Fireside Chat: The Mayor and Condo King on The Future of CRE

From Skyline Beginnings to Global Powerhouse: A Conversation on Miami’s Past, Present & Future

• Keynote

  Eileen Higgins

  Mayor

  Miami

• 

  Jorge Pérez

  Jorge M. Pérez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Related Group, has led South Florida’s complex urban evolution for over 40 years. His commitment to “building better cities,” and natural ability to identify emerging market trends makes his one of the most trusted and influential names in real estate. Armed with an industry leading team, unmatched land holdings, innovative financing techniques and a pipeline of more than 100,000 units, Pérez is set to answer the demands and desires of a new generation. Starting out in the 1970’s, Pérez first made a name for himself in the public housing market of low-income Miami neighborhoods, including Little Havana and Homestead. His attention to detail and commitment to creating top-tier living environments distinguished him within the marketplace and laid the groundwork for future Related projects. Nearly four decades later, his unique passion for creating vibrant urban communities makes him a trendsetter, often the first developer to enter emerging or undiscovered neighborhoods. Over the years, Pérez and The Related Group have partnered with world-class names in architecture and interior design. Collaborations with creative luminaries like Bernardo Fort Brescia, David Rockwell, Philippe Starck, Yabu Pushelberg, Piero Lissoni, Karim Rashid, Rem Koolhaas, among others, have produced neighborhood-defining projects and established Related’s numerous developments as integral components of Miami’s evolving cityscape.   A lover of art and an avid collector, Pérez infuses each development with museum-quality works of art, including pieces from master artists such as Frank Stella, Fernando Botero, Jaume Plensa, Julio Le Parc and Fabian Burgos. The carefully curated collections are proudly displayed throughout all Related developments, complementing each building’s unique character and often serving as prominent community landmarks. Driven by a lifelong commitment to better his community, Mr. Pérez has grown to become one of the country’s most prolific philanthropists and recently established two foundations dedicated to the advancement of an equitable, thriving South Florida. The first, the Related Philanthropic Foundation, serves as the charitable arm of the Related Group, while the second, named The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, functions as the Pérez family’s personal philanthropic fund. While each has its own respective focus, both foundations are dedicated to empowering and supporting organizations driving positive impact in the areas of economic development, education, health and well-being, the environment, and arts and culture. The latest round of contributions includes a $1 million-donation to Florida International University’s (FIU) Metropolitan Center and a $1 million-gift benefitting twenty South Florida-based non- profits, including ArtCenter South Florida, GableStage, Miami New Drama, Adrienne Arsht Center, Arts for Learning Miami and Together for Children.

  Related Group

  Chairman

  Keynote

  Jorge Pérez

  Chairman

  Related Group

• Moderator

  Tom Hudson

  Senior Economics Editor and Special Correspondent

  WLRN - TV

Keynote: David Martin

How Terra is designing the next generation of residential living

• 

  David Martin

  As President and Co-Founder of Terra, David Martin’s ambition has been to evolve the South Florida landscape and enrich the lives of the people within it. He has spent the past 15+ years recognizing opportunities to invigorate Miami's spirit by creating truly original and exceptional spaces in unexpected places thus redefining the way people live, beyond the norm. David's vision has led the company operations, sales, and marketing as well as investment and development projects. David leads some of Miami’s most impactful real estate developments, with an emphasis on neighborhoods like Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Doral and Weston. Examples are the Bjarke Ingels-designed Grove at Grand Bay and the Rem Koolhaas/OMA-designed Park Grove, two new luxury condos that are helping revitalize Coconut Grove. Glass, a 10-unit condo designed by Rene Gonzalez, was recently completed in Miami Beach's SoFi district. Eighty Seven Park, Terra’s newest project just up the coast in North Beach, will be a 70-unit beachfront condo designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. Terra is also developing the Modern and Neovita communities in Doral, as well as Botaniko in Weston, a master- planned community designed by Chad Oppenheim and Roney Mateu. With a unique interest in education, the arts and health foundations, David is actively involved in South Florida’s civic and business communities. He and his wife support several organizations with philanthropic contributions, including Miami Children's Health Foundation, Vizcaya Museums and Gardens, and the Wolfsonian FIU. He’s also an advisory board member for the UM School of Architecture Real Estate Development + Urbanism program and a member of the Latin Builders Association. David and his family are also responsible for the donation of the Freedom Tower to Miami Dade College in 2008. David is a graduate of the University of Florida with a master in business administration.

