Keynote Address

Step aboard the world's first Yacht Condo with Crescent Seas, the residential cruise ship redefining what it means to live on the water.

• Keynote

  Russell Galbut

  CEO

  Crescent Heights

Overcoming Regulatory & Design Challenges on the Waterfront

The Nuances of Permitting Across Miami, Broward, Palm Beach & A New Wave of Front Row Parking with Special Marinas and Docks For Yachts and Boats

• 

  Asi Cymbal

  Asi Cymbal is the Chairman of Cymbal DLT Companies. Mr. Cymbal has over 30 years of experience in real estate development, construction, finance, and law. He is driven by his passion for great architecture and design, his focus on transforming communities, and his commitment to creating great wealth for his investors. He has been fortunate to work with the world’s best architects and designers (Philippe Starck, Bjarke Ingels, Enrique Norten, Jo Palma, Arquitectonica) as a first mover in neighborhoods at a critical time in their transition (the Financial District in Manhattan, Tribeca, SOHO, the Miami Design District, Wynwood, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Miami Gardens). Mr. Cymbal is grateful to his investors and proud of the fact that he has rewarded them with unmatched returns.  Mr. Cymbal raised his first fund in 2010.  That $3 million fund is now worth over $180 million.  He is focused on increasing that to $700 million by 2026. After experimenting with retirement in 2014, he came back to create a second fund during the 2020 Pandemic.  He turned that $16 million fund into $90 million in 20 months. Mr. Cymbal is currently raising a $100 million evergreen fund to be deployed into the $2 billion Cymbal DLT pipeline. Mr. Cymbal also has significant food and beverage experience. He has co-created and owned over half a dozen of the hottest restaurants and clubs in Miami, including Sra. Martinez (with celebrity chef and James Beard award-winner, Michelle Bernstein), Bardot, and gigi. Mr. Cymbal has been named by the South Florida Business Journal as a Heavy Hitter in Construction and Real Estate Development, a Top 100 Power Leader, and as one of 2013’s People to Watch. He has also appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Cymbal is the Vice Chair and board member of Florida International University’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts - Miami Beach Urban Studios. He is also a board member of Wynwood Norte, the organization that is spearheading the revitalization of north Wynwood. Mr. Cymbal was a past board member of Business for the Arts of Broward. Mr. Cymbal is a graduate of Vassar College and the UCLA School of Law. He is an experienced real estate and business attorney licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C., and is a licensed general contractor in Florida.

  Cymbal DLT

  Chairman

  Nautico District - Fort Lauderdale

  Asi Cymbal

  Chairman

  Cymbal DLT

• 

  Chris Schlank

  Mr. Schlank is a Founder and Managing Partner of Savanna. At Savanna, Mr. Schlank sits on the investment committee and is in charge of construction and redevelopment and shares responsibilities for asset management, sales and marketing and acquisitions. Mr. Schlank has overseen the acquisition and redevelopment of more than 70 real estate assets, comprising over 20 million square feet of space and nearly $3.8 billion of total capitalization, including raw land development sites, apartments, office buildings, industrial to residential conversions, retail and warehouse/distribution properties. Prior to founding Savanna, Mr. Schlank was a project manager for the Westside Federation for Senior Housing, a New York-based developer of low-income housing. Mr. Schlank received an MS in Real Estate Development from the Columbia School of Architecture and a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Schlank is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University where he teaches a seminar in Real Estate Finance to graduate students in the Columbia Architecture School’s Real Estate Master’s Degree Program.

  Savanna

  Founder & Managing Partner

  OLARA - West Palm Beach

  Chris Schlank

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Savanna

• 

  Chris Gandolfo

  Chris Gandolfo is the senior vice president of development for Tavistock Development Company. In his role, Gandolfo leads and oversees the development and construction of the revitalization of the iconic Pier Sixty-Six property in Fort Lauderdale.

  Tavistock

  SVP

  Pier 66 - Fort Lauderdale

  Chris Gandolfo

  SVP

  Tavistock

• One Kane - Bay Harbor

  Laura Tauber

  Principal

  TAUBCO

• 

  Jorge Garcia

  An honor graduate of the University of Miami, Jorge is the driving force behind the firm’s growth and development since 1987. Prior experience includes earning a reputation with highly acclaimed architectural as well as land development firms, where he grew to understand the importance of leadership within an organization, the community, and the unique ability of integrating innovative architecture with rational business criteria in a balanced format. Jorge’s primary focuses are corporate leadership, design, vision, collaboration, and growth development for the firm’s philosophical ideals. Jorge is a licensed architect in thirteen states with expertise in the design of national and international facilities including hotel & resorts, commercial, institutional, mixed-use developments, and residential, projects. He is a sought-after authority on the realities and challenges clients face in the planning, approval and entitlement processes found in today’s challenging development environment.

  garciastromberg

  CEO

  Pier 66 - Fort Lauderdale

  Jorge Garcia

  CEO

  garciastromberg

• 

  Danilo Nanni

  A Principal in DeSimone Consulting Engineering’s Miami office, Danilo Nanni, PE, has led some of the firm’s most complex, high-profile, and award-winning projects. His work on the Aston Martin Residences tower on the Miami waterfront earned an ENR "Best of the Best Award" last year. Danilo led the project team and DeSimone structural and façades teams for the design and construction of the newly completed MSC Cruises terminal in PortMiami. Currently, he’s leading the structural design for Calle 8 and for Seaway in Miami. Other exceptional developments include Paramount Miami Worldcenter, a 1.3 MSF, 60-story residential tower at the Miami Worldcenter complex; and the Panorama Tower, a 2.6 MSF, 868-foot-tall structure —the tallest building in Florida. Mr. Nanni received his Structural Engineering degree from the Polytechnic in Milan, Italy, and earned an MBA from the University of Miami.

