Mayoral Insights: Bellevue’s Next Chapter

A Fireside Chat on the New Council, Rezoning, Housing, and the Policies Driving a Shared Vision for Sustainable Growth

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  Mo Malakoutian

  Mo Malakoutian was elected to the City Council in November 2023, for a four-year term starting in 2024. At his first meeting, his colleagues elected him deputy mayor for 2024 and 2025. His colleagues elected him mayor in January 2026. Mo served one and a half terms on the Planning Commission, from 2018 until he took a seat on the council. He chaired the commission at one point. In 2008, Mo immigrated to Washington from Iran to earn a doctorate in structural engineering at the University of Washington. He moved to Bellevue in 2013. Mo’s priorities include affordable housing, public safety, efficient transportation options, sustainability and equity. His council assignments include representing the council on the King County Cities Climate Collaboration and the Mental Illness Drug Dependency steering and advisory committees. He is Planning Commission and Youth Link Board liaison. Mo has over 20 years of experience in construction, engineering, academia and the tech industry. He is executive director of the University of Washington Consulting and Business Development Center. He also serves on the board of Wellspring Family Services. In addition to his doctorate in engineering, Mo also earned an MBA from UW's Foster School of Business.

  City of Bellevue

  Mayor

  Keynote

  Mo Malakoutian

  Mayor

  City of Bellevue

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  Lynne Robinson

  Mayor Lynne Robinson joined the City Council in 2014, and she has a long history of civic involvement. She is a champion for startups and small business, and has encouraged startup and equity crowdfunding workshops at City Hall. Her colleagues voted her deputy mayor in January 2018 and mayor in January 2020 and again in January 2022. Lynne also advocates for the environment, parks and open spaces, human services and affordable housing in Bellevue. She proposed a property tax exemption adopted by the council for multifamily complexes that include affordable housing. She represents the council on the King County Mental Illness and Drug Disability Advisory Committee, the King County Affordable Housing Committee and the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board. Before her election to the council, Lynne served on and chaired the Bellevue Network on Aging and the Parks & Community Services Board. A physical therapist with her own business, Lynne holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Regis University and a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. She also earned a bachelor's degree in community services from California State University Chico. In 2015 Governor Jay Inslee appointed Lynne to a three-year term on the state Board of Physical Therapy. Lynne developed an interest in computer science while in college, and she is on the Washington Technology Industry Association Cascadia Blockchain Council. Lynne and husband Dan Watson live downtown after moving from the Woodridge neighborhood, where they had resided since 1997. Their two children graduated from Bellevue public schools and are successful professionals.

  City of Bellevue

  Councilmember (Former Mayor)

  Keynote

  Lynne Robinson

  Councilmember (Former Mayor)

  City of Bellevue

• Moderator

  Kelly Pratt

  PNW Business Unit Leader

  DPR Construction

The Connected City: The Rise of Mixed-Use Urban Districts

Where Development, Mobility, and Placemaking Converge to Shape Bellevue’s Next Chapter

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  Steve Kramer

  KGIP’s co-founder, Steve Kramer, has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate. Facilitating the needs of his clients in each phase of the investment life cycle, Steve focuses on establishing and maintaining relationships with institutional and private investment partners, providing them with his expertise in real estate acquisitions, development, finance, management, and disposition. Steve has been directly involved in over $1.5 billion in real estate transactions utilizing his keen negotiating skills to execute his clients’ asset objectives. He is also involved in identifying and sourcing new real estate acquisition opportunities, as well as structuring joint venture partnerships for development projects. Prior to founding KGIP, Steve served as the West Coast Senior Regional Manager for Principal Financial Group. Here, he was responsible for acquisition, disposition, development and asset management of a portfolio including 10 million square feet of commercial real estate. He relocated to Seattle in 1993, spending eight years as Director of Investment Services with Martin Smith Real Estate Services.

