Strengthening D.C.'s Market

Is Fitness the New Anchor Tenant?

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  Henry Fonvielle

  As the President of Rappaport, Henry Fonvielle oversees the leasing strategy for third-party landlord and tenant representation services and all shopping centers within the company’s extensive portfolio. Dedicated to reinvigorating, designing, and constructing top-tier mixed-use developments and shopping centers within the D.C. market, Henry utilizes over 35 years of experience in the retail industry to create well-organized and exceptional projects from conception to completion. With comprehensive knowledge in a wide array of retail types including urban, mixed-use, neighborhood, lifestyle, and power centers, Henry is recognized as a trusted retail advisor and an expert in the commercial real estate industry.  His ability to form and cultivate close-knit partnerships within his team and among his clients enhanced Rappaport’s reputation as a well-respected and experienced firm committed to cultivating places. Under his leadership, the company’s leasing and brokerage portfolio soared from 35 to over 170 properties. Prior to joining Rappaport, Henry was Senior Vice President and Retail Department Head for the Vornado/Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty.  Henry is Co-Founder of the Skyland Workforce Center Leadership Council, member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Alzheimer’s Association – Ride to End ALZ, Emeritus member of the Foundation Board and Ball Chair of Children’s National Hospital, member of the Bisnow Diversity Board, Board member for Tall Ship Providence Foundation, Board member and Gala Chair for Atlas Performing Arts Center, and At-Large member of the Board of the USTA-Mid-Atlantic. Henry formerly served as Vice-Chair for Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, Board member for Federal City Council and Washington DC Economic Partnership.

  Rappaport

  President

  Henry Fonvielle

  President

  Rappaport

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  David von Storch

  Founded in 1986 by David von Storch, Urban Adventures Companies is a Washington, DC based lifestyle company of three integrated and affiliated businesses: Health & Wellness, Beauty & Style, and Dining & Entertainment. David has devoted his professional life to create, develop and operate businesses in the DC metropolitan area. Founded in 1986, David started Urban Adventures Companies (UAC) a Washington, DC based lifestyle company of three integrated and affiliated businesses: Health & Wellness, Beauty & Style, and Dining & Entertainment. The mission of Urban Adventures is to help DC area residents live more interesting, exciting and healthy lives. From health clubs to spas & salons to restaurants & exclusive pool clubs, Urban Adventures' unique offering of products, services, and experiences makes our clients' lives more fulfilling and enjoyable. The company's goal is to take care of you, make you look great, and reward you each and every day. Health and Wellness: VIDA Fitness opened its first location in the Capital One Arena in August 2006 and now operates six locations in Washington, DC and Virginia (U Street, Logan Circle, City Vista, Gallery Place and the Yards in Washington, DC and in Ballston, VA). Aura Spa is located within the five of the six VIDA locations. SweatBox, a studio fitness concept that improves cardiovascular endurance while building lean muscle mass and improving flexibility, launched in spring 2016 and operates at two of six VIDA locations. The 7th location of VIDA Fitness, to include Aura Spa and Sweatbox, is scheduled to open in West Rosslyn, VA, 2021. Beauty and Style: Bang Salon, a funky, hip and high-volume salon opened on U Street in 2001. In 2006, Bang teamed up with VIDA Fitness and is now located in four VIDA locations. Dining and Entertainment: David co-founded and is President of Capitol City Brewing Company, and started Capitol City in 1991 and continues to operate its original location across from City Center in DC. Penthouse Pool Club, a membership-only pool club with full food and beverage service, including event facilities, first opened in 2012 and is now in two of VIDA's six locations. The full integration of these three business units - VIDA Fitness, Bang Salon, Aura Spa and Penthouse Pool Club - came to fruition at the company's flagship location on U Street in 2011. This integrated urban lifestyle concept was expanded to The Yards in the fall of 2014 and future locations are under active development. Previously, David was founder and President of DAKOTA Nightclub/MONTANA Caf�. The highly successful restaurant/bar/nightclub opened in 1987 in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Prior to that, David was the Assistant Director, Project Finance, for The Rouse Company (now General Growth Properties). David received a Master's in Business Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina as a Morehead-Cain Scholar.

