Fireside Chat

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  Daniel Lynch

  Head of Finance

  OpenStore

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  Saif Ishoof

  Senior Advisor, Technology and Innovation

  City of Miami

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  Julie Northcutt-Dunn

  Julie Northcutt-Dunn serves as Executive Managing Director and Market Leader for the South Florida region. In this role, Julie directly oversees all Brokerage operations and service lines in South Florida, which includes offices in Miami/Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. She will also focus on new business development, talent recruitment, talent retention, growth and marketing. Julie brings more than 15 years of industry experience to Colliers, offering an in-depth knowledge of utilizing innovative sales and marketing strategies to differentiate and win business.

  Colliers

  Executive Managing Director

  Moderator

  Julie Northcutt-Dunn

  Executive Managing Director

  Colliers

Placemaking - Capitalizing on the Community

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  Scott Sherman

  Scott Sherman is Founder and Principal of Miami-Based Torose Equities. He is responsible for the firm's strategic direction, sourcing investment opportunities, capital markets and operations. Torose is a real estate investment firm with several different verticals, including a value-add urban retail, office, and mixed-use strategy within the Southeastern United States. Prior to launching Torose, Scott co-founded Tricera Capital where he led the charge on strategic direction, capital markets and sourcing investment opportunities. In this role, Scott built a portfolio in excess of $700M over five years and consistently delivered returns in excess of 20% IRR and a 2x multiple across realized investments. Scott maintains ownership and major decisions across the Tricera portfolio and continues to be a minority owner of Tricera Capital. Previously, Scott was Vice President of Acquisitions at Thor Equities. He was responsible for acquisitions in the Southeast United States including Miami, Washington, DC, Nashville, Austin and Charleston. Additionally, he was a key member of Thor’s expansion into Montreal, London and France. At Thor, Scott completed in excess of $2 Billion of acquisitions focusing on urban retail and mixed-use assets. Prior to Thor, Scott was the Director of Acquisitions at Becker Brothers where he was responsible for sourcing and executing value-add strategies across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. During his tenure at Becker Brothers, he managed a mix of asset types including retail, office and parking garages. Before Becker Brothers, Scott began his career at Ernst & Young in the Transaction Real Estate Advisory group where he also obtained his CPA license in the state of NY. Scott is a native of South Florida and currently resides in Miami with his wife Laura, son Lucas, and daughter Lily. He received his MS and BS in Accounting from the University of Florida where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Scott is a member of ICSC, and CIASF, in addition to several philanthropic organizations he dedicates time to in his community.

  Torose Equities

  Founder and Principal

  Scott Sherman

  Founder and Principal

  Torose Equities

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  Ryan Shear

  Ryan Shear manages the development of a growing real estate portfolio with over $10B in assets, including all acquisitions, financing, construction, design, marketing, sales and operations. Ryan primarily focuses on new construction condo and multifamily high rises in urban cores, including Miami, New York, Orlando, Denver, Atlanta and more. Recent condo projects he’s spearheaded include Echo Aventura, Echo Brickell, Muse Sunny Isles, Sage Longboat Key Residences, E11EVEN Hotel & Residences and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami. Recent multifamily projects include X Miami, Society Las Olas, Society Biscayne, Society Orlando and Society Wynwood. Ryan graduated with a BA in Business Administration from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University in Atlanta.

  Property Markets Group

  Managing Partner

  Ryan Shear

  Managing Partner

  Property Markets Group

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  Andres Nava

  Nava joined Metro 1 in 2013 and since then, has worked in more than 200 transactions, totaling over 500,000 square feet and more than $300 million in volume. Specializing in urban core investment sales and leasing, Andres has been part of some of Miami’s most transformative deals. Most notably, Andres was involved in the sale of the Arlo Hotel site in Wynwood, the neighborhood’s first hotel, 2143 NW 1 Ave, anchored by one of the nation’s most prominent entertainment/coworking concepts, as well as Kushner and Block Capital’s first acquisition in Miami. He was principally responsible for procuring the Instituto Marangoni lease at the Miami Design District, which at $60 PSF is one of the most expensive office leases in the country at the time and was also instrumental in procuring marquee tenants such as Momosan Wynwood, The Salty Donut, Ghee Indian Kitchen, Three by Norman Van Aken, Bousa Brewing, and 1-800-Lucky. Additionally, Nava played a key role in securing Metro 1’s recognition as a Top Leasing Firm, Top Sales Firm, Top Retail Leasing Broker, and Top Sales Broker by Costar in 2016 and 2017, and was awarded Costar Power Broker of the year in 2019. Before joining Metro 1, Andres worked extensively in the retail sector (ZARA, Louis Vuitton) as well as community-focused organizations such as WADA, the Wynwood Arts District Association, which later was incorporated into the BID. Andres is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and holds a Finance Degree from Florida International University.

