Legends In CRE

What Vision Do Texas's Top Industry Leaders Have For The Future?

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  Craig Hall

  Craig Hall is an entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author and philanthropist. He formed HALL Group in 1968, and today the company is made up of multiple brands, including HALL Park, HALL Arts and HALL Structured Finance in Dallas, and HALL, WALT and BACA Wines in California. The company’s interests range from real estate development, ownership and management to financial lending and winemaking. He is the author of six published books with one releasing on May 14, 2019, titled “BOOM: Bridging the Opportunity Gap to Reignite Startups.” Hall’s career has reflected the highest qualities of entrepreneurship and philanthropy, and he actively contributes time and resources at all levels to support community causes with an emphasis on art, education and entrepreneurship. Together with his wife Kathryn Hall, he funded the ‘Fulbright—Kathryn and Craig Hall Distinguished Chair for Entrepreneurship’ to teach entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe. Hall also founded the Dallas regional office of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). In 2007, Hall was named a lifetime member of the prestigious Horatio Alger Association for Distinguished Americans and was inducted into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame and the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas’ Ring of Honor. He was named the 2013 Dallas Real Estate Executive of the Year and in 2016, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame. Most recently, Craig and his wife Kathryn were co-awarded the 2017 Master Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Southwest Region from the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program.

  Hall Group

  Founder

  Craig Hall

  Founder

  Hall Group

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  Mike Lafitte

  Mike Lafitte is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Trammell Crow Company (TCC). In this role he is responsible for the management and day-to-day operations of the Company. Mike is the chairman of the TCC Executive Committee and a member of the TCC Investment Committee. Mike additionally serves as the Global CEO for CBRE’s Real Estate Investments (REI) business segment, which includes TCC; CBRE Global Investors, the company’s global real asset investment management business; and Hana, the firm’s flexible/agile space business. In this role, Mike is a part of CBRE’s Executive Committee. Mike previously served as Global CEO of CBRE’s Advisory Services business, which includes Advisory & Transaction Services (Occupier and Investor), Property Management, Capital Markets, Local Project Management and Valuations. Earlier he served in a number of executive leadership roles for CBRE, including Global Group President, Chief Operating Officer, President, Americas and President, Institutional & Corporate Services. Mike joined CBRE with the acquisition of Trammell Crow Company in 2006. He started with Trammell Crow Company in 1997 and served in various roles, including President of Global Services, Chief Operating Officer of Global Services, Regional Director of the Central region of the U.S. and Dallas Market Leader. Mike has been in the commercial real estate industry since 1984 when he joined Lincoln Property Company in Dallas and also served in production, leadership and development roles with Bear Stearns and PREMISYS Real Estate Services, an affiliate of Prudential Life Insurance Company.

  CEO

  Trammell Crow Company

  Mike Lafitte

  Trammell Crow Company

  CEO

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  Mike Berry

  Mike Berry is the President of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas. Mike leads strategic planning, new business development efforts, and the acquisition and development initiatives for each business unit in AllianceTexas to cultivate the next generation of innovative companies and industries. Mike’s customer-driven, entrepreneurial mindset transformed AllianceTexas into a vertically integrated economic ecosystem. Under his leadership, AllianceTexas has grown into a destination for industry leaders and one of the fastest-growing regions in the country— generating an economic impact of $120 billion that supports a strong local economy and growing population. Mike Berry’s track record is synonymous with the success and development of North Texas real estate. Beginning in 1988 with the groundbreaking of the Alliance Airport, Mike helped transform the region that was once raw ranch land north of Fort Worth into AllianceTexas—the 27,000-acre, master-planned community and global logistics hub. Mike also formed and now leads the efforts at the Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ), leveraging the unique ecosystem built at AllianceTexas to push innovation in surface and air mobility to the commercialization phase. Mike also heads the Hillwood Urban team—specializing in corporate office and mixed-use development in an urban setting and investment and development opportunities throughout North Texas. Mike’s versatile background and success in master-planned development led to Hillwood’s partnership in developing Frisco Station, a 242-acre, high-density, mixed-use community located in Frisco, Texas, along the Dallas North Tollway.

  Hillwood

  President

  Mike Berry

  President

  Hillwood

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  Larry Heard

  Larry P. Heard is president and chief executive officer of the Transwestern family of companies, which together comprise a diversified real estate operating, investment management and development organization. The privately held, fully integrated enterprise leverages competencies in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and healthcare to add value for investors, owners and occupiers of real estate. Larry has been active in the commercial real estate business since 1981. He joined Transwestern in 1983 and was appointed president and chief executive officer of the firm in 2002. Larry and the senior management of Transwestern’s family of companies have led the firm’s expansion to 35 cities and more than 2300 team members and almost 400 million square feet of managed and leased properties. Through its development company, it has developed over 150 projects across the country with values exceeding $10 billion. Transwestern Investment Group currently has $4.4 billion of assets under management. Larry was recognized nationally in 2016 by Real Estate Forum as a CRE Best Boss and an ELITE 70, which honors the most influential executives in the industry. In 2018, he was recognized locally by the Houston Business Journal in their inaugural Most Admired CEO awards. Larry is an active member of the following organizations: • World Presidents Organization (WPO), Member – Houston Chapter • Urban Land Institute (ULI), former Executive Committee Member – Houston • International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Member • Baylor College of Medicine, Trustee, Vice Chairman of the Board - Houston, Texas • Baylor University, Regent - Waco, Texas • Hankamer School of Business – Baylor University, former Advisory Board Member • SEARCH Homeless Services, Co-Chair Capital Building Campaign, former Board Member Larry received his BBA in finance from Baylor University. He and his wife Caroline reside in Houston and have three adult children.

