State of Downtown

A Return to Office, Attraction, and Developments

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  Bill Brokaw

  Bill Brokaw is senior vice president of Hillwood Urban, where he leads the division’s business development and leasing efforts. During a career that spans more than two decades, Brokaw has managed leasing transactions totaling more than 7 million square feet of landmark, Class A office space throughout the North Texas region. Properties and projects that Brokaw has represented include Victory Park, The Towers at Williams Square, and numerous CBD high-rise buildings, in addition to other significant assets in Downtown Dallas, Las Colinas, and North Dallas. In 2013 and 2014, he received the Top National Broker – Agency Leasing Award from Cushman & Wakefield and has also received “Best Real Estate Deal” awards three times from the Dallas Business Journal. In 2011, he was featured as a Top DFW office leasing broker in the Dallas Business Journal’s Commercial Real Estate “Heavy Hitters” list. He has also been designated as a “D CEO Power Broker” based on his outstanding revenue production from 2010 thru 2020. Brokaw began his commercial real estate career in 1995 at Lincoln Property Company. Brokaw has also held positions at Trizec Office Properties and originally joined Hillwood Development as vice president of leasing for Victory Park’s initial Class A office offerings. Following a move to Cousins Properties and Cushman & Wakefield, serving as executive director of their Dallas office, Brokaw returned to Hillwood to partner in the formation of the Hillwood Urban division.

  Hillwood Urban

  Senior VP

  Bill Brokaw

  Senior VP

  Hillwood Urban

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  Tanya Ragan

  Wildcat president Tanya Ragan is an entrepreneur, activist, and leader of the movement to redevelop downtown Dallas. Her company, Wildcat Management, focuses on scaled, locally financed projects in up-and-coming urban areas. Ms. Ragan has led numerous efforts to revitalize downtown Dallas, including privatizing the city-owned Farmers Market, and relocating the Liberty State Bank building to a more business-friendly location. She is currently rehabilitating the Historic Purse Building; Dallas West End’s last undeveloped historic structure into a destination for retail, dining, and business. Ms. Ragan is committed to helping entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. Altogether, Ms. Ragan’s diversified experience, undeniable work ethic and disruptive energy has made her a go-to industry expert and a visionary leader in commercial real estate for the past 14 years. Ms. Ragan also takes great pains to practice responsible development and stewardship. A resident of Downtown Dallas herself, she is a tireless community activist and works to both understand and maintain the delicate balance between transforming and preserving the character of the city.

  Wildcat Management

  President

  Tanya Ragan

  President

  Wildcat Management

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  Jack Gosnell

  Anything uptown and urban in real estate is Jack Gosnell’s forte. Jack is an Executive Vice President with CBRE | UCR Urban in Dallas. His arrival prompted the development of our Urban division – formed to pursue urban redevelopment for mixed-use projects in the urban core. The principal focus of Jack’s energy has turned to adaptive re-use and redevelopment of urban cores. He is active in the redevelopment of Downtown Dallas. In 2016, Jack received the Stemmons Service Award, the highest award and honor given in the commercial real estate industry in Dallas by The North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR). Prior to CBRE | UCR, Jack began his real estate career in specialty retail leasing and commercial sales in 1972 with real estate legend Henry S. Miller, Jr. There he worked on leasing assignments with Turtle Creek Village and Old Town Village, which were prototypes of denser urban centers such as Mockingbird Station and West Village. He was Henry S. Miller, Jr.’s assistant during the acquisition of Highland Park Village in 1975. Gosnell began moving toward the urban core when he established his own business in 1978. He moved his focus from specialty retail to a multi-tiered approach to real estate. He assembled five major blocks in Uptown, which included the land for One McKinney Place, The Residence on McKinney and the Worthington. He was instrumental in assembling much of the land currently known as the State Thomas area in Uptown. During the 80’s and 90’s, Gosnell brokered over 200 building sales and over 300 leases south of Northwest Highway, 75 percent of the leases being restaurants. At one time in the 90’s, Gosnell had brokered 65 percent of Uptown/Downtown’s 145 restaurants. These include: 8.0 Bar, Meddlesome Moth, Taverna, The Common Table, Fedora, Asian Mint, The Knox Street Pub, The Idle Rich Pub, Iron Cactus, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Palomino, Wild Salsa, Capital Grille, Dallas Chop House, Ocean Prime, Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room, Pho Colonial, Stephan Pyles’ Stampede 66, FT 33, Ascension Coffee, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Katy Trail Ice House, the Rustic, Mutts Cantina, Mesero, Moxie, Shelby County Café, OAK, Mudhen, Adelmo’s and Shake Shack to name a few. Gosnell brought Forest City to Dallas to redevelop the notable Mercantile Bank building, the Continental building and the historic Wilson Building as a downtown mixed-use complex. CBRE | UCR Urban will lease the retail component and is active in the retail reemergence of the downtown Central Business District (CBD). He has chaired the Retail Recruitment Committee for Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI) and is working on a leasing plan for the Specialty Retail District in Downtown Dallas. Gosnell’s current projects include 1401 Elm in downtown, McKinney & Olive in Uptown, The Union, and The Farmers Market privatization. 1401 Elm is a landmark Skidmore tower with 120,000 square feet of retail to be redeveloped and delivered late in 2016. McKinney & Olive is a new César Pelli tower with 60,000 square feet of luxury retail and restaurant space in the heart of Uptown Dallas. The Union is 100,000 square feet of retail plus office and a residential tower. The Farmers Market represents a $90 million dollar redevelopment of a Dallas landmark. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Jack received his Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University. He served in the Armed Forces and resigned from the Army with commendation as a Captain in the Corps of Engineers.