  Terra Group

  CEO

  Keynote

  David Martin

  CEO

  Terra Group

Branded Luxury That Converts

Design and Branding Decisions that Create Durable Value

• 

  Camilo Miguel

  Camilo Miguel founded Mast Capital in 2006 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer, focused on investment strategy and risk management. He has an extensive real estate, financial and political network, with expertise in investment structuring, complex debt and equity products, execution and development. Mr. Miguel has built the firm into a leading investor and developer of high-end residential, hospitality, office and retail projects, with a particular focus in high barriers-to-entry markets. Prior to founding Mast, he founded and served as President of Vertica Group, a land investment and repositioning company, where he oversaw all aspects of the businesses, including acquisitions, entitlements, operations and asset management. Before this, he co-founded Clear Title Group, a boutique real estate title insurance company focused on offering closing services to luxury condominium and home developers, buyers and sellers, which quickly grew into a distinguished market leader in its segment. Mr. Miguel graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

  Mast Capital

  CEO

  Camilo Miguel

  CEO

  Mast Capital

• 

  Jay Roberts

  CEO

  Prosper Group

• 

  Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos

  Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos is the co-founder, President, and COO of Flag Luxury Group, a real estate development firm focused on luxury hotels, boutique hotels, and retail. Dayssi oversees all aspects of the firm’s initiatives, including site selection, finance, acquisitions, branding, management contracts, design, programming, zoning, construction, and asset management. Her renowned portfolio includes the 250-key Ritz-Carlton New York (named a “Best Hotel in New York” by Condé Nast Traveler), ICON Park (named among the “Best Things To Do in Orlando” by US News) and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, South Beach – a collection of “beach houses in the sky” setting a new standard of Miami luxury. Before joining Flag Luxury, Dayssi worked as a commercial real estate financial analyst and broker in New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where she has served on the Board and as a guest lecturer in its 45th Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Dayssi is a valued member of the President's Council of Cornell Women and the Trustee Council of the University. She holds a Master’s in Real Estate Development and Finance from NYU. Dayssi is also the co-founder of Women’s Power Series, a nonprofit empowering women entrepreneurs through accessible networking events. She is the founder of The Friends of New Yorkers for Children, which supports children in foster care through education, mentoring, and career initiatives. She serves on the board of Save Venice, the largest private nonprofit dedicated to preserving the art and architecture of Venice. Dayssi has been honored with multiple industry accolades, including CRE Women in Real Estate, the Casita Maria Medal of Honor, and the Maryhaven Philanthropist of the Year, and has been inducted into Hospitality Design’s Platinum Circle for their lifetime achievement award. Website: flagluxury.com

