Mayoral Roundtable

• Keynote

  Rob Medina

  Mayor

  City of Palm Bay

• Keynote

  Mike Blake

  Mayor

  City of Cocoa

• Keynote

  Andrew Connors

  Mayor

  City of Titusville

• Moderator

  Anne Conroy-Baiter

  President & CEO

  Melbourne Regional Chamber

Building the Future: Growth, Investment & CRE Drivers on the Space Coast

How the commercial space boom is fueling demand for real estate beyond the launchpad and reshaping the Space Coast’s industrial, office, and innovation corridors

• 

  Robert Long

  President & CEO

  Space Florida

• 

  Jessica Gomez

  Jessica Gomez is the founder and CEO of Rogue Valley Microdevices, the first woman-owned and minority-owned company to receive funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. She was also recently honored as “Electronics Entrepreneur of the Year” by Electronics Weekly’s 2025 Women Leaders in Electronics Awards. Under her leadership, Rogue Valley Microdevices has grown into a world-class precision MEMS foundry headquartered in Southern Oregon. The company is now expanding to Palm Bay, Florida, where it is building the first pure-play MEMS foundry in the U.S. capable of 300mm wafer production. Ms. Gomez brings a deep commitment to customer success, combining best-in-class process technology with advanced R&D expertise to help clients achieve exceptional quality and reliability. Prior to founding the company in 2003, she built her expertise in semiconductor processing and production management at firms including Standard Microsystems Corporation, Integrated Micromachines, and Xponent Photonics. A respected industry leader, Ms. Gomez serves on the SEMI Board of Industry Leaders and was the inaugural honoree of Spotlight on SEMI Women, which recognizes accomplished women in microelectronics. In 2025, she was named Electronics Entrepreneur of the Year by Electronics Weekly’s Women Leaders in Electronics Awards. Ms. Gomez is also a passionate advocate for women in technology. As an entrepreneur, founder, CEO, and a mother of two daughters, she understands the importance of flexibility and support in the workplace. She is currently working to incorporate on-site childcare and after-school STEM programs into the new Florida facility to help more women thrive in semiconductor careers.

  Rogue Valley Microdevices

  Founder & CEO

  Jessica Gomez

  Founder & CEO

  Rogue Valley Microdevices

• 

  Edgar Campa Palafox

  Edgar Campa-Palafox serves as Vice President of Business Development for the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast. He joined the organization in August 2020. In his current role, he leads strategic efforts to attract, retain, and grow high-impact industries across the Space Coast, with a focus on aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Edgar collaborates closely with company executives, site selectors, elected officials, public-sector partners, and state and workforce agencies to drive investment, strengthen supply chains, and expand high-skilled job opportunities. With nearly two decades of experience in economic development, Edgar has worked across Arizona, Texas, and Florida—partnering with local governments, public-private partnerships, and industry leaders to unlock regional potential, foster high-value job creation, and build economic resilience. His expertise spans the full spectrum of the profession, including incentive policy, economic research, business attraction, business retention and expansion, and community relations and engagement. He also brings hands on experience in supplier development, industrial and real estate development, and the cultivation of entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems. Edgar earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double major in Business Economics and Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona. He also completed coursework in business and economics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. Committed to lifelong learning, Edgar has earned several professional industry designations, including the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC); the Master Economic Development Practitioner designation through the Advanced Economic Development Leadership (AEDL) program—a consortium of universities; and a Business Incubation Management Certificate from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA).

