Sustainability in CRE: Innovative Solutions for a Greener, Smarter Future

Explore the intersection of the Energize Denver initiative, smart building technologies and sustainability efforts shaping the future of Denver’s commercial landscape

• 

  Kevin Ratner

  Prior to founding The Max Collaborative, Kevin ran Forest City Realty Trust’s Los Angeles office, where he’d been employed since 1998. During his career, he was extensively involved in the entitlement, development, rehabilitation, and repositioning of over 10 million square feet of real estate, including over 3,000 apartment units. He developed market rate, affordable, and high-density urban housing, both new and through the adaptive re-use of preexisting structures. Additionally, Kevin oversaw several mixed-use developments focused on placemaking and today’s innovation economy; as a result, he has significant expertise in revitalizing urban neighborhoods. Kevin has spent the majority of his professional career working in California and is deeply embedded in its civic community. He is currently on the Board of Directors for SCI-Arc and The Hammer Museum. His past involvement includes serving on the LA Conservancy Board, the Board of Directors for the Center for Creative Land Recycling, as an Advisory Board Member of the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate, and membership in the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate Leadership Council. Kevin graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA degree and holds a Masters in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.

  The Max Collaborative.

  Managing Partner

  One River North

  Kevin Ratner

  Managing Partner

  The Max Collaborative.

• 

  Ryan Rogers

  Ryan has held a lasting passion for the built environment and creating beauty. This reaches back to his childhood where he played with building blocks, designed sprawling metropolises, and crafted new worlds to play in. This passion for creating led him initially to the arts and culminated with his passion for architecture. While studying architecture he began to fashion his vision of the master builder; where beauty is married to functionality and feasibility. In his development as a master builder, Ryan pursued a career in construction to learn the means and methods required to build. Partnering his construction knowledge with his architectural abilities Ryan brings an aesthetic eye to his projects, allowing him to innovatively and successfully deliver beautiful buildings. He has worked on a wide array of projects ranging from healthcare, hospitality, commercial, multi-family, and industrial in a design-build or Integrated Project Delivery method. These varied experiences have developed him into the burgeoning master builder he is today. At Zocalo Ryan is responsible for the pre-construction and pre-development process. He collaboratively leads the mission-critical planning process; creating and managing budgets, schedules, relationships, and strategies to successfully synthesize the execution of our projects. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design with Honors from the University of Colorado and a Master of Architecture from Iowa State University. He loves to spend time with his wife, two daughters, golden retriever enjoying the great outdoors of Colorado; be it hiking, trail running, or snowboarding. Ryan remains active in the community with his church and serving on his local planning board.

  Zocalo Community Development

  Partner, SVP

  Ryan Rogers

  Partner, SVP

  Zocalo Community Development

• 

  Elizabeth Babcock

  Elizabeth (Liz) Babcock is a visionary leader at the forefront of Denver's climate action initiatives. As the Executive Director of the City and County of Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency (CASR), Babcock brings more than two decades of expertise to her role. Her mission is clear: to transform Denver into an equitable, resilient, sustainable city that stands strong against the challenges of climate change. With a profound commitment to environmental stewardship, Liz is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing and expanding Denver's climate action initiatives. Her primary goal is to eliminate 100% of Denver's greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Liz’s strategic vision extends beyond mitigation; she focuses on helping the city adapt to the changing climate, ensuring that Denver's communities are not just surviving but thriving in the face of environmental challenges. She has a particular passion for working with and for underserved communities. Liz’s experience includes over 20 years of managing collaborative and transformational projects. She played a pivotal role in the development of Denver's climate office and the implementation of programs under the Climate Protection Fund. Her diverse portfolio encompasses energy, electrified mobility, building decarbonization, workforce development, and environmental justice. Liz’s expertise has been instrumental in securing multimillion-dollar grants, such as the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, the Denver Energy Challenge, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, and a significant $5 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service for CASR's Equitable Community Tree Planting Initiative, bringing much-needed shade to Denver's heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors from the University of Florida and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.

  Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency

  ED

  Elizabeth Babcock

  ED

  Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency

• 

  John Street

  Senior Project Development Director

  Solaris Energy

• 

  Steve Barnes

  Steve Barnes is a partner on the cost segregation team with expertise in the engineering approach of cost segregation for both new construction projects and purchased properties. His understanding of construction finances and his ability to analyze construction documents are important assets in the process of cost segregation projects. Steve’s experience also includes Section 263A repair versus capitalization review tangible property studies and Section 168 fixed asset disposal studies. Steve has years of experience adjusting the timing of deductions to provide clients with tax savings. Prior to joining Wipfli LLP, he helped lead a cost segregation practice at a regional CPA firm. Steve specializes in various industries including commercial real estate, hotel and convention, retail and wholesale, manufacturing, food processing, health care, residential, and auto dealerships.

  Wipfli

  Partner

  Moderator

  Steve Barnes

  Partner

  Wipfli

Major Projects And Developments

Community-centric approaches to major developments elevating livability and connectivity

• Fox Park

  Jose Carredano

  Managing Partner

  Fox Park

• 

  Ken Cope

  Ken manages real estate development activities at Denver International Airport and their integration with the DEN Real Estate strategic land use plan as well as overseeing all land lease activities such as rental cars, solar, farm, and oil & gas leasing. Ken has over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, having been responsible for the acquisition, asset management, and disposition of over $2 billion worth of properties during that time. His career includes working for REITs, private equity companies, and small entrepreneurial real estate firms throughout the United States. Ken holds a Bachelor of Science from Montana State University, and earned his MBA from Indiana University.

  Denver International Airport

  SVP, Real Estate Development

  Denver Airport Gate Expansion Project

  Ken Cope

  SVP, Real Estate Development

  Denver International Airport

• 

  Jenny Jacobs

  Since graduating from Harvard University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics, Jenny has led a career focused on finance and development. She worked as an analyst in the Real Estate Investment Banking group at Lehman Brothers and later at Barclays Capital in New York. From there, Jenny served as a Vice President at Amstar, where she was responsible for managing development, underwriting, acquisitions, asset management, and dispositions for a variety of property types. Throughout her career, she has completed IPO, M&A, sale, and financing transactions in excess of $5 billion. Jenny works for East West Partners and is focused on the development of Cherry Creek West. She previously managed the development of The Coloradan, a 334 unit, mixed-use condo tower in the Union Station neighborhood. Jenny and her husband Justin have three young daughters.

  East West Partners

  Director, Development

  Cherry Creek West

  Jenny Jacobs

  Director, Development

  East West Partners

• 

  Marilee Utter

  Citiventure Associates is a Denver-based real estate advisory firm specializing in transformational projects and public-private transactions. Established in 1991, the company has become known for its capacity to analyze opportunities, set the program, organize implementation, and guide the development to get results. With background working in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and in multiple aspects of real estate. Citiventure delivers straight talk, inspired visions based on pragmatic analysis, catalytic elements, collaborative partnerships, and disciplined follow-through. Led by Marilee Utter, the firm provides front-end strategy as well as project coaching throughout implementation. Vision and execution to insure results. When needed, Marilee draws on her national network to assemble customized teams of top professionals in areas such as design, finance, engineering and transportation to provide comprehensive project services. Marilee is well-positioned to advise regionally, nationally, and globally in real estate matters, having recently served as the Executive Vice President for District/National Councils at the Urban Land Institute, based in Washington D.C. For five years she managed ULI's offices in 75 cities around the world, including in Europe, Asian and the Americas. In this role, she advised and worked with key ULI staff, government officials, economic development directors, economists, financial resources, developers, academics, urban planners, transportation directors, and other high-level professionals to encourage best practices in smart, resilient, and healthy urban growth. Her work in the Denver region spans multiple-disciplines and roles. She has served as Regional Vice President for the Trillium Corporation, a real estate development company; Director of Asset Management for the City and County of Denver; Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank; and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Specialist for RTD, the Regional Transportation District. Marilee earned a BA in Mathematics and French from Colorado Women's College, an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School, and a Certificate in State and Local Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School. Professional affiliations include the Counselors of Real Estate designation, the Fellow of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors designation, member of the Urban Land Institute, and member of the International Women's Forum.

