Co-Founder & General Partner,
MetaProp
Zach Aarons is an award-winning PropTech investor, best-selling author, professor, and speaker who has been a pioneering thought leader at the forefront of real estate technology for over a decade. In 2010, while working as a Project Manager for internationally renowned large-scale mixed-use real estate developer Millennium Partners, Zach began investing in early-stage PropTech companies, quickly becoming the most active angel investor in the space with over 50 portfolio companies. In 2015, Zach parlayed his experiences in the real estate and technology sectors to found MetaProp, devoting his career to the mission of utilizing technology to make real estate more affordable, accessible, sustainable, and resilient. Since founding MetaProp, Zach and his team have invested in 175 PropTech companies. Prior to founding MetaProp and working at Millennium Partners, Zach served as a Senior Associate for ENIAC Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in New York City and San Francisco. He has served as a technology entrepreneur, founding the online/offline tourism company Travelgoat. Zach began his career as an Analyst for boutique investment bank Solomon Partners, working on mergers and acquisitions as well as financial restructuring. Within the community, Zach serves on the Technology Committee for the Real Estate Board of New York and previously served on the Technology and Real Estate Council for the Urban Land Institute. He has previously served on numerous Non Profit Boards, including The Tenement Museum and Flamenco Vivo. He currently serves on the Investment Committee for Van Wickle Ventures, the student run venture capital fund at Brown University. Zach is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with an A.B. from Brown University in Ancient Studies and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. Zach co-authored the Amazon bestseller PropTech 101 which has now been published in three languages. He has been featured in dozens of international publications and media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The Real Deal, Curbed, Commercial Observer, Propmodo, The Information, TechCrunch, Bisnow, Forbes, The Real Estate Weekly, Crain's, and Cheddar. He is a frequent speaker at global PropTech events including the Urban Land Institute, MIPIM, Realcomm, Argus Connect, SuperReturn International, the Columbia/Goodwin Real Estate Capital Markets Conference, The Real Deal Summit, Blueprint, and the Citi Global Property CEO Conference. In 2017, Zach was honored as “Investor of the Year” at the Global PropTech Awards and is frequently listed in Business Insider’s Seed 100 as one of the 100 top seed investors in the United States.
Tadros ‘Teddy’ Abdelmalek
Senior Vice President Of Business Development,
HH Red Stone
Tadros “Teddy” Abdelmalek is the Senior Vice President of Business Development at HH Red Stone, bringing over 20 years of executive leadership experience in student housing, real estate, and property management. With a proven track record of driving growth and building high-impact partnerships, Teddy plays a key role in advancing HH Red Stone’s strategic vision and national expansion. HH Red Stone is a national student housing and multifamily real estate platform known for aligning operational excellence with ownership interests. Based in Kansas City, Teddy leads the firm’s strategic growth efforts, forging new partnerships and expanding the company’s national management footprint across multiple asset classes, including student housing, multifamily, affordable, and mixed-use communities. In this role, he works closely with institutional investors, developers, ownership groups, and higher education partners to identify opportunities where strong management can create meaningful long- term value. At HH Red Stone, named a Top 10 Student Housing Company for 2025, Teddy is a driving force behind the firm’s continued expansion and operational innovation. He works hand-in-hand with owners and investors to elevate property performance, maximize NOI, and create community-driven environments that resonate with today’s students and residents. His leadership style blends urgency, integrity, transparency, and a deep sense of ownership alignment, earning the trust of stakeholders ranging from campus partners to capital sources. Teddy holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education with a focus on Student Affairs from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, grounding his work in a student-focused approach that informs both operational strategy and community engagement. This background gives him a unique perspective on student housing, where resident experience, campus connection, and asset performance all have to work together. From repositioning challenged assets to launching new developments, Teddy is passionate about delivering results that make a lasting impact, both on the bottom line and in the lives of the residents served. He believes strong property management is not just about systems and reporting, but about people, accountability, and consistently executing the fundamentals that protect and grow asset value. Teddy is married to his wife, Ciera, and together they are raising two young children who keep life moving fast. Their son, Fred, is 3, and their daughter, Elle, is nearly 2. Family is a big part of what grounds him, and time at home with Ciera, Fred, and Elle is where he recharges and keeps perspective, no matter how busy work gets. Interested in connecting or exploring partnership opportunities? Reach out to Teddy at Teddy@HHRedStone.com Teddy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tadrosabdelmalek/ Teddy featured on the Multifamily X Podcast