  Transwestern

  CEO

  Larry Heard

  CEO

  Transwestern

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  Lucy Billingsley

  Lucy Billingsley has spent her career in real estate, developing and managing commercial developments. She, and her husband Henry, started Billingsley Company in 1978 to manage their growing real estate portfolio. The company specializes in developing office buildings, multi-family, retail and industrial properties, and master- planned communities, which include: Cypress Waters, International Business Park, Austin Ranch, and the Arts Plaza campus in Dallas’ Arts District. Prior to Billingsley Company, Lucy was Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas Market Center and the Crow Design Centers in Dallas, Houston and Boston and Wyndham Jade Travel. Lucy has been inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame, the NTCAR Hall of Fame, and she was awarded the 2013 H. Neil Mallon Award. Born and raised in Dallas, Lucy is a graduate of The University of Texas with a B.B.A. in finance. She lives in Dallas with Henry and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

  Billingsley Company

  Partner

  Lucy Billingsley

  Partner

  Billingsley Company

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  Tim Dunn

  Tim Dunn serves as Chairman/Chief Investment Officer for JE Dunn Construction. Started in 1924 and now in its fourth generation of family ownership, JE Dunn serves clients nationwide out of its 25 offices and is projected to exceed $5.5b in revenue in 2022. Tim oversees all real estate and investment activities for the company. He supports numerous community efforts and sits on several boards at UMKC, including as a Trustee. He also serves on the boards of many JE Dunn subsidiaries and investments. Mr. Dunn is a graduate of the University of Richmond and holds a BSBA in Accounting and a Master’s in Entrepreneurial Real Estate from UMKC. Prior to his current role, he held various positions for KPMG LLP, Chubb Corp., and Hartford Financial.

  JE Dunn

  Chairman, Chief Investment Officer

  Moderator

  Tim Dunn

  Chairman, Chief Investment Officer

  JE Dunn

Opening Remarks

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  Bill Stinneford

  In his role as senior vice president, Bill Stinneford is responsible for new client growth. He works with companies in the healthcare, retail, and restaurant industries to identify ways to apply Buxton’s analytics and technology to solve their biggest challenges. Additionally, Bill is part of Buxton’s the executive team and collaborates with other company leaders on corporate initiatives. Bill has been a featured speaker at a number of retail, restaurant, and healthcare industry events including ICSC RECon, SHSMD and the IFA’s annual conference. He was honored as a recipient of the Fort Worth Business Press’ 40 Under 40 Award, given to top, rising executives in the community. Bill received his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and sits on the board of directors for the Texas A&M Center for Retailing Studies.

  Buxton

  Senior Vice President

  Bill Stinneford

  Senior Vice President

  Buxton

Economic Snapshot

Deep Diving into What Makes Texas So Attractive To Businesses

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  Matthew Dawson

  Dr. Matthew Dawson received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, graduating at the top of his class from both institutions. He has spent more than a decade of his career in research, management, and investment roles at the likes of ExxonMobil, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, and MIT Investment Management Company. He has filed more than sixty (60) patent applications in the energy industry alone and overseen the development of numerous technologies which have gone on to be widely deployed throughout the industry. One such technology he spun out into a start-up company, which went on to receive the E&P Special Meritorious Award for Engineering Innovation and the World Oil Award. Dr. Dawson has overseen several successful technology companies as a CEO, CTO, and Director and is currently the CEO of Utility Global, a cutting-edge hydrogen company aiming to reshape the energy landscape.

  Utility Global

  CEO

  Matthew Dawson

  CEO

  Utility Global

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  David Hayes

  David Hayes is a managing partner at bp ventures, based in San Francisco. He drives commercial excellence across bp’s investment portfolio and is responsible for deal structuring, term sheet consistency and the overall investment process. His primarily supports the gas & low carbon, customers & products, production & operations, and innovation & engineering businesses. With a background in financial accounting, David started his career as a statutory reporting accountant before taking on various planning and performance management roles within bp alternative energy. Inspired by the opportunity to invest in technologies that can drive clean-technology business development for bp, David opted to pursue a career at bp ventures. Outside of work, David is passionate about contemporary art and photography. On weekends there is a good chance that you’ll find him wandering San Francisco with his wife – checking out new galleries and restaurants.