  Citiventure Associates

  President

  Placemaking, TOD, PPP & More!

  Marilee Utter

  President

  Citiventure Associates

• 

  Amy Ford

  Amy Ford serves as the Executive Director of Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI). She runs one of the city’s largest and most dynamic departments focused on modernizing Denver’s transportation system, construction of public facilities, maintaining sanitary and sewer systems and providing solid waste removal, recycling and composting services. As Executive Director, Amy oversees approximately 1,500 DOTI employees and is responsible for the department’s $340 million annual budget and was appointed to her role in January 2024. Amy is a national leader helping communities and agencies holistically harness the human, digital and physical infrastructure systems that are the backbone of how we build a vibrant community. This means how we work with the public to safely, sustainably and equitably move people, data and goods, as well as deliver city services. Prior to joining the city, Amy led global surface transportation and mobility innovation for AECOM and the led the strategic direction and activities of the Mobility of Demand (MOD) Alliance and Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s policy programs focused on transportation technology and mobility. Ms. Ford also served as the Chief of Advanced Mobility for the Colorado Department of Transportation where she was responsible for accelerating innovation programs, policies and projects, including connected and autonomous vehicles, mobility operations, workforce of the future, communications and other transportation technologies. She also chaired Colorado’s Autonomous Mobility Task Force.

  City and County of Denver

  ED, Dept.of Transportation & Infrastructure

  Transportation and Infrastructure Updates

  Amy Ford

  ED, Dept.of Transportation & Infrastructure

  City and County of Denver

• 

  Jeff Jones

  Jeff joined Formativ in 2017 and serves as the Chief Investment Officer and Principal for the firm. In this position, Jeff oversees the firm’s investment strategy, capital structuring, and portfolio expansion, ensuring disciplined financial execution across development and acquisition initiatives. With over 20 years of experience in real estate development and finance, Jeff has a proven track record for navigating complex markets and delivering transformative projects that enhance communities and drive returns for partners. Prior to Formativ, Jeff served in various finance and development roles for firms in Denver and São Paulo, Brazil working across a diverse portfolio including boutique hotel to cutting-edge creative office spaces. Jeff began his career at The Concord Group in San Francisco, where he advised on over 150 residential, commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use developments globally. Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, Jeff holds a B.A. from Duke University.

  Formativ

  CIO & Principal

  Denargo Market

  Jeff Jones

  CIO & Principal

  Formativ

• 

  Brian Holland

  As the Director of Business Development, Brian is a key member of the Denver Office Leadership Team, providing oversight and direction for all strategic ventures and work acquisition for Mortenson. Brian ensures that projects are properly staffed and the owner’s expectations are fully met. His leadership is based on a long and successful track record in the industry that includes several large, world-class projects. Trust, communication, and commitment to meeting customer expectations are his most important attributes.

  Mortenson

  Director of Business Development

  Moderator

  Brian Holland

  Director of Business Development

  Mortenson

Thrive in '25: Navigating the Future of Denver's Commercial Landscape

Analyzing asset class fundamentals, urban revitalization efforts, and solution-oriented strategies heading into 2025

• 

  Bernard Hurley

  Bernard Hurley is a key commercial real estate developer in the River North Art District (RiNo) in Denver, Colorado, and the founder and CEO of Menalto Development, LLC. He is also the Founder and Owner of Family Environmental Compliance Services, a full-service, environmental consulting firm with offices in Denver and Puerto Rico. Established in 1998, Menalto Development, LLC started with the purchase of an empty warehouse in Denver’s historically industrial neighborhood and has grown into what is now a seven-acre assemblage of the city’s’ most valuable real-estate.

