Keynote: Eric Orsborn, Mayor of Buckeye

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  Eric Orsborn

  Eric Orsborn was re-elected for a second term as Mayor of Buckeye, Arizona, in 2024, following 10 years of service as the District 6 City Council representative. With a focus on smart growth and community development, he is dedicated to ensuring Buckeye remains a vibrant and welcoming city. Mayor Orsborn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Arizona State University. He brings extensive experience in construction, land development, and project management as the owner of OCM, a construction and maintenance company. In addition to his leadership in Buckeye, Mayor Orsborn is actively involved in regional initiatives. He serves on the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), is Treasurer for the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Council, and sits on the MAG Executive Committee. He is also a past chair and current member of the MAG Transportation Policy Committee, where he has supported critical infrastructure projects for the region. A proud Blue Blazer and member of Fighter Country Partnership, Mayor Orsborn continues to advocate for the mission and personnel of Luke Air Force Base. A native Arizonan, Mayor Orsborn is committed to fostering responsible growth while maintaining Buckeye’s strong sense of community. He and his wife, Tina, have two children, Emma and Jack, and have called the Verrado community home since 2004.

  Buckeye

  Mayor

  Keynote

  Eric Orsborn

  Mayor

  Buckeye

Unlocking Potential: The Future of SFR and BTR

Examining Market Demand, Development Trends and How Single-Family Rentals Are Filling the Housing Gap

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  Theodore Karatz

  Managing Director, US Acquisitions

  GTIS Partners

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  Tony Chen

  Tony Chen joined Crescent Communities in 2021 to lead the start-up and launch of the Single-Family Build-to-Rent business unit. Tony is responsible for strategic planning, business development, investment strategy, property manager oversight, land acquisition, site planning, entitlements, product design and construction oversight. Prior to Crescent Communities, Tony was a senior executive at FirstKey Homes, Cerberus Capital Management’s investment platform to acquire and manage scattered-site single-family rental properties. During his tenure at FirstKey, Tony helped stabilize, scale and optimize the business, growing the portfolio to over 28,000 homes and executing over $4.5 billion of acquisition, disposition and securitization transactions through his involvement with FirstKey’s investment committee, asset management and strategy functions. Prior to FirstKey Homes, Tony was an investment banker in the real estate, gaming and lodging group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he executed over $16 billion of M&A, equity and debt transactions. Tony started his career at Deloitte where he advised companies across various sectors on finance transformation, capital markets accounting and M&A integration. Tony earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech.

  Crescent Communities

  Senior Managing Director

  Tony Chen

  Senior Managing Director

  Crescent Communities

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  Sherri Koshiol

  Director of Land Development

  Empire Group Of Companies

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  Alex Pollack

  In his current role as VP of Partnerships at Mosaic, Alex oversees identifying, cultivating, and securing strategic partnerships, expanding Mosaic’s market presence, revenue lines, and client satisfaction. At Mosaic Alex has facilitated bidding more than 130 build-to-rent projects for 90 clients across 11 major metropolitan areas, encompassing more than 20,000 homes and $5B in construction value. Prior to joining Mosaic, Alex held roles in residential land acquisition, land development, asset management.

  Mosaic

  VP of Partnerships

  Alex Pollack

  VP of Partnerships

  Mosaic

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  Kip Gilleland

  With over 30 years of residential real estate asset management and development the company's co-founder, Kip brings a wealth of experience to all projects he is involved with.  During his career, he held corporate positions, including Regional VP, Division President, and Vice President of Land for some of the largest public and privately held real estate development firms and home builders. In these roles, Kip directly managed P&L and asset management of projects exceeding $500MM. Today, Kip focuses on business operations while managing all aspects of current and future projects. His ability to collaborate with clients, governing agencies, contractors, and consultants ensures the success of each project. This hands-on approach, combined with industry-driven experience, provides our clients with the highest level of service.

  TLS Land Services

  Managing Principal

  Kip Gilleland

  Managing Principal

  TLS Land Services

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  Brian Cassidy

  Brian Cassidy, AIA is the President of CCBG Architects, Inc. with studios in downtown Phoenix and San Diego. He has been involved in many adaptive reuse, and mixed-use high-density housing projects in greater Phoenix, including more than 12,000 new apartment units. This work includes a diverse body of warehouse renovations that are breathing new life into our city. Brian passionately advocates to build Phoenix into a world class city in which to live, work, worship and play. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, and is the Chair of the Phoenix Warehouse District Council, which promotes and brands the District in concert with a series of creative volunteers and businesses.