  KG Investment Properties

  Principal and Co-Founder

  Steve Kramer

  Principal and Co-Founder

  KG Investment Properties

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  Charlie Foushée

  Charlie Foushée leads the Seattle region of Skanska USA Commercial Development, which delivers customer-focused, highly sustainable office, mixed-use, and multi-family properties across the United States. His experience in the real estate development industry spans almost 20 years, with emphasis on asset acquisition, development, leasing, and construction, of residential, retail, and mixed- use office projects. Since joining Skanska in 2016, Charlie has been an integral player and thought leader in delivering customer-focused, word-class, community-driven projects. Most recently serving as Vice President of Development for the Seattle market, Charlie's innovative spirit and entrepreneurial approach have supported Skanska’s most notable large-scale projects. This includes the 2+U project in Seattle, a 38-story LEED Platinum office building with arts-and-culture, retail space, as well as the asset management and divestment of Alley111 and 400 Fairview.  Most recently, Charlie led the development of The Eight, Skanska’s new 25-story, 540,000-square-foot Class A office tower in downtown Bellevue that is the company’s largest single investment globally to date when completed, and Kaye, Skanska’s new 31-story, 324-unit Class A residential tower in downtown Seattle.

  Skanska

  EVP

  Charlie Foushée

  EVP

  Skanska

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  Kemper McQuaid

  Kemper McQuaid has a diverse work experience ranging from business development to financial planning. Kemper started their career in 2014 as a Business Development Assistant at Freestone Capital Management. Kemper then worked as a Financial Planning Assistant at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in 2015. In the same year, they also served as an Analyst at 3xEquity. In 2016, they became the President of The 17th Ave House. Kemper then joined Kemper Development Company as a Rotational Intern in 2017 and later returned to the company in 2019 as the VP of Retail Leasing. Prior to that, they worked as an Analyst at OneAccord from 2018 to 2019. Kemper McQuaid attended Bellevue Christian High School from 2011 to 2014. Later, from 2015 to 2018, they pursued a degree in Finance and Information Systems at the University of Washington. Additionally, Kemper obtained a certification called the Foster School of Business Excel Credential from the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business.

  Kemper Development

  EVP, Development and Leasing

  Kemper McQuaid

  EVP, Development and Leasing

  Kemper Development

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  Doug Demers

  Doug Demers is a Principal and Office Director at HKS Seattle. He believes in strategically connecting clients' objectives with design thinking to improve outcomes. Business strategy, return on investment and positive user experiences underpin all of Doug's projects and he gives back as an advisory board member of the UW College of Built Environment's Runstad Department of Real Estate.

  HKS

  Principal, Office Director

  Doug Demers

  Principal, Office Director

  HKS

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  Aaron Laing

  Team Responsibility | Aaron is an Account Executive in our Commercial Department, serving a broad range of clients in the real estate, development, construction, restaurant, and hospitality industries. As an account executive, he leads a multifaceted team of talented, experienced colleagues who collaborate to tailor insurance programs to meet each client’s unique risk management needs. Background | Aaron joined Parker, Smith & Feek in 2022 after a 20-year career as a land use/real estate attorney, during which he served a broad client base of owners, developers, and property managers. His decades-long experience as a trusted advisor on all aspects of real property development, management, leasing, and litigation have provided him a unique and deep understanding of his clients’ challenges and needs. Aaron has extensive knowledge of real estate transactions, the development lifecycle, business considerations, litigation, and the risks associated with those activities. Experience & Approach | Relying on his experiences as an attorney, Aaron works to understand the nuances of his clients’ businesses in order to best guide them through their risk management efforts. He uses a proactive approach to risk control, claims management, underwriter negotiations, emphasizing mitigation of risks present in construction and development operations through risk assessment and clear contracts. Professional and Community Involvement | Aaron’s deeply held beliefs in serving others and teamwork led to his successful legal career and are the cornerstones of his approach to risk management. He also believes strongly in community involvement. He has served as board member and president of Bellevue United FC, and he volunteered on the City of Bellevue’s Planning Commission for over eight years. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and serves on the state committee as the private sector public-private partnership co-chair. Aaron is also a member of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Land Use, Sustainability & Housing (PLUSH) committee and the Building Industry Association of Washington’s (BIAW) Legal Committee. Aaron enjoys playing, coaching, and cheering for his kids in soccer.