  bp ventures

  Managing Partner

  David Hayes

  Managing Partner

  bp ventures

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  John Stephens

  The former chief financial officer (CFO) agreed to serve as chairman of the 15-member Dallas Economic Development Corporation. The unpaid role adds to his voluntary duties on the board of Catholic Charities Dallas and the Community Foundation of Texas (CFT), making him one of the City’s go-to specialists when it comes to job creation and fundraising. John Stephens was responsible for AT&T’s financial planning, corporate development, accounting, tax, auditing, treasury, investor relations and corporate real estate. John was appointed to CFO in June 2011. Previously, he served as senior vice president and controller, with responsibility for all financial reporting and operational reporting, accounting policy, business planning and regulatory reporting. In that capacity, he also served as chief financial officer for AT&T’s Diversified Services business unit and had responsibility for all corporate tax and shared services. He was named to that position in November 2001. Prior to serving as controller, John oversaw all corporate tax matters as vice president-Taxes, a position he took on in August 2000. He previously served as managing director-Taxes, where he had similar corporate tax responsibilities. He was named to that position in 1995. John joined the company as director-Federal Taxes in St. Louis in 1992. Prior to that, he served as a tax senior manager with Ernst & Young in St. Louis. His career also includes service as a member of the tax staff of Peat Marwick & Mitchell in Kansas City. John has served on the board of directors of América Móvil, an international provider of telecommunications services, and currently serves on the audit committee of the board of directors of a large privately held retailer. John is chairman of the Dallas Regional Chamber and serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Dallas. He has previously served on the board of the United Way of Dallas and a number of other educational and social service organizations. John earned his B.S.B.A. degree in accounting from Rockhurst University in Kansas City. He holds a J.D. degree from Saint Louis University’s Law School. John and his wife, Michele, have been married 37 years and have 6 children.

  City of Dallas

  Chairman of Economic Development Corporation

  John Stephens

  Chairman of Economic Development Corporation

  City of Dallas

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  Aaron Demerson

  Aaron Demerson currently serves as the Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission. Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the three-member Commission on August 20, 2019 and reappointed him in February 2021. He was confirmed by the Texas Senate on April 28, 2021. In his role, Commissioner Demerson serves as an advocate for over 620,000 Texas employers and over 3 million small businesses. Commissioner Demerson’s team is devoted to serving as a key resource for all Texas employers. His office provides a variety of tools including employment law conferences, and an employer hotline to help businesses grow and thrive in Texas. Demerson is also devoted to supporting the workforce, economic development, and education efforts that help ensure the skilled workforce that Texas employers demand. Demerson was also appointed Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Cultural Affairs by Governor Abbott in November 2019. This advisory council is charged with raising public awareness of major issues affecting the state due to the rapid growth of the state’s Hispanic population and other issues resulting from changes in demographics. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Demerson was the Director of the Office of Employer Initiatives at the Texas Workforce Commission. Prior to employment at the Texas Workforce Commission, he served as a Senior Advisor to Governor Rick Perry and Executive Director of the Economic Development & Tourism Division in the Governor’s Office, leading a team that marketed the State of Texas as a premier destination for both business and travel. He has also served as the Director of Business Development, the Director of Administration, and managed the Finance Division for the Texas Economic Development Agency. In addition, Demerson managed the state’s innovative prepaid tuition program (formerly-The Texas Tomorrow Fund) at the State Comptroller’s Office and was employed as a Commercial Finance Analyst and Loan Administration Officer with Texas Bank (former name) in San Antonio, Texas. Demerson has been and continues to be involved in numerous social and civic organizations including the Board for the Austin Lyric Opera, the Austin Area Urban League, the Capitol Credit Union Nominating Committee, membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, the Texas Economic Development Council, and 100 Black Men of Austin to name a few. Commissioner Demerson has a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He also received a general banking diploma from the American Institute of Banking, is a ‘91-‘92 graduate of Leadership Austin, and recently had the distinct pleasure of completing the Army War College Commandants National Security Program for civilians.

  Texas Workforce Commission

  Commissioner Representing Employers

  Aaron Demerson

  Commissioner Representing Employers

  Texas Workforce Commission

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  Faron Wiley

  Faron Wiley joined CBRE in early 2007 as a result of the company’s acquisition of Trammell Crow Company. In 1994, Mr. Wiley began his career with the Trammell Crow Company as an Industrial Project Leasing Agent. In 2000, he was promoted to Vice President. He was then promoted to Vice President of Industrial Brokerage in 2006, where he now manages a team responsible for marketing, project leasing, new development, tenant representation, and investment sales that delivers outstanding customer service while creating significant value for institutional, private and corporate clients. He has accepted and performed many turnaround and new development opportunities located throughout the Houston area. Mr. Wiley has also been responsible for leasing multiple new development opportunities that were lucrative for our clients including projects such as West Port Industrial Park, SW Techniplex, Air Cargo Center I, NW Place 2, Cole Creek Business Park and Lakeview Business Park. He has completed over 500 leases with a dollar value in excess of more than $200 million. Mr. Wiley is a strong negotiator with an eye on increasing the value of our client’s properties. Prior to joining Trammell Crow Company, Mr. Wiley, performed finance, accounting and marketing duties in Exxon’s Alaska Interest organization. He also worked as a commercial lender for First Union Bank and grew the personal loan portfolio to over $20 million.

