Fireside Chat: Ed Forst

GSA's plans for Federal Office Repositioning and Disposition

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  Ed Forst

  As Administrator, Ed Forst brings 40 years of experience in managing complex organizations. He championed real estate at Cushman and Wakefield, public service at the Department of Treasury, and financial services at Goldman, Sachs & Co. What he’s learned in the past 40 years: If you execute with discipline, do things efficiently, manage risk, and take care of your people, then you will achieve results at the highest level.

  GSA

  Administrator

  Keynote

  Ed Forst

  Administrator

  GSA

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  Darian LeBlanc

  Professional Expertise Darian LeBlanc is an Executive Vice Chair at Cushman & Wakefield and one of the leading advisors in the United States for large-scale government and institutional real estate transactions. Based in the Washington, DC region, he leads the firm’s Government Services Group (GSG), a specialized team focused on securing and structuring federal, state, and municipal lease transactions nationwide. Over the course of his career, LeBlanc has completed more than 40 million square feet of leasing transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $15 billion. He is widely recognized for navigating some of the most complex and high-profile government requirements in the country, delivering solutions that align public-sector needs with private investment objectives. In addition to his leasing practice, he is an integral member of Cushman & Wakefield’s Investment Sales platform, advising on transactions involving government-leased assets. LeBlanc is regarded as a key figure in the National Capital Region’s commercial real estate industry, particularly at the intersection of federal transactions, economic development, and institutional investment. Drawing on 30+ years of experience in both the public and private sectors, he advises clients on transaction strategy, portfolio optimization, and public-private partnerships, and is known for bringing clarity and execution to highly complex assignments. He has received numerous industry honors, including repeated recognition from CREBA, NAIOP, and national media outlets. Professional Affiliations • District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) • Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association of Greater Washington, DC (CREBA) • Maryland/DC National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) • Northern Virginia National Association of Industrial and Office Properties Major Transactions Landlord/Owner Representation • MetLife, Constitution Center, Washington, D.C. - Multiple agencies, 1.4M sf • The JBG Companies, The Parklawn Building, Rockville, MD – U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 935,386 sf • Beacon Capital Partners, Polk & Taylor Buildings, Crystal City, VA – U.S. Department of Defense, 911,818 sf • Stonebridge, Three and Four Constitution Square, Washington, DC – U.S. Department of Justice, 839,000 sf • Boston Properties, Patriots Park, Reston, VA – Confidential Tenant, 706,482 sf • Boston Properties, Springfield Metro Center, Springfield, VA – Transportation Security Administration, 625,000 sf • Stonebridge, Two Constitution Square, Washington, DC – U.S. Department of Justice, 575,760 sf • The World Bank Group, 600 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC –U.S. Department of State, 463,151 sf • Related Companies, Carlyle Innovation Campus, Alexandria, VA – National Science Foundation, 400,000 sf • Stonebridge, One Constitution Square, Washington, DC – U.S. General Services Administration Headquarters, • 330,000 sf • Principal Real Estate, 1200 1st Street, NE, Washington, D.C. – District of Columbia, 291,838 sf • Paramount Group, 425 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 285,561 sf

  Cushman & Wakefield

  Executive Vice Chair

  Moderator

  Darian LeBlanc

  Executive Vice Chair

  Cushman & Wakefield

Fireside Chat: Nina Albert

The City's Vision for Southwest DC and Federal Office Redevelopment

• Keynote

  Nina Albert

  Deputy Mayor, Planning and Economic Development

  The District of Columbia

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  Tom Whitmore

  Tom Whitmore grew up in Philadelphia, Detroit, St. Paul and Atlanta. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1989 and then worked for a timber frame company in Port Townsend, Washington, where he learned the trade of timber framing. He practiced architecture in Washington and Oregon until 1997, when he transitioned into construction. Tom joined Christman in 2000 and became Operations Director for the Historic Preservation Group in 2006, relocating to Washington, DC. He currently serves as Vice President of Historic Preservation. He is a past president (2008) of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Washington, DC Chapter, a former board member and treasurer of APT International, a former board member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Detroit Chapter and has been published in the APT Bulletin. Tom also presents regularly at industry conferences on historic preservation case studies and cost metrics that support decision-making for sustainable preservation projects. Tom currently lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and dog. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, sailing and building cardboard furniture.

