Keynote Interview

The Story Behind our Region's Game-Changing Deal

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  Matt Kelly

  Matt Kelly is the CEO of JBG Smith and a member of the board of trustees. He previously served as a Managing Partner and a member of JBG's Executive Committee and Investment Committee. He previously was co-head of the firm's Investments Group and was primarily responsible for JBG's investment strategy and the investment and acquisition activity of the JBG Investment Funds. Prior to joining the JBG Companies in 2004, he was a co-founder of ODAC Inc., a media software company, and worked in private equity and investment banking with Thomas H. Lee Partners in Boston and Goldman Sachs, & Co in New York. Mr. Kelly currently serves as a Trustee of the Federal City Council and is a member of the Economic Club of Washington! D.C. He is Vice-Chair of the Medstar Health Washington Hospital Center Board of Directors. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Ayuda, an immigrant focused non-profit organization in the D.C. metro area. He is also a member of The Urban Land Institute and The Real Estate Group and has lectured at Georgetown University and The University of Notre Dame. Mr. Kelly holds a B.A. with honors from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

  JBG Smith

  CEO

  Matt Kelly

  CEO

  JBG Smith

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  Holly Sullivan

  Head of Worldwide Economic Development

  Amazon

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  Bill Collins

  William M. Collins has more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience focused primarily in the sale of commercial real estate office buildings and land in the Washington metropolitan area. Bill works actively with institutional owners in the consultation and disposition of their real estate assets. During the past ten years, he has successfully completed more than $30 billion in investment property sales. Areas of Specialization • Investment Sales • Finance, Debt, and Equity • Land Acquisition & Disposition

  Cushman & Wakefield

  Executive Vice Chairman

  Moderator

  Bill Collins

  Executive Vice Chairman

  Cushman & Wakefield

National Landing & Beyond

Exploring the New Submarket & Reverberations on the Region's CRE Market

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  Victor Hoskins

  Director

  Arlington Economic Development

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  Bruce Lane

  Bruce is the Executive Vice President, Managing Director, and Co-founder of Meridian. He is a member of the Investment Committee and is active in all areas of Meridian's activities, including investment strategy, underwriting and portfolio management. He has over 30 years of commercial real estate experience and 4 years of investment banking experience, where he specialized in corporate finance and mortgage finance transactions involving investments totaling several billion dollars. With over 30 years of experience, Bruce began his career as an Associate at Morgan Stanley Realty in Washington, DC for 2 years before joining Riggs National Bank. As the Vice President of the REO division, he worked closely with David Cheek in handling the management, value creation, and disposition of a $250 million real estate portfolio. In 1993, he and David formed The Meridian Group. Bruce is also a CPA and previously worked in the tax department at Arthur Andersen in Washington, DC. Bruce received his B.S. cum laude from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his M.B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

  The Meridian Group

  Managing Director & Co-Founder

  Bruce Lane

  Managing Director & Co-Founder

  The Meridian Group

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  Stephanie Landrum

  Stephanie is President & CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP). Appointed by the Board of Directors in April 2015, Stephanie has held leadership roles in the organization since 2005. In her position, Stephanie provides strategic and financial oversight to two hosted organizations: SBDC and Capitol Post. She also offers advice and information to the Alexandria City Council, Planning Commission and City Departments. Stephanie serves in various capacities on Boards, Commissions and Committees related to economic development, marketing and business throughout the Washington, DC region. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science in City & Regional Planning from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the UVA's Darden School of Business. As an Alexandrian, Stephanie’s favorite thing about the city is the diversity of new boutique fitness studios and restaurants opening up all around

  Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

  President & CEO

  Stephanie Landrum

  President & CEO

  Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

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  Kedrick Whitmore

  Ked Whitmore is a land use, zoning, and real estate attorney. Ked advises clients on the legislative, administrative, and regulatory issues that impact real estate development projects, including land use planning, zoning, subdivision, and permitting issues. He appears on behalf of clients in related administrative appeals. Ked is experienced in financing, acquisition, management, leasing, and disposition of commercial and residential real property. He also assists lending institutions with the management and disposition of loans, including workouts, modifications, and foreclosures. Ked is a board member of the Venable Foundation.