  Flag Luxury Group

  Co-Founder, President, COO

  Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos

  Co-Founder, President, COO

  Flag Luxury Group

• 

  Nitin Motwani

  Nitin Motwani has served as the Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates since 2006. In this role, he has overseen the development of a $4 billion mixed-use real estate project located in the heart of downtown Miami, Florida. Encompassing 27 acres of retail, residential, office and hotel uses, Miami Worldcenter is the largest urban development project underway in Miami and among the largest in the U.S. Mr. Motwani is responsible for every facet of the project, including land acquisition, zoning and entitlements, financing (public and private), joint ventures and development. Mr. Motwani is currently overseeing $1.2 billion of development at Miami Worldcenter and has secured over $500 million of debt in the past twelve months. In 2009, Mr. Motwani was involved in the creation of Encore Capital Management (Encore), a private equity fund focused on opportunistic real estate investments and development. He now serves as Encore’s Managing Director, focusing on acquisitions, dispositions, development and fundraising. Encore is developing over 20,000 rental apartments, homes for sale, and residential lots with sell out revenue of approximately $4 billion. Encore assets under management are approximately $2 billion with committed equity in excess of $1 billion. Encore currently has investments in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Portland, Jersey City, and Phoenix. Earlier in his career, Mr. Motwani was the President of Merrimac Ventures where he oversaw the acquisition, entitlement, asset management and disposition of hotel, office, retail and residential assets throughout the country. Prior to joining Merrimac Ventures, Mr. Motwani was an equity derivatives trader at Goldman Sachs in New York. An active member of the greater South Florida business community, Mr. Motwani serves as a member of the board of the Miami Downtown Development Authority where he is the chair of both the economic development and marketing committees. He also serves as Board Chair of the University of Miami’s Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program. He has also recently been named as Co-Chair for One Community One Goal, Miami Dade County’s long term strategic plan for economic development. Nationally, he is a member of both the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He is also a member of City Year’s Red Jacket Society and The Scleroderma Foundation. Mr. Motwani has been recognized as one of “Real Estate’s Rising Stars” by The Real Deal South Florida; one of South Florida’s “20 Emerging Leaders Under 40” by The Miami Herald; one of the country’s “Stars to Watch: Rising Leaders in Commercial Real Estate” by Commercial Property Executive Magazine; “Young Leader of the Year” by the Urban Land Institute; a “Top 40 Under 40” professional by the South Florida Business Journal; and a Power Leader in Commercial Real Estate by the South Florida Business Journal. Mr. Motwani earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Duke University and holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. He lives in Miami with his wife and three sons.

  Miami Worldcenter Associates

  Managing Partner

  Nitin Motwani

  Managing Partner

  Miami Worldcenter Associates

• 

  Jesse Ottley

  President - Development Sales

  Cervera Real Estate

• 

  Tom Winter

  Owner/ Principal Architect

  Tom Winter Architects

• 

  Jose Rodriguez

  Jose A. Rodriguez has a practice focusing on real estate development and corporate matters associated with real estate development. He has extensive experience dealing with the needs of ultra high net worth entrepreneurs and international clients. His primary focus is representing many prominent South Florida real estate developers. He has dedicated himself to structuring complex business and real estate ventures, corporate matters, workouts, and coordinating and closing large real estate related financed transactions. Mr. Rodriguez has represented parties in a significant number of luxury high rise condominium and vertical subdivision projects during the last 25 years. His practical, goal-oriented, and knowledgeable approach to business and real estate ventures, has added material value and assisted his clients in accomplishing their unique objectives. Mr. Rodriguez leads the real estate team of attorneys at the firm with transaction values typically in excess of $800 million annually. A graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Mr. Rodriguez received his J.D. degree with high honors in 1993 and his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Multinational Business from Florida State University in 1989. Mr. Rodriguez is a member of The Florida Bar sections of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law.

  Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez

  Equity Partner

  Moderator

  Jose Rodriguez

  Equity Partner

  Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez

Selling the Skyline

How Top Producers, Developers, and Sales Directors are Driving Absorption, Navigating Buyer Psychology, and Closing Pre-Construction in Today’s Market

• 

  Eduardo Otaola

  Managing Principal

  Constellation Group

• 

  Mendy Chudaitov

  Founder & CEO

  Lefferts

• 

  Christine Martinez de Castro

  Chief Marketing & Sales Officer

  CMC Group

• 

  Daniel de la Vega

  CEO & President

  ONE Sotheby's International Realty

• 

  Hadrien Laporte

  Hadrien Laporte is the Founder and CEO of SmartPixel, a global proptech company redefining how real estate is marketed, experienced, and sold through interactive 3D platforms and digital twins. With over 15 years of experience working alongside leading developers, brokers, and institutional partners, Hadrien has helped deliver immersive sales and visualization solutions for projects ranging from high-rise residential towers to master-planned cities. SmartPixel’s technology is deployed across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, powering flagship showrooms, touchscreen experiences, LED walls, and web-based platforms. Known for his hands-on leadership and cross-disciplinary approach, Hadrien operates at the intersection of strategy, product, and technology, bridging creative storytelling with data-driven sales performance. His work focuses on making complex real-estate assets easier to understand, faster to sell, and more engaging for global audiences. Hadrien regularly speaks at international conferences and industry events on proptech innovation, immersive sales experiences, digital twins, and the future of real-estate marketing.

