Houston’s Next Move

Deals, Drivers And Development Defining the Next Decade

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  Arsean Maqami

  Arsean Maqami serves as President of DC Partners, where he holds a pivotal role in managing and directing all facets of the organization. With a wealth of experience in mixed-use properties, adaptive reuse, multi-family developments, and tenant fit-outs, Arsean is a seasoned executive with a comprehensive understanding of the real estate industry. Education Bachelors of Arts, Swarthmore College Masters of Business Administration, Columbia University Summary Before assuming his current role at DC Partners, Arsean co-founded DB Partners, a real estate development and construction management firm, with Blake Berg. As leaders of DB Partners they successfully orchestrated the development and construction of over two million square feet of mixed-use projects across prominent locations in New York, California, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Indiana, and Washington DC. Arsean’s professional journey also includes significant tenures at Seritage Growth Properties, where he held the position of Vice President of Development and Construction, and at WeWork, where he served as a Senior Director of Development and Construction. In these roles, he demonstrated his proficiency in capital planning, real estate underwriting, and operational excellence throughout the entire development lifecycle. Arsean Maqami holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University. His academic background, combined with his extensive industry experience, positions him as a distinguished leader in the real estate sector.

  DC Partners

  Co-President

  Arsean Maqami

  Co-President

  DC Partners

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  Danny Rice

  Danny joined Colliers Houston in July 2023 as President of the firm's brokerage operations which includes over 120 brokers, marketing and administrative staff. With over 17 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, Danny has been involved in many facets of the business including brokerage, marketing, research, technology, management and operations. As Colliers and the Houston market continues to expand, Danny's focus is to develop, recruit and assist the top brokers in the market and provide their clients with a high-level of service. Prior to relocating to Houston in 2023, Danny was the Executive Managing Director & Market Leader for over 5 years for the Central & West Florida markets at Colliers, which encompass the metropolitan areas of Orlando, Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Ft Myers and Naples. While in Florida, Danny managed a team of over 145 professionals that focused on the leasing and sales of all property types, including Office, Medical, Industrial, Retail, Multifamily, Land, and Debt/Equity Mortgage Banking as well as niche services including Student Housing, Seniors Housing, Marinas, Golf Courses, and Hotels/Hospitality. From 2014 to 2018, Danny worked at Xceligent, one of the leading providers of commercial real estate information and research. Throughout Danny’s tenure at Xceligent, he grew from a local Sales Rep in Florida to quickly becoming Regional Vice President of Sales for the Florida markets and then Executive Vice President of National Accounts before becoming Chief Revenue Officer. Danny oversaw a team of 9 Regional VP’s, 60+ outside sales reps, 20+ inside sales reps and 20+ customer success and marketing professionals. He was also heavily involved in product and development efforts within the organization. Danny’s career started at Colliers within the Orlando office where he began as an intern for the research department before becoming the GIS/Research & Technology Administrator as well as various other roles before becoming an Office broker specializing in landlord and tenant representation throughout the greater Orlando market. Danny was the recipient of the Orlando Business Journal's 40 under 40 in 2022 and recognized as one of the Top Workplaces in Orlando by the Orlando Sentinel.

  Colliers

  President

  Danny Rice

  President

  Colliers

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  Dean Lane

  Dean Lane joined NewQuest Properties as a Partner in 2003. Dean plays a critical role on NewQuest’s development team, working on the design, tenant-mix and construction. Comprising more than seven million square feet of gross leasable area over the last several years, some of the major town centers include Sherman, Cy-Fair, Brazos, Hutto, Creekside, Stone Hill, Stone Park, Stone Hill Town Center and Grand Morton Town Center. The primary focus of Dean’s career has been on retail tenant representation, representing companies such as Kohl’s, Oshman’s/Sports Authority, Eye Masters, Ross Dress For Less, Sears Specialty Group, Petsmart, Petco, J.C. Penney, Ulta Cosmetics, CompUSA, Toys R Us, Golf Galaxy, Robins Bros. and The Gap Concepts. Due to his dedication, Dean was named Master Broker for Dick’s Sporting Goods in five states. He was overseeing all markets in the major cities of interest in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. During his career, Dean has completed numerous lease transactions for his clients, ranging from 5,000 – 133,000 square feet. One of Dean’s largest transactions completed in recent years was the 138 acre tract of land sale to CBL REIT for the 800,000 square foot Pearland Town Center Mall that opened in 2008. Previously a Vice President and Partner of Boyd Page & Associates from 1991 – 2003, Dean’s career started in the real estate industry with CB Commercial Real Estate Group in 1984. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and a graduate of Texas A&M University. In his spare time, Dean likes to spend time with his wife Regina and their two daughters, Halle and Jesse, and volunteers for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