  The Christman Company

  VP

  Moderator

  Tom Whitmore

  VP

  The Christman Company

Federal Office Reset

What the Government’s Real Estate Strategy Means for Southwest DC’s Commercial Real Estate

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  Daniel Mathews

  President, Mathews Associates LLC. Mathews helps companies navigate the complex world of federal real estate, win contracts and expand their businesses. Board Member, the US Public Buildings Reform Board. Congress created the PBRB to review the federal real estate inventory and make property disposal recommendations to the White House. Board Member, National Federal Developers Association Board Member, Federal Real Property Association Former US Public Buildings Service Commissioner, where he ran the US Government’s civilian real estate portfolio.

  Founder, Mathews Associates

  Member of the Public Buildings Reform Board

  Daniel Mathews

  Member of the Public Buildings Reform Board

  Founder, Mathews Associates

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  Mark Rivers

  Mark leads the Eastern U.S. for Lowe with responsibility for all commercial activities, includingm investments, development and management. With “hands-on” involvement, Mark has completed many large and complex projects as significant place-making and mixed-use developments involving multiple asset types including office, residential, retail, and hospitality uses. Some notable multi-family projectsinclude The Hepburn, CityVista, Gallery 64, and multiple office-to-residential conversions including Park & Ford in Alexandria, VA, and The George in Montgomery County, MD. Current projects include the development of a 500-unit residential building in partnership with Howard University and the redevelopment of 1250 Maryland Avenue, another office-to-residential conversion project. Mark also leads Concord Communities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lowe, dedicated to building and preserving affordable housing. Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Federal City Council and board member of the Southwest BID.

  Lowe Enterprises

  Managing Director

  Mark Rivers

  Managing Director

  Lowe Enterprises

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  Diane Sullivan

  Diane Sullivan is the Director of the Current Planning Division at the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington, DC. In this role she oversees a team of urban planners, architects, and historic preservationists who are committed to preserving and enhancing the extraordinary qualities of the National Capital Region through the review of federal master plans, projects, and memorials. Ms. Sullivan joined NCPC in 2007 and was formerly the senior urban planner in the Physical Planning Division. She previously worked on waterfront redevelopment with both the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation in DC and the Portland (Oregon) Bureau of Planning. Ms. Sullivan holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

  National Capital Planning Commission

  Director of the Current Planning Division

  Diane Sullivan

  Director of the Current Planning Division

  National Capital Planning Commission

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  Jessie Ponce de Leon

  Jessie Ponce de Leon is a licensed Professional Engineer with nearly 20 years of experience delivering civil engineering solutions for Federal and nonFederal historic, cultural, adaptive reuse, residential, commercial, and mixeduse projects. As Managing Partner of GordonDC, Jessie oversees all consulting, engineering, and permitting operations across the District of Columbia and the surrounding region. She has been an active leader within ULI’s Women’s Leadership Initiative since 2021, serving on the Steering Committee and holding the role of Chair from 2023 to 2025. A proud Virginia Tech alumna, Jessie earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2008 and remains deeply engaged with the university. She serves on the Civil Engineering Alumni Board, currently chairs the Land Development Design Industry (LDDI) Executive Board, frequently lectures in LDDI courses, and collaborates with faculty in the Sustainable Land Development Master’s Program to develop course content and lead case studies focused on adaptive reuse projects in Washington, DC. Jessie has been widely recognized for her professional and community leadership. In 2022, she was named one of Washington Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and in 2023 she received Virginia Tech’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Young Alumni Achievement award.

