Neighborhood Revitalization & Urban Regeneration

Transforming Communities, Investing In & Building The Next New Districts & Assessing Zoning Ordinances

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  Betsy Brennan

  President & CEO

  Downtown San Diego Partnership

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  Kristen Freeman

  Director, Development & Construction

  Greenline Development Group

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  Dani Halton

  Dani Halton is a long-time advocate for affordable housing with over a decade of experience planning, building, and operating affordable and supportive housing. Ms. Halton’s career includes multiple roles with the San Diego Housing Commission, where she worked to allocate local and federal dollars to over 800 units of affordable housing and played an integral role in designing Housing First – San Diego, an action plan to create permanent housing solutions in San Diego. In her current role as a Senior Project Manager for Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation, she oversees the development of affordable and permanent supportive housing communities from the earliest stages of pre-development through completion. Prior to joining the Wakeland team, Ms. Halton worked as a Development Associate at Chelsea Investment Corporation. Ms. Halton serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Housing Federation and the Board Chair for the Wesley House Student Residence Board of Directors.

  Wakeland Housing

  Senior Project Manager

  Dani Halton

  Senior Project Manager

  Wakeland Housing

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  Aaron Roberts

  "Aaron David Roberts is a San Diego-born filmmaker, producer, and creative entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the film and media industry. He began his career in his pre-teen years, working as a production assistant and grip on his father's award winning commercial production sets. Roberts is the founder and CEO of Rising Tides Creative, a full-service production company specializing in film, television, and branded content. He has worked with major hospitality and hospitality tech brands, including Toast, Pepsi, Amazon, Google, UberEats, Craveworthy Brands, Original Pancake House, and global brand Pepper Lunch Restaurants. He is known for producing independent TV series and pilots such as The Work: 50 States in 50 Days, Chartered, and The Cast Members, along with the award-winning independent film The Last Deal. In 2025, Roberts spearheaded the development of the Chula Vista Entertainment Complex (CVEC), an $85 million, 89,000-square-foot virtual production studio and creative hub in South San Diego. The project aims to revitalize the region's film and creative industry and is projected to generate a $544 million economic impact over the next decade."

  Chula Vista Entertainment Complex

  CEO & Founder

  Aaron Roberts

  CEO & Founder

  Chula Vista Entertainment Complex

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  Darrel Fullbright

  Darrel Fullbright is a Principal in Gensler’s San Diego office and has over 34 years of experience in the architecture industry. As a Firmwide Office Building Practice Area Leader, Darrel leads projects of various types and sizes, building a strong reputation as a strategic thinker in the real estate industry. He has designed over 3-million-square-feet of commercial office, life science, hospitality, and government projects. A true client partner and advocate, Darrel has developed a noteworthy reputation in San Diego as a commercial building design leader. His vision is to create compelling and purposeful architecture focused around improving his clients’ business operations. Darrel is a long-time member of NAIOP and a board member of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. He is a former co-instructor at the NewSchool of Architecture & Design and previously was a partner at a local legacy architectural firm. Darrel’s leadership has been recognized through design awards from the AIA, BOMA International, and Contract magazine.

  Gensler

  Principal, Design Director

  Darrel Fullbright

  Principal, Design Director

  Gensler

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  Jennifer Jeffers

  Jennifer advises clients on land use and environmental matters arising from the development of commercial, residential, medical, and mixed-use projects in California, with a special emphasis on natural resources issues. She guides private, nonprofit, and public sector entities on all phases of project development from the earliest stages of design through completion, including acquisition, due diligence, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, entitlement and permitting, and construction. Jennifer is particularly adept at advising on complex natural resources matters, including those concerning endangered species and wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, the federal Endangered Species Act and its California counterpart (ESA and CESA), and Section 1603 of the California Fish and Game Code (streambed alteration agreements). As part of this work, she regularly manages permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, state and local water quality control boards, and the California Coastal Commission, among other federal and state agencies and local governments. Jennifer frequently advises clients (from both the project applicant and landowner side) on conservation easements and other similar mitigation approaches to achieve permit obligations. She also has extensive experience with state housing legislation and local referenda, helping clients anticipate regulatory changes on the horizon. Jennifer has successfully ushered a diverse collection of high-profile projects through the state’s rigorous permitting approval process, including corporate campuses, mixed-use projects, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and large residential developments. Jennifer’s strong technical foundation, with undergraduate and graduate degrees in environmental science and previous environmental policy experience, aid in her ability to distil nuanced issues into pragmatic solutions. Prior to beginning her legal career, Jennifer established and implemented biodiversity conservation practices for governments and public institutions worldwide as the director of the Conservation International’s Regional Marine Strategies program in Washington, D.C. Before joining Allen Matkins, Jennifer was a partner and head of the land use practice at Stice & Block LLP in Oakland, California.