  Venable

  Partner

  Moderator

  Kedrick Whitmore

  Partner

  Venable

Fireside Chat

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

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  Doug Firstenberg

  A founding principal of Stonebridge, Douglas Firstenberg directs firmwide strategic planning, oversees landmark development projects, and plays a key role in major transaction negotiations. Under his leadership, Stonebridge has developed several of the region’s most innovative and successful urban mixed-use properties, including breakthrough transit-oriented developments and public/private initiatives. Mr. Firstenberg has more than thirty-five years of real estate industry experience, leading complex development projects totaling more than 10 million square feet and $4 billion in value. Mr. Firstenberg started his career with K.S. Sweet Associates, a Philadelphia-based real estate and investment firm where he was named partner. In 1993, he co-founded Stonebridge Associates in Washington, D.C., and led the transformation of the firm into an urban infill mixed-use developer. Mr. Firstenberg graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts and currently serves in leadership roles of several industry and charitable organizations.

  Stonebridge

  Founding Principal

  Doug Firstenberg

  Founding Principal

  Stonebridge

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  Charles Phlegar

  Vice President for Advancement

  Virginia Tech

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  Dwayne Pinkney

  Dwayne Pinkney is the senior vice president for operations and administration at Virginia Tech. Serving as the president’s principal operations liaison, he works closely with the executive vice president and provost, executive leadership team, and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. He is responsible for the leadership and coordination of Virginia Tech’s business and administrative operations, manages the financial and operational resources necessary to support Virginia Tech’s current and developing initiatives and vision. Reporting to Dr. Pinkney are the vice presidents for finance, operations, human resources, business affairs, governance and policy and assistant vice president for equity and accessibility. Dr. Pinkney has a distinctive track record of successful leadership in productivity improvement, change management and program/project management initiatives. He has more than 23 years of experience in budget and financial management in state government and higher education settings. He came to Virginia Tech on August 1, 2018 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he served as chief financial officer and senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, having responsibility for the university’s financial, budget, and accounting operations, and leadership of the division of Finance and Operations’ shared administrative and business services functions. Earlier roles included vice provost for finance and academic planning, secretary of the university, assistant vice chancellor for finance and administration, and special assistant to the chancellor for state and local relations. Prior to coming to UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Pinkney served as associate vice president for finance at the University of North Carolina General Administration, a fiscal analyst with the North Carolina General Assembly, and the deputy secretary for administration with the North Caroline Department of the Secretary of State. Dr. Pinkney received his Ph.D. in political science at UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Pinkney is joined at Virginia Tech by his wife, Sandra Pinkney, a senior executive in the pharmaceutical industry and UNC Chapel Hill alumna, and they have two sons.

  Virginia Tech

  Senior Vice President, Operations & Administration

  Dwayne Pinkney

  Senior Vice President, Operations & Administration

  Virginia Tech

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  Dave Millard

  David R. Millard joined the McLean office of Avison Young as a Principal in April 2011. Formerly, he was an Executive Director with Cushman & Wakefield, which he joined in early 2004. Dave has over 25 years experience in commercial real estate in the Washington Metropolitan area marketplace. He has focused his efforts on landlord representation and corporate tenant representation services throughout the greater Washington Metropolitan area. Dave's experience spans a wide range of real estate transactions on behalf of his clients, including lease acquisitions and dispositions, build-to-suits, investment sales and structured financing. He has been involved in more than 8 million sf of real estate transactions since 1996. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Dave spent eight years with Transwestern Commercial Services as Senior Vice President of Owner Advisory Services. In that position he specialized in office leasing and sales in Northern Virginia and was a stockholder in the firm. Dave was also a partner at Smithy Braedon during his tenure there from 1984 - 1996. Dave began his real estate career in 1980 with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) where he was an interior design Project Manager. While at SOM, he was the Project Manager for the interior design of the 350,000 square foot Terrace Building expansion of the National Geographic Society Headquarters. In 1982 and 1983, Dave was Director of Interior Design for Ellerbe Associates (now Ellerbe Becket).

  Avison Young

  Principal, Sales & Leasing

  Moderator

  Dave Millard

  Principal, Sales & Leasing

  Avison Young

A Headquarters For Regional Growth

How Will Amazon Impact Economic Development, Transportation & Affordable Housing?