  CBRE

  SVP

  Faron Wiley

  SVP

  CBRE

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  Cindy Simpson

  Cindy is Co-Regional Managing Principal of Gensler’s South Central Region and Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Dallas office, and a member of Gensler’s Board of Directors. Since joining Gensler in 2002, she has emerged as a visionary leader, inspiring confidence in her clients, respect among her peers and loyalty from her staff. In 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Cindy was named one of the Dallas 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas and Ft. Worth by D CEO Magazine. A dedicated client advocate, Cindy serves on the Firmwide Client Relationships Management Committee, working across the firm to strengthen client partnerships. As both an accomplished project leader and designer, she offers her clients and project teams strategic solutions that also respect and advance design excellence. Cindy’s leadership style, breadth of experience, knowledge of the market, effective communication skills and intense focus on her clients’ business drivers have merited her a reputation as a strategic partner and trusted advisor. In 2019, Cindy was elevated to the International Interior Design Association College of Fellows (IIDA). The IIDA College of Fellows is the highest honor bestowed by the organization on members whose work has a significant influence on the profession of interior design. Cindy graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Interior Design from Mississippi State University’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, and was named Alumnus of the Year by the College in 2010. In 2019, she was recognized as an Alumni Fellow, a lifetime honor, for her achievements in the design industry. Her professional certifications include membership in the International Interior Design Association; she’s also a LEED accredited professional committed to implementing sustainable design strategies.

  Gensler

  Co-Regional Managing Principal

  Cindy Simpson

  Co-Regional Managing Principal

  Gensler

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  Steven Black

  Steve Black is the Senior Vice President and Western States Area Manager for Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. Steve oversees the operations and growth of Westcor in seventeen Western states of the US. He is a 30+ year veteran of the title industry and has been instrumental in the launch, growth, operation and ownership of multiple title insurance entities in Texas and nationally. He earned his CTIP from TLTA where he is actively involved with the legislative committee and as a Trustee of TITLEPAC. Steve joined Westcor six years ago. Prior to that he earned a reputation as a strategic startup and turn-around specialist in the title industry. He began his title career with a national underwriter where he held executive positions in the title, appraisal and IT. Steve has a BA in Economics, and enjoys traveling with his family, golf, good food and great wine. Westcor Land Title Insurance Company is the largest independent national title underwriter in the country. Westcor was founded by agents for the purpose of bringing innovative solutions to the title insurance agency market. Westcor is the only top national underwriter that never competes with its agents; it forms strong, collaborative partnerships. Westcor focuses on delivering products and services to support the continued success of the independent title agents, their customers, and consumers. Westcor Land Title Insurance Company is rated A” (A Double Prime) by Demotech, Rating Inc. Based in Maitland, FL, Westcor has regional offices throughout the United States

  Westcor Land Title Insurance Company

  VP, Western States Area Manager

  Moderator

  Steven Black

  VP, Western States Area Manager

  Westcor Land Title Insurance Company

The Future of Mixed-Use, Retail & Entertainment

The Evolving End User Experience

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  Herbert Weitzman

  Herbert D. Weitzman is Executive Chairman of Weitzman. In 1990, after nearly 30 years in the real estate business, Weitzman founded the company, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm that now ranks as the largest retail real estate brokerage force in Texas and one of the largest regional commercial real estate firms in the United States. As a property manager, Weitzman now ranks among the top 50 shopping center management firms in the United States, according to rankings by National Real Estate Investor.

  Weitzman

  Executive Chairman

  Herbert Weitzman

  Executive Chairman

  Weitzman

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  Blake Cordish

  Blake L. Cordish is a Principal and Partner of The Cordish Companies.  The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately-held, family ownership.  During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Commercial Real Estate, Entertainment Districts, Sports-Anchored Developments, Gaming, Hotels, Residential Properties, Restaurants, International Development and Coworking Spaces. Mr. Cordish is responsible for the Real Estate Development division of the company.  One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute (ULI) Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located.  The Cordish Companies has developed and operates multiple highly acclaimed entertainment destinations throughout the United States, many falling under the Company’s Live! Brand which is highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. Welcoming over 55 million visitors per year, these properties are the most visited destinations in their respective regions including casino resorts, restaurants, hotels, sports-anchored entertainment districts and more. Mr. Cordish holds a B.A. degree from Princeton University where he played on the varsity tennis team.  Mr. Cordish currently resides in Lutherville, MD with his wife and three children and is involved with a variety of philanthropic and civic endeavors including serving as a trustee for Johns Hopkins University.