  Urban Adventures & VIDA Fitness

  President & Founder

  David von Storch

  President & Founder

  Urban Adventures & VIDA Fitness

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  Anne Mahlum

  Anne M. Mahlum is a female entrepreneur who knows how to create and build with purpose…and she knows how to do it quickly. She is currently the Founder, Owner and CEO of a fast-growing boutique fitness company she founded in DC in 2013 called [solidcore] In just over 4 years, Anne has grown her company to 33 locations (entirely corporately owned) with more than 100,000 clients, including Michelle Obama. [solidcore] has studios in DC, Virginia, Maryland, Philadelphia, Long Island, Texas, Atlanta, Minneapolis, North Dakota, Chicago, Michigan, and Indianapolis. In late 2017, Anne brought on Peterson Partners as a minority investor to help take the company to close to 100 locations in the next two years. She has received notable media attention for her success as a woman entrepreneur and business acumen, including features in The Washington Post and The Washington Business Journal Prior to [solidcore], Anne was the CEO of Back on My Feet (BoMF), a non-profit organization she founded in Philadelphia in 2007 that uses the power of running to change the way those experiencing homelessness see themselves so they can make real change in their lives, which includes employment and independent housing. In addition to Philadelphia, the organization now has chapters in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Indianapolis, Atlanta, New York City, Austin and Los Angeles. Anne led BoMF to become a $6.5M privately-funded organization with staff of 48, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of members. Anne's vision for Back on My Feet is simple, yet bold - to help as many people as possible, in the most efficient way as possible, redefine themselves so they can redefine their life and, just as important - to change the perception of homelessness on a global scale. Anne’s work with Back on My Feet has been featured in countless times in both local and national media. In 2012, Anne hosted a documentary for MTV called The Break on youth homelessness and she was recently featured in a book, called 50 Everyday Heroes. Anne has been named ABC world News Person of the Week, a CNN Hero, New Yorker of the Week, a top 40 under 40 individual by both Philadelphia and Washington DC’s Business Journal. Anne is a motivational speaker and regularly speaks at corporate events, academic institutions and conferences on numerous topics including, leadership, being bold, finding your happiness, the business behind starting a nonprofit, and social change. She is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota and currently lives in Washington, DC. She has completed 11 marathons, including one on every continent except Antarctica.

  [soldicore]

  Founder & CEO

  Anne Mahlum

  Founder & CEO

  [soldicore]

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  Anthony Bianucci

  Anthony Bianucci originally from Fairfax, VA grew up in the fitness industry with his family owning a chain since the 1970’s. He has then ventured off, along with his brother Mike, to open Orange Theory Fitness studios in the mid-Atlantic region; including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Brooklyn, NY and the mid west in Kansas. Along with venturing into the other fitness concept and opening in 5 states and over 30 plus locations in the next 5 plus years, fitness/health and wellness has been a part of his background since a child. Anthony graduated locally from George Mason University majoring in Sport Management and Exercise Science. Before, playing collegiate baseball in Florida and being a former Minor League baseball player he had trained with some of the best in the industry all over the country and has kept that passion and drive by pursuing fitness as a franchisee in the fitness space. “All about the team” is the motto he lives by in business and with that he is pursuing other ventures currently with others that have that same belief. Anthony currently lives in Loudoun County with his lovely wife Haley along with their three children; Carter , Bella and newest edition Gabrielle.

  Orangetheory Fitness

  Owner, Operator, Area Developer

  Anthony Bianucci

  Owner, Operator, Area Developer

  Orangetheory Fitness

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  Melanie Stehmer‑Townsend

  Melanie Stehmer-Townsend has been with Brookfield Office Properties since 2009. A member of the leasing team, Melanie currently oversees the Washington DC office and retail portfolio for Brookfield helping to create and maintain value within the assets. Melanie began her career in commercial real estate at Trammel Crow, overseeing the business operations of their Mid-Atlantic division, transitioning to a more hands on role within the leasing teams prior to working directly within a tenant rep team while at CBRE. Melanie is currently on the Board of Directors for CREW DC and an active member of CREBA and Bethesda Cares. Melanie obtained her Masters of Finance at the University of Maryland and lives in Bethesda with her husband and 3 daughters.

  Brookfield Properties

  Director, Leasing U.S. Office Division

  Melanie Stehmer‑Townsend

  Director, Leasing U.S. Office Division

  Brookfield Properties

• Moderator

  Ethan Rothstein

  Deputy Managing Editor

  Bisnow

Revolutionizing Restaurants

How Are Restaurants Driving Development in D.C.'s Neighborhoods?

