Breaking Ground in the Valley: Development, Construction & AI’s Influence in CRE

Explore Key Projects, Delivery Trends, and How Builders Are Responding to AI-Driven Demand

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  Dave Hopkins

  Dave Hopkins joined Sares Regis Group in 2007. With Todd Regonini, Dave provides the strategic direction for Sares Regis and Regis Homes’ development activities, primarily focused on infill residential within the inner Bay Area. Dave is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.

  Sares Regis Group

  Co-President of Development and Investments

  Dave Hopkins

  Co-President of Development and Investments

  Sares Regis Group

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  Erik Hayden

  Responsible for developing more than $3.5 billion in real estate projects, including over 2,300 residential units in the California Bay Area, Hayden has experience in acquisition, contract negotiation, due diligence, risk assessment, financing, construction, and disposition of multifamily, single family and large mixed-use and master planned developments. He maintains relationships with a broad network of property owners, enabling him to identify and acquire prime investments. Hayden also has expertise navigating projects through the entitlement process by working with elected officials, community groups, and political organizations to gain support and get projects approved.

  Urban Catalyst

  Founder

  Erik Hayden

  Founder

  Urban Catalyst

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  Doug McDonald

  Doug is directly responsible for Land Acquisition, Entitlements, Design and Construction, Asset Management, Asset Disposition, and Finance. Doug has been with SummerHill since 2001. Before assuming his current role as President of SummerHill Apartment Communities, Doug held the COO and CFO roles for SummerHill Apartment Communities and the CFO role for SummerHill Homes. As CFO he secured nearly $2.5 Billion in project level construction debt and equity capital. Prior to joining SummerHill Homes, Doug was Manager of Strategy and Business Architecture for Accenture in San Francisco. Doug was also Division Controller – Carolinas for Pulte Homes and Supervising Senior Accountant for KPMG Peat Marwick, both of Charlotte, North Carolina. Doug is a former certified public accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration – Finance and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Doug also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where he graduated with distinction and received the annual Innovation Award. Doug is a member of the NAHB Multifamily Leadership Board and is involved with various other industry and charitable organizations.

  SummerHill Apartment Communities

  President and CEO

  Doug McDonald

  President and CEO

  SummerHill Apartment Communities

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  Kevin Chen

  As Co-Business Unit Leader responsible for day-to-day operations in the Bay Area, where DPR was founded in 1990, Kevin Chen spends his time doing what he loves: supporting DPR’s great project teams and customers to deliver projects that change the world we live in. Kevin joined DPR as a Project Engineer in 2009 and has worked on some of DPR’s most notable advanced tech campus projects in the Bay Area. Most recently, Kevin supported the growth of DPR’s partnership with Vantage Data Centers as the Account Manager, helping to grow the account from a single project in Santa Clara, CA to a national customer with multiple projects around the country and in Europe, focused on delivering successful and consistent operations at each of DPR’s project sites. Many of these projects have been recognized for their achievements in jobsite safety, self-perform work integration, and successful project execution.

  DPR Construction

  Co-Business Unit Leader

  Kevin Chen

  Co-Business Unit Leader

  DPR Construction

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  Matt Slayen

  With nearly three decades of construction experience, Matt Slayen brings precision, insight, and creativity to every project he leads. He has built some of the Bay Area’s most refined office spaces for clients such as Reed Smith, Rakuten, PwC, and Gensler. He is known for estimating with precision, and an ability to plan for multiple project scenarios with clarity and accuracy. Matt specializes in building law firms, technology spaces, and large, multi-floor, complex projects on time, on budget, and with accuracy. At Skyline, Matt leads the Preconstruction & Estimating team, guiding projects from concept through execution with a focus on value, collaboration, and results. Matt holds a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College. Off the clock, he’s an avid Lego enthusiast, with a 1,200-set collection that he sometimes shares with his two kids.

  Skyline Construction

  Principal

  Matt Slayen

  Principal

  Skyline Construction

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  Chuck McCallum

  Chuck McCallum brings over 30 years of experience at the intersection of planning, land development, and civil engineering, shaping some of Silicon Valley’s most transformative projects, from the 58-acre Facebook West Campus to more than two dozen high-rise towers in downtown San Jose. As CEO of Kier + Wright and KWRE, he has expanded the firm’s capabilities by launching its full-service renewable energy practice and now leads efforts to integrate clean energy solutions and modernize the grid as Chair of ACEC California’s Energy Committee. Known for transforming complex infrastructure challenges into practical, high-quality solutions, Chuck is also exploring how emerging technologies like AI can accelerate decision-making, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation in the built environment. A strategic thinker and mentor, he draws on deep technical expertise to deliver sustainable, cost-effective results, and recharges through hiking, pickleball, and family time.