  NewQuest Properties

  Partner

  Dean Lane

  Partner

  NewQuest Properties

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  Glenn Silva

  Glenn is the COO of Lone Star PACE in charge of day-to-day operations. Lone Star PACE serves as Program Administrator for city and county Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) programs in Texas. C-PACE provides financing for commercial, industrial and multifamily projects that support economic development and resource conservation in Texas communities. C-PACE is designed to overcome the barrier of significant upfront costs for energy efficiency and water conservation projects by offering attractive financing to commercial property owners. Glenn has more than 35 years’ experience in the commercial real estate industry. He holds the Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) designation and is the current chair of the DFW chapter. Glenn is also an MAI Member of the Appraisal Institute and is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser in Texas. In addition to his role at Lone Star PACE, Glenn is president and founder of KLM Realty Advisors, where his team has underwritten more than $18.8B in loans for B-Piece investors of Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities. Glenn is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received a master’s degree in Land Economics and Real Estate and a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. He and his wife Lori (also an Aggie), reside in Plano and have two daughters.

  Lone Star Pace

  COO

  Glenn Silva

  COO

  Lone Star Pace

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  Marc el-Khouri

  Managing Principal and Practice Leader of the Corporate & Commercial Practice at Perkins&Will’s Houston studio, Marc el-Khouri has excelled in pioneering new strategies for real estate development, architecture, and urban design on four continents. His portfolio, ranging from office buildings to hotels to medical cities, showcases a profound ability to unite functionality, strategy, and aesthetic elegance. Marc received a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University, and Bachelors of Architecture and Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.

  Perkins&Will

  Managing Principal

  Marc el-Khouri

  Managing Principal

  Perkins&Will

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  Tyler Martin

  Tyler has more than 14 years of experience in public accounting, with an emphasis in financial statement and joint venture auditing and consulting. With a major focus on financial services and real estate, he serves clients in diverse sectors throughout the financial services and real estate industries. Throughout his career, Tyler has gained experience on a variety of engagements and clients including integrated SOX financial statement audits of public companies, mergers and acquisitions, international financial reporting, group audits and private equity-backed clients. As a result, he brings a wide base of knowledge and flexibility to all of his clients. Tyler is also involved in the firm’s peer review practice as one of the firm’s four qualified team captains for American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) peer review engagements. With a passion for developing others, Tyler has been a content developer and instructor for both internal and external training covering topics such as intermediate and advanced auditing, engagement management, financial services and real estate.

  Weaver

  Partner, Audit - Financial Services

  Moderator

  Tyler Martin

  Partner, Audit - Financial Services

  Weaver

Impact and Influence of Hospitality, Entertainment and Culinary Anchors

The Houston Experience

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  David Brady

  David Brady is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur currently serving as Chief of Staff for FIFA World Cup 26 Houston, overseeing brand, marketing, ticketing, administration, and the legacy of the event for Houston and its community. He also leads Brady Strategic Partners, his firm specializing in executive coaching and strategic planning for small and mid-size organizations. Previously, David served in senior executive positions for several of Houston’s most prominent organizations, including the Houston Zoo, where he grew attendance from 1.5 million to over 2.5 million visitors and doubled annual revenues through innovative branding and programming. He also held leadership roles with the Houston Texans, launching the Texas Bowl and helping establish Houston as a major soccer destination. For the past 20 seasons, he has been the “Voice of Texans Gameday” serving as the teams stadium announcer. A dedicated educator and community advocate, David teaches graduate sports management courses and has supported major events such as the NCAA Final Four, College Football Playoff, and Super Bowl XLI. A Distinguished Alumni of Sam Houston State University, he lives in Kingwood with his wife, Annie, and their children, Peter, Maggie, and Jack.