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  Bob Buchanan

  Mr. Buchanan is a Principal of Buchanan Partners, a full service real estate development company in office, retail, industrial, residential, and large mixeduse planned communities. Mr. Buchanan is the President of the 2030 Group, an association of Washington metropolitan area business leaders focused on regional long-term decision-making and solutions. The mission of the 2030 Group is to advance a strong regional economy with new employment opportunities and sustainable prosperity for current and future residents of the Washington metropolitan area. Mr. Buchanan was recently recognized in the Washington Business Journal’s “Power 100” list of the region’s most influential business leaders. Until recently, Mr. Buchanan was chair of VisArts, a premier visual arts organization in the capital region that’s based in Rockville. His extensive past community involvement also involves Chair of Loudoun County Economic Development Commission and Founding Member of the Ballston Partnership.

  Buchanan Partners

  Founding Principal

  Bob Buchanan

  Founding Principal

  Buchanan Partners

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  Stephen Fuller

  Professor Fuller joined the faculty at George Mason University in 1994 as Professor of Public Policy and Regional Development. He served as Director of the Ph.D. Program in Public Policy from July 1998 to June 2000 and from July 2001 to July 2002. In September 2001, the GMU Board of Visitors appointed him University Professor and in July 2002 he was named to the Dwight Schar Faculty Chair and Director of the Center for Regional Analysis; he served in this capacity until May 2015. He currently holds the position of Director of The Stephen S. Fuller Institute. Prior to joining the George Mason University faculty, he served on the faculty at George Washington University for twenty-five years, including nine as Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Real Estate Development and one as Director of Doctoral Programs for the School of Business and Public Management. Dr. Fuller received a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University (1962) and his Doctorate in Regional Planning and Economic Development (1969) from Cornell University. He has authored more than 800 articles, papers, and reports in the field of urban and regional economic development including monthly reports on the Washington metropolitan area (2/91 to 2/11) and Fairfax County economies (6/97 to 6/09). Professor Fuller’s recent research has focusing on the structure of the Washington metropolitan area economy, how this changed during the Great Recession and how it will change going forward as its federal-spending dependency diminishes. He has also undertaken research on the changing workforce requirements of the Washington area’s emerging economy and the housing requirement of this future workforce. His current research involves the projected demographic changes over the next fifteen years and how these will impact the Washington area’s workforce, housing market, and demand for public services. Professor Fuller was recently appointed to serve on the Joint Advisory Board of Economists by Governor McAuliffe. He served on the Governor’s Advisory Board of Economists under Governors Kaine, Warner, Allen and Wilder. In 2003, he was a member of the Governor Warner’s Tax Reform Working Group. He also is a member of the DC CFO Business Advisory Group of the District of Columbia, the Montgomery County Business Advisory Panel and the U.S Army Women’s Foundation. His international assignments include Kazakhstan, Georgia, Hungary and China as well as on-going projects in Portugal. He served on the Board of Directors of Tompkins Builders Inc., a DC-based company, from 2004 to 2012, and currently serves on the Boards of the Global Environment and Technology Foundation and Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts. In May of 2015, Dr. Fuller was elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Northfield Mount Hermon School.

  The Stephen S. Fuller Institute, George Mason University

  Director

  Stephen Fuller

  Director

  The Stephen S. Fuller Institute, George Mason University

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  Nina Janopaul

  Nina Janopaul has been President/CEO of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) since 2007. APAH is a non-profit, community-based, award winning, affordable housing developer. Ms. Janopaul oversees all elements of APAH’s real estate development, operations, advocacy, services, and governance. During her tenure, APAH has grown its portfolio to fifteen multifamily rental properties with 1360+ units, valued at almost $250 million with another 800 units in development. APAH is known for its nimble and effective real estate development, for pioneering innovative supportive housing partnerships and its community impact. Under Ms. Janopaul’s leadership, APAH has received numerous awards, including the Charles Edson award for best urban development in the country; the Urban Land Institute—DC’s best Housing project; Developer of the Year from the Housing Association of Non-Profit Developers; Best Nonprofit by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and the Arlington Community Foundation’s Prize for Impact and Innovation. Before joining APAH, Ms. Janopaul was a principal at Capital Strategies Consulting, Inc. and provided services to a variety of organizations, including Enterprise Community Partners. Prior to 2000, she was the National Director of Development for Hostelling International – USA (formerly American Youth Hostels). Ms. Janopaul received a Bachelors of Arts Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University. She serves on the Virginia Housing Development Authority’s Northern Virginia Advisory Committee. She is a past President of HAND, a regional housing association and received the Virginia Housing Coalition’s 2013 Innovations in Leadership award.

  Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing

  CEO

  Nina Janopaul

  CEO

  Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing

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  Christian Dorsey

  Christian Dorsey was first elected to the Arlington County Board in 2015 and is now serving his second term. He is currently Chair and previously served as Vice-Chair in 2022 and Chair in 2019. During his prior tenure as Chair, Mr. Dorsey guided the Board’s adoption of: the Vision Zero transportation safety plan, the update to the Public Spaces Master Plan, the update to the Community Energy Plan, the renaming of Route 1 to Richmond Highway, the economic performance agreement and land use entitlements for Amazon’s headquarters in Arlington, principles of collaboration with the City of Alexandria on joint efforts to ensure inclusive growth with expected economic development, and an Equity Resolution that detailed the scope of work in Arlington’s mission to realize racial and social equity. Christian has served on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) since 2016, and served as Chair in 2022. Previously, Mr. Dorsey served as Arlington’s Member on the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) in 2019 and 2021. Additionally, Christian served as a Principal Member of the Board of Directors for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, aka Metro, and as a Commissioner on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission from 2016-2020. Outside of public service, Mr. Dorsey engages as a policy and communications consultant supporting progressive organizations in realizing their missions. Prior to joining the Board, Christian was a senior leader at the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank that promotes economic policies that foster broadly shared prosperity. Throughout his career, Mr. Dorsey has been committed to improving the Arlington community. He had the privilege of serving as executive director of The Reading Connection, promoting literacy development for children facing housing insecurity. He also led the Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation, which provided essential community services and jump-started a moderate-income housing development in the Green Valley neighborhood.

  Arlington County Board

  Chair

  Christian Dorsey

  Chair

  Arlington County Board

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  Deborah Crawford

  Deborah Crawford is Vice President for Research at George Mason University where she is responsible for supporting and growing the university’s research and innovation activities. She joined Mason in 2016 from the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, CA. For almost two decades, she worked at the National Science Foundation in a number of executive and program management positions, and served as the agency’s liaison to the National Science and Technology Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Institutes of Health. Prior to joining NSF, her research contributions were in high-speed optical and optoelectronic systems in work done at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the University of California Santa Barbara and AT&T Bell Laboratories.

  George Mason Research Foundation

  President

  Deborah Crawford

  President

  George Mason Research Foundation

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  Evan Pritchard

  Evan Pritchard is a member of Venable's Real Estate practice, where he focuses on securing zoning and land use approvals for developers and landowners in jurisdictions throughout Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church, among others. He advises clients on state and federal legislation and regulations affecting real estate development and important changes to local jurisdictions' comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. His clients include mixed-use project developers, large corporate clients as well as some work for nonprofits and churches. Prior to joining Venable, Mr. Pritchard spent nearly a decade at a Northern Virginia land use and development firm. An experienced litigator, he worked with the Environment & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, serving as lead counsel on 25 civil cases in federal court. SIGNIFICANT MATTERS Secured unanimous approval for Rosslyn Plaza Phased Development Site Plan in Arlington. Secured three site plan amendments for Ballston Quarter in Arlington. Secured multiple special exceptions in Fairfax. Secured multiple mixed-use, transit-oriented site plan approvals in Arlington. Represented landowners in multiple rezonings to the Planned Tysons Corner (PTC) Urban District. Represented multiple landowners and applicants before the Fairfax City Council and Board of Architectural Review (BAR) on various projects.

  Venable

  Counsel

  Moderator

  Evan Pritchard

  Counsel

  Venable

Remarks from the Podium

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  Tracy Sayegh Gabriel

  Tracy Sayegh Gabriel is a planner and urbanist focused on helping communities shape and implement plans for neighborhood and downtown vibrancy, inclusive economic development, capital investment, and programming. Tracy currently serves as President and Executive Director of the National Landing Business Improvement District, leading placemaking and promotion for the DC region's fastest-growing downtown district located in Arlington, VA. She has been featured on the Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business and Power 100 lists. Tracy’s career has spanned public and private sectors and includes management of some of the most complex and high-profile public plans and development initiatives in New York City at NYC Economic Development Corporation and Washington, DC, at the DC Office of Planning. She received her undergraduate degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University, her Master's in City Planning from MIT, and was a Fulbright Scholar in economic development in Damascus, Syria.

  National Landing BID

  President & CEO

  Tracy Sayegh Gabriel

  President & CEO

  National Landing BID