  KWRE and Kier & Wright

  President

  Moderator

  Chuck McCallum

  President

  KWRE and Kier & Wright

Beyond the Building: Community-Driven Strategies for Vibrancy, Value, and Performance

Discover How Community-Centered Development and Forward-Looking Urban Strategy Are Shaping Vibrant, High-Performing Neighborhoods

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  Cyrus Sanandaji

  Cyrus Sanandaji is the founder and managing principal of Presidio Bay Ventures, a commercial real estate investment and development firm focused on the design, construction and long-term operation of a diverse set of product types for private and public sector tenants across the United States.

  Presidio Bay Ventures

  Managing Principal

  Cyrus Sanandaji

  Managing Principal

  Presidio Bay Ventures

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  Phoebe Yee

  As Executive Vice President of Design for Related California, Ms. Yee leads the architecture and interior design for all market rate and mixed-income residential developments throughout California. She is responsible for the creative oversight and management of the planning, design and engineering of every market rate development, from concept and delivery to building opening. Her direct involvement in all aspects of the building process includes directing architects, interior designers and engineers through each phase of construction to ensure that the completed work is true to the project’s design intent. She is the conduit with sales/leasing and marketing, operations, and development executives, assuring informed design, constantly evolving processes, and seamless execution. Since joining Related in 2006, Ms. Yee has been directly responsible for the design oversight and completion of numerous developments, including The Avery, Mason on Mariposa and 1550 Mission in San Francisco, and The Century, The Seychelle, The Waverly, The Emerson, and Argyle House in Los Angeles. A registered architect and former vice president at international design firm, HKS Architects, Ms. Yee holds a Master in Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She is a recipient of the Asian Women in Business Corporate Leadership Award, former editor of the Dallas chapter American Institute of Architects newsletter, and served on the Urban Design Advisory Committee for the City of Dallas. Ms. Yee serves on the Boards of Trustees for Sci-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) and the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and has been an invited speaker at AIA conferences, Urban Land Institute events, and housing symposium panels.

  Related California

  EVP, Design

  Phoebe Yee

  EVP, Design

  Related California

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  Danny Murtagh

  Through hard work and diligence, my objective is to learn every day, improve every day, help build lasting business relationships, add value and help others be successful in their businesses and careers. Work in commercial real estate in a position that offers the challenge to develop, acquire, operate, maintain, repair, modernize and improve the sustainable areas of the built environment. Provide long range value through thoughtful planning, implementation and execution of the day’s work. Employers deserve this level of commitment from their investment in its employee's, and it is what makes companies fundamentally succeed. Your work should be your resume and it should speak to the success of the business as well. Specialties: I have extensive experience in facility operations, maintenance, repair and construction as well as operating & capital improvement projects, bidding and execution of construction projects. I have performed multiple due diligence exercises for acquisition and disposition. I have an eye on sustainability and the USGBC LEED goals and objectives, processes and projects. I also have experience in labor negotiations and contracts.

  Boston Properties

  VP

  Danny Murtagh

  VP

  Boston Properties

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  Geoff Gibson

  Geoff is the owner and founder of Winder Gibson Architects with a focus on visioning, leadership, and mentorship. Under Geoff’s guidance, WGA has developed a strong reputation for design quality, technical execution, and excellent project management with a client-centric approach. WGA has grown in staff, structure and project size, with expertise in creative infill as well as large scale multifamily architecture, while maintaining a boutique approach and a team-oriented collaborative culture. Geoff has presented at numerous conferences, AIA tours, and local design schools and has been featured in local media frequently. Geoff received his architectural degree from McGill University in Montreal and has practiced in San Francisco for 25 years. He formerly taught architectural design at the Academy of Art University for many years. In a cooler past life, Geoff was a DJ, playing house and techno music at clubs and festivals. Winder Gibson Architects designs projects that bring beauty into the world through a poetic sense of space and light, the careful use of materials and detailing, and by embracing the reality of practical needs and the daily lives of those who inhabit them. Our unique strength is understanding how the social flow of a building works—the pattern of living—and how we transform this knowledge into a beautiful and inspiring finished project. We focus on real people and their real-world needs, understanding and serving our clients through careful listening and clear communication. Continue here to read more about our Multifamily Values: https://www.archsf.com/posts/boutique-to-large-scale/

  Winder Gibson Architects

  Partner

  Geoff Gibson

  Partner

  Winder Gibson Architects

• Moderator

  Scott Miller

  Regional Preconstruction Manager

  Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company