  FIFA World Cup 26 Houston

  Chief of Staff

  David Brady

  Chief of Staff

  FIFA World Cup 26 Houston

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  Uri Man

  Uri Man is a real estate developer and consultant working on projects in Florida and Texas. Mr. Man has been entrenched in the development scene since 2002 having sourced and overseen developments, including more than 3,500 apartments and homes as an executive of The Related Group, Gables Residential and Ram Development. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Man's ground-up development projects ranged from large scale single-family master-planned communities, to market rate garden, mid-rise and high-rise apartment and condominium projects, to a 300,000 square foot retail lifestyle center. Mr. Man was also an executive of the Florida Panthers NHL Hockey Team where he led the development of the team's new training facility. Uri was formerly the CEO of Crystal Lagoons US Corp., a company that licenses its patented technology to developers enabling the addition of beach life to projects with giant lagoons for swimming and watersports. As the company's CEO, Mr. Man created partnerships with ESJ Capital, Encore Funds, Metro Places, Land Tejas, Wynn Resorts, and other development companies to bring this unique technology to the US market.Currently Mr. Man serves as Exec VP of Land Tejas, the largest developer of masterplanned communities in Houston (based on lots developed and sold) and CEO of Lagoon Development, the development and ownership company of lagoons in Texas. Mr. Man holds a Florida GC license and Broker's license and has taught real estate and business courses at FAU and UC Berkeley. Mr. Man serves on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) National Community Development Council. Mr. Man was awarded the Florida 'Young Leader of the Year' award by the ULI. Mr. Man has served on the boards of several charities and has been active in raising funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, FIDF, and the Miami Dolphins NFL Cancer Challenge. Mr. Man received a BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Man has been a regular contributor to national news shows on Fox Business, CNN, CNBC and others providing his opinion regarding real estate markets and the US economy.

  Lagoon Development

  CEO

  Uri Man

  CEO

  Lagoon Development

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  Jessica O’Neill

  Jessica O’Neill is the President of Business Operations for the Houston Dynamo Football Club (HDFC). In this role, O’Neill oversees growth efforts for Houston Dynamo FC of Major League Soccer, the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League, Shell Energy Stadium in downtown Houston and Houston Sports Park, the teams’ training facility. O’Neill joined HDFC in March 2022 and was named to her current role in January 2024. She leads strategic off-the-field initiatives to drive reach, revenue and engagement for the teams and facilities to ensure that HDFC is a destination of choice for staff, players, fans and partners. With the support of majority owner Ted Segal, her tenure is marked by significant facility renovations, an improved stadium experience and a new corporate headquarters. O’Neill and the HDFC team are focused on growing the Dash and Dynamo fanbases in advance of Houston serving as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in addition to collaborative long-term planning for Shell Energy Stadium and Houston Sports Park as well as HDFC HQ in East Downtown (EaDo). O’Neill relocated to Houston in 2022 from Charlotte, NC where she was leading marketing and communications for MLS expansion team Charlotte FC ahead of the club’s record-breaking launch. Prior to that, she spent eight years in ticket sales with the Carolina Panthers, which included maximizing luxury suite, premium seating and private event revenue for the NFL team. The Tampa Bay, Fla. native graduated from the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the board of directors for Downtown Houston+, the EaDo Management District and the Greater Houston Partnership as well as Dynamo & Dash Charities. In 2024, she was a recipient of the 40 Under 40 award from the Sports Business Journal and Houston Business Journal.

  Houston Dynamo Football Club

  President

  Jessica O’Neill

  President

  Houston Dynamo Football Club

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  Emily Durham

  Current Responsibilities: Emily is Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage Advisory (F&B Advisory) with the Retail Team in Houston, Texas. She is an expert in Tenant Representation and Agency Leasing for the Restaurant Industry. Emily’s lifelong career in the Restaurant Industry provides her the ability to understand her clients’ business needs as well as their real estate needs, which is a unique combination of skills. She represents everyone from award winning chef-driven concepts, to multi-unit fast casual and fast fine operators as well as respected regional chains. She collaborates with other CRE F&B specialists throughout the Country on Master Broker accounts and Emily is a longstanding member of an expert team of F&B professionals that work with restaurants in all areas and disciplines. Experience: Emily has enjoyed a 32-year career in the Restaurant Industry in all capacities; from front of the house operations, chef, consultant, back-office management, and proprietor. Emily has helped restaurant groups create strategic expansion plans based on research and data, customer analytics, and experience from completing hundreds of restaurant transactions. Before joining JLL, Emily served as Partner and Director of Hospitality Services at Waterman Steele Real Estate Advisors in Houston and where she created a Master Broker platform for multi-unit national rollouts.