  Metro 1

  Managing Director

  Andres Nava

  Managing Director

  Metro 1

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  Shamim Ahmadzadegan

  Shamim brings global design experience to complex, mixed-use projects. As a Firmwide Leader in the Mixed-Use Practice Area, he is reponsible for delivering design excellence across the globe. Shamim has successfully completed several award-winning projects of enormous scale and complexity. His experience encompasses a wide range of sectors, including urban planning, mixed-use, tall-buildings, commercial office buildings, education, and retail. Shamim brings a global vision with a sensitivity for local context, culture, site, and program. Shamim believes that design and architecture should start with delivering solutions that benefit the city and its inhabitants, while creating commercial success. This is reflected in his leadership on a two-year research project: an investigation aimed at improving the quality of China’s cities and built form.

  Gensler

  Principal & Design Director

  Shamim Ahmadzadegan

  Principal & Design Director

  Gensler

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  Charles Foschini

  Charles Foschini is senior managing director of Berkadia, its highest production title, and a member of the company’s elite “CEO Circle,” consisting of the Top Ten Producers nationwide. He provides complex capital solutions to a focused clientele of major property owners throughout the United States. Unique among his peers, Charles’ team of six engages in a borrower-focused practice balanced between commercial and multifamily executions bringing creative solutions to every engagement. In addition to his production role, Charles co- manages originations in the state of Florida, providing strategic vision and leadership to a dynamic team of commercial finance professionals in one of the country’s top-producing regions. With over two decades of experience structuring complex transactions, Charles and his team have been involved in the sale and financing of commercial and multifamily properties totaling approximately $21 billion. These include several portfolio and landmark single-asset transactions in excess of $200 million. Prior to joining Berkadia, Charles served as Vice Chairman for CBRE and member of its elite institutional group, where he started his career and was a perennial top producer at the national level across all product lines. He was a multiple recipient of the firm’s prestigious Coldwell Colbert Circle, recognizing the top 3% of the company. A sought-after expert in his discipline, he is a frequently requested speaker at conferences by Crittenden, ULI, ICSC, MBA, NAIOP, IMN, and RealShare, among others. Charles is a three-time alumnus of the University of Miami, where he earned an undergraduate degree, a Juris Doctor degree from the School of Law and a Master of Business Administration degree from the School of Business, each with honors of distinction. He is active in his community and with the University of Miami, where he is involved in several board and membership positions, including having served as an adjunct professor in the School of Law in its prestigious LLM program for real property.

  Berkadia

  Senior Managing Director

  Charles Foschini

  Senior Managing Director

  Berkadia

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  Steven Hidary

  COO

  Hidrock Properties

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  Stephen Rutchik

  Stephen Rutchik is a veteran of the commercial real estate industry, focusing on Class A agency and tenant representation services for office clients in South Florida and across the United States. He also provides investment and asset management consulting services to institutional clients. Stephen Rutchik and Jonathan Kingsley, partners for 18 years, have built a team of eight passionate, driven commercial real estate professionals, offering their expertise to office and industrial occupiers and investors across South Florida. “Team Kingsley- Rutchik aligns our strategies with our clients’ business goals and provides a wealth of accurate, specific market intelligence to support their real estate decisions.”

  Colliers

  Executive Managing Director

  Moderator

  Stephen Rutchik

  Executive Managing Director

  Colliers

Developing Wynwood & Allapattah

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  Francesca Escoto

  She is a serial entrepreneur, speaker and business coach, founder and CEO of Startups For Social Impact. She enjoys dancing salsa, hanging out with her small group of friends, reading like there's no tomorrow, and writing all the time.