  Space Coast Economic Development Commission

  VP

  Edgar Campa Palafox

  VP

  Space Coast Economic Development Commission

• 

  Kevin Steward

  Director

  Northrop Grumman

• 

  Jim Thomas

  Jim Thomas is a visionary leader and entrepreneur dedicated to igniting humanity’s potential for a multiplanetary future. Driven by a profound belief in fostering innovation, unity, and purpose to bridge Earth and space, Jim inspires communities, leaders, and dreamers to tackle global challenges and build a legacy of abundance, freedom, and exploration for future generations. With over a decade of experience in local, state, and federal government, including roles in the California State Senate, US Senate campaigns, and positions in Washington, DC, as well as serving as Executive Director of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and CEO of the Central Florida Tech Alliance, Jim honed his skills in policy, leadership, collaboration, and economic development, forging strategic partnerships that drive impactful change. He also founded JPT Ventures, working in space venture capital to support innovative startups. Now, as a key player on the Space Coast, Jim capitalizes on the commercial space boom, fueling demand for real estate beyond the launchpad and reshaping the region’s industrial, office, and innovation corridors. With the aerospace and tech sectors driving rapid economic growth and positioning Brevard County as one of the fastest-growing economies in the US, attracting professional workforces throughout Brevard County, and establishing the region as a goldmine for investors with booming commercial real estate opportunities, Jim leverages this momentum to advance sustainable development and investment in the space economy. As the CoFounder of Karman Line Enterprises, Jim leads with bold vision and strategic action, forging partnerships with industry pioneers, educators, and innovators to revitalize historic space infrastructure and create transformative educational ecosystems. Drawing from his Space Coast roots and expertise in space venture capital, storytelling, and STEAM education, he connects diverse audiences through initiatives like the Legacy of Launch campaign in collaboration with the U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation. Jim's tangible impact includes advancing space exploration via real estate, consulting, and education, while preserving space history and establishing a new space nexus on the Space Coast amid surging demand from major players like SpaceX and Blue Origin. An international speaker and author of the soon-to-be-released book, Community of Tomorrow, he shares insights on AI-driven abundance, the Great Eight global challenges, and Humanity 3.0, outlining blueprints for thriving in an AI-powered world. Jim continues to empower others to embrace progress and possibility, positioning himself as a global thought leader in space and innovation.

  Karman Line, Inc.

  Co-Founder

  Jim Thomas

  Co-Founder

  Karman Line, Inc.

• 

  Katie Hogan

  Katie joined Florida Power & Light Company in 2022 and serves as manager of economic development. In this role, she works to diversify Florida’s economy by facilitating business attraction and expansion efforts with a focus on supporting the state’s aerospace & defense sectors. Katie assists businesses in the identification of sites and buildings, electric and infrastructure assessments, incentives and clean energy programs. Prior to joining FPL, Katie supported economic development efforts in Florida at the state and local levels. She previously served as the state of Florida’s economic development representative for the aviation/aerospace & defense/homeland security sectors at the state’s principal economic development agency. Katie also held roles at FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance and the Mississippi Defense Initiative. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi.

  Florida Power & Light Company

  Manager

  Moderator

  Katie Hogan

  Manager

  Florida Power & Light Company

The Development Boom: Projects Transforming the Space Coast

Inside the residential boom transforming Brevard County into one of Florida’s most investable and fast-growing markets.

• 

  Larry Baum

  Managing Partner

  Stellar Communities

• 

  Pranav Bhakta

  SVP

  Driftwood Capital

• 

  Kathleen Yonce

  Founding Partner & CEO

  Key Group

• 

  Jonathan Mazzarella

  Founder

  Endeavor Capital

• 

  Barry Schwarzberg

  Principal

  Northlake Development Group

• 

  Dean Myerow

  Managing Partner

  Southern Waters Capital

• 

  Margaret Brock

  Margaret Brock is a visionary leader in hospitality and leisure design, renowned for crafting compelling, branded guest experiences across the country. As Vice President and Hospitality Market Leader at BRPH—an award-winning architecture, engineering, and design firm—she draws on deep partnerships with high-profile local developers and brands like Marriott, Travel + Leisure, and Margaritaville. Margaret’s expertise guides successful brand strategy and impactful implementation. A dedicated advocate for urban revitalization, Margaret has served three terms on Orlando’s Historic Preservation Board and two terms on its Appearance Review Board. She continues to invest in the city’s future with her involvement as a partner in the Downtown Orlando Creative Village Master Development. Passionate about the power of design to drive economic growth, she leads a talented multidisciplinary team—planners, architects, engineers, and interior designers—to deliver transformative projects that balance innovation, community engagement, and long-term vitality.

  Vice President and Hospitality Market Leader

  BRPH

  Moderator

  Margaret Brock

  BRPH

  Vice President and Hospitality Market Leader