  CCBG Architects

  President

  Brian Cassidy

  President

  CCBG Architects

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  Taylor Earl

  Taylor Earl’s legal practice focuses exclusively on zoning, land use, and municipal law. As an Arizona native, Taylor takes pride in contributing to the quality development and redevelopment of his home state. His extensive experience spans all sectors of real estate development, including residential (single-family and multi-family), industrial, commercial, office, food and entertainment, hospitality, and more. Taylor has successfully secured entitlements and various land use approvals for projects large and small throughout Arizona. Known for his trustworthy and effective communication skills, Taylor excels in both small group settings and public hearings. He is a bridge builder and a creative problem solver, consistently finding innovative solutions to complex issues. Taylor’s clients include prestigious development entities such as Grand Canyon University, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Kimco Realty, Trammell Crow Company, and Lennar Homes, as well as boutique developers and individual property owners. Taylor earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. from Brigham Young University. Before joining Earl & Curley, he served as a law clerk for the Hon. Judge Daniel A. Barker (ret.) of the Arizona Court of Appeals and later worked as a civil litigation attorney. Taylor and his wife are the proud parents of six wonderful children. He is active in his community and finds time to engage in endurance sports, including completing a full-length Ironman triathlon alongside his wife (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run).

  Earl & Curley

  Managing Partner

  Moderator

  Taylor Earl

  Managing Partner

  Earl & Curley

Capital Markets & Deal Flow

Unlocking New Investment Pathways and Overcoming Market Challenges to Get Deals Across the Finish Line

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  Ed Gorman

  The president, creative visionary and business mastermind behind MODUS Development, Ed Gorman created a unique solution to eco-friendly urban living by combining his aptitude for technology and design with his extensive background in real estate development. What started as an idea of innovative housing with location, design and technology at its core, has since led MODUS to become the leading developer of eco-friendly living featuring innovative buildings with award-winning environmentally friendly designs located in prime urban areas. Not only is Gorman’s MODUS Development nationally recognized as one of the premier developers of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-H), but he was also among the first in the nation – and the first in Arizona – to unveil net zero energy living spaces. Prior to MODUS Development, Gorman began his career with technology companies AT&T, Apriva and Iridium Satellite. Followed by years spent in real estate development, which included site acquisition, design, construction, and financing. Gorman is a LEED accredited professional, Urban Land Institute (ULI) member, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) member, and is a board advisor for the Arizona State University Masters in Real Estate Development (MRED) program, which is also where he received his MBA following his Bachelor’s of Science from the University of South Carolina. Now considered a pioneer in the industry, Gorman has continued to keep MODUS Development on the cutting edge of urban living. Projects such as The Galleries at Turney in Phoenix, AZ and Parc Riviera in San Diego, CA solidified his standing as a leader among his peers, while upcoming residential projects that are currently under development in Arizona and California – MZ Townhomes in Scottsdale, AZ was recently unveiled as the first zero energy housing project in the state, with three more projects to be unveiled in 2016 – will continue to keep him at the forefront of innovative, energy-efficient living.

  MODUS Development

  President

  Ed Gorman

  President

  MODUS Development

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  Brent Long

  Brent Long is the Director of Investment and Land for Christopher Todd Communities, one of the leaders in the Build-To-Rent real estate niche. Long has more than 25 years in the multifamily sector including investment, development, investment sales and capital markets. In his role as Director of Investment and Land, he is leveraging his connections and expertise to guide the company into new markets. Long’s leadership in real estate development includes principle of Cypress Investment Partners, president of Land Advisors Organization and president of Berkadia Investment Sales. Christopher Todd Communities was one of the early multifamily disrupters in the build-to-rent niche, creating communities that are a hybrid between traditional single-family home neighborhoods and apartment communities. The communities are platted and zoned as multifamily and are comprised of luxury single-story smart homes with robust technology, private maintenance-free pet-friendly backyards combined with resort-inspired community amenities. Every community is professionally managed. www.ChristopherTodd.com.