  GordonDC

  Managing Partner

  Jessie Ponce de Leon

  Managing Partner

  GordonDC

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  Steve Moore

  Steve Moore leads the Southwest Business Improvement District as Executive Director, connecting businesses and innovation efforts. Established in 2015, SWBID is a 480-acre cultural, government, and residential area occupying most of the SW quadrant of the District of Columbia. The SWBID employs 30 ambassadors and staff and manages several initiatives, including large-scale beautification programs, homeless outreach, weekend markets, transportation, and public art installations. Prior to working at the SWBID, Steve joined the team of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront LLC (HMW) as a leasing strategist and special projects manager. At HMW, he implemented the local leasing strategy and managed special projects for the 25-acre waterfront development on the Washington Channel. Steve also served as the President and CEO of the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, a non-profit organization promoting business and retail opportunities in the District of Columbia, and frequently worked with the Mayor's Office. Before joining the Economic Partnership, he was the Deputy Executive Director for the Downtown DC Business Improvement District. The majority of Steve's career was with The Rouse Company of Columbia, Maryland. Steve had led several forums and summits throughout his career in efforts to further economic prosperity. He has traveled extensively to study cities, tourism, transportation, climate change, event planning, and business development.

  SWBID

  Executive Director

  Moderator

  Steve Moore

  Executive Director

  SWBID

Bridging the Divide

The Projects and Prospects that are Shaping Developments and Connections to Southwest D.C.

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  Steven Grigg

  Steven A. Grigg is President and Chief Executive Officer of Republic Properties Corporation, and was a co-founder with Mr. Kramer. Previously, Mr. Grigg served as Senior Vice President of Western Development Corporation and he was a partner with Mr. Kramer before founding Republic Properties. Successful completion of several major development efforts by Western in the Washington, D.C. market are attributed to Mr. Grigg’s ability to successfully negotiate and resolve issues critical to public private partnerships; most notably Market Square, Washington Harbour, Republic Square and The Portals. Prior to joining Western Development in 1985, Mr. Grigg was Vice President of Development for Blake Construction Company, where he was responsible for a variety of office and other projects. Additionally, he spearheaded marketing and bidding new construction projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Florida, Georgia, California, Maryland and Virginia. Mr. Grigg holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of Illinois. He is a licensed and registered architect in the District of Columbia and several states. Mr. Grigg is a past President of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association and a past Chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Builders’ Council.

  Republic Properties Corporation

  President

  Steven Grigg

  President

  Republic Properties Corporation

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  Andrew Son

  Andrew Son is the President of District Wharf Properties, the company that oversees the investment in The District Wharf (“The Wharf”), a 3.5 million square foot mixed-use waterfront neighborhood located on the Washington Channel of the Potomac River. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations and strategic plan for his firm, Andrew is responsible for the overall performance, operations, and financing of The Wharf, a multibillion-dollar development that includes 1.0 million square feet of trophy and Class-A Office, 904 apartment units, 821 hotel rooms, over 400,000 square feet of entertainment, restaurants, and shops, a world-class marina, and over 17 acres of park and public spaces.Previously, Andrew led Asset Management for The Wharf as Senior Vice President for Madison Marquette, co-General Partner for the project. He was also Vice President of Asset Management at JBG SMITH Properties (NYSE: JBGS), where he managed 33 retail and mixed-use properties in the JBGS REIT and legacy private equity funds, including the company’s extensive retail footprint in National Landing, Virginia, home of Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2). Andrew has also held positions in asset management, development, and finance with RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ), Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), and JLL (NYSE: JLL). Andrew is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Additionally, he serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board for the Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID) in Washington, DC and in several volunteer leadership positions with Dartmouth College, where he earned an AB in Government.