  Cordish Companies

  VP

  Blake Cordish

  VP

  Cordish Companies

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  Frank Mihalopoulos

  Frank Mihalopoulos is the owner of Corinth Properties. He graduated from Southern Methodist University and has thirty-seven years of experience in real estate investments and development of commercial retail and office properties. His developments are throughout the country, primarily in the southwest. His projects have earned national and local awards and recognition from the commercial real estate industry, business publication including The Dallas Business Journal, the City of Cedar Hill, City of Dallas, York County Pennsylvania, and the City of Nashville, TN. Mr. Mihalopoulos is widely regarded for his creative ability to redevelopment malls across the country. His most recent mall redevelopment project is West Manchester Mall in York County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Mihalopoulos also development One Hundred Oaks in Nashville Tennessee, a renovation of an existing mall into a mixed use project with Vanderbilt University Medical Center occupying 450,000 square feet for medical clinics and 430,000 square feet of retail. He has completed Eldorado Plaza, a 30-acre neighborhood center in McKinney, Texas, the Gateway Center in College Station, Texas, and the original shopping district in Cedar Hill, Texas {The Plaza at Cedar Hill and Cedar Hill Village} and developing Spring Creek Village in College Station, Texas. Mr. Mihalopoulos is currently developing Glen Oaks Crossings {Super Walmart development in Oak Cliff}, Red Oak Crossing {Super Walmart shadow development in Red Oak, Texas}, The Avenue in Oak Cliff {grocery anchor/urban mix-use development in historic north Oak Cliff area of Dallas}, Canyon in Oak Cliff {regional power center development in Dallas} and development of West Manchester Town Center with partner, Anthony Ruggeri. Mr. Mihalopoulos is a current board member of The Real Estate Council of Dallas, Texas and Shelter Ministries of Dallas. He previously served on the boards of Federal Reserve of Dallas Advisory Council, Goodwill Industries, St. Mark’s School of Texas, City of Dallas Cedars Area TIFF, Urban Rehab Standards, and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church where he chaired the building committee overseeing the construction of the Church’s new facilities. He is a member of North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors and ICSC. Mr. Mihalopoulos has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University and also attended the University of Illinois – Chicago campus.

  Corinth Properties

  Founder

  Frank Mihalopoulos

  Founder

  Corinth Properties

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  Michael Hsu

  Michael Hsu, FAIA, IIDA is the founder and principal of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, a fully integrated architecture and interior design firm. MHOA was founded in 2005 and employs 90 team members across studios in Austin and Houston, with additional staff members in Dallas and Denver. MHOA is a nationally award-winning firm, including AIA Austin’s Firm of the Year in 2016. Hsu graduated from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and has practiced in Austin since 1998. Hsu is the Texas Society of Architects Austin Chapter Director, and a member of the UT School of Architecture’s Advisory Council. He is a Past President of AIA Austin and was elevated to AIA’s College of Fellows in 2021.

  Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

  Principal

  Michael Hsu

  Principal

  Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

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  Andrew Smith

  Andrew Smith is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned a B.S. in Biomedical Science, and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences. After working in the public research sector for four years, Andrew put his training in project management and data analysis/interpretation towards the private sector. In 2011, Andrew joined McRight-Smith’s Business Development Team, where he was involved in the daily operations of multiple subsidiaries of McRight-Smith Holdings, most notably, McRight-Smith Construction. In January of 2013, Andrew was made a full equity partner of McRight-Smith Holdings. After playing a major role in the growth of McRight-Smith Construction for several years, Andrew was named President of McRight-Smith Construction in July, 2014. As President Andrew’s responsibilities include developing and implementing high-level strategic goals and managing the overall operations and resources of McRight-Smith Construction. Most importantly, Andrew is also responsible for ensuring that McRight-Smith Construction maintains the highest standards of corporate integrity and citizenship.

  McRight-Smith Construction

  President

  Andrew Smith

  President

  McRight-Smith Construction

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  Patrick Buckhoff, CCIM

  Patrick J Buckhoff, CCIM is the Principal Broker & President of Commercial Advisors Group. Patrick has been recognized by RE/MAX Commercial as the #11 Broker nationally because he delivers exceptional results to his clients. After receiving his B.S. degree in Applied Physics, Patrick served as a US Army officer, leading troops during desert Storm. He has served in a variety of leadership roles in manufacturing, distribution and consulting firms. His extensive business background leading companies from $5 MM to $100 MM provides him a valuable understanding of business and pressures leaders face. Patrick is personally involved in Commercial real estate as an Owner, Landlord and Tenant. He earned the CCIM designation giving his clients advanced market & analytic skills to gain a competitive advantage. Patrick is a father of two and enjoys Obstacle Course racing, cooking, cigars and finding new restaurants in Houston’s great culinary scene.

  RE/MAX Commercial

  Principal & Associate Broker

  Moderator

  Patrick Buckhoff, CCIM

  Principal & Associate Broker

  RE/MAX Commercial

What Do Tenants Really Want?

