Keynote Address

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  Leonardo Williams

  Mayor Leonardo (Leo) Williams is a former teacher, school administrator, small business owner, and Durham City Council member. He attended North Carolina Central University where he earned a BA in Music Education and Master's in Educational Leadership. While at NCCU, he met his wife, Zweli Williams. They are the proud parents of a thriving high schooler. Mayor Williams was a two-time Teacher of the Year in Durham Public Schools, and was recognized by the Triangle Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Awards for producing innovative practices in education that impacted the community economically. He transitioned from full-time educator to full-time small business owner when he and his wife opened Zweli's, the only full-service authentic Zimbabwean restaurant in the United States. Mayor Williams served on the Durham City Council from his election in 2021, where he applied his experience and passion in education, entrepreneurship, and commitment to addressing deep social issues in making Durham a united community that provides safety and prosperity for all. He looks forward to continuing that work as Mayor of Durham.

  City of Durham

  Mayor

  Keynote

  Leonardo Williams

  Mayor

  City of Durham

Why Invest in the Bull City?

Future development and investment prospects in the city across asset types

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  Jim Anthony

  Jim serves as CEO for APG in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jim’s responsibilities include: company vision and strategy, business development, resident guitarist, and community engagement. Prior to founding Anthony & Co. in 1987, Jim served as a broker with Grubb & Ellis Company in Los Angeles, California, from 1979 to 1983, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1980. In 1983, Jim moved to Raleigh to be Leasing and Management Director for NAI Carolantic Realty. In 1998 he acquired Allenton Commercial in Durham, NC and merged it into Anthony & Co. In 2010 Anthony & Co. joined Colliers, then exiting to independence in 2020 as APG. Jim has one of the most diverse and distinguished commercial real estate track records in the Southeastern, US. For over 35 years he has worked with nearly every property type in ten states. His expertise is highly sought after by institutions, businesses, investors, developers and government. Armed with a guitar, Jim is one of the most entertaining public speakers in the real estate business.

  APG Companies

  CEO & Founder

  Jim Anthony

  CEO & Founder

  APG Companies

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  Zach Prager

  Zach Prager graduated from Duke University in 2012 with a major in psychology and a certificate in markets and management studies. He joined Austin Lawrence Partners in 2016 after spending the previous four years in high-yield credit and structured credit at Citigroup in New York City. As director of investments, Zach is responsible for fundraising, investor relations, and sourcing acquisition opportunities. He excels at building lasting relationships to support projects that not only meet our investors' financial objectives, but also improve communities in exciting ways that our partners can take pride in. Zach currently sits on the board of directors for the Durham Children's Initiative and the Duke Triangle Alumni Association.

  Austin Lawrence Partners

  Partner, Director of Investments

  Zach Prager

  Partner, Director of Investments

  Austin Lawrence Partners

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  Austin Williams

  Austin is a founding Partner of Crosland Southeast and is based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Austin leads our grocer-driven and storage investment and development activities. He also leads various mixed-use, master-planned, single-tenant, and medical office projects throughout our geography. Prior to the formation of Crosland Southeast, Austin served as Vice President of Crosland's Retail division and Director of Operations for Crosland's Raleigh-Durham regional office. He began his career in Atlanta, where he built a diverse resume through development and commercial brokerage experience. In 2003, Austin moved to Charlotte to work closely with former Crosland CEO Todd Mansfield in a special projects role. He found a passion for retail development and joined Crosland's retail division in 2004.

  Crosland Southeast

  Partner

  Austin Williams

  Partner

  Crosland Southeast

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  Elizabeth Smith

  SVP, Development

  AvalonBay Communities

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  Jeff Kurtz

  SVP, Development

  Ram Realty Advisors

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  Jay Douglas

  Jay Douglas is the Executive Director of Development for The Ardent Companies. Prior to joining Ardent in March of 2022, Jay was the Senior Vice President of Development for SJC Ventures in Atlanta. Jay has experience in all aspects of the development of retail and mixed-use projects – including acquisition, land planning, zoning and entitlements, leasing, and project management. Jay received his juris doctor from Duke University School of Law, and has a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University.

  The Ardent Companies

  Executive Director

  Jay Douglas

  Executive Director

  The Ardent Companies

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  John Zemet

  John serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer for APG in Raleigh, North Carolina. John’s responsibilities include: portfolio, investor and revenue development, organizational development and acting as a lead company ambassador. Following his graduation from the US Military Academy at West Point, John’s professional career began with service to our country as an Army Infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. His leadership experience ranges from US Army combat operations to teams of professionals assembled to work on real estate projects across the United States. John has hands-on experience in all of the disciplines of commercial real estate. His leadership responsibilities have included the entire real estate asset/portfolio development and management processes from site selection, budgeting, and design through acquisitions, engineering, entitlements, leasing and marketing, construction, finance, management, and disposition. He has had leadership roles in real estate projects ranging to over one million square feet in venues including office buildings, malls and shopping centers in mixed-use, suburban and urban projects across 22 states. He has led over $830 million of financing and asset development; raised tens of millions in private and institutional investment equity and crafted over $150M in creative debt re-structure transactions. In addition, John has led the workouts and turnarounds of companies across North America and trained corporate leaders in the implementation of sound leadership and best practices for business as an international management consultant. John’s passion is working with people to discover they can achieve things they don’t think are within their capabilities.

  APG Companies

  CIO & COO

  Moderator

  John Zemet

  CIO & COO

  APG Companies