  Christopher Todd Communities

  President, Development

  Brent Long

  President, Development

  Christopher Todd Communities

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  Joe Blackbourn

  Joe Blackbourn founded Everest Holdings in 2002. In twenty-five plus years in the real estate industry, Joe has had direct involvement with the investment side of transactions with aggregate value well in excess of $2 billion, including office buildings, master-planned communities, multifamily communities, shopping centers, hotel properties, business parks, mixed-use developments, residential land, commercial land, mortgage pools, and portfolios of distressed assets. His experience includes successful outcomes for many complex underwriting, capitalization and asset management challenges. Blackbourn’s experience includes involvement in 3 million square feet of improved office buildings, 2,500+ hotel rooms, residential communities comprised of 7,500+ approved dwelling units and several millions of square feet of potential development rights on commercial land. He estimates that these investments have produced an aggregate, weighted internal rate of return in excess of 25 percent. Mr. Blackbourn holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and performed post-graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Arizona State University. He is active in the Urban Land Institute (ULI) as a member of a national product council and a past Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Arizona District Council. He currently serves on ULI Arizona’s Executive Committee and Chairs YLG’s Partnership Forum, ULI’s model mentorship program. Joe is a member of Lambda Alpha International and the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of First Place Arizona, an organization formed to develop a new residential prototype for adults with developmental disorders and is on the Advisory Board for ASU’s Master in Real Estate Development transdisciplinary program. Past service includes membership on Arizona State University’s Council for Design Excellence and service on the Boards of Directors for SARRC (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center), and Kivel Campus of Care, a leading continuous care facility serving the Jewish community of Greater Phoenix.

  Everest Holdings

  President

  Joe Blackbourn

  President

  Everest Holdings

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  Jared Geisler

  Jared Geisler is managing director for the Phoenix and Denver regions at NexMetro Communities, the nation’s leading single-family rental home community builder. Jared’s solid engineering and development background, combined with more than 15 years of experience in the field, allow him to simultaneously manage numerous projects from land acquisition through forward planning, construction and turn-over. NexMetro has more than 55 projects in multiple markets across the nation either built, under construction or in development, with a robust pipeline of projects in new and existing markets. Jared gained invaluable development experience managing some of the largest master plans as land project manager for Pulte Homes. Prior to that, he served as a land development project manager for CVL Consultants, where his work with some of the country’s largest homebuilders provided him with key knowledge on planning, the entitlement process and site design. Jared holds a BS degree in civil engineering from Arizona State University, and is a registered professional engineer and AMA member.

  NexMetro Communities

  Managing Director

  Jared Geisler

  Managing Director

  NexMetro Communities

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  George Maravilla

  George Maravilla is a Partner at Tower Capital, LLC who spearheads its Equity and Development platform. Maravilla joined the firm in 2018, quickly establishing himself as a key member of the company and he has been instrumental in the rapid growth of Tower Capital’s industry-leading Build-to-Rent (BTR) team. Maravilla has emerged as a national leader within the BTR sector. The capital advisor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience financing this complex product type to the table for both developers and lenders. He has firmly established himself as a leader of the BTR finance team and is repeatedly counted on to help developers bring their BTR projects to life. Tower Capital has closed more than $1.5 billion in BTR construction financing and joint venture equity encompassing more than 7,000 units across nearly 40 Build-to-Rent communities. The firm’s pipeline of projects spans multiple states including in Arizona, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Colorado, and Indiana. Prior to joining Tower Capital, Maravilla spent 14 years at DMB Associates, Inc., a respected real estate development firm, where he most recently served as Director of Finance. The company specializes in large scale master planned communities, golf courses, multifamily, office, retail and mixed-use projects throughout Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Utah. He held responsibility for managing project level financial risk and created sophisticated financial models that were utilized to establish the appropriate development strategy at DMB. Maravilla also created long-term capital plans, project life cycle capitalization, deal structuring, and oversaw investor/partner reporting. He also evaluated new opportunities in a wide range of residential and commercial asset classes having underwritten more than $700 million in potential acquisitions and vertical developments during his time at DMB. He is actively involved with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Maravilla earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Arizona State University with an emphasis in computer information systems and philosophy.

