Powering Prosperity: Leadership Perspectives on Montgomery County’s Economic and Real Estate Future

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  Thomas DiBello

  Commissioner

  Montgomery County

• 

  Jamila Winder

  Commissioner

  Montgomery County

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  Darby Doyle

  Business Representative

  Bucks & Montgomery County, Plumbers Local Union 690

• Moderator

  Stephen Forster

  Director, Commerce Department

  Montgomery County

Development, Redevelopment and Positioning Montgomery County for the Future

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  Mark Nicoletti

  President & CEO

  Philadelphia Suburban Development Corporation

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  Michael Markman

  As President, Michael Markman oversees acquisitions, leasing, financing and development for BET Investments, a real estate management and development company that owns, manages, develops and leases shopping centers, office buildings and apartment complexes throughout the United States. Mr. Markman was formerly general counsel of a publicly traded New York Stock Exchange real estate investment trust (REIT) with over $500 million in assets where he managed all legal matters. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the Temple University School of Law and is member of the Pennsylvania Bar. He is a Commissioner in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, past chairman Abington Township Planning Commission, a member of the Board of Directors of the John A. Robbins Company and on the Board of Trustees at Ursinus College. Mr. Markman is a frequent speaker on industry topics and serves on the boards of various charitable groups.

  BET Investments

  President

  Michael Markman

  President

  BET Investments

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  Mike Bowman

  Mike Bowman is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality and gaming industries, having worked in several senior level positions for Hilton Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide, Rush Gaming and Caesars Entertainment. He was recently named President of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFCTB). Previously he served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the organization. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of Valley Forge Casino Resort, responsible for all gaming, entertainment, hotel, food & beverage, and convention business — along with all strategic gaming operations and marketing and managing a staff of 1001 employees. He has achieved numerous hospitality industry accolades. Twice he has been awarded Caesar’s annual top leadership award and Manager of the Year for Wyndham Worldwide, while being responsible for all property operations in the Caribbean and northeast hotel resorts. He maintains active involvement in several community service organizations including the Jewish Community Center of Margate. In addition, Bowman has partnered professionally and personally with organizations such as the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, the Asian Heritage Festival and Mission Kids. He also works with various charities and homeless advocacy support groups in the area. Professionally he maintains a presence on the Valley Forge Casino Resort board of directors, reporting to Ira Lubert of Lubert Adler Real Estate Funds. He is also a board member of Upper Merion’s Board of Community Assistance and chairman of the board for Peddler’s Village in Bucks County. In addition, he serves as an executive board member for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and most recently was appointed to the board of the Montgomery County Development Corporation. A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, he and his wife, Karen, reside in New Jersey with their two daughters, Oksana and Anastasia.

  Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

  President & CEO

  Mike Bowman

  President & CEO

  Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

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  Chris Egan

  Director, Acquisitions

  Hightop Development

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  Pete Staz

  Principal

  Core Development

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  Kyle Speece

  Kyle is the co-Founder and Managing Principal of Emergent. He leads the company’s efforts across our five primary service lines: origination; development; consulting; investing; and renewable energy integration. All of these efforts are conducted with a preference and eye toward affordable multifamily use where strategically beneficial. Prior to Emergent, Kyle worked for multiple large, nationally-ranked, full-service development companies. He was responsible for new business identification and all aspects of project management in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and has significant experience with myriad financing sources including low-income housing and historic tax credits, federal HUD and FHA programs, and numerous state and local sources. Kyle holds a degree in Communications with double-major in Economics from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Real Estate Development from Johns Hopkins University.

  Emergent Real Estate Partners

  Managing Principal

  Kyle Speece

  Managing Principal

  Emergent Real Estate Partners

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  Dave Brown

  Dave Brown oversees the Philadelphia market for CBG Building Company, one of the largest and most respected national multifamily builders. Mr. Brown started his career with CBG in the DC/MD/VA area. He opened the CBG Philadelphia office in 2017. Since then he has been responsible for over $250M worth of multifamily construction in the suburbs. These projects include The Smith King of Prussia, J Creekside at Exton, and 130 Monument in Bala Cynwyd. Mr Brown grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and is an alumni of Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown. Mr Brown received his BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.

  CBG Building Company

  VP

  Moderator

  Dave Brown

  VP

  CBG Building Company

Video Remarks

• Video Remarks

  Neil Makhija

  Chairman

  Montgomery County Board of Commissioners