Office Market Deep Dive

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  Chip Colvill

  As Executive Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, Chip Colvill is responsible for directing leasing and marketing of a 16.1-million-square-foot portfolio of Class A office properties located in Houston, Texas. Mr. Colvill is an industry veteran in the real estate market with over 35 years of experience, having begun his career in 1984. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Mr. Colvill was president and CEO of Colvill Office Properties, a company he formed in 2001 that was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 2020. Throughout his career, Mr. Colvill has worked for numerous institutional real estate firms, including Cushman Realty Corporation, Trammell Crow Company, JMB Properties Company, Heitman, TrizecHahn, and Tishman Speyer Properties. He has completed over 20 million square feet of lease transactions in directing the leasing and marketing of some of Houston’s most iconic office developments, including 609 Main, 600 Travis, 1100 Louisiana, 910 Louisiana, 811 Louisiana, 1001 Fannin, 717 Texas, CityWestPlace, San Felipe Plaza, CityCentre, BLVD PLACE, the Galleria Office Towers, and Chase Tower (Dallas).

  Cushman & Wakefield

  Executive Vice Chairman

  Chip Colvill

  Executive Vice Chairman

  Cushman & Wakefield

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  Jim Carman

  Jim Carman is President of the Houston region at The Howard Hughes Corporation. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of MPC Commercial Development. He joined the company in August 2012 to oversee vertical development on projects located within The Woodlands and Bridgeland, both master planned communities in the Houston area. Mr. Carman was responsible for leading multiple teams in the development of the first phase of Hughes Landing, Houston's premier mixed-use urban center on Lake Woodlands, taking the 66-acre project from conception to completion within three years. Prior to The Howard Hughes Corporation, Mr. Carman worked on the mixed-use project Tivoli Village at Queensridge as well as all development projects located within the 70-acre Hughes Center, a mixed-use master planned property in Las Vegas. Previously, Mr. Carman served as Project Manager for the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, a $500 million resort complex consisting of seven restaurants, 365 keys, 85 luxury condominiums, and a golf course designed by Greg Norman. Before moving overseas to manage the Ritz-Carlton project, he worked with The Haskell Company, a design-build contractor based in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Carman was part of the joint-venture team that constructed the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, a $370 million performance complex in the heart of downtown Miami, hosting the Florida Grand Opera and Miami City Ballet, as well as other special events. Mr. Carman received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering as well as Master of Engineering in Construction from Texas A&M University.

  Howard Hughes Corporation

  President

  Jim Carman

  President

  Howard Hughes Corporation

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  Michael Dardick

  Career Summary Michael W. Dardick is a founding partner and CEO of Granite Properties, Inc. Granite Properties is a privately held commercial real estate investment and management company with offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston and Los Angeles. Since 1991, Granite Properties has acquired or developed over 25 million square feet of commercial real estate in excess of $7 billion. Prior to founding Granite Properties, Michael was in banking, most recently serving as a Senior Vice President at a JPMorgan/Chase predecessor running the Foreclosed Real Estate Division. Professional Affiliations In the community, Michael serves on the Children’s Health System of Texas Board, Nominating and Governance Committee, Human Resource and Real Estate Committee and as Chairman of the Plano Board of the Children’s Medical Center Legacy Campus; as a Board Member of the Collin County Business Alliance; and member of The Dallas Citizens Council. He is also a Trustee for the Community Foundation of Texas. In the industry, Michael is on the Leadership Team and Past Chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Industrial and Office Council, a Member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO-Gold) and the worldwide YPO Real Estate Network. Michael is a past President and Board Member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) and Past Chairman and Board Member of The Real Estate Council (TREC). Education / Personal Michael is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, with a degree in finance. He resides in Plano with his wife Jill and two children.

  Granite Properties

  President & CEO

  Michael Dardick

  President & CEO

  Granite Properties

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  Bill Cawley

  Bill Cawley is the brand and the vision behind Cawley Partners, a Dallas-based real estate investment company that focuses on commercial office product. Over the course of his career, Bill has owned all classes of commercial real estate in multiple markets across the country. In his heart, however, Bill’s an office guy who built his business by way of his background as a service provider. Recognized in 2017 by D CEO Magazine as one of the most influential business leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth, Bill has acquired and developed more than 12 million square feet of commercial office product. In Dallas alone, Cawley Partners has been the premier office developer along the Platinum Corridor of the Dallas North Tollway, where over the course of our current real estate cycle Cawley Partners has developed almost 1 million square feet of Class-A office. At the heart of Bill’s success you will find an unmatched set of relationships that make it all happen. Bill has always believed that at the end of the day, it’s the relationships that matter. Those relationships span office brokers, business owners, and capital partners, alike. Partnering with all of the above has resulted in top tier results for his investors. Born and raised outside of Chicago, Bill has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career and is an active member of North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR) and Urban Land Institute (ULI). Bill is also a frequent speaker and contributor for numerous business organizations and publications. He earned a business degree from Quincy University in Illinois and holds real estate broker licenses in both Texas and Illinois.