  SmartPixel

  Founder & CEO

  Hadrien Laporte

  Founder & CEO

  SmartPixel

• 

  Sue Hawkes

  Sue Hawkes served as the Senior Vice President for the Codman Company in Boston for 13 years before joining The Collaborative Companies as Partner and Managing Director in 1997, acquiring TCC and Velocity Marketing in 2008. The Collaborative Companies was acquired by Realogy/NRT in 2016. Ms. Hawkes is a recognized leader in the new construction industry and consults throughout the country. Active in the building industry, she served on the National Association of Home Builders Executive Committee (NAHB), as Chairman of the New England Builders Conference, and as Trustee of both the Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) and the National Sales and Marketing Council, the latter of which she has chaired. Ms. Hawkes has also served as President of the Builders Association of Greater Boston. TCC has been involved in culminating over $14 billion in residential sales transactions and represents most of the region’s premier developers including: Samuels & Associates, National Development, New England Development, The Davis Companies, The Related Companies, Federal Realty, Boston Properties, Lendlease, Nordbloom, Corcoran Co and WS Development, Hines, Fallon Companies, Fortis Companies, among others. Her extensive construction background and diverse marketing expertise has made her insight invaluable to ground up developments, both urban and suburban mixed use. TCC has established itself as Greater Boston’s foremost leader in market research, design development and project positioning for Master Planned Communities under Ms. Hawkes’ tutelage. Ms. Hawkes was awarded the NAHB “Bill Molster Award” for industry excellence, the highest honor awarded by the NAHB. She was honored by her alma mater, St. Lawrence University, as recipient of the Alumnae Leadership Award as well as Bisnow's 2023 Women Of The Year recipient and Builders Association Hall Of Fame. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for both Cushing Academy and the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, ME.

  The Collaborative Companies

  Managing Director

  Moderator

  Sue Hawkes

  Managing Director

  The Collaborative Companies

Hybrid Living: Condo-Hotels & the New Ownership Models

Flexible ownership, hospitality integration, and the evolving economics of modern condominium living

• 

  Ricardo Dunin

  Founding Partner

  North Development

• 

  Diego Ojeda

  President

  Rilea Group

• 

  Daniel Berman

  Daniel Berman is a visionary entrepreneur originally from Venezuela who moved to the United States to pursue a bold dream—to build one of the most respected hospitality and real estate companies in the industry. In 2008, he founded AD1, which has since grown into a dynamic platform known for acquiring, developing, and managing high-performing hospitality assets. With a relentless focus on excellence, Daniel led AD1 through economic shifts and personal challenges, guided by strong values, work ethic, and a deep commitment to people. His leadership has fostered long-term relationships with employees, investors, and global hotel brands, while expanding into full-scale development and mixed-use projects. Daniel believes that success is most powerful when it’s shared—a principle that continues to shape his company culture and long-term vision to elevate the guest experience, empower teams, and create lasting value through world-class hospitality and transformative real estate.

