderator

  Craig Studnicky

  CEO

  ISG World & RelatedISG

Pompano Beach Pulse: Navigating Growth in Broward's Hidden Gem

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  Nick Perez

  Nick Pérez serves as the President of Condominium Development for Related Group (Related), one of the country’s leading real estate companies. In this critical leadership role, Nick oversees all development activity within the company's world-renown condominium group, with a portfolio worth over $15 billion. Additionally, Nick collaborates closely with Related’s executive suite - including CEO and Founder Jorge M. Perez and President Jon Paul Perez - to extend the firm’s 40+ years of industry dominance. Known for his growth focus, Related’s condominium group has thrived under Nick’s leadership, forging partnerships with distinguished brands, expanding into promising new markets and driving billions of dollars in sales. The division currently has more than 20 individual condo projects under active developments, with highlights including the St. Regis Residences Miami; Baccarat Residences, Miami; NoMad Residences, Wynwood; Residences at 6 Fisher, and many more. Nick also led the development of Related’s award-winning Coconut Grove headquarters, completed in 2021. Prior to joining Related in 2018, Nick spent eight years in the New York City real estate industry, working with some of the world’s most respected real estate companies. This included a four-year period with the Related Companies in Manhattan, where he focused on a wide spectrum of properties, including 261 Hudson and 15 Hudson Yards. Nick is deeply involved with Related’s sustainability efforts, playing a critical role in forging Related’s high- profile partnership with the Aspen Institute and facilitating the firm’s title sponsorship of the “Ideas” Summit. He is also involved in the Related’s Philanthropic Foundation and the Perez Family Philanthropic Foundation, which have dispersed more than $214 million since being founded in 2015. Nick graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.S. in Business Administration and received his Executive MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

  Related Group

  President

  Nick Perez

  President

  Related Group

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  Dev Motwani

  Dev Motwani serves as President of Merrimac Ventures, a Fort Lauderdale based real estate firm that focuses on value-add investment and development opportunities. Property types owned and operated include hotels, condos, retail, office and rental apartments primarily in South Florida but also throughout the United States. Dev is also Founder and Managing Partner of Ramesh Properties, a distressed real estate investment fund focused on opportunistic investments in residential and commercial development sites throughout South Florida. He currently oversees nearly $750 million in development projects. Current projects include the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences, The Gale Boutique Hotel and Residences, as well as Las Olas Riverfront, all in the Fort Lauderdale area. Dev is Founder and Managing Partner of Chieftain Residential, a yield-oriented distressed residential fund purchasing single-family homes and residential land, primarily in the Southeast US and Texas. The fund aims to balance current income opportunities through the rental markets for its single family home inventory, while also targeting capital appreciation in single family homes and land as the US Residential Market continues to rebound. Prior to his current role Dev worked at Credit Suisse in New York City, where he first structured OTC Equity Derivative trades for the firm's largest corporate clients and then for the firm's largest hedge fund clients. Before that he worked in the White House and on the 2000 Gore/Lieberman Presidential Campaign. Dev plays an active role in the South Florida Community, through his involvement with numerous charities and business organizations, currently serving on the board of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, Fort Lauderdale's Economic Development Advisory Board, and the Downtown Council. He was recently appointed to the Orange Bowl Host Committee. He previously served on the boards of the Riverwalk Trust, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and Broward County's Small Business Advisory Board. Dev has served as Co-Chair for the Bonnet House's Annual Impressions Fundraiser, the Ghost Light Society's Annual Soiree, and the Jeb Bush Classic Beach Bash benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year the Motwani family co-founded the Laughing Out Loud fundraiser benefitting the Scleroderma Foundation, which raised over $170,000 for the charity. Dev graduated from Duke University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics and Public Policy and from Columbia University's Masters of Science in Real Estate Development Program. He has also studied at the London School of Economics.

  Merrimac Ventures

  President

  Dev Motwani

  President

  Merrimac Ventures

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  Edgardo Defortuna

  Mr. Defortuna is President, CEO and Founder of Fortune International Group, a Miami-based full- service real estate firm recognized throughout South Florida, Latin America and Europe as a leader in high-end luxury real estate. He oversees all of the company’s activities across all of its business units. Mr. Defortuna is involved with the strategic decision making of the group, as well as the day-to-day operations of each of its divisions. He started the business in 1983, and quickly became a driving force in real estate. Through his company’s success and far reach into U.S., European and Latin American markets, Mr. Defortuna is widely recognized for having made a significant contribution to the internationalization of Miami and its reputation as a global business, trade and vacation hub. He currently serves as a member of the Mayor of Miami's International Council and also as Director of the Argentine-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in Miami. Additionally, he is a member of several charitable organizations in Miami, such as Manos del Sur, Mt. Sinai Hospital and St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. Mr. Defortuna holds a Bachelors Degree in Electrical and Chemical Engineering from the National University of Argentina and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Miami. Fully fluent English and Spanish, Mr. Defortuna is married to Ana Cristina and has five children.