  Cawley Partners

  CEO

  Bill Cawley

  CEO

  Cawley Partners

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  Brigitte Preston

  Born in Belgium, Brigitte grew up in Antwerp, a city with not only a rich architectural heritage, but also a reputation for pioneering new, often experimental ideas. Her native city fostered an adventurous spirit and a love of design that brought her to the US to study Interior Architecture when she was just 21. Brigitte’s approach to design is humanistic, championing people-centered solutions in a variety of interiors — workplace, education, and non-profit organizations. She has a collaborative approach and is a passionate promoter of the importance of teamwork and establishing a shared design culture with her clients. Brigitte has been a business owner, entrepreneur, and design principal in the span of her career—roles that give her a firsthand insight into the needs of her corporate clients.

  Perkins&Will

  Principal, Interior Design Director

  Brigitte Preston

  Principal, Interior Design Director

  Perkins&Will

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  Dan Jones

  Dan Jones has served as Senior Executive Vice President of Asset Management and Construction at Hartman Income REIT Management, Inc. (Hartman) since 2018. Mr. Jones, has over 25 years of diverse experience in construction, property management, financial analysis, and development in the commercial real estate industry. Mr. Jones’ priority at Hartman is to deliver the best-in-class building and tenant improvements while featuring sustainable practices to reduce landfill waste and energy consumption. Before joining Hartman, Mr. Jones worked for multiple top commercial real estate leaders and Fortune 500 corporations. In his previous roles at Hines, PM Realty Group, Chevron, Stewart & Stevenson, and CenterPoint Energy, Mr. Jones served as a portfolio manager of office, retail, and industrial space, managing more than 7.5 million square feet. While at PM Realty Group, Mr. Jones directed over 100 employees and provided services across the property management, building engineering, training, and quality control departments. Jones also held an integral role on the development team for a new 18 story, 385,000SF, Class A+ office building in the Greenway submarket in Houston, TX. The project was completed in 2015 and was the first new office building in the submarket in almost 30 years. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University and has been a contributing member of The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) since 1992. Mr. Jones enjoys volunteering at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and playing golf in his spare time.

  Hartman Income REIT

  Senior EVP - Asset Management and Construction

  Dan Jones

  Senior EVP - Asset Management and Construction

  Hartman Income REIT

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  Susan Arledge

  Susan Arledge, SIOR, currently serves as a Senior Managing Director in the company’s Dallas office. Arledge has over three decades of experience advising corporate clients on location decision-making, having worked with notable companies to identify and establish real estate locations including headquarters sites, distribution/e-commerce and manufacturing centers, customer support/shared service centers, back office and tech support operations. Susan specializes in securing real estate locations for clients globally, focusing on a proprietary Total Cost Analysis model that identifies all labor costs, transportation costs, incentive opportunities, and real estate costs. She focuses on finding locations that reduce attrition, increase productivity and allow clients to remain competitive by finding a labor force that meets their unique needs. Arledge has received numerous professional honors throughout her career. She was the recipient of the prestigious “Stemmons Service Award,” given annually to a Dallas commercial broker that best represents the industry’s standards for business success and community service. Arledge has served as President of the SIOR North Texas Chapter, the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association and as Chair of the Go Red for Women Luncheon in Dallas. She maintains the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) designation and has been honored as one of the Dallas Business Journal’s “Heavy Hitters.” Arledge is a frequent speaker and author whose insights are often highlighted in publications including D CEO, D Magazine and Bisnow. Prior to joining Newmark, Arledge served as Executive Managing Director at Dallas-based commercial real estate firm ESRP. Arledge’s prior experience included being the Managing Principal for Cresa Dallas and The Staubach Company.

  Newmark

  Senior Managing Director

  Moderator

  Susan Arledge

  Senior Managing Director

  Newmark

Maintaining Momentum in Multifamily

Attracting and Retaining Residents in a Virtual World

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  Jacob Sudhoff

  Jacob Sudhoff, CEO of Douglas Elliman Texas, took the helm in September 2019 when his decade-old firm Sudhoff Companies joined forces with one of the nation’s largest independent residential real estate brokerages by sales volume, expanding its presence into the state of Texas for the first time. As CEO of the Texas Region, Jacob is responsible for rolling out the Douglas Elliman brand around the state, with offices located in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. In his executive leadership role, he oversees the company’s complete suite of services which includes development marketing, builder marketing, traditional real estate sales, relocation, and commercial real estate. Sophisticated research and analysis are conducted under his tutelage, providing pertinent market data and information to Douglas Elliman’s clients across the nation. With over 20 years of industry experience and an integrated approach to real estate sales and marketing, Jacob is a real estate veteran whose vision and entrepreneurship contributed to the transformation of Houston’s residential landscape. Jacob is a former top-producing agent with sales in the billions, which is a rare but beneficial trait for the person at the helm. His extensive real estate expertise includes both residential and commercial sales, capital markets, planning, design, and procurement for residential projects, which allowed him to create a niche in luxury high-density residential development. An entrepreneur at heart, Jacob is involved in multiple businesses which intersect with real estate: CASA, a luxury interior design showroom featuring refined Italian brands, and Vernon G. Henry & Associates, Inc., an urban planning and development consulting firm. Always dedicated to giving back to the community in which he serves, Jacob has chaired the AIDS Foundation Gala and is a supporter of Preservation Houston, Covenant House, and the Houston Community Foundation. He also invests his time and resources to foster the next generation of real estate leaders through the facilitation of an ongoing and robust mentorship and internship program.