  Mint Developers

  Co-CEO

  Daniel Berman

  Co-CEO

  Mint Developers

• 

  Robert Thorne

  CEO

  Urban Network Capital Group

• Moderator

  Leo Martinez

  VP

  Celerity Fiber

What's selling right now and where

Buyer trends and where demand is strongest in South Florida

• 

  Jay Parker

  Since 2013, Jay Parker has been the Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman Florida Brokerage where he has capitalized on his extensive brokerage relationships and realtor contacts to grow Douglas Elliman’s presence in Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Aventura, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Palm Beach and Jupiter. Jay has shown a propensity for leadership throughout his career. His fundamental role in handling over $300 million in mergers and acquisitions at the Law Firm of Gunster Yoakley Valdez Fauli & Stewart in the Miami and Palm Beach Real Estate Departments ultimately led his client to an IPO. Then, as General Counsel for LandTel Communications in New York, he oversaw the implementation of a Pan-European fixed wireless market. In this role, he raised over $375 million from numerous private equity firms and restructured the company’s assets after recognizing a funding gap at a time when the industry was in distress, thereby avoiding bankruptcy. In late 2001, Jay returned to Miami Beach to form Clear Title Group, LLC a boutique real estate title insurance company focused on offering closing services to luxury condominium and home buyers. After strengthening his brokerage roots in South Florida while also representing Titan Capital as the company’s local counsel, Jay sought a joint venture, founding Titan Capital Florida, LLC in 2006. Jay continues to serve as Managing Partner of Titan Capital Florida, a Direct Lender with offices in New York, Connecticut and Miami. In its first year of operations, Titan Capital Florida closed on over $100 million in transactions. In 2010, Jay formed Beloff Parker which grew to Beloff Parker Jacobs, a real estate and transactional law firm based in Miami Beach. Building off Parker and Beloff’s long- standing relationships in the Miami market, Clear Title Group quickly distinguished itself as one of the largest and most successful real estate law firms in the area, representing many of Miami Beach’s most respected developers, landlords and tenants, as well as handling some of their most significant real estate transactions. Jay received a Bachleor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario located in London Ontario Canada. During this time, he spent a year studying abroad in Tel Aviv. Jay completed his studies at the University of Miami, School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1998. Today, Jay lives with his twin boys in Miami where he is a member of the Florida Bar Association and serves on the Board of Governors for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Jay is also President of the Executive Board of Mt. Sinai Medical Center Foundation and sits on the Miami Association of Realtors Leadership Board.

  Douglas Elliman

  CEO

  Presenting Speaker

  Jay Parker

  CEO

  Douglas Elliman

The True Value and Cost of Waterfront Luxury

Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of Coastal & Waterfront Development

• 

  Chris Schlank

  Mr. Schlank is a Founder and Managing Partner of Savanna. At Savanna, Mr. Schlank sits on the investment committee and is in charge of construction and redevelopment and shares responsibilities for asset management, sales and marketing and acquisitions. Mr. Schlank has overseen the acquisition and redevelopment of more than 70 real estate assets, comprising over 20 million square feet of space and nearly $3.8 billion of total capitalization, including raw land development sites, apartments, office buildings, industrial to residential conversions, retail and warehouse/distribution properties. Prior to founding Savanna, Mr. Schlank was a project manager for the Westside Federation for Senior Housing, a New York-based developer of low-income housing. Mr. Schlank received an MS in Real Estate Development from the Columbia School of Architecture and a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Schlank is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University where he teaches a seminar in Real Estate Finance to graduate students in the Columbia Architecture School’s Real Estate Master’s Degree Program.

  Savanna

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Chris Schlank

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Savanna

• 

  Kenny Baboun

  Principal Developer

  Alba Palm Beach

• 

  Chris Gandolfo

  Chris Gandolfo is the senior vice president of development for Tavistock Development Company. In his role, Gandolfo leads and oversees the development and construction of the revitalization of the iconic Pier Sixty-Six property in Fort Lauderdale.

  Tavistock

  SVP

  Chris Gandolfo

  SVP

  Tavistock

• 

  Peter Baytarian

  Peter Baytarian is the Founding and Managing Partner of Forest Development LLC, an elaborate team of real estate development professionals with more than 30 years of experience in the United States and Europe. Additionally, Peter is the Founder and Managing Partner of two firms based in New York, NY focused on the renovation, ownership and management of high-end value-add properties including townhomes, condominiums, and commercial sites in Manhattan. Previously he was a developer and home builder in Cape Cod, MA completing more than 150 residences. Nautilus 220, a project currently underway by Forest Development at 220 Lake Shore Drive, will include 330 condominium residences in two towers, restaurants, retail, and offices adjacent to the Lake Park Marina. Peter was born in Beirut, Lebanon, attended high school at The American School in London and studied economics at Boston University. He resides with his wife and two daughters in South Florida. Peter serves as a member of the Executive Trustee Council for the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