  CBRE | UCR

  EVP

  Jack Gosnell

  EVP

  CBRE | UCR

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  Paul Noland

  Mr. Noland joined L&B in 2004 and is a member of the L&B Investment Committee. His responsibilities include sourcing, underwriting, negotiating, and closing commercial real estate investments. Mr. Noland has been responsible for the acquisitions and dispositions of properties valued at over $2.5 billion and totaling 7.2 million square feet. His prior experience included working for Coldwell Banker Commercial, Provident Realty Advisors, and Novotny & Company. Mr. Noland’s prior experience includes appraisal, property tax, and development. Mr. Noland graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in Real Estate and Management. He is currently chair of an Urban Land Institute council, a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, and holds a Texas Real Estate License.

  L&B Realty Advisors

  Head of Acquisitions

  Paul Noland

  Head of Acquisitions

  L&B Realty Advisors

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  Ron Stelmarski

  Ron Stelmarski, FAIA, is the Design Director for Perkins&Will's Dallas studio and the Project Design Director for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas project. Since moving to Dallas in 2011, Ron has become a key figure in shaping Dallas’ built environment, with notable projects including The Pittman Hotel, The Epic Buildings, Singing Hills Recreation and Senior Center, and the Fair Park Master Plan Update. His work emphasizes the enhancement of public spaces and community engagement, particularly in historically overlooked neighborhoods. Architecture critic Mark Lamster of The Dallas Morning News notes, "nobody has done more to shape the city’s built environment this century." Ron’s impact extends globally, as seen in his participation in the Watershed Urbanism Exhibit at the Venice Architecture Biennale. His ability to deliver award-winning designs on complex projects has made him a leading force in reshaping cities and enhancing the public realm.

  Perkins&Will

  Design Director, Principal

  Ron Stelmarski

  Design Director, Principal

  Perkins&Will

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  Kyle Smith

  Kyle Smith is View’s Regional Vice President responsible for the growth and adoption of View Smart Windows in the Southeast US. Kyle received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas Tech University and has invested his entire career in the progression of smart building technologies. Over the last 20 years, Kyle has contributed to the industry as a sales leader, product developer, and technology evangelist. In 2009 Kyle co-founded YWire Technologies, a company dedicated to creating affordable lighting control solutions for existing buildings. Since joining View in 2016, Kyle has grown the Southeast region through partnerships with companies like Independent Financial (Headquarters), Westdale (Epic II), Walmart (New Home Office), and DFW International Airport.

  VIEW

  Regional Vice President, Southeast US

  Moderator

  Kyle Smith

  Regional Vice President, Southeast US

  VIEW

Cultivating A Resilient Community

Live, Work, and Play By Keeping The People in Mind

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  Kourtny Garrett

  The Downtown Denver Partnership announced Kourtny Garrett as its President and CEO in January 2022. Garrett joined the Partnership from Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI), where she served as President and CEO for nearly seven years. With 25 years of experience in developing livable communities, Garrett is fueled by her passion for cities. Her expertise is rooted in building social, cultural and economic vibrancy, creating places for people that provide access and opportunity for all. Garrett has expanded her work nationally and internationally through research and participation in the International Downtown Association, German Marshall Foundation, Brookings Institute and the International Business of Cities. She has published through many of these organizations, working toward the health and vitality of city centers across the globe. Garrett is proud to sit on the Board of Directors of VISIT DENVER and the CAP Advisory Board of the CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning.