  Menalto Development

  CEO

  Hurley Place

  Bernard Hurley

  CEO

  Menalto Development

• 

  Chris Gillies

  City President

  Quarterra Group

• 

  Iván Anaya

  Iván is based in Denver, CO and serves as the Mountain West Market President. Iván’s primary focus as Market President is to expand the company’s investments, social impact, and physical footprint across Colorado and the Mountain West by leading the strategic vision, execution, and continued growth of Columbia Ventures’ portfolio within the region. Iván’s development experience is in mixed-use, multi-family, and community impact projects and is naturally drawn to Columbia Ventures’ integrity based entrepreneurial and innovative approach to transformative community development, be it affordable, missing middle, or market rate. Iván’s finance and capital markets background leads his collaborative, relationship-based approach to sustainable community building. Iván grew up in Denver, CO and holds a Bachelor of Science: Business Administration, Finance degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He is civically engaged as a board member of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, Colorado Uplift, and the Sun Valley Eco-District Trust. Outside of work Iván enjoys cycling, hiking, camping, and snowboarding with his partner Paulina and their dog Tachi.

  Columbia Ventures

  President, Mountain West

  Iván Anaya

  President, Mountain West

  Columbia Ventures

• 

  Lauren Gerdes

  Lauren has over 12 years of experience serving clients across the country by providing industry-specific insights that allows them to stay at the forefront of the changes within their industry. As a member of the national real estate practice, she provides audit and other advisory services, including financial statement audit services, attest engagement services and specific transaction related services to a wide range of privately held companies developing and operating assets in all sectors of real estate. Lauren specializes in working with private equity investment advisors and funds holding various equity and debt positions in domestic and international real estate. She works closely with her clients through complex accounting and operational matters surrounding acquisitions, valuations and structures, including Qualified Opportunity Zone funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and open-ended funds. Lauren was selected as a senior analyst in RSM’s cutting edge Industry Eminence Program, which positions its senior analysts to understand, forecast and communicate economic, business and technology trends shaping the industries RSM serves. These senior analysts advise clients on conditions influencing middle market leaders. Lauren’s focus is on the real estate industry. Lauren is also active in RSM’s employee network group, STAR, which advocates for women in the workplace with a focus on stewardship, teamwork, advancement and retention opportunities.

  RSM US

  Partner & Real Estate Senior Analyst

  Lauren Gerdes

  Partner & Real Estate Senior Analyst

  RSM US

• 

  William Delsa Jr.

  William Delsa, CPA, is the managing partner in CohnReznick’s Denver office and a member of the Firm’s Tax Practice. William has 17 years of public accounting experience to real estate clients that include affordable housing, commercial real estate developers, private equity real estate funds, real estate syndicators, management companies, individuals, and not-for-profit organizations. Within the real estate industry, William specializes in operating and multi-state fund level taxation, complex 704(b) allocations and Opportunity Zone funds. He also works with other federal and state level tax incentivized programs in connection with the real estate industry. For his clients, William provides entity structuring, tax planning, compliance, and business consulting services.

  CohnReznick

  Tax Partner

  Moderator

  William Delsa Jr.

  Tax Partner

  CohnReznick

Opening Remarks

• 

  David Henry

  Since joining Namaste Solar in 2007, David has played an instrumental role in standing up our Commercial Solar and Operations & Maintenance programs, as well as developing notable solar projects with key clients such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Denver Public Schools, and New Belgium Brewing to name only a few. Additionally, David has served in a multitude of roles for the company including as General Manager, Director of Commercial Sales, Director of Operations and Maintenance, and has served on the Namaste Solar Board of Directors as both a board member and as board chair. David is currently focused on commercial business development efforts for Namaste Solar and utilizes his deep and lengthy industry experience to support clients in navigating the intricacies of implementing solar PV projects to achieve their renewable energy goals.

  Namaste Solar

  Co-Owner & Senior Director

  David Henry

  Co-Owner & Senior Director

  Namaste Solar