  DeSimone

  Principal

  MSC Cruises Terminal - PortMiami

  Danilo Nanni

  Principal

  DeSimone

• Moderator

  Josephine Campeau

  President

  Camaco Development

Major Projects & The Future of South Florida’s Waterfront Development

Waterfront views are priceless. Hear how developers are selecting sites and developing to maximize value and match the prestige of the location.

• 

  Peter Baytarian

  Peter Baytarian is the Founder and Managing Partner of Forest Development, a multi-faceted team of real estate development professionals with decades of experience. Forest Development acquires and develops undervalued and primarily waterfront properties in or adjacent to growing cities in Florida. Investing in areas on the path of development empowers the team to create destinations and shape vibrant communities. The diversified investment strategy of the company includes adding value through strategic partnerships and opportunities with mixed-use, multifamily, luxury condominiums, hotels, retail, restaurants, and marinas. Forest Development has various projects in process on both the east and west coasts of Florida. Nautilus 220, a luxury mixed-use development currently underway with completion anticipated for Spring 2025 at 220 Lake Shore Drive in Lake Park, FL, will include 330 condominium residences in two towers, SeaHawk Prime by David Burke, a restaurant with golf + sport simulators, a café, retail, and office alongside the Lake Park Harbor Marina. Oculina is a luxury mixed-use development with Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean views at 3700 Broadway, Riviera Beach, FL. The 25-story, two tower project will include 399 condominiums, resort style amenities, a cafe, fast casual and fine dining restaurants, retail and office. Oculina is fully entitled and sales are slated to launch in the fall of 2025. Additionally, Peter is the Founder and Managing Partner of two firms based in New York, NY focused on the renovation, ownership and management of high-end value-add properties including townhomes, condominiums, and commercial sites in Manhattan. Previously he was a developer and home builder in Cape Cod, MA completing more than 150 residences. Peter was born in Beirut, Lebanon, attended high school at The American School in London and studied economics at Boston University. He resides with his wife and two daughters in Palm Beach County. Peter serves as a member of the Executive Trustee Council for the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce.

  Forest Development

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Nautilus - North Palm Beach

  Peter Baytarian

  Founder & Managing Partner

  Forest Development

• Aria Reserve - Edgewater

  Carlos Melo

  Principal

  Melo Group

• 

  Shahab Karmely

  Led by Principal Shahab S. Karmely, New York based KAR Properties is a real estate investment and development firm. With over 28 years of international real estate experience, Shahab S. Karmely has honed an impressive pedigree in transactional, managerial, and developmental disciplines. These, combined with an extensive background in fine arts and design, are the foundational elements of his development expertise and overall vision. As the founder of KAR Properties LLC, and through KAR and/or its affiliates, Mr. Karmely has acquired, repositioned, and monetized over 3 million square feet of office, luxury mixed-use, and industrial space in the US, Southeast Asia, and Europe. With offices in New York and Miami, KAR currently oversees the management of a core portfolio of assets and a development pipeline in excess of 5 million square feet. KAR has made a significant entry into the Miami market with acquisitions in excess of $200 million in established and emerging neighborhoods. The firm is currently developing 2000 Ocean in Hallandale Beach, a 38-story, a private residential enclave located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. In Downtown Miami, KAR Properties is also developing One River Point, a two-tower, 60-story development that will rise 800 feet above the Miami River. Mr. Karmely’s background as an owner/manager and developer gives him a unique perspective and invaluable insights in analyzing and implementing the appropriate strategies for a variety of asset classes. He champions innovative and inventive approaches in response to changing market conditions, trends, and new opportunities as is required in today’s dynamic real estate markets.

  KAR Properties

  Principal

  Faena Residences Miami

  Shahab Karmely

  Principal

  KAR Properties

• South Flagler House - West Palm Beach

  Bryan Cho

  EVP

  Related Ross

• The Residences at Mandarin Oriental - Brickell Key

  Kevin Davenport

  SVP

  Swire Properties

• 

  Lisa Holt

  Since stumbling upon my passion for insurance in 2015 (funny backstory on my website), I have dedicated myself to helping real estate owners and developers navigate the complexities of risk management. After 6 years with one of the largest brokerages in the world, I decided to further perfect my business by starting my own firm in 2021. Forever reliable and with endless tenacity, I have created a process to make client lives easier. With Ivy Risk Strategies, I’m on a mission to make insurance less painful and (yes) enjoyable.

  Ivy Risk Strategies

  Head Chief

  Moderator

  Lisa Holt

  Head Chief

  Ivy Risk Strategies