Keynote Interview

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  Matt Mooney

  Matt is the COO of Parkway, a privately owned, full-service real estate investment firm with more than $2 billion in assets under management. Parkway owns and develops institutional quality assets throughout the Sunbelt, along with providing property and asset management, leasing, accounting, and development services on both an owned and third-party basis. Matt returned to Parkway in 2021, after a prior stint during the company’s years as a public-REIT. Previously, Matt was with Cousins Properties, Inc. (NYSE: CUZ), during which time he led the Atlanta office of Cousins for several years, overseeing a portfolio of over 7 million SF of high-rise urban office product. He began his real estate career at Parkway Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PKY), relocating to Phoenix with Parkway in 2006 and assuming leadership of the Phoenix office for Parkway in 2007. Matt's teams have achieved various accolades across the Sunbelt, including being named NAIOP-Arizona Owner/Developer of the Year, receiving the NAIOP-Georgia Office Deal of the Year, and recently receiving CoStar's Sale/Acquisition of the Year in Houston. Matt graduated Summa Cumme Laude from Mississippi State University, where he received both his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Business Administration, and competed on the Men's Golf Team. He is active in numerous organizations, including the Phoenix Thunderbirds, hosts of the PGA Tour's WM Phoenix Open, where he is the 2025 Tournament Chairman.

  Parkway

  COO

  Matt Mooney

  COO

  Parkway

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  Maddy McCarty

  Maddy McCarty joined Bisnow as its Houston Reporter in 2022. In that role, she covers commercial real estate deals, trends and news in the Greater Houston Area and beyond. Prior to joining Bisnow, she worked as a reporter and editor for a daily print newspaper and multiple online news sources. She is a double graduate of Texas Tech University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communications.

  Bisnow

  Houston Reporter

  Maddy McCarty

  Houston Reporter

  Bisnow

Asset Classes Outlook

Trends and Updates in Houston's Asset Classes

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  Travis Overall

  EVP

  Brookfield Properties

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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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  Thomas Nguyen

  Thomas P. Nguyen is the Restaurant Practice Leader in CBRE's Houston office specializing in tenant representation with a focus on restaurants. Prior to joining Brian Ashby and Sydney Dixon’s tenant representation team, Thomas spent three (3) years as a commercial litigation attorney and eleven (11) years as the co-founder of the Peli Peli South African restaurant chain. Peli Peli was one of Houston’s most beloved and best-reviewed restaurants and has been featured on the Food Network and CNBC’s Restaurant Startup. In 2017, Peli Peli Kitchen was named Best Fast Casual Concept of the Year (Eater Houston). Thomas is the tenant representative for some of Houston and Austin’s best known brands including Bombshells, Jinya Ramen, Gen Korean BBQ, Paris Baguette, Food Network Star Eddie Jackson, 2022 Restaurant of the Year - Amrina, Chi’lantro BBQ, Acclaimed international Asian hospitality group - Dining Innovation Group, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Ice House, 2022 James Beard nominee Phat Eatery, James Beard Winner Tom Cunanan, Top Chef star Dawn Burrell, The Waffle Bus, Fat Boy’s Pizza, PKL Social/FM Kitchen, Food & Wine Best New Pastry Chef Shawn Gawle, ChopnBlok, Wakefield Crowbar, and many others. Active in the Houston community, Thomas is a finalist for the 2023 REDNews Real Estate "Emerging Leader of the Year" Award and has earned recognition as a 2015 Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, 2016 Houston Asian Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year, 2017 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, 2017 Texas Exes Distinguished Alumni nominee and 2018 Golden Fork Faces of Diversity Recipient (Greater Houston Restaurant Association). Thomas wrote the cover story for and was featured in the article “So you want to open a restaurant” – Houston Press, October 2016 and has contributed to articles for Forbes, Inc., Costco Connection, Success Magazine, Sparq Business IQ (Capital One) and OpenTable blogs. He earned a B.A. in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

  CBRE

  Restaurant Practice Leader – Houston

  Thomas Nguyen

  Restaurant Practice Leader – Houston

  CBRE

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  Gabe Lerner

  Gabe Lerner is a seasoned commercial real estate and investment management leader with over a decade of experience spanning mixed-use, office, retail, and large-scale land acquisitions. Currently, he serves as Executive Vice President at Lincoln Property Company in Houston, where he focuses on expanding Lincoln’s service businesses, as well as its development and investment portfolios in the market. Additionally, his priority is to grow Lincoln’s mixed-use development business. Originally from Houston, Gabe has led real estate acquisition, development, and financing initiatives in markets across the globe and nationally, with a particular focus on the energy and real estate sectors. His comprehensive expertise encompasses Acquisition and Divestiture Management, Legal Due Diligence, and Asset Evaluation. Prior to joining Lincoln, Gabe held the position of Managing Director at Allied Orion Group. He was responsible for the acquisition, development, and alternative investment opportunities, concentrating on multifamily properties across the Sun Belt states. His strategic vision and leadership played a crucial role in expanding the company’s portfolio and driving its growth. Gabe’s career also includes a tenure as Managing Director for one of China’s largest private real estate developers, ZTC Investments. In this capacity, he spearheaded investments, oversight, and management of projects outside mainland China, with a portfolio that included ventures in North America, Europe, Japan, and other global locales. Gabe started his career working as an attorney in Houston, Texas.