  IMA Financial Group

  VP, Real Estate

  Moderator

  Aaron Laing

  VP, Real Estate

  IMA Financial Group

Building the Eastside: Capital, Projects & Delivery in 2026

How Deals Are Being Funded, Built, and Brought to Market

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  James Rivard

  James is responsible for the overall real estate acquisition, development, leasing and disposition strategy and activities of SRM. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Santa Clara University and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). James loves that each day on the job presents new challenges and new opportunities. He enjoys working with a team of bright, capable and driven people.

  SRM Development

  Managing Principal - Real Estate

  James Rivard

  Managing Principal - Real Estate

  SRM Development

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  Richard Weir

  Richard is Executive Vice President Acquisitions + Asset Management for Bosa Development Corp. Bosa Development is a fully vertically integrated real estate development company recognized internationally for pioneering new markets and creating developments that are catalysts for change. The company has completed more than 20,000 homes in California, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta. In addition, the company owns a commercial real estate portfolio of more than 5.5 million square feet, made up of multifamily, industrial, retail, office and hotel properties. Since joining the company more than 25 years ago, Richard has played an instrumental role in charting its growth and asset management strategies.

  Bosa Development

  EVP

  Richard Weir

  EVP

  Bosa Development

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  Kyran Hynes

  President

  Continental Properties

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  Torrey Davis

  Torrey is a versatile construction professional with extensive experience across commercial building types, including office, hospitality, and residential projects. With a career spanning skyscrapers, historic hotel renovations, and large residential developments, he brings confidence and creativity to every project. A University of Washington graduate, Torrey's first project was a 46-story high-rise, sparking a passion for shaping Puget Sound’s skyline.

  JTM Construction

  Project Executive

  Torrey Davis

  Project Executive

  JTM Construction

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  Emily Kelly

  Emily represents sophisticated owners and developers in complex commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of multifamily mixed-use, retail, and office projects. Emily keeps projects on track and helps clients protect real property investments and mitigate risk in order to achieve their business objectives. Emily enjoys working with clients to reach practical and business-driven solutions to complex legal issues. She has significant experience advising clients on the development and leasing of life sciences, biomedical, and technology space. She has also negotiated numerous complex ground leases on behalf of tenants and landlords. Emily’s clients include private developers, technology and life sciences companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), nonprofit organizations, institutional investors, and government entities. Before joining Stoel Rives, Emily was a corps member with Teach for America in Washington, D.C.

  Stoel Rives

  Partner

  Moderator

  Emily Kelly

  Partner

  Stoel Rives

Opening Remarks | Silverstein Properties

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  Kristin Jensen

  Kristin Jensen is a seasoned commercial real estate executive with over 30 years of experience spanning architecture, development, and large-scale mixed-use projects. Based in the greater Seattle and Bellevue areas, she brings unparalleled market expertise, established industry relationships, and a proven track record of delivering transformative projects that activate communities and reshape neighborhoods. Throughout her career, Kristin has held senior leadership roles at Gensler, Touchstone, and Tarragon, overseeing high-profile developments across various sectors, including retail, hospitality, office, residential, and resorts. Her portfolio includes landmark projects such as Kent Station, hill7, tilt49, Thompson Hotel, and Sage Lodge—each exemplifying her commitment to thoughtful placemaking, strategic execution, and long-term community impact. A licensed architect, Kristin bridges design excellence with disciplined development leadership. She is known for building high-performance teams, aligning diverse stakeholders, and delivering complex projects with both vision and precision. A dedicated leader in both civic and industry affairs, Kristin is a past President of NAIOP Washington State. She currently serves as a Board Member of the Bellevue Downtown Association and as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Walla Walla. As Executive Director of Avenue Bellevue, she leads one of the region’s most ambitious mixed-use developments, continuing to guide its evolution into a defining address in downtown Bellevue, where thoughtful design, world-class hospitality, curated retail, and luxury living converge.

  Silverstein Properties

  Executive Director

  Kristin Jensen

  Executive Director

  Silverstein Properties