  Forest Development

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Peter Baytarian

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Forest Development

• 

  James Galvin

  James Galvin is the Founder of Miami Coastline Management, an Owners Rep. firm specializing in ground-up commercial real estate development within the multi-family condominium and hospitality sectors. With hands-on experience from notable projects such as The Surf Club, Seaway at The Surf Club, Hillcrest in Surfside, and The Delmore, James also offers comprehensive expertise in the development, planning, and execution of custom single-family residences and condominium build-outs. James began his career in the South Florida construction industry as an estimator for a local roofing company while pursuing a degree in Construction Management at Florida International University. He simultaneously advanced as a Project Engineer with a local General Contractor while earning his M.B.A. After obtaining his General Contractor’s license, James operated his own construction firm before merging with Shawmut Design & Construction, a leading national builder. Transitioning to the ownership side of the business, he joined Fort Partners' Development Team, managing beachfront projects in Surfside and overseeing pre-development, design, entitlement, execution, and completion phases. More recently James served as Vice President at DAMAC and the company's first U.S.-based employee, he managed DAMAC’s inaugural U.S. project, The Delmore. His extensive background in construction and development, strategic planning, and project management underscores a career marked by growth, innovation, and leadership in South Florida’s dynamic real estate market.

  Miami Coastline Management

  Founder

  James Galvin

  Founder

  Miami Coastline Management

• 

  Jonathan Perrillo

  Jonathan Perrillo joined Lockton in January of 2021 as a leader in Construction Risk Management and serves as a risk advisor for large & complex businesses nationwide. He specializes in construction risk management, large–scale development projects, real estate, and private equity platforms. Many of Jonathan’s clients utilize captive structures, for which he provides structuring insight and ongoing advisory support. He has also managed complex claims and damage evaluations resulting from catastrophic hurricanes, wildfires, construction defect matters & New York Labor Claims. At Lockton, Jon continues to advance leadership initiatives, deliver innovative risk solutions to his clients, and contribute to his community. He is also a published author for various construction and development industry publications. Before Lockton, Jon was a Director with Willis Towers Watson.

  Lockton Companies

  SVP

  Jonathan Perrillo

  SVP

  Lockton Companies

• 

  William O’Donnell

  William O’Donnell has managed the DESIMONE Miami office for 35 years. During his tenure, the firm has designed well over 100 million square feet of projects in Florida. Recent Florida hospitality projects include the Four Seasons in Surfside, Naples, and Jacksonville, the St. Regis in Longboat Key, the Raleigh, Ritz-Carlton Residences, and Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel on Miami Beach, the Broward County Convention Center Hotel, the renovation and expansion of Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale, and the new Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key replacing the existing building he designed in 1999. Current Caribbean projects are underway in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Antigua. He is a graduate of the University of Miami, has been on two industry advisory boards at UM, and is a Trustee for Barry University.

  Desimone Consulting Engineering

  Partner and Managing Principal

  Moderator

  William O’Donnell

  Partner and Managing Principal

  Desimone Consulting Engineering

Built to Be Desired: Where Design, Construction & Experience Converge

The Defining Decisions During The Development Life-Cycle That Separate Iconic From Ordinary