  District Wharf Properties

  CEO

  Andrew Son

  CEO

  District Wharf Properties

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  Eric Mulata

  Mr. Mulata is the Vice President of Development, leading acquisition and development activities for the company. He has over 16 years of experience concentrated in ground-up multifamily and mixed-use development. Prior to joining Dalian, he was the Director of Development for The Howard Hughes Corporation where he was responsible for day-to-day development activities for retail and residential projects in the Merriweather District, a 3MM square foot mixed-use development. Mr. Mulata has a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Finance from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

  Dalian Development

  Vice President of Development

  Eric Mulata

  Vice President of Development

  Dalian Development

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  Ruth Hoang

  Ms. Hoang serves as Senior Vice President of Development where she oversees all company sponsored real estate investment projects from inception to construction completion. Her responsibilities include master planning and entitlement strategy, ensuring design and construction excellence, adherence to project business plans, team mentoring and training, investor relations and reporting, and implementation of portfolio-wide procedures, standards and reports. She is driven by her passion for the built environment and the ability to develop extraordinary places that connect to the soul of a community. By growing and challenging the teams around her, she is able to successfully deliver complex, sustainable and legacy projects in the region. Ms. Hoang is a decisive and seasoned real estate executive with over 25 years of experience, specializing in the complete life-cycle development of multifamily and mixed-use communities with involvement in the pre/development of approximately 10,000 units valued at nearly $3 billion in the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to joining Jair Lynch in 2020, Ms. Hoang led the strategic master planning and development of the Merriweather District in Columbia, MD for the Howard Hughes Corporation; and she has previously worked in development for Home Properties, JPI Development, and the National Capital Revitalization Corporation, along with time spent in real estate consulting at Ernst & Young and RCLCO.

  Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

  SVP, Development

  Ruth Hoang

  SVP, Development

  Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

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  Michael Anderson

  Accomplished hospitality executive with nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience guiding luxury, lifestyle, and full-service hotels through growth, transformation, and operational complexity. Recognized for delivering sustained commercial performance, maximizing RevPAR index, driving profitability, and building high-performing teams that elevate both guest satisfaction and asset value. Currently overseeing a dual-branded Hilton and Hyatt complex at Washington, D.C.’s Wharf, generating $35M+ in annual revenue and maintaining a RevPAR index above 100% for four consecutive years. Known for navigating complex operating environments—including pandemic-era disruptions—while sustaining growth, profitability, and strong relationships with ownership and brand partners. Career milestones include opening North America’s first Canopy by Hilton, quickly positioning it among Washington, D.C.’s top 20 hotels, and revitalizing underperforming properties with double-digit revenue and profit growth. Demonstrated ability to lead successful hotel openings, execute capital improvements with rapid ROI, and reposition assets to capture stronger market share. Respected for developing engaged, high-performing teams, elevating guest satisfaction, and building workplace cultures recognized for trust and excellence. Committed to advancing the industry through sustainability initiatives, board leadership, and community engagement.

  Concord Hospitality Enterprises

  Complex General Manager

  Michael Anderson

  Complex General Manager

  Concord Hospitality Enterprises

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  John Rehberger

  John Rehberger is a Vice President with CBRE’s Mid-Atlantic Debt & Structured Finance Team based in Washington, D.C. Mr. Rehberger focuses on arranging senior debt, mezzanine debt, and equity for a wide variety of apartment/condominium, data center, retail, industrial, student housing, and office transactions. Mr. Rehberger has expertise in structured transactions including construction financing and asset-level and programmatic joint ventures. Mr. Rehberger has been directly involved in sourcing and executing for over 400 transactions totaling over $30 billion of debt and equity during his tenure with the Team. The Team is comprised of 10 real estate professionals who work collaboratively with the other groups within CBRE to secure funds from a wide range of capital sources including Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, life insurance companies, offshore and domestic banks, debt funds, endowment funds, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices, and other sources. In 2025, the team financed over $3.7B in transaction volume, consisting of $2.7M in debt and equity placements across 66 properties in 20 different states. Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Rehberger started his career with Ernst & Young, LLP and is a licensed certified public accountant.

  CBRE

  Vice President

  Moderator

  John Rehberger

  Vice President

  CBRE