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  Andy Shallal

  Anas “Andy” Shallal is an artist and social entrepreneur. He is the founder of Busboys and Poets, an environment where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted. Spaces to feed the mind, body and soul and where art, culture and politics take center stage and collide. With 6 locations in the Washington Metropolitan Area, Busboys and Poets has become home for progressives, artists and intellectuals including such notables as Howard Zinn, Cornel West, Alice Walker and Nikki Giovanni to name a few. Shallal’s businesses are members of the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) and the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) focusing on sustainable business and employment practices. Busboys and Poets has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship being one of the first businesses in Washington DC to be 100% wind powered and are at the cutting edge of the local/sustainable food movement winning many awards and recognitions locally and nationally. Shallal has received numerous awards including the Mayor’s Arts Award, Employer of the Year from the Employment Justice Center, the Mayor’s Environmental Award, Martha’s Table Community Leader Award. Shallal has founded or co-founded several peace and justice organizations and holds leadership positions in numerous others. He is on the board of trustees for the Institute for Policy Studies and a founding member of Think Local First DC, a local business association. He also sits on the board of several arts and peace organizations and was appointed by the Mayor to head the Workforce Investment Council, an advisory board for the Mayor on how to spend workforce development dollars more effectively. Shallal continues to strive to make his hometown of Washington DC a more livable community.

  Busboys and Poets

  Founder & CEO

  Andy Shallal

  Founder & CEO

  Busboys and Poets

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  Dan Simons

  Within the industry and among his own team, Dan Simons is known for his energetic leadership style and passion for hospitality. An impressive career in the management ranks at several large, high-volume restaurants helped to propel him toward starting his own firm, which he founded in 2004 with mentor Michael Vucurevich. The two form a well-balanced partnership based on mutual respect and a shared vision. Founding Farmers, which they launched in 2008 with North Dakota Farmers Union, is the accumulation of their many years of industry experience, as well as their successful working relationship. As a skilled communicator, Dan is frequently called on to serve as the voice of Founding Farmers, whether he’s inspiring potential investors or sharing his knowledge at hospitality and educational events. The responsible practices, which form the backbone of Founding Farmers are an extension of the way he strives to live his own life. He takes great pride in being able to continually incorporate new methods and initiatives that give back to the environment and the community. He has been the recipient of a variety of awards within the restaurant industry and the business world that honor his commitment to sustainability and socially responsible practices.

  Founding Farmers

  Owner

  Dan Simons

  Owner

  Founding Farmers

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  Bill Fuchs

  Because the food industry has been his life for 55 years, Bill Fuchs’ inspires a high standard of excellence from everyone that he works with, because his vision and forward thinking is responsible for the exceptional success of his company and his contagious passion for food. Bill came to America as an immigrant from Germany at the age of 8 not knowing English but through hard work mastered the language and eventually began a career in food service. He became a citizen in 1965. He served his new country in Vietnam. As an accomplished executive and concept influencer, Bill participated in the success of Barnaby's, Poppin Fresh Pies, Mother Tuckers Restaurants, La Prima, and Champions Sports Bars to name a few. His understanding of logistics, production, and preparation has served him well at Wagshal’s. In 1989 he became a regular at Wagshal’s Delicatessen. He admired and coveted the history and relationship with customers that have become avid supporters of Wagshal’s. Bill spent a year convincing Mr. Wagshal that he would be a good steward for the family business and became the owner in 1990. With this landmark, Bill envisioned what could be and began slowly making changes. Wagshal's supporters came to accept and respond positively with nary an objection. The change that caused the most outcry is when he stopped selling cigarettes in 1991 and gave the business to the Peoples Drug store next door. Wagshal’s became a Washington, DC landmark with realtors capitalizing on the residential home locations near Wagshal’s. Garnering both local and national recognition for its uncompromising level of high food quality and service. The business grew to include multiple profit centers. a delicatessen, gourmet foods, butcher and fresh seafood shoppe, a growing catering business (Spring Valley Catering), BBQ (Pitmasters Back Alley BBQ), e-commerce business, contract feeding, and an exploding import business. (first to bring Ibérico meat to the US). All these are conjoined with the motto “Experience our Passion for Food.” The numerous proprietary items and brands manufactured and imported have resulted in many awards from the industry. From the National Restaurant Associations, 5 FABI food and beverage awards; 8 National Association of Specialty Foods’ awards; countless local community awards; and the prestigious NASFT's 2013 Leadership Award. After 25 years of perfecting “Wagshal's Family of Fine Foods,” Bill along with his two sons are announcing a new aggressive growth plan throughout the metro area that will affect developers and future investors.

  Wagshal's

  President & Owner

  Bill Fuchs

  President & Owner

  Wagshal's

• Moderator

  Aaron Boker

  Senior Manager

  Aronson

Development Dynamics

How Are D.C.'s Major Players Making Retail Decisions?

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  Paul Weinschenk

  Paul Weinschenk is Chief Operating Officer at Peterson Companies where he oversees all aspects of the company’s retail, office, and industrial operating portfolios, including asset management, leasing, risk management, and marketing. Previously, he was Vice President and Managing Director for the Retail Division at Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (WRE) and oversaw the growth and operations of WRE’s then 2.4 million square foot retail portfolio. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Peterson Companies as Vice President of Retail Development and was instrumental in the development and leasing of Fairfax Corner, Virginia Gateway and East Market among others. He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and served a three-year term as State Director for Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. Paul is also past President of the University of Virginia School of Architecture Foundation. Paul holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from The Keenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina.