• 

  Isaac Toledano

  CEO

  BH Group

• 

  Carlos Rosso

  Carlos Rosso is the Founder of Rosso Development, a fully integrated development firm focused on high-end boutique development opportunities. Rosso is set to oversee multiple upcoming awe-inspiring projects in key markets in South Florida and Latin America—with the first ever The Standard Residences in Midtown Miami as his debut project. Rosso founded Rosso Development in 2020 after nearly 20 years with The Related Group, where he was a driving force behind the company’s condominium operations. As the president of the condominium and international development divisions, he oversaw all facets of condominium development domestically and internationally. Over the course of his career, Rosso developed well over 16,000 units, and in the process, mastered diverse development disciplines including construction, project financing, land acquisition and sales and marketing. Under his leadership, Related successfully delivered iconic projects including the 1,600 unit Paraiso District in Miami; Residences by ARMANI/CASA designed by César Pelli; Hyde Beach House; Park Grove by OMA/Rem Koolhaas; Auberge Beach Residences and Spa in Fort Lauderdale; SLS Cancun & Residences in Mexico; and V:HOUSE in Brazil. Prior to his time at Related, Rosso held a number of positions across global development firms, having served as Vice President of Real Estate Development for Investment Properties Ltd. in Boston; and ten years as Project Director for Besix International, overseeing the development and construction of over ten million square feet of multi-family, hotel and office buildings in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Rosso graduated summa cum laude from the Universidad de Buenos Aires with a master’s degree in Architecture. He also earned a master’s degree in Real Estate Development and Finance, with the highest honors, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). www.rossodev.com

  Rosso Development

  Founder

  Carlos Rosso

  Founder

  Rosso Development

• 

  Fernando de Nuñez y Lugones

  CEO

  Vertical Developments

• 

  Anthony Rinaldi

  President and CEO

  Rinaldi Group

• 

  Chanan Averbuch

  CEO

  Blue Square X, Inc

• 

  Olzhas Ayazbayev

  Olzhas Ayazbayev is the CEO of BI Group USA, the American division of BI Group, a leading real estate development company from Central Asia with over 30 years of experience, 450+ completed projects, and a reputation for high-quality residential and commercial developments. BI Group has expanded into multiple international markets, and now brings its global expertise to the United States through its operations in Florida and Texas. With more than 12 years of experience in real estate, primarily in new market entry, land acquisition, and product development, Olzhas is responsible for launching and scaling BI Group’s U.S. operations. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Harvard, and has led cross-functional teams across various international divisions of the holding prior to relocating to the U.S. At the helm of BI Group USA, Olzhas is overseeing the development of residential projects in two of America’s fastest-growing markets: Miami and Houston. These include Parkside and Season One, as well as new townhome communities in Houston. Olzhas is passionate about bringing together global development experience and deep local insight to deliver innovative, investor-friendly real estate products. He believes that succeeding in the U.S. market requires not just capital, but adaptability, trust, and a clear long-term vision. For him, the launch of BI Group USA is more than a business milestone, it is a strategic commitment to building lasting value for clients, partners, and the future of urban living

  BI Group USA

  CEO

  Olzhas Ayazbayev

  CEO

  BI Group USA

• 

  Emily Trapani

  Emily Trapani is a tech business leader with over 15 years of experience, including more than 8 years in leadership at Google, creating and executing sales strategies and innovation for technology products and services. As the Head of Retail at Google Fiber, she oversees strategy, innovation and operations in retail and other non-traditional sales and service experiences for the company's high-speed internet offerings. She has an invariable track record of delivering results and growth for Google Fiber and its parent company, Alphabet Inc., by developing and managing various sales channels and partnerships, including B2B, B2B2C, multifamily, direct, indirect and nontraditional. She is also an author and a futurist, who has published two books and a podcast on technologies and industry trends. She is passionate about empowering women and underrepresented groups in technology and STEM, and volunteers as an instructor and facilitator for several Google programs and initiatives.

  GFiber

  Head of Sales

  Moderator

  Emily Trapani

  Head of Sales

  GFiber

The Founding Members of The Miami Skyline

Behind the Scenes With The Visionary Legends Who Built The City

• 

  Russell Galbut

  CEO

  Crescent Heights

• 

  Alicia Cervera Sr.