CTO,
Dalfen Industrial
Keats Ali is a seasoned technology expert with over 20 years of experience across various industries. As the Chief Technology Officer at Lincoln Property Company, Keats will oversee all aspects of information technology (IT), including infrastructure, security, enterprise applications, data architecture, and property technology. With his extensive knowledge and skills in developing and scaling technology solutions, he plays a crucial role in driving digital transformation and enhancing the client experience at Lincoln. In his previous role as Vice President at Hines, Keats was responsible for leading the emerging technologies program and improving the digital client experience. He successfully integrated existing and emerging technologies to digitally transform the company’s commercial real estate and investment management sectors. Keats also worked closely with external venture funds to identify and invest in technology firms tackling important issues such as climate change and aging infrastructure. Prior to joining Hines, Keats spent nearly a decade at Chevron Corporation where he led the company’s large-scale digital finance transformation using advanced technologies like AI, ML, and Data Analytics. He also made significant contributions to digital HR, IT infrastructure, and operations transformation at Chevron. Keats’ career also includes influential positions at BMC Software and HSBC Holdings where he streamlined operations through digital transformations.
CEO,
Aqar
Ibrahim AshShohail, an experienced technology leader with over a decade of experience in technology, drives innovation as the Chairman & CEO of Aqar, the award-winning real estate platform in Saudi Arabia. Aqar empowers property owners, brokers, and seekers with cutting-edge solutions, streamlining the Saudi real estate landscape. Prior to joining Aqar, his record includes executive and technical management, engineering, product management, and extensive experience in various sectors such as financial technologies, e-commerce, collaborative economy, technology platforms, and technical consulting services. He achieved success in his technical founding role at Hala Group, one of the largest financial technology companies in business payments and digital wallets, and in the technical executive management at Hunger Station, the largest food ordering platform in the Kingdom. He also worked at Nimblify to provide consulting services for startups in digital transformation, building internal technical teams, cloud transformation, and software engineering. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from King Saud University, and he has many recognized professional certifications and licenses.
VP Strategy,
Primepoint
Kamran Azarbal started his career at Turner Construction, the largest general contractor in the United States, before spending a decade at Webcor moving from project engineer to project director on multi-billion-dollar commercial projects. Holding a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of California, Berkeley, he built his career working through every layer of how some of the world's largest construction projects play out, from identifying risk in pre-construction, execution challenges, coordination breakdowns, and final delivery. Kamran joined Primepoint in 2025 as VP of Strategy, bringing operational depth and expertise that encourages ready adoption of Primepoint, and allows the tool to be deployed with ease.
SVP, Information Technology,
NAA
Angel Baltimore is the Senior Vice President of Information Technology at the National Apartment Association (NAA), where she leads the organization’s enterprise-wide technology strategy. In this role, she is responsible for aligning information technology operations with NAA’s broader organizational objectives, ensuring a secure, scalable, and member-focused digital infrastructure. She brings extensive experience in digital strategy, enterprise technology, and organizational transformation. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Digital Strategy and E-Commerce at the American Pharmacists Association, where her leadership resulted in the development and execution of a multi‑million‑dollar, three‑year digital transformation strategy. That work modernized digital platforms, strengthened data capabilities, and significantly enhanced the member and customer experience.
Earlier in her career, she held senior technology roles at the State Department Federal Credit Union and the American Institute of Architects, building a strong foundation in technology operations, infrastructure, and data-driven decision-making across complex organizations. At NAA, she works closely with executive leadership and senior stakeholders to define the role of information technology across the association. She oversees technology operations, infrastructure, data, and applications management, and leads teams focused on delivering sustainable, audience‑first solutions that support NAA’s members and mission. Her leadership and impact have been recognized industry-wide. She is a recent recipient of Momentive Software’s Bring on Better Leader of the Year award, honoring leaders who drive meaningful change through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to better outcomes.