  Allen Matkins

  Partner

  Moderator

  Jennifer Jeffers

  Partner

  Allen Matkins

Forward-Thinking Development, Construction And Design

Projects Shaping the San Diego Region & Innovative Spaces On The Rise

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  Kelly Moden

  Over her 20-year career in real estate, entitlements and construction, she has transacted on over $400 million worth of deal volume (land and acquisitions), underwritten hundreds of millions in acquisition and redevelopment deals, and negotiated leases for retail, commercial and ground leases, amounting to annual lease revenue of over $2 million. Previously, she served as Vice President of Development for Community HousingWorks, leading a 9-person team developing or rehabilitating thousands of affordable units throughout the state of California. Additionally, she serves on the NAIOP San Diego Board and chairs the Legislative and University Challenge Committees, is a City of San Diego Planning Commissioner, and has guest lectured at the University of California San Diego. She values design-forward projects to enhance or bring life to communities and is passionate about progressive housing policies to assist in the housing affordability crisis in California.

  cREate development

  President & CEO

  Kelly Moden

  President & CEO

  cREate development

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  Kit Barmeyer

  As Managing Director, Kit is responsible for the origination, capitalization, and execution of acquisitions and developments. Prior to joining CEDARst, Kit spent time with Lendlease, Green Courte Partners, and Fairfield Residential. In these roles, Kit sourced, analyzed, and executed investments in the multifamily, senior housing, manufactured housing, and airport parking sectors exceeding $2.5b in total value. Kit holds a Bachelor of Science in Policy, Planning, and Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Finance and Economics.

  CEDARst Companies

  Managing Director, Development

  Kit Barmeyer

  Managing Director, Development

  CEDARst Companies

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  Brett Montgomery

  SVP

  Trammell Crow Company

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  Jamie Prevost

  With over 30 years of industry experience and 3 million sq. ft. of life science projects completed, Jamie Prevost leads Skyline's Life Science practice area. Jamie leverages his expertise to assist clients during the due diligence process by providing strategic and collaborative preconstruction insight. Since the early 2000’s, Jamie has led the construction of 60+ labs and over a dozen adaptive re-use projects. During his leadership of San Diego based Prevost Construction, Jamie grew revenues from $10million to $100M before being acquired by Skyline Construction in 2022. With offices in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and now San Diego, Jamie leverages established project teams and existing customer relationships to serve the surging demand for life science construction expertise. With his knowledge of the unique constraints associated with adaptive reuse and traditional life science tenant improvements, clients often lean on Jamie and his team for feasibility studies during the site selection process to provide reliable cost and scheduling information for major redevelopment efforts. With an emphasis on lean construction techniques and a partnership mindset, project teams under Jamie’s leadership deliver superior results with an emphasis on providing a best-in-class customer experience.

  Skyline Construction

  Principal

  Jamie Prevost

  Principal

  Skyline Construction

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  Maxine Ward

  Since joining Studio E Architects in 2007, Maxine Ward has served as Project Architect and design team member on a variety of the firm’s notable projects, including multiple charter schools, sizable projects on university campuses and multi-family housing. Maxine is responsible primarily for project management and team coordination - she brings strong organizational and communication skills in addition to design talent to her projects. She is well versed in the requirements for LEED certifications and confidently leads the consultant team toward a goal of high energy efficiency and sustainable standards. Maxine has more than twenty years of professional experience in all phases of various project types, from programming to construction administration and from schools to libraries to housing. She is able to find creative solutions to complex programmatic requirements. With a design philosophy focused on finding value and energy and financial efficiency, Maxine endeavors to find thoughtful responses to the needs of the client and user for the long term. Through clear communication and collaboration, she cultivates the team around a shared goal to deliver an environment that will fulfill the client’s unique vision. Maxine has served as a director of the San Diego Architectural Foundation since 2007. In 2015 she was honored with the Young Architect of the Year Award from American Institute of Architects, San Diego Chapter. She has been featured as one of San Diego’s “100 Influential Leaders” by The Daily Transcript.

  Studio E

  Principal

  Moderator

  Maxine Ward

  Principal

  Studio E

San Diego CRE Market Outlook

Investment Opportunities, Trends Impacting CRE Decision Making & Navigating The Future of San Diego's Top Performing Asset Classes

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  Chad Carpenter

  CEO

  Reven Capital

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  Tom Lam

  Tom Lam is a Principal of Luminous Capital Management, a life science real estate investment management firm based in Irvine, CA. Tom’s primary responsibilities include acquisitions, due diligence, and capital raising. Over his 17-year career in commercial real estate, he has invested over $1 billion across multiple asset types and major Western markets on behalf of institutional and high net worth investors. Prior to Luminous, Tom has worked at firms such as Boardwalk Investments Group, Buchanan Street Partners, and Emmes Group. Mr. Lam graduated with an MBA and a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California in 2014. He is an active member of NAIOP.