  Chairman, Principal

  Cervera Real Estate

• 

  Ian Bruce Eichner

  Ian Bruce Eichner, a seasoned developer of urban mixed-use properties, has a proven track record in real estate spanning more than three decades. His vast portfolio of projects in New York, Miami and Las Vegas include City Spire, One Broadway Place, The Manhattan Club, The Kingsley, Royale, American, and Boulevard as well as Montague Street built in Brooklyn Heights. Outside of New York he has developed the Continuum, a 2-tower gated condominium community in South Beach, and the Cosmopolitan, a 3,000 room resort and casino on the Las Vegas strip. His latest project 45 East 22nd Street, recently completed, is the tallest and, considered by many, the most iconic building in the Flatiron District. Transforming the downtown skyline, the tower consists of a glass silhouette of 65 stories which rises 777 feet into the sky. The striking exterior, crafted by the global architectural firm of Kohn Peterson Fox, wraps around timeless interiors created by the Martin Brudzinski Design Studio. The building contains 82 apartments and approximately 230,000 sale-able square feet with the following five floors of amenities including:  Landscaped garden and fifth floor terrace designed by Oehme Van Sweden  Fitness center  Children’s playroom  Indoor basketball court  Golf simulator  Drawing room with separate billiards and cards rooms  Upper Club on the 54th floor with bar, private dining room and catering kitchen  Automated private residential parking garage His newest project 960 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn is a proposed 1.3 million square feet development consisting of 1600 residential housing units including a proposed 50/50 split between market rate, work-force and low-income apartments. Mr. Eichner’s acute business sense has produced a series of visionary real estate developments that have been characterized by a creative mix of distinctive purpose- built properties. Each of these properties illustrates his extensive real estate expertise and ability to take situations which others may find unachievable and off-putting, and design and execute solutions which realize value for the developer. Mr. Eichner’s notable development achievements that were the first in their class include: 1. First high-rise built in Brooklyn Heights since landmarks height legislation was passed in 1965 (Montague Street, 1998) 2. First urban timeshare in New York, with a new concept of being able to book stays one day at a time (The Manhattan Club, 1996) 3. First and only beachfront gated community in South Beach (The Continuum, 2003-2008) 4. First development on the Las Vegas strip to employ an urban development model, maximizing a small (8.5 acre) site to its full square footage potential of 6 ½ million square feet. (The Cosmopolitan) Mr. Eichner’s career in real estate follows almost a decade in the criminal justice system, including terms as an Assistant District Attorney and program development chief of a New York State agency during Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s tenure.

  The Continuum Company

  Chairman

  Ian Bruce Eichner

  Chairman

  The Continuum Company

• 

  Alan Ojeda

  Alan Ojeda, owner, founder and CEO, has developed real estate in South Florida since Rilea’s inception in 1981. Mr. Ojeda is committed to the South Florida Community, a former chairman and board member of Carrfour (www.carrfour.org) providing homes to the homeless, a board member of the Miami Children Hospital Foundation (www.mchf.org) the leader in local child healthcare, and to community planning as a board member of the Miami Downtown Development Authority (www.miamidda.com). Mr. Ojeda graduated from the Madrid School of Law and the Madrid School of Economics.

  Rilea Group

  Owner & CEO

  Alan Ojeda

  Owner & CEO

  Rilea Group

• 

  Nicholas Noto

  From affordable housing and school expansions to historic hotels and luxury developments, Nick Noto has been involved in bringing to life some of South Florida’s most transformative projects. He represents property owners and developers in navigating state and local land use regulations, with his work spanning pre-acquisition due diligence and obtaining development approvals for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects across South Florida. Drawing on his prior experience as counsel to several local governments across the Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, he helps clients anticipate roadblocks and unlock opportunities. A major focus of Nick’s practice is the Live Local Act, Florida’s groundbreaking workforce and affordable housing legislation, which fast-tracks approvals and offers zoning bonuses and tax incentives to qualifying workforce and affordable housing projects. Nick regularly guides developers on how to use the legislation to bring vital housing to market, while assisting clients in successfully obtaining Live Local Act property tax exemptions across the state. Nicholas earned his J.D. from Florida International University and his B.S. from Florida State University.

  Bilzin Sumberg

  Partner

  Moderator

  Nicholas Noto

  Partner

  Bilzin Sumberg