VP, Marketing,
Towne Properties
Anne Baum is Vice President of Marketing at Towne Properties, where she leads strategic initiatives that support business growth and operational performance. With experience spanning marketing, technology, operations, and business strategy, Anne helps organizations build scalable systems, improve processes, and turn ideas into measurable results. Known for being data-obsessed, pragmatic, and forward-thinking, she is also the co-host of The Apartment Department, a podcast that brings together multifamily marketers, operators, and industry partners to share what’s working, what’s changing, and what their peers are doing to move the industry forward.
SVP Development & Construction,
DC Partners
As the Chief Development Officer at DC Partners, Blake Berg is a seasoned professional with an extensive background in the real estate and construction industry. With a proven track record, he serves as a dynamic leader overseeing all facets of development, design, and construction within the organization. Before joining DC Partners, Blake co-founded DB Partners, a highly successful commercial real estate development and construction management firm boasting a national portfolio of commercial development projects. His experience at DB Partners showcases his strategic prowess and ability to navigate complex projects within the industry. Prior to his entrepreneurial venture at DB Partners, Blake held the position of Director of Construction at WeWork in New York City. This role allowed him to contribute to the dynamic and fast-paced environment of a prominent company in the real estate sector. Earlier in his career, Blake refined his skills in construction management during his tenure at Turner Construction.
Managing Partner & Co-Founder,
Glencrest Group
Mike has built and led three successful technology businesses focused on using data to personalize and improve end-user experiences. Most recently, he was the co-founder and CEO of Everwise, a technology company focused on creating high value, personalized learning experiences for employees of clients such as Salesforce, Genentech, Twitter, Best Buy and AmEx. He led all aspects of the business with an emphasis on sales, marketing, product vision and fundraising ($26M of venture capital with Series B led by Sequoia Capital). His first venture, Audium, grew into a market leader with its customer interaction technology that, today, helps personalize billions of calls for large enterprises around the globe. After selling Audium to Cisco in 2006, Mike led product for Cisco’s customer contact business unit and, eventually, led strategy for the enterprise collaboration division. He also co-founded adMarketplace, an early advertising-technology provider and was a strategy consultant with First Manhattan Consulting specializing in helping to calculate, drive strategy and operate with customer-level profitability, work that led to the widely adopted discipline of customer-relationship management.
Chief R&D Officer,
Higharc
Michael co-founded Higharc to bring frontier technology to the world of homebuilding. As Chief R&D Officer, his team creates methods to advance the design, engineering and construction of homes. Prior to Higharc, Michael led the Generative Design Research group at Autodesk Research. There he brought to market AI products to design and engineer high-performance components for the automotive and aerospace industries. Michael holds a Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley where he focused on generative design for the customization of single family homes.
General Partner,
Camber Creek
Jeffrey Berman has more than two decades of experience and deeply rooted relationships in the start-up, real estate and venture capital ecosystems. Jeffrey is a General Partner at the world’s first proptech venture capital firm, Camber Creek, where he sources deal flow, leads due diligence, makes investment decisions and serves on the boards of numerous portfolio companies. Prior to Camber Creek, Jeffrey was a Principal at one of the Washington DC area’s largest privately held real estate development and management firms where he was involved with a number of large - scale repositioning projects such as University Town Center & Downtown at the Gardens. Jeffrey is also an active early stage investor backing more than a dozen startups including Side, Flex, Oxygen, Jackpocket, Kindbody and Rappi. He is a graduate of the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Managing Director,
JLL
Stuart Bern leads JLL's Technology Advisory Services practice across North America, working with Fortune 500 clients and commercial real estate investors on AI readiness, digital transformation, and innovation strategy. JLL is one of the world's largest real estate consultancy firms, operating in 80+ countries with 113,000+ employees. Stuart’s background spans Fortune 500 and NASDAQ 100 corporations, high-growth SaaS companies, and multiple technology exits — with deep experience in P&L leadership, corporate development, and M&A. Today his focus is helping enterprise organizations build the infrastructure to make AI work at scale. Beyond JLL, Stuart serves on nonprofit and private company boards and has worked with numerous founders and CEOs on growth, strategy, and leadership. He was named to the "40 Under 40" list in 2023.