  Luminous Capital Management

  Principal

  Tom Lam

  Principal

  Luminous Capital Management

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  Jeff Gleiberman

  Jeff is President of MG Properties, and is responsible for overseeing investment transactions, operational strategies, and partner relations for the company. Prior to his current role, Jeff was Managing Director of MG, where he was responsible for corporate equity and debt strategies, as well as an Acquisition Manager, sourcing and underwriting new investment opportunities. Jeff has also served in asset management, regional management, and onsite property management roles. Jeff worked in apartment investment sales at CBRE before joining MG Properties, where he oversaw the sale of over $500 million in Southern California multifamily properties. Jeff has a business degree, with an emphasis in finance and management, from the University of Southern California. He later earned a Master of Science degree in real estate from the University of San Diego Burnham Moores School of Real Estate. Jeff holds a California Real Estate Broker license.

  MG Properties

  President

  Jeff Gleiberman

  President

  MG Properties

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  Jay Matthes

  As Chief Operating Officer, Jay Matthes leads company operations, manages the overall asset strategy, and works to develop key relationships in new markets to support Capstone Advisor’s growing portfolio. Prior to joining Capstone Advisors, Jay led both operational and financial aspects of retail, office, industrial, multifamily and hotel investments and developments throughout the U.S. In his most recent role as executive vice president at American Realty Advisors, he led a team of asset managers and staff who oversaw a $1.6 billion retail investment portfolio totaling over 5.4 million square feet. Prior, as director of asset management for Grosvenor Investment Management, Matthes managed a 4.3 million square feet portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties as well as 1,300 apartment units located throughout major U.S. markets.

  Capstone Advisors

  COO

  Jay Matthes

  COO

  Capstone Advisors

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  Matthew Quinn

  Pathfinder Partners, founded in 2006 and headquartered in San Diego, CA, is a private real estate investment firm specializing in opportunistic, value-add and core plus (stabilized, cash-flowing) multifamily real estate investments. The firm has over $900,000,000 in assets under management and has acquired more than $1.3 billion in assets since inception. Matt is a Managing Director at Pathfinder and oversees the firm’s Asset Management department and assists with fundraising. Mr. Quinn and the Asset Management team interface with the firm’s property management vendors as well as a variety of contractors, architects and designers. The team also manages the implementation of property-level value-add strategies, revenue growth and expense saving initiatives and asset dispositions. Previously, he worked for Gateway Partners, Inc., a San Diego-based firm which consulted on mergers and acquisitions and with the Wealth Management division of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Matt received a B.A. in Business and Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was a four-year recipient of the Regents Scholarship, the University of California's most prestigious scholarship award. He received an M.B.A from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego, where he was a recipient of the Patricia and Christopher Weil Fellowship Award.

  Pathfinder Partners

  Managing Director

  Matthew Quinn

  Managing Director

  Pathfinder Partners

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  Bob Lopez

  With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Bob Lopez is a seasoned Project Executive at Swinerton in San Diego. Bob's career began in New York City, where he worked at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange, and Risk Management departments. Leveraging his expertise in Capital Markets, he made a successful transition into construction, where he has led a diverse range of projects across both New York and California. Bob’s experience spans multiple sectors, including commercial office spaces, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and hospitality projects. At Swinerton, he has been instrumental in some of the region's most high-profile developments, including the historic restoration of the Hotel del Coronado’s Victorian Building. This multi-year, $550 million revitalization project included updates to iconic meeting spaces and the addition of renowned restaurants, including the new Nobu Del Coronado location. Known for his leadership and hands-on approach, Bob excels at managing complex, large-scale projects, ensuring they align with both the client's vision and the broader needs of the community. His commitment to excellence has earned him a reputation as a trusted leader in the construction industry.

  Swinerton

  Project Executive

  Moderator

  Bob Lopez

  Project Executive

  Swinerton

Remarks

• Opening Remarks

  Eduardo Velasquez

  Head of Economic Development

  San Diego Regional EDC

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  Jon Moore

  As Director at Re-Leased, I lead our work with mid-market and enterprise property firms across North America. With over 17 years of experience in B2B partnerships, contract negotiations, and SaaS-based solutions, my focus is helping commercial real estate owners and operators modernize their property management systems to unlock growth, streamline operations, and gain real-time visibility across their portfolios. I work closely with founders, C-suite leaders, and property teams to ensure they have the tools and support needed to scale with confidence.

  Re-Leased

  Director

  Remarks

  Jon Moore

  Director

  Re-Leased