  Downtown Denver Partnership

  President & CEO

  Kourtny Garrett

  President & CEO

  Downtown Denver Partnership

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  Daniel Moon

  In his role as Vice President/General Counsel, Daniel has been with the Sam Moon Group since 1994. He has spearheaded the group’s recent growth in commercial real estate and is involved in the day to day operations of the commercial real estate group. Daniel attended Southern Methodist University where he received a B.B.A. in Accounting in 1996 and earned his Juris Doctorate from SMU’s Dedman School of Law in 1999. He currently resides in Dallas, TX with his wife Dr. Tiffany Moon and four children.

  The Sam Moon Group

  General Counsel & VP

  Daniel Moon

  General Counsel & VP

  The Sam Moon Group

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  Arthur Santa-Maria

  Arthur Santa-Maria is Vice President of Real Estate at Hoque Global and is responsible for the firm’s real estate investments, developments, and pursuits. His role involves working with development partners, architects, contractors, city officials, clients, and tenants to advance the company’s real estate projects. Prior to joining Hoque Global, Arthur held positions at leading national and global real estate firms including Trammell Crow Company, CBRE, and JLL. Arthur is active in the community as a current member of the CityLab High School Foundation Board, The Real Estate Council’s PAC Board, and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee. He has also previously served on the Dallas Cultural Affairs Commission and the board of the Achieve Center for Adults with Disabilities. Arthur has an MBA and bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

  Hoque Global

  VP

  Arthur Santa-Maria

  VP

  Hoque Global

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  Melissa Phillips

  Melissa Phillips, Director, Corporate Initiatives is responsible for managing the AT&T Discovery District. In this role, she leads marketing, communication, social media, programming strategy, and oversees all day-to-day operations. Since joining the company in 2006 Melissa has held various roles inside of both retail and operation organizations. Melissa started as a Retail Sales Consultant and held every position in retail up to Director of Sales. She then moved into a Director of Operations position where she supported FirstNet, Business, and Signature for the AT&T Consumer Org. She is a five-time Summit winner and the recipient of both the Service Excellence and Engagement Excellence awards. She is an MDP and Know and Grow graduate and in 2020 was named Oklahoma’s 40 Under 40. Melissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications from Southeast Missouri State University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, boating, being active and watching her daughter play sports. Melissa resides in Dallas, TX with her husband John and their daughter, Bryleigh.

  AT&T

  Director Corporate Initiatives

  Melissa Phillips

  Director Corporate Initiatives

  AT&T

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  Steven Upchurch

  Steven Upchurch is a Principal and Co-Managing Director of Gensler Dallas, and a practice area leader for the firm’s hospitality practice. With over three decades of design, planning, management, and real estate development experience, Steven actively grows and diversifies Gensler’s various practice areas with a focus on the firm’s culture, its people, and platforms. He applies his knowledge of local, regional, and international markets to deliver impactful and memorable experiences to owners, developers, operators, and brands.

  Gensler

  Principal & Co-Managing Director

  Steven Upchurch

  Principal & Co-Managing Director

  Gensler

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  Lolette May

  As the Vice President of Business Development at Old Republic Title, Lolette has a wide array of experience in both the sales and real estate industries. She has been with the company for a total of 9 years and counting, leading executive sales at the company’s Commercial office off of Preston Road. In addition to closing another $933 million dollar deal nationally, ORT is a fortune 250 insurance-underwriter company with office locations nationally in addition to the 12 offices spanning DFW. Thanks to the developers of DFW, Lolette and the title developers she works in conjunction with, continue to flourish. Starting out as a congressional speech writer in Dallas and Washington, Lolette familiarized herself with the economics of downtown Dallas early on. And making it a family affair, both Lolette’s son, a practicing attorney with a Dallas firm, and her daughter, a forensic psychologist, are both deeply invested in the community as well. The embodiment of a strong business development professional, she is skilled in negotiation, sales, public speaking, real estate economics as well as real estate transactions. In addition to being well-versed in the private sector, May has also been actively involved in the nonprofit sector of DFW for over 20 years providing insight into fundraising and strategic development. In her position as former director of American Cancer Society Southern Region, May is responsible for initiating and implementing the “Light it Up” campaign, in which the entire Dallas skyline is lit pink to create awareness and recognize the hardships of breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

  Old Republic National Commercial Title

  VP, Business Development

  Moderator

  Lolette May

  VP, Business Development

  Old Republic National Commercial Title