Founder,
20for20
Dom Beveridge is a multifamily industry consultant, writer and publisher specializing in technology and its impact on operations. He is a regular industry conference speaker, blogger, podcaster and a frequent contributor to trade publications. In 2018, Dom created 20for20 – the multifamily industry’s leading survey of operations and technology, in its seventh annual edition in 2025. 20for20 now serves a growing client base of rental housing technology suppliers. Prior to founding 20for20, Dom held leadership roles in consulting, technology and B2B technology marketing for more than 25 years, spending the last 12 years in multifamily.
SVP Of Business Development,
DMG
Ian Bingham is responsible for the growth and relationship management with our private wealth and institutional clients for our Third-Party property management services. Additionally, Ian focuses on acquisitions of core plus and value add assets. He specializes in assisting clients in achieving their investment goals and has a vast understanding of Primary and Secondary markets throughout North America with a focus on the Midwest and Southeast. Mr. Bingham has over 27 years of industry experience in Market Rate, Affordable, Student Housing and SFR. Prior to joining Daniel Management Group, Mr. Bingham spent several years at RPM Living / CF Real Estate Services as the Senior Vice President of Business Development. Prior to that, Mr. Bingham was an executive with Village Green Holding where he focused on both business development and site operations for 17 years. Ian is a board member of NMHC and the current Vice Chair of the membership committee. Additionally, he is an advisor to Blueprint and a former board member of the Chicagoland Apartment Association.
Principal & Founder,
Compass Consulting
Reshma Block is the founder and principal of Compass Consulting, where she advises institutional single-family rental (SFR) and build-to-rent (BTR) operators and PropTech firms on technology strategy, AI integration, governance modernization, and operating platform design that improve resident experience, operational efficiency, and enterprise value. She previously served as the inaugural Chief Technology Officer of Tricon Residential, a Blackstone portfolio company, where she built the enterprise technology platform supporting more than 60,000 homes and 200,000 residents. Her work helped enable the company’s $570M NYSE IPO, a $1.57B securitization that received a rare 5% Fitch operational uplift tied to technology integration, and the $6B integration of Home Partners of America.
Reshma has led digital transformation initiatives for nearly 30 years, beginning at Intel where she helped build global enterprise data center infrastructure and disaster recovery platforms. Throughout her career she has focused on turning technology into an operating asset—launching the SFR industry’s first unified resident app, deploying AI across operations, and developing early machine learning models.
Co-Founder,
NextRivet
David brings more than 25 years in business development, sales, and marketing across technology and commercial real estate, working where the digital and physical sides of the industry meet.
He is the co-founder of NextRivet, a global proptech consultancy that helps real estate owners and operators put digital technology to work, owning end-to-end delivery from strategy through rollout. Before NextRivet, David led business development at Westfield Labs, the shopping center industry's first proptech division, where he brought new technology into Westfield's malls and airports across the US, UK, and Australia. He ran Labs' strategic partnerships and investments with startups and Fortune 500 companies.
"Chief Investment And Partnership Officer And Managing Director Of The Joist Innovation Fund",
Terner Labs
Ruby is Terner Labs’ inaugural Chief Investment and Partnership Officer and Managing Director of the Joist Innovation Fund, bringing nearly 20 years of experience across housing investment, development, policy, and philanthropy. Previously, she served as Vice President and Head of Community at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, overseeing a roughly $60 million annual portfolio and helping launch the Partnership for the Bay’s Future, which raised a $500 million housing investment fund. Prior to CZI she worked in real estate development at JLL and Lennar (later FivePoint) where she helped entitle 800 homes across San Francisco’s Candlestick and Shipyard redevelopment projects and managed underwriting, budgets, permitting, and development teams across a portfolio exceeding $500 million. She also led an in-situ upgrading pilot in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ruby holds a BA from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA.