  Fortune International Group

  CEO

  Edgardo Defortuna

  CEO

  Fortune International Group

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  Maria Johnston

  Mrs. Johnston is the CEO of M. Johnston Consulting, LLC, specializing in facilitating collaborations between developers and utility companies for relocations, overhead to underground projects, and new service delivery engineering. With a background that includes engineering, government affairs, and sales at AT&T, she managed a $100M revenue segment across five states, leading strategy formulation, P&L, and a geographically dispersed team. In her role as Regional Director of AT&T's External Affairs department, she managed community engagement, legislation review, lobbying, and represented AT&T on local boards in the South Florida market. Mrs. Johnston holds the technical certification of Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) since January 1996, the first female employee in the AT&T/BellSouth region to have earned this certification. She designed Fiber and Copper facilities for customers in a deregulated environment and worked with Fiber companies to develop custom fiber cables based on the business needs. She holds an MBA in Strategic Management from Regis University in Denver, CO. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida class XXXIV and an Executive Education program participant at the Harvard School of Business. Mrs. Johnston has received numerous accolades and awards during her career including the Hispanic Leadership award in Technology from the SFL Hispanic Chamber and Service Excellence Award from AT&T, she's served on various boards, including the Beacon Council Executive Board, Miami Dade College Foundation, Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation, Children’s Diagnostic Treatment Center (CDTC), and Leadership Broward Foundation. Currently, she holds the Director role on the 211 Broward Board and chairs the Legislative committee.

  M. Johnston Consulting

  CEO

  Moderator

  Maria Johnston

  CEO

  M. Johnston Consulting

Fort Lauderdale Flourish: The Heartbeat of Broward's Evolution

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  Jimmy Tate

  CEO

  Tate Capital

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  Harvey Hernandez

  Fueled by his innate creativity and armed with a diehard entrepreneurial spirit, Harvey Hernandez began his involvement in real estate development as a hands-on investor in the rapidly expanding South Florida market. With more than two decades in South Florida, he has observed first-hand the region’s tremendous capacity for change and progress. Holding firm to excellence from the forefront of the industry, Harvey continues to revitalize the high-end residential market by developing innovative projects that deliver the best in location, cutting- edge amenities, luxury finishes and forward-thinking design. Harvey entered the real estate industry following a successful foray scaling a technology startup that sold in year 2000. The sale provided the initial capital for the $260 million-dollar multifamily development firm, H&H Development Company -- a pivotal catalyst to Harvey’s career. These ventures paved the way for Harvey’s subsequent endeavors, giving him the necessary momentum to launch Newgard Development Group and NGD Homesharing LLC. In 2017, Harvey partnered with Airbnb to create Niido, the first and only residential brand designed to encourage and facilitate home sharing. The partnership includes multifamily developments that are tailor-made to optimize flexible living, with a suite of technology, services and amenities. The first Niido, powered by Airbnb, communities are open in Orlando and Nashville with more locations coming soon. Following Niido’s launch, in June of 2019, Harvey expanded his partnership with Airbnb to create yet another revolutionary new hospitality brand, Natiivo. Purposely designed, built and licensed for home sharing, Natiivo is the first brand to offer ownership with home sharing as an amenity. On the heels of the success of Natiivo Miami and Natiivo Austin, which both sold out before breaking ground, his latest brand LOFTY has debuted its first iteration in Brickell, Miami. Harvey’s other notable projects include Gale Boutique Hotel Fort Lauderdale, Gale Residences in Fort Lauderdale; One Flagler office building, Centro Condominium Miami and BrickellHouse.

  Newgard Development Group

  CEO & President

  Harvey Hernandez

  CEO & President

  Newgard Development Group

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  Doron Broman

  Moderno is a real estate company focused mainly on the development of residential urban projects and creative commercial spaces in Fort Lauderdale & Miami. Moderno manages over $250 million in development projects, totaling over 1,000 apartment units, 50,000SF of commercial spaces which are under construction or planning stages.

  Moderno Development

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Doron Broman

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Moderno Development

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  John Boyd

  Principal

  The Boyd Company

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  Dan McCawley

  Dan McCawley focuses his practice on real estate matters. He has broad experience in the sale, purchase and leasing of commercial and residential properties including shopping centers, office buildings, industrial warehouses, apartment complexes, restaurants, golf courses, hotel projects and undeveloped land. His practice also includes acting as lending counsel for several banks, structuring joint ventures and partnerships and the negotiation of construction contracts and land use agreements. Dan's representative experience includes loan workouts, lease workouts, distressed real estate investments, and the acquisition and disposition of distressed loan portfolios. Dan represents several "serial" entrepreneurs and technology clients and assists them with their general legal issues. He also represents several restaurant chains regarding all their leases in the United States. Dan represents several distressed asset funds acquiring distressed loan portfolios, bulk condo purchases, REO and other distressed real estate.

  Greenberg Traurig

  Shareholder

  Moderator

  Dan McCawley

  Shareholder

  Greenberg Traurig