  JLL

  SVP of Food and Beverage

  Emily Durham

  SVP of Food and Beverage

  JLL

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  Eric Hudson

  Eric Hudson is a founding Partner and Principal of Design Services at Method Architecture. He oversees the firm’s Design Services department responsible for Sustainability, Design, Quality Control, and Technology. A Houston native, Eric received his bachelor’s in environmental design from Texas A&M University and master’s in architecture from the University of Houston. Eric and his teams have worked on adaptive reuse projects such as M-K-T, East Village, and East End Maker Hub. Eric is President of the University of Houston College of Architecture and Design Alumni Board and sits on the board for Spring Spirit, a local children’s non-profit.

  Method Architecture

  Partner & Principal of Design Services

  Moderator

  Eric Hudson

  Partner & Principal of Design Services

  Method Architecture

Reimagining Houston’s Urban Core

What’s Next Beyond Downtown

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  Jeff Peden

  TRANSWESTERN ROLE Jeff Peden has more than 28 years of commercial real estate experience and is Executive Managing Director in the Houston office of Transwestern. He focuses on high-profile land for development as well as commercial investment properties. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Mr. Peden has completed more than 1,960 transactions for an aggregate value in excess of $3.8 billion. With a concentration on raw and/or redevelopment land he has closed over 1,000 land sales totaling more than 103,000 acres with an aggregate value of $2.5 billion. Prior to joining Transwestern, Jeff worked with Cushman & Wakefield of Texas for over twenty-two years. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/RECOGNITION  Transwestern National Newcomer’s Award in 2021  Houston Top 10 Producer with previous firm – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 through 2020  Industrial Worldwide Top 10 Producer – 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014  Perennial member of the Houston Business Journal’s “Heavy Hitter” list  Recipient of the firm’s National Service Award, recognizing the team for their exemplary client service  Recipient of Land Sale Deal of the Year for the disposition of the Six Flags Theme Park’s AstroWorld site and Houston CBD Block 319 in 2006 and 2007, respectively  Member and past President of the Houston/Gulf chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)  Member of Advisory Council – University of Texas McCombs School of Texas Real Estate Center  Member of the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR)  Served on Cushman & Wakefield’s National the Leadership Council (TLC)  Tanglewood Association Board of Directors EDUCATION Attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from the University of Houston with a BBA degree in finance

  Transwestern

  Executive Managing Director, Land Investment Sales

  Jeff Peden

  Executive Managing Director, Land Investment Sales

  Transwestern

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  Taylor Moss

  Founder

  DeisoMoss

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  David Hightower

  David Hightower presently serves as Executive Vice President at Midway Companies. He has been involved in the ownership, development and/or management of over 6,000 acres of commercial, residential and agricultural land investments and developments. He has primary responsibility for marketing, sales, project planning and development activities for the firm’s real estate assets, as well as new investment acquisitions. He is also responsible for regulatory approvals and other governmental related activities. He is active in various community and civic activities, and is presently serving on the boards and committees of several organizations that deal with issues affecting the real estate industry and overall community development, including the West Houston Association, the Urban Land Institute – Houston District Council, the Greater Houston Partnership’s Real Estate Advisory Committee and the Houston Real Estate Council. Mr. Hightower is a member of a number of other real estate-related organizations including: the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute , NAIOP – The Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Counselors of Real Estate, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, and Houston Association of Realtors. He has represented several of these organizations in serving on a number of City and County committees addressing a wide range of issues impacting the real estate industry. He is also a founding director and current President of Harris County Improvement District No. 4 (The Energy Corridor District). Mr. Hightower has earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) designations and is a licensed real estate broker and licensed professional engineer . He is a life member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and has served on several committees. And, he is a member and past vice president of the Leadership Houston Association.