  Lincoln Property Company

  EVP

  Gabe Lerner

  EVP

  Lincoln Property Company

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  Armando Niebla, PE

  Armando J. Niebla, PE, is the Regional Discipline Leader for Civil/Site development for Colliers Engineering & Design, a leading engineering and architecture, consulting and design firm serving private and public clients nationwide. Mr. Niebla is a professional engineer licensed in Texas and Colorado and based in the San Antonio, Texas office, where he is responsible for leading the commercial development teams throughout the state of Texas. Mr. Niebla manages land development projects primarily for commercial developments including feasibility, site concept, entitlement, plan preparation and utility infrastructure design, drainage system design and hydrology and hydraulic analysis. The markets he has been vested in have included healthcare, education, office buildings, retail, restaurants, and industrial/warehouse land developments. Mr. Niebla is a former board member of the North San Antonio Chamber; member of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio; member of the Hispanic Chamber of San Antonio; Member of the City of San Antonio Planning Commission-Technical Advisory Committee.

  Colliers Engineering & Design

  Regional Discipline Leader | Civil/Site/Texas

  Armando Niebla, PE

  Regional Discipline Leader | Civil/Site/Texas

  Colliers Engineering & Design

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  Swapnil Agarwal

  Swapnil Agarwal was born in Agra, India on May 25th, 1981. As a teenager, he and his parents moved to Houston, Texas, where he began his sophomore year at Alief Hastings Public High School. Swapnil briefly attended Houston Baptist University before moving to the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration. Swapnil began a 2-year Investment Banking Analyst program at Simmons & Company International. From 2005-2006, Swapnil worked as a Business Development Manager at El Paso Energy before moving to Hong Kong to work at Forum Partners, a private equity firm. Swapnil created Nitya Capital in 2013. Nitya Capital, a privately-held international real estate investment firm, owns and manages over $3 billion in real estate assets across the United States. The company, which employs 500 professionals, has grown to include over $1.5 billion in total assets, according to a June 2019 report of Business Journal. In 2014, Swapnil founded KPM Property Management, a multifamily management company focused on providing management services to apartment communities across the country. In 2018, KPM Property Management was ranked the fastest-growing private company in Houston by Inc. 5000 and was featured in Houston Business Journal’s Middle Market Awards in 2021. An active member in providing goodwill across communities, Swapnil founded the Karya Kares Organization. The Karya Kares organization is responsible for providing various community charity services, including back-to-school donation events, scholarship donations, swimming safety education, veteran assistance, educational support, etc. Swapnil is a frequent media guest and has been interviewed by the NY Times, Forbes, GlobeSt., Houston Chronicle, Houston Business Journal, ABC13, Insights Success Magazine, and NPR.

  Nitya Capital

  Partner

  Swapnil Agarwal

  Partner

  Nitya Capital

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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

New and Interesting Projects and Developments

What it takes to Develop the Houston Skyline

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  Christen Vestal

  Christen joined Provident Realty Advisors in 2022 as the Director of Development & Acquisitions. She is the first women Development Partner at Provident and one of the only women developers in the industrial sector of Houston. Christen has developed over 8 million sqft of Class A Institutional industrial facilities. She is a career industrial developer with experience in projects that range from extremely specialized manufacturing facilities to Speculative big box developments. Career highlights include a build-to-suit project for one of the largest e-commerce companies in the country, speculative distributions projects ranging from 100,000 sf to as large as 1,000,000 sf buildings under one roof. Her career consists of development of over 700 acres and $1B worth of transaction value. Christen is the 2022 RedNews Emerging Leader of the Year, RedNews Finalist for Woman of the Year and Bisnow Developing leader for 2021. She holds an MBA from the Freeman School of Business, Tulane University. Christen is a mother of two and wife to a successful real estate entrepreneur. Her and her family are members at Second Baptist Church. Christen is dedicated to giving to Sky High for Children, a very special charity that raises money to fund cancer treatments for kids.