  The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC

  Dir. Economic Development & Strategy

  Francesca Escoto

  Dir. Economic Development & Strategy

  The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC

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  Kobi Karp

  Kobi Karp is the Founder and Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc (KKAID). Kobi Karp founded the firm in 1996 and has been the Principal-in-Charge of design since that time. KKAID is a full-service architectural and interior design firm providing a vast array of services, ranging from the design of large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures. Educated at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology, Kobi Karp earned degrees in both Architecture and Environmental Design. Subsequently, Kobi Karp began his career working on major hospitality and all- inclusive resort projects throughout the United States and the Caribbean. His restoration design techniques have contributed to a renaissance in one of this country’s most cherished areas, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District which is internationally recognized around the world. Kobi Karp has developed expertise in design over the last 20 years, working with a wide range of project types, sizes, complexities, and budgets. It is through this last quarter century working in warm weather climates that KKAID has garnered international acclaim and been selected to spearhead numerous resort projects. Developers and builders in the Caribbean, Black Sea region, and the Middle East have relied on the firm for their design eye and planning. Kobi Karp is a recognized member of the American Institute of Architects, honored for his award-winning designs and buildings and he is a licensed Professional Architect in 9 states and in Abu Dhabi (UAE). His firm has been featured in renowned national and local publications based on their major contributions in the preservation of historical areas.

  Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design

  President

  Kobi Karp

  President

  Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design

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  Coralee Penabad

  Coralee G. Penabad is a principal at Coral Gables-based URBAN-X Group LLC. A lawyer by training, Coralee’s main focus is the oversight of all acquisitions, financing, marketing and operations to which she brings over 20 years of relevant experience. Coralee has played a leadership role in the acquisition, design, entitlements and finance of River Landing Shops & Residences, completed in 2020. Prior to launching URBAN-X, in 2006, Ms. Penabad was general counsel to Leviev Boymelgreen Developers (LBD), an Israeli-based real estate partnership. She managed the partnership’s legal issues in Florida, the refinancing of its entire Florida portfolio, the management of all condominium sales and all the partnership’s Florida domestic legal issues. She guided LBD through its development of the Marquis Condominium and other Florida projects, its transition in management, restructuring and eventual buy-out/sale by its members. She was lead attorney on transactions involving more than $750 million of real property for LBD. Ms. Penabad was awarded the Top Dealmaker, Real Estate Finance 2008 Award in South Florida by the Daily Business Review for her efforts in the refinancing and repositioning of LBD’s real estate portfolio. She was also recognized in the “40 under 40” list of achievers in the South Florida Business Journal at that time. Ms. Penabad has a unique skill of identifying difficult issues and focuses on implementing simple solutions to turn around struggling real estate projects. In Miami-Dade County, she has worked in the repositioning of developments including Paramount Bay and 151 at Biscayne Condominium. Ms. Penabad has a bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance and a law degree from University of Miami.

  UrbanX

  Principal

  Coralee Penabad

  Principal

  UrbanX

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  Yoni Bornstein

  Born in Toronto, Canada, Yoni Bornstein has been involved in real estate investing and multiple successful entrepreneurial ventures over the past two decades. Mr. Bornstein owns and operates businesses in both Canada and the U.S., including restaurants, hotels, warehouses, commercial properties, and land for multifamily and mixed-use development. Yoni brings his vast business experience, his natural ability to get deals closed and many partnerships with international investment groups. Yoni mainly focuses on acquisition of properties and creative development planning. Yoni is involved with many charitable committees and organizations and has received accolades from the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce and De Hostos Senior Center. Yoni is the current President of the Wynwood Community Enhancement Association.