  Midway

  EVP, Investments & Development

  David Hightower

  EVP, Investments & Development

  Midway

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  Gonzalo Echeverría

  Principal and Director of Design for TBG’s Urban Design and Planning team, Gonzalo brings a unique dual perspective to the Houston market, having led major projects from both the design and development sides. With over 28 years of international experience spanning Latin America, North America, and Europe, he applies a global lens to complex projects, ranging from transit-oriented waterfronts to urban infill and rural restoration. Prior to joining TBG, Gonzalo served as Director of Design and Planning at McCord Development, where he oversaw $200 million in infrastructure and $5 billion in vertical projects. This developer-side expertise informs his commitment to consensus-driven planning and sustainable design that ensures long-term value creation and community vitality. A collaborative and energizing leader, he spearheaded the Linked Park System Plan at Generation Park - a visionary framework connecting 20,000 acres. By aligning diverse stakeholders, including Harris County Precinct One, TxDOT, HCTRA, and developers from Lake Houston to Kingwood, Gonzalo has successfully implemented unified trail systems that enhance regional connectivity. Gonzalo brings a rare vantage point on how the synergy between design excellence and development strategy creates resilient placemaking that inspires pride and connection.

  TBG Partners

  Principal and Director of Design

  Gonzalo Echeverría

  Principal and Director of Design

  TBG Partners

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  David Rasch

  David Rasch is a Houston native who has worked in the construction industry for over 25 years. He enjoys the high-activity, fast-paced style of construction management and feels tremendous accomplishment when his projects reach completion. During his tenure at Harvey Cleary, David has had the opportunity to work on the teams that erected several of our most notable projects, including Sugar Land Town Square, Anadarko Tower, and the Woodlands Waterway. While working in a variety of market sectors, everything from hospitality to commercial office buildings to warehouses, David has learned the importance of perseverance. He believes that all projects have their own unique challenges, but with a good owner, designer, and construction team, most of these challenges can be overcome. David is also passionate about his community and has served as a member of the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association and other community organizations. When he’s not working on projects or serving his community, David cherishes spending time with his wife of 20 years and their four children. David also enjoys the great outdoors. He loves hunting, fishing, water skiing, and snow skiing in the mountains.

  Harvey Cleary

  VP, Partner

  David Rasch

  VP, Partner

  Harvey Cleary

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  Brandon Simpson

  Brandon Simpson is a seasoned Business Relationship Manager at Anchor Construction and Management, Inc., based in Sugar Land, Texas, since 2022. Brandon has been making his mark in the commercial construction space since 2012, showcasing his versatility and leadership across several pivotal roles. His career journey before Anchor reflects a rich tapestry of experiences, from operations to project management, underscoring his profound commitment and broad understanding of the construction sector. Brandon's expertise not only spans project success but also emphasizes building robust business relationships in the industry.

  Anchor Construction and Management, Inc.

  Business Relationship Manager

  Moderator

  Brandon Simpson

  Business Relationship Manager

  Anchor Construction and Management, Inc.

Remarks From The Podium

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  Brandi Dees

  Brandi Dees is Senior Vice President at Lee & Associates - Houston with over 23 years of experience in international retail, land, tenant representation, and fuel services transactions. Brandi has established herself as a leading expert in the industry, particularly in the realm of Retail Fuel Services, and brings a wealth of knowledge from her previous role at CBRE as Senior Director - Americas for Shell Oil Company, where she focused on Retail Mobility, Electric Vehicle Site Acquisitions, Commercial Road Transport Acquisitions, Convience Stores, and Property Managment. Brandi ran all facets of Shell Oil excluding for over 20 years, delivering full end-to-end service to her clients. Brandi played a pivotal role in the successful acquisition and disposal of over $500 million in retail assets while managing a diverse portfolio that included +- 9,000 petrol filling stations. Her leadership extended to a dedicated team of brokers and staff throughout North America, driving the development of a robust pipeline of fuel retail deals across North America, as well as overseeing full property managment for all retail locations. Brandi's innovative approach and client relationship led her to secure a multi-national electric vehicle charging account, where she not only built a professional team to handle daily operations but also positioned the company at the forefront of the rapidy evolving EV market. Brandi Dees's extensive experience and strategic vision make her an invaluable assest in the retail, land, and fuel services landscape, particularly as the industry adapts to new technologies and consumer demands.

  Lee & Associates

  Senior VP

  Brandi Dees

  Senior VP

  Lee & Associates