  Provident Realty Advisors

  Director of Development & Acquisitions

  Christen Vestal

  Director of Development & Acquisitions

  Provident Realty Advisors

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  Nancy Almodovar

  Nancy Almodovar, CEO and co-founder of Nan and Company Properties, is a record-breaking leader in Houston's luxury real estate market. Recently named the #1 agent for selling the most expensive homes in the city, Nancy has consistently set new standards for excellence in high-end property transactions. Her unparalleled expertise and ability to break records have made her a trusted authority among Houston’s elite, handling the city’s most prestigious estates and multimillion-dollar properties. Starting from her kitchen table in 2014, Nancy built Nan and Company Properties into one of Houston’s top 10 brokerages, transforming it into a powerhouse of luxury real estate. With over 15 years of experience, her visionary leadership has led the firm to grow by more than 40% annually, driven by a commitment to excellence, bespoke service, and unmatched client satisfaction. Under her guidance, Nan and Company Properties has been repeatedly recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of the best places to work, a distinction that Nancy values even more than her personal accolades, as it reflects the thriving, supportive environment she has cultivated for her team. Nancy’s influence extends beyond real estate; she is a dedicated community leader. In 2016, she founded the Nan Cares Toy Drive, an annual initiative that provides joy to underserved children in Houston. Her passion for giving back is reflected in her ongoing support of organizations like the Houston Ballet and her charitable efforts throughout the city. An alumna of the University of Houston Bauer College of Business and a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program, Nancy blends her strong academic background with her entrepreneurial spirit. A devoted wife and mother of two, she also serves as a mentor to aspiring leaders in business and real estate, continuing to inspire and uplift the next generation.

  Nan and Co.

  CEO

  Nancy Almodovar

  CEO

  Nan and Co.

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  Brandon Avedikian

  Brandon is the founder of Aspire Commercial, a commercial real estate firm established in 2023 with ambitions to disrupt the industry. Brandon has a passion for real estate and a proven track record of achieving exceptional results for clients. Throughout his career, Brandon has executed over 450 transactions with a total transaction volume in excess of $155 million. Prior to founding Aspire Commercial, Brandon spent seven years with Holt Lunsford Commercial, most recently serving as a Managing Principal of the Houston office. Brandon graduated from Abilene Christian University with a BBA and Masters in Accounting. He is a Texas real estate broker, CPA, and member of NAIOP.

  Aspire Commercial

  Founder

  Brandon Avedikian

  Founder

  Aspire Commercial

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  Randy Wile

  President

  Wile Interests

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  Jason McLean

  Jason McLean is an accomplished telecom industry professional with more than 20 years of experience and a stellar track record of providing network technology and telecom services. His expertise extends to building strong relationships with community associations, providing innovative solutions tailored to meet their needs. Additionally, Jason is highly proficient in the process of deploying telecom service, overseeing projects from the initial construction phase through to the successful powering on of services.

  Hotwire Communications

  Sr. Regional Director

  Moderator

  Jason McLean

  Sr. Regional Director

  Hotwire Communications

East Downtown Spotlight

Exploring EaDo's Growth and Transformation

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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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  Paul Coonrod

  Founder & Managing Principal

  Pagewood

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  Jeffrey Kaplan

  Principal

  Concept Neighborhood

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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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  Michael Marcon

  Mr. Marcon is the Senior Principal and Technical Advisor with InControl Technologies, a company he and his partners founded in 1997 to assist clients navigate the complex world of environmental regulations and site restoration. Mr. Marcon focuses on the real estate redevelopment markets, working with large law firms, property developers and real estate brokers to assist with environmental challenges on private, commercial, and industrial properties. He also identifies any potential environmental issues and negotiates through the City and State Regulation Agencies. He enjoys educating his clients, explaining their environmental liabilities and legal obligations. Mr. Marcon has worked with multiple groups within the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) including the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), Innocent Owner/ Operator Program, and Petroleum Storage Tank groups. Additionally, he manages contracts with the TCEQ Dry Cleaner Remediation Program (DCRP) and the Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) program. Michael also manages multiple projects with the Texas Railroad Commission and Texas Department of Transportation throughout the state of Texas. With his extensive experience in the environmental industry, he has developed strong relationships with the regulatory agencies which help clients navigate projects through these agencies. Mr. Marcon’s experience includes interim environmental site assessments, remediation, treatability studies, and risk assessments. Mr. Marcon has provided expert witness testimony in over 50 environmental litigation cases throughout his career; and has presented on topics such as “remediation technology” and “treatment for chlorinated solvents” for numerous state agencies, private clients, and environmental industry conferences.

  InControl Technologies

  President/Senior Principal

  Moderator

  Michael Marcon

  President/Senior Principal

  InControl Technologies