  Wynwood Equity Partners

  President

  Yoni Bornstein

  President

  Wynwood Equity Partners

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  David Weitz

  Managing Partner

  Oak Row Equities

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  Katherine Amador

  Katherine Amador is a partner in Berger Singerman’s Miami office and part of the Business, Finance & Tax Team. Katherine concentrates her practice in complex real estate acquisitions, dispositions and development, including multi-million dollar buy- and sell-side transactions, financing, commercial foreclosures and litigation. On the deal side, Katherine has extensive experience in complex real estate transactions for private and institutional clients, representing regional and international developers and investors in real estate acquisitions; negotiation of purchase and sale agreements; and sales and development matters including vacant land, multi-family and other commercial property. Katherine represents institutional lenders in commercial lending for various types of projects. Also, she represents both lenders and borrowers in loan work-outs and distressed business transactions, negotiating forbearance agreements, note sales and acquisitions and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions. On the litigation side, she has represented clients in multi-million dollar commercial foreclosure matters and disputes involving purchase and sale contracts and options, secured loans, inter-creditor agreements and title matters. Lenders have sought Katherine’s advice and aid in enforcing their secured claims, including foreclosure, receivership, guaranty enforcement, as well as defending lender liability and bad faith claims. A native Spanish speaker, Katherine represents Latin American investors, families and businesses seeking to invest in Florida and throughout the United States, including acquiring significant residential and commercial assets and the related due diligence. For these matters, she has handled financial transactions structuring, advising on corporate formation, and assisting with tax and estate planning. Katherine’s practice also focuses on cross-border transactions, advising clients throughout Latin America on corporate and commercial bergersingerman.com transactions and compliance matters. She has worked closely with top law firms in over fifteen Central and South American countries to assist firm clients in local matters

  Berger Singerman

  Partner

  Katherine Amador

  Partner

  Berger Singerman

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  Javier Aviñó

  Javier F. Aviñó serves as Practice Group Leader of Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development & Government Relations Group. Javier focuses his practice in land use and zoning law. In South Florida, he is the first stop for developers before they put a shovel in the ground. From the development of multiple Affordable Housing Projects, negotiating multi-million construction loans, to assisting with a $2.4 billion high-speed passenger rail project connecting South and Central Florida, Javier's deep roots in the community have allowed him to assist in projects that are helping to shape the landscape in South Florida. He represented The Sydell Group, developer of the trendy Freehand Miami hostel (formerly the Indian Creek Hotel), in its acquisition, zoning, and liquor license issues related to renovating the historic Art Deco building. He also represented Miami Produce Center, an entity controlled by Robert Wennett, in the filing of a Special Area Plan (SAP) with the City of Miami for a proposed eight-building development with over 1 million square feet of residential, office, retail, hotel, and educational components in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Javier has been recognized by Chambers USA, South Florida Business Journal, and South Florida Legal Guide. Javier has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston College and received his J.D. from the University of Miami.

  Bilzin Sumberg

  Partner, Land Development & Government Relations

  Moderator

  Javier Aviñó

  Partner, Land Development & Government Relations

  Bilzin Sumberg

Opening Remarks

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  Steven Klein

  Steven Klein serves as Managing Partner for Gerson Preston, the Miami-based accounting and advisory firm, that successfully transitioned from its well-known founding partners to a new generation of leaders under Steven’s guidance. As Managing Partner, Steven leads a collaborative group of partners who share responsibility for the firm’s governance, finances, service delivery, recruitment, and growth strategy. Steven and his partners are committed to the firm’s core values of providing consistent, high-quality representation with experienced, innovative, and proactive CPA’s and financial advisors. Together, they have carefully cultivated the firm’s reputation as a sophisticated, capable, multicultural team of professionals, many of whom were trained at national accounting firms and all of whom have chosen Gerson Preston because of its culture of organic growth, teamwork and enduring working relationships. Steven continues to represent his many long-time clients on issues relating to the management of financial audit and attest engagements, business consulting, advising on mergers and acquisitions, tax compliance and research issues, as well as, presiding over financial reporting and related internal accounting control design and implementation matters. An experienced veteran of a national accounting firm and thirty-plus year CPA, Steven is a people person who embraces the importance of business and personal relationships to understand and pursue his client’s financial goals. He takes pride in helping his clients build successful businesses, many of which reflect Miami’s entrepreneurial and global economy, such as real estate development, professional services, technology, international business and investments, retail and hospitality. Steven previously chaired the firm’s Assurance & Accounting Services practice overseeing financial reporting, audits, attestation, and accounting advisory services. Along with his international team, Steven helped establish the Firm’s presence internationally through its active participation in worldwide accounting and law association networks. The Firm can service clients global needs that may require expertise and presence in jurisdictions throughout the world, previously the domain of only large multinational firms.

  Gerson Preston Klein Lips Eisenberg Gelber

  Managing Partner

  Opening Remarks

  Steven Klein

  Managing Partner

  Gerson Preston Klein Lips Eisenberg Gelber