  Tower Capital

  Partner

  George Maravilla

  Partner

  Tower Capital

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  Brandon Harrington

  Brandon Harrington is senior vice president and managing director Multifamily Debt + Equity in Northmarq's Phoenix office, where he joined in May 2020. Brandon provides a customized approach to capital solutions for entrepreneurial and institutional multifamily investors. Brandon, a recognized industry leader, is responsible for originating and structuring debt and equity for the acquisition, refinance or recapitalization of apartment communities nationwide. His close collaboration with Northmarq’s Investment Sales teams is a benefit to clients, whether their business plan requires the need to finance, buy or sell assets. By leveraging Northmarq’s Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD platforms, and capital sources ranging from banks, CMBS, debt funds, equity partners as well as Northmarq’s leading life company network, Brandon's team is able to effectively source and structure the most competitive capital to fit their clients business plans and maximize their returns. In the past few years, Harrington and his team have closed over $1.5 billion in multifamily financing. Brandon earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Arizona State University.

  Northmarq

  Managing Director

  Moderator

  Brandon Harrington

  Managing Director

  Northmarq

Community by Design: The Evolution of Phoenix's MPCs

Creating Synergistic Live-Work-Play Environments Through Thoughtful Development

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  Greg Vogel

  Since founding the company in 1987, Greg has applied his unique knowledge in the areas of land economics, land use and market trends to become a trusted advisor to a broad spectrum of clients including financial institutions, investors, homebuilders and master-planned community developers. As Chief Executive Officer of Land Advisors Organization, he has led the expansion of the company into 30 markets across the United States launching it to the largest land company in the US.. Over the past 36 years he has been involved in over 1,000 transactions including dozens of the highest valued land transactions in the country. He has developed an extreme level of expertise in large scale community development and the representation of large land owners in unique structured transactions. Mr. Vogel received his B.S. in Real Estate from Arizona State University in 1985. Within the Urban Land Institute he has served over 25 years in many national and local leadership positions. Mr. Vogel focuses his philanthropic and civic involvement on the Arizona State University Real Estate Programs now Chairing the Real Estate Council and is a Board member of University Realty. He also serves on the board of Valley Partnership and is serving on the Valley Wise Hospital System current capital campaign.

  Land Advisors Organization

  Founder & CEO

  Greg Vogel

  Founder & CEO

  Land Advisors Organization

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  Kate Kaminski

  COO, AZ Region

  Howard Hughes

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  Pam Giss

  Pam Giss is the Principal of the Southwest/Mountain Regional Office of Launch assisting developers and builders in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah develop and implement creative plans to finance public infrastructure for real estate development projects. Pam has an intimate knowledge of district finance, tax increment financing, tax abatement, state grants and government buy-lease back statutes throughout the Southwest/Midwest regions. She is also a Principal and the Manager of Blackwood Advisors, LLC, a company formed to manage special taxing districts including overseeing the tracking of special assessments and compliance with state statutes and district agreements. Pam is a licensed Missouri attorney practicing almost two decades for a large regional St. Louis- based law firm in its real estate development and public finance departments. For a decade, she assisted land developers, big box chains, national retailers and sports teams with land acquisitions, leases, entitlements, and public finance. In 2005, Pam moved to Shanghai, China to manage the firm’s Asia operations and spent the decade following assisting US companies expand their Asian presence. She is a national board member of Boys Hope Girls Hope, a ULI member, and an advocate for and participant in several animal rescue organizations. Pam is an avid trail runner, hiker, traveler and an exceptionally poor golfer.

  Launch Development Finance Advisors

  Principal

  Pam Giss

  Principal

  Launch Development Finance Advisors

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  Theodore Wong

  As Vice President at Compass, Theodore serves clients of both Commercial & Residential properties out of the firm’s San Jose Willow Glen Office. He strongly believes in "Relationship Based Brokerage" and always puts his client's priorities first. Wong possesses a wide range of experience spanning over 11 years which includes 1031 Exchanges, Multifamily, Retail, Office, Industrial, Land and Residential. This understanding of various property types allows him to engage his clients with unparalleled insight. Theodore joined Compass in 2019 after spending time at Marcus & Millichap. Prior to entering sales, he served as a Property Manager and an Asset Manager for multiple Real Estate Investment Companies throughout the Bay Area where he oversaw operations of Residential and Commercial properties. Theodore is familiar with the rent control ordinances of San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and the State of California which especially well positions him to advise clients of Multifamily properties. Currently, he is also an active member of the San Francisco Association of Realtors, Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, East Bay Rental Housing Association, Tri-County Apartment Association, Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Theodore also holds the prestigious CCIM Designation, a distinction awarded to fewer than 10% of commercial real estate investors and advisors.

  Compass Commercial

  VP

  Moderator

  Theodore Wong

  VP

  Compass Commercial