  Douglas Elliman Texas

  CEO

  Jacob Sudhoff

  CEO

  Douglas Elliman Texas

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  Sue Ansel

  Sue Ansel is President and Chief Executive Officer. In her 25 plus years with Gables, she has held positions in acquisitions, development, and operations and has led important company initiatives including the advancement of real estate technology efforts and third-party client services. Sue serves on several boards and committees including serving as an officer on the Executive Committee of the National Multi-Housing Council, The Dallas Summer Musical Board of Directors and DePauw University’s Board of Trustees. Sue is also a member of the Urban Land Institute and a graduate of DePauw University.

  Gables Residential

  CEO

  Sue Ansel

  CEO

  Gables Residential

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  Brandt Bowden

  As Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Bowden oversees all debt and equity financing efforts for The Hanover Company, Mr. Bowden is involved in all aspects of acquisition, development, construction, management and finance. Prior to joining The Hanover Company, Mr. Bowden worked for Bank of America Securities Real Estate Investing Banking division where he performed corporate strategic and financial advisory services. Mr. Bowden also has experience with L.J. Melody where he provided advisory services on structured debt financing. Mr. Bowden earned his BA from Dartmouth College.

  The Hanover Company

  CEO

  Brandt Bowden

  CEO

  The Hanover Company

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  Payton Mayes

  Payton oversees and leads all components of JPI including two Regional Development and Construction Offices and Operations. Under his leadership, JPI has a People First focus. He serves as a member of the JPI Investment Committee and acts as a key executive in strategic direction and initiatives, as well as leadership and culture. Payton has a broad 20 years of real estate investment, finance and executive experience. Before moving to JPI, Mayes served as the Chief Investment Officer at DHIC Communities, a D.R. Horton company, expanding the company’s expertise in joint venture capital structures and distressed offerings. He also founded Cephas Partners, where he co-invested with Blackstone to acquire a portfolio from Bank of America Merrill Lynch with a total enterprise value of underlying assets of $4 billion. His experience also includes managing real estate private equity investments at Merrill Lynch, where he led a $600 million South American entrance, as well as serving on the board in three different development companies. He is a proud honors graduate of Texas A&M University and lives in Southlake with his wife Andrea and three children Merritt, Channing and Stella.

  JPI

  CEO

  Payton Mayes

  CEO

  JPI

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  Brett Rhode

  Brett Rhode is well known for his ability to design and manage large, complex projects, producing award- winning buildings within budget and schedule constraints. Brett honed his skills for over a decade in New York City on complex international commissions in the offices of I.M Pei and Phillip Johnson. In Austin as a Vice President at Page Southerland Page, Brett worked on healthcare and civic projects for eight years before founding Rhode Partners in 2005. Rhode Partners is organized in an open studio environment to facilitate team communication and easy client access.

  Rhode Partners

  Director

  Brett Rhode

  Director

  Rhode Partners

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  Tom Fish

  Tom Fish, Managing Director, is based in Houston, Texas and is responsible for securing financing for owners and developers of all commercial real estate asset classes. Mr. Fish has been in the commercial real estate finance industry for over 30 years, and has extensive experience structuring and arranging debt, joint equity ventures, participating debt, as well as other structured finance transactions. He has been involved with numerous to-be-built developments as well as dispositions of institutional quality real estate. His transaction experience spans major, secondary, and tertiary markets throughout the U.S. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Fish served as Executive Managing Director and co-leader of the Capital Markets Finance practice of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) from 2010 to 2019. In this role, Mr. Fish was responsible for growing the platform and originating debt for projects and clients throughout the country. Under his leadership, and with his partners Tom and Mike Melody, the Capital Markets business grew to over $25 billion in annual volume. Before joining JLL, Mr. Fish was with CBRE/L.J. Melody & Company for 14 years, where he served as Vice Chairman. Prior to that, he was a co-owner of Post Oak Partners, a Houston-based real estate finance firm. Mr. Fish has also been involved with numerous industry and community organizations. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Mixed Use Silver Council, and the University of Texas Real Estate Center. He is former Chair of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and currently serves on the board of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation, as well as Co-Chair of the Jewish Federation’s Commercial Real Estate Society. Mr. Fish earned a BBA with dual majors in finance and marketing from the University of Texas. He is married to Shari Fish and has three children.

  Walker & Dunlop

  Managing Director

  Moderator

  Tom Fish

  Managing Director

  Walker & Dunlop