  Peterson Companies

  Chief Operating Officer

  Paul Weinschenk

  Chief Operating Officer

  Peterson Companies

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  Amy Rice

  Mrs. Rice has over 15 years of real estate development experience with specific expertise in mixed-use development, retail leasing, placemaking, marketing, and residential leasing and sales. In her current role at JBG SMITH, Mrs. Rice manages the retail leasing efforts for the company’s Mixed Use Urban Placemaking team which oversees more than half a million square feet of retail space (notable projects include The Ballpark, Atlantic Plumbing, Crystal City/Pentagon City, Gallaudet/Union Market, and Rosslyn Central Place). Prior to joining JBG Smith, Mrs. Rice was at Hines where she managed the retail leasing and overall marketing efforts for CityCenterDC, a 10-acre mixed-use development, located in downtown Washington, D.C. Mrs. Rice is a board member of The George Washington University’s Real Estate and Finance Alliance and is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Mrs. Rice holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. in Real Estate and Urban Development from The George Washington University.

  JBG SMITH

  Vice President - Retail Leasing

  Amy Rice

  Vice President - Retail Leasing

  JBG SMITH

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  ​Tom Boylan

  Tom focuses on asset management, portfolio management, and development activities at Meridian, and has over seven years experience in development, asset management, and office investment. Formerly with JLL, he underwrote and marketed office assets as an associate with the firm’s Chicago-based capital markets group. Before joining JLL, Tom was an associate with Clark Realty Capital, a diversified real estate development, construction, and investment company based in the Washington, DC area. There he was responsible for the design, development, construction, and asset management of Washington DC area assets. Tom is a LEED AP and received his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

  The Meridian Group

  Vice President

  ​Tom Boylan

  Vice President

  The Meridian Group

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  David Kitchens

  David Kitchens serves as Principal-in-Charge of Cooper Carry's Alexandria, Virginia office. In 30+ years of service with Cooper Carry, David has led mixed-use design efforts on a variety of award-winning projects including Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Florida. This mixed-use development has been recognized by a variety of organizations including the AIA, which bestowed upon it the Excellence of Design Award. David's work includes Bethesda Row in Bethesda, Maryland, which was awarded the Best Block in America 2002 by The Congress for New Urbanism, the Excellence Award from the Urban Land Institute and the DC/MD NAIOP Award of Excellence for Best Smart Growth Master Plan. David grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, receiving Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His graduate studies concentrated on urban design and pedestrian urban spaces. He participates on AIA and ULI-sponsored Urban Design Assistance teams, making recommendations to cities for downtown redevelopment and transit-oriented development. Recent work includes regional and national projects in Dublin, OH; Bridgeport, CT; and Nashville, TN. Notable projects in the Washington, DC area include redevelopment planning and design at Landmark Mall and Oakville Triangle in Alexandria, VA; and the redevelopment of Ballston Mall and Crystal City in Arlington, VA. He has also recently completed the design of the Woodley in Washington, DC and Halstead Tower, in Alexandria, VA. David is active in the Urban Land Institute and serves on the national Public/Private Partnership Council, is an active participant on regional Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) and is the Chair of the Baltimore/DC regional Transit Oriented Development Council. He is active the DC/MD Chapter of NAIOP and serves as chair of the Annual Awards for Excellence Committee. In his professional career, David’s central goal is to create great buildings and environments in connecting communities where people develop relationships as they live, work, play and learn.

  Cooper Carry

  Principal

  David Kitchens

  Principal

  Cooper Carry

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  Bill Miller

  For over 25 years, Bill has been providing both landlord and tenant representation services for restaurants and retail operations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area and is considered an expert in his field. Prior to forming MILLER WALKER with Alex Walker, Bill was Director of Retail Leasing for the Mid-Atlantic region at Transwestern. Bill has consistently been named a CoStar Power Retail Broker, and received numerous Top Producer awards while at Transwestern. In 2009, Bill represented the Tenant in the Washington Business Journal’s Best Retail Deal of the Year. Bill is a columnist for Food Service Monthly. He is quoted regularly in The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and many other area publications. Bill has also served as moderator for several events including the France Publications Retail Summit. Bill received a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from Pennsylvania State University, and has several years of experience in restaurant consulting, management, as well as in teaching hospitality management prior to becoming a commercial real estate broker.

  MILLER WALKER Retail Real Estate

  Principal

  Moderator

  Bill Miller

  Principal

  MILLER WALKER Retail Real Estate