Managing Director & Head Of The RADV Fund,
RXR
Matt Boras is the Managing Director and Head of RADV at RXR, where he focuses on early-stage technology investments within the real estate and construction industries. Prior to joining RXR in 2018, Matt was a Vice President at Colony Capital, now DigitalBridge, where he was a member of the special situations group focused on private equity investments across multiple sectors. Previously, he was a Vice President at NorthStar Asset Management Group where he focused on real estate acquisitions and credit investments. Before joining NorthStar, worked in the acquisitions group at Five Mile Capital focused on distressed debt and opportunistic real estate investments. Matt holds an AB in International Relations from Brown University and is a Kauffman Fellow.
Chief Operating Officer,
JVM Realty
Steve Boyack is the Chief Operating Officer of JVM, where he drives the strategy and vision to provide best-in-class multifamily communities throughout the Midwest. As part of his role, Steve is responsible for the performance of JVM's property management platform, as well as overseeing its corporate operational functions including technology and innovation, sales and marketing and asset management. Over the course of his more than thirty-year career, Steve has demonstrated a track record of maximizing asset values by building resilient platforms and high performing teams through his strong leadership, broad experience, and keen insights. As a member of several industry advisory boards and associations, Steve is a recognized subject matter expert and thought leader, with particular focus on integrated property technology. Prior to joining JVM, Steve served as COO and global head of property management for CA Ventures, a parent company of CA Student Living, where he laid the foundation for the firm's European student operating platform (Novel Student), global sustainability initiative, wellness program and innovation department.
CEO & Founder,
PetScreening
John R. Bradford, III, is an experienced entrepreneur and CEO. He is a professional property manager with a demonstrated history of solving business problems for the property management industry and is experienced in both local and state government. He is the founder of two companies, Park Avenue Properties and PetScreening, both of which were started from the ground up. PetScreening has been nationally recognized four years in a row as one of the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the United States. John was elected 2 terms as a town Commissioner and then was elected 4 terms to the NC House of Representatives. He served in leadership as the Freshman Majority Whip and the Senior Chairman of the House Finance Committee. John graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Engineering and he obtained an Executive MBA from the University of Memphis. John is married with 4 children and a Boykin Spaniel, Berkeley. In his spare time, he likes to fish, camp and travel with his family.
Co-Founder,
Multifamily Media Network
With three decades of experience in multifamily operations, Mike is passionate about fostering productive environments emphasizing data-driven decision-making and streamlined workflows. His expertise spans leadership, customer service, negotiation, marketing and advertising, social media, talent development, coaching, and mentoring. Guided by a commitment to excellence and innovation, Mike consistently delivers top-tier performance and drives profitable business outcomes.
President & CEO,
Roofstock
Doug is a former professional athlete turned entrepreneur. During his 12-year career as an NFL placekicker, including a Super Bowl win and induction into the Cal Hall of Fame, Doug completed his MBA, and began investing in real estate, which sparked a passion for entrepreneurship and investing. In 2009, Doug co-founded Waypoint Homes, building a $3 billion portfolio of over 17,000 single-family rental homes, helping to establish the Single-Family Residential (SFR) sector as a scalable financial asset class. Waypoint’s success led to its 2016 IPO on the NYSE under the ticker SWAY, where Doug served as Co-CEO. In 2016, Doug co-founded Mynd, to empower investors of all sizes by simplifying remote investing and property management. Doug reunited with his former Co-CEO, Gary Beasley, in May 2024, merging Mynd with Roofstock to create a premier SFR operating company. As President of Roofstock, Doug focuses on combining leading investment capabilities with streamlined property management services. Named one of the “Top 100 Most Innovative Entrepreneurs” by Goldman Sachs and honored as Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year,” Doug holds a B.A. in Political Economies of Industrial Societies from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Tulane.
President,
Rose Valley Capital
Kelley Brine is a transformational real estate executive with more than 25 years of experience leading large-scale asset management, development, and operational platforms across multifamily and student housing portfolios. As President of Rose Valley Management, Kelley oversees a $2 billion, 10,000-unit national multifamily portfolio. She leads enterprise strategy, operational performance, capital deployment, and organizational development across a 200+ person team. Under her leadership, the firm has accelerated growth through owner-operator acquisitions and expanded third-party management partnerships, while driving disciplined execution, NOI expansion, and portfolio optimization. Prior to Rose Valley, Kelley served as Executive Vice President at HH Red Stone Properties, where she directed a 10,000-bed student housing portfolio and led $800 million in acquisitions. She delivered a 98% occupancy rate for five consecutive years while executing complex repositioning strategies and strengthening institutional capital relationships. Earlier in her career, Kelley spent 15 years as Managing Partner of a New York-based residential real estate firm, where she built and led high-performing property management and development teams in one of the nation’s most competitive markets. During this time, she developed a reputation for operational rigor, revenue growth, and hands-on leadership. A passionate advocate for innovation in real estate and women in leadership, Kelley serves on the advisory board of Girls Gotta Run, a nonprofit supporting girls’ secondary education in Ethiopia through athletics and mentorship.
President And Chief Investment Officer,
Origin Credit Advisers
Tom Briney is President and Chief Investment Officer of Origin Credit Advisers, an affiliate of Origin Investments, where he oversees the construction and management of the firm's multifamily credit funds. He joined Origin Investments in 2011 and has more than 19 years of commercial real estate experience, having sourced, structured, and closed over $1.9 billion in multifamily, office, and industrial transactions. Previously, Tom worked at Equity Office Properties and as a commercial credit analyst at JPMorgan Chase.
Head Of IT,
Shelter Asset Management
Danielle Brockman is the Head of IT at Shelter Asset Management, where she leads technology initiatives that support property operations across the portfolio. With a background spanning both multifamily operations and enterprise IT, she specializes in bridging the gap between technology and business strategy to improve operational efficiency, enhance the resident experience, and support scalable property operations. Danielle is passionate about helping the industry adopt emerging technologies in ways that reduce friction for onsite teams, deliver measurable business value, and create innovation with purpose.
Co-Founder,
CRE AI Studio
Jonathan Buckelew has spent over a decade in real estate private equity building, scaling, and modernizing multifamily asset management teams — integrating technology and AI into every layer of portfolio strategy and property operations. Beginning his career at DRA Advisors, he has led teams across the NYC and Southeastern markets, developing a conviction as early as 2020 that AI and automation would fundamentally change how assets are managed. That conviction became a movement: Jonathan now shares his approach with more than 16,000 LinkedIn followers and co-founded CRE AI Studio, an educational platform where hundreds of commercial real estate professionals learn to apply AI in their workflows. He brings a rare combination of institutional operating experience and hands-on technical fluency to everything he does.
EVP Of Digital Strategy,
The Agency
Zane Burnett currently oversees technology, digital strategy, and innovation at The Agency. He has held executive positions at PropTech companies and luxury brokerages. Prior to joining The Agency, Burnett served as VP of Industry Strategy at Rechat. He has been a consultant to a number of brokerages, proptech startups, and other organizations, including ActivePipe and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Earlier, he was Vice President of Digital Innovation and Technology at Alain Pinel REALTORS®, one of the nation's largest luxury real estate brokerages in the San Francisco Bay area, which was acquired by Compass. Burnett began his career as Vice President of Marketing & Technology at Fillmore Real Estate, which at the time was New York City's largest independent brokerage firm. He has served as an Advisory Board Member for Rutgers University's Big Data program, and was named in an edition of San Diego Business Journal's ""Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40.""
CEO,
Mark-Taylor Residential
Creating exceptional places to call home is John Carlson’s passion and lifelong commitment. As CEO of Mark-Taylor Residential, he leads the strategic direction, business development, consulting, and operational performance of the firm’s extensive multifamily portfolio, overseeing over 38,000+ apartment units across Arizona and Nevada and managing $11 billion in real estate investments. John’s leadership is built on trust, transparency, market expertise, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. With over two decades at Mark-Taylor, his seasoned experience spans data-driven asset management, macroeconomic strategy, and operational oversight, ensuring long-term success for residents, clients, team members, and business partners. Since joining Mark-Taylor in 2002, John has played an integral role in the company’s growth and evolution. His deep understanding of the industry, combined with a commitment to operational excellence, led to his appointment as President in 2016 and CEO in 2025. He credits the company’s exceptional people, authentic culture, and commitment to innovation as the driving forces behind its continued success. A recognized leader in the industry, John has served on the Arizona Multihousing Association Board since 2010, including as Chairman in 2019, and remains actively involved as Co-Chair of the AMA Developers Committee. He has also participated as a Region 7 delegate for the National Apartment Association and is a member of both the NAA and the NMHC. Licensed as a real estate broker in Arizona and Nevada, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Concordia College. John believes that investing in people is the cornerstone of Mark-Taylor’s success. Whether residents, team members, or business partners, he views everyone as an integral part of the Mark-Taylor family, reinforcing a culture where excellence thrives, innovation is embraced, and community is paramount.
Head Of Real Asset Ventures,
Nuveen
Jeanne Casey is the Global Head of Proptech and Innovation at Nuveen, leading investments and insights in Proptech for the firm. Previously, Jeanne was a Principal at MetaProp, a New York-based venture capital firm. Prior to joining MetaProp, Jeanne was a founding team member and Vice President at Digital Alpha where she worked on the launch, fundraising, and deployment of a $300 million growth equity fund focused on digital infrastructure. She has previous experience with Cisco and Morgan Stanley, and holds a MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA with honors from Johns Hopkins University. Jeanne Casey leads investments and insights in Proptech for Nuveen Real Estate. Jeanne has a background in venture capital, private equity and technology, with prior roles at MetaProp, Cisco and Morgan Stanley. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Johns Hopkins University.
CEO & President,
Saglo Companies
Hue Chen leads Saglo Companies which owns and operates shopping centers across the Southeast United States. Founded in 1976 and based in Miami, FL, we have experienced 30% average annual growth between 2013 and 2023. We are privately-owned and well capitalized, allowing for continued growth for many years to come.
President & Co-founder,
Bridge33 Capital
Andy Chien is President and Co-Founder of Bridge33 Capital, a real estate investment firm specializing in open-air retail across the United States. Since its founding in 2012, Bridge33 has acquired more than 17 million square feet across 26 states and currently manages $2.6 billion in assets. Bridge33 is vertically integrated - handling acquisitions, leasing, property management and asset management in-house - placing the firm at the intersection of investment strategy and real estate operations, with direct exposure to the systems and technology required to run a national retail portfolio. Prior to founding Bridge33, Andy worked at Morgan Stanley in London, first originating large-balance commercial real estate loans in the European real estate finance group, and later in the Investment Banking Division, where he advised European banks and the UK government on the restructuring and divestment of real estate portfolios - over $80 billion in M&A and capital markets transactions in total. Andy holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago.
Vice President, Strategy And Analytics,
Cortland
Saharsh Chordia leads Cortland’s data and operational strategy teams. As head of strategy and analytics since 2020, he oversees a team of data scientists to drive business transformation by leveraging AI and Machine Learning. Saharsh previously was an analyst at Truist (FKA SunTrust) on the middle market leveraged finance team. He received both his Master's in Analytics and Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Founder,
Varro Capital
Mark has spent 25+ years as an investor and operator in commercial and multifamily real estate and as a founder or founding investor in real estate technology companies. Mark focuses on leading ventures and integrating technology with real estate operations and is an expert in scaling Built World technology startups to address real-world operational questions while also driving innovation to industry partners. Mark’s recent
activity includes:
Founder, Varro Capital (www.varrocap.com)
Co-founder, Chairman, Varro Technology (www.varroportal.com), Founder, Stealth
DataCo, Founding Investor, Whale (www.gowhale.com),
Early-Stage Investor – RevolutionRE, Tour24, GeoKey, Pinata, Jetty
Industry Activity – NMHC RETTC Steering Committee, National Apartment Association,
Mortgage Bankers Association
Education – Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance and Real Estate from The
Ohio State University, and Master of Business Administration from the University of
Chicago Booth School of Business.
Director Of Maintenance & Purchasing,
Centerspace
Peter Christenson is the Director of Maintenance & Purchasing at Centerspace, where he leads portfolio-wide initiatives to improve efficiency and consistency across 60 properties and nearly 12,000 units throughout the Upper Midwest and Mountain West. Peter’s career path reflects a steady progression of leadership and operations experience—from early roles in the health and wellness field, where he managed budgets and large teams, and his service as a Team Leader and Training NCO in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve supporting training for 100+ Marines, to a hands-on transition into multifamily maintenance and building systems. He advanced through property-level and multi-site roles, including managing maintenance and special projects across approximately 450 units and serving as a Service Supervisor. Today, he combines deep technical expertise in boilers, HVAC, appliances, electrical and plumbing systems, renovations, and construction with strong budget and portfolio management capabilities. Peter holds a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and maintains professional credentials including EPA Universal Technician certification, CPO, and a Special Engineer boiler license.
Co-Founder And CEO,
AUAR
Mollie Claypool is Co-Founder and CEO of AUAR, the production partner for homebuilders. AUAR's deployable robotic MicroFactories and Physical AI software, MasterBuilder, give builders panel manufacturing on their site, when and where it is needed, with zero CapEx for the builder. AUAR is currently scaling across the US, Canada and Europe toward 1,000 MicroFactories by 2030. An architect turned systems thinker, Mollie has spent 15 years working at the intersection of design, robotics and construction. She believes good housing is the cornerstone of a good society.
Senior Director, Bottomline Real Estate Solutions,
Bottomline
Ryan Clayton is a Senior Director of Real Estate Solutions at Bottomline. With over 25 years of experience in financial technology, he assists commercial real estate firms in enhancing cash flow, reducing AP costs, and preventing payment fraud. His expertise includes AP automation, B2B payments, virtual cards, and integrating SaaS and ERP systems, positioning him as a trusted advisor to finance teams facing today's operational challenges. At Bottomline, Ryan partners with CRE owners, operators, and managers to modernize finance operations. From reducing manual invoices and accelerating vendor payments to building fraud- resistant digital workflows, his focus is on delivering measurable results: faster processing, lower costs, and stronger controls. He has helped firms simplify procure-to-pay, improve vendor adoption, and unlock efficiency gains that directly impact NOI. Passionate about the intersection of real estate and technology, Ryan actively engages in industry discussions at ICSC, MRI Ascend, Realcomm, and other forums. He believes technology should empower finance teams to focus on strategy—not paperwork. Outside of work, Ryan is an avid runner who has completed nearly 40 marathons and ultramarathons—a testament to his endurance and commitment to achieving big goals.
CEO,
Build To Stay
Jerry Coleman is a serial entrepreneur who has spent two decades building and scaling real estate and technology companies that reshape entire industries. As co-founder of Invitation Homes — formed in partnership with Blackstone Group — Jerry helped pioneer the institutional single-family rental category, helping assemble the largest single-family rental portfolio in U.S. history with over $10 billion deployed. He founded Offerpad, one of the earliest and most recognized iBuying platforms, transforming how consumers sell homes. Both Invitation Homes and Offerpad are public companies on the NYSE. Jerry currently serves as CEO of Build To Stay (BTS), a purpose-built luxury short-term rental platform designed for group travelers. With the first $200 million in projects underway, BTS is executing an ambitious national expansion strategy targeting billions in developed assets across premier destination markets. Beyond his own ventures, Jerry is a committed mentor and advisor to entrepreneurs, having worked alongside founders and leadership teams across a range of industries to accelerate growth, navigate inflection points, and build companies of lasting significance. He serves on multiple for-profit and nonprofit boards, where he contributes strategic guidance and operational insight developed through decades of company building at scale. Jerry is a Henry Crown Fellow within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University and a J.D. from Brigham Young University.
Managing Director And Head Of Data Science For Private Investments,
Two Sigma
Drew Conway is a technology executive, entrepreneur, investor, and one of the early pioneers of modern data science. Over the past two decades, he has built and led AI, machine learning, and data organizations across startups, growth-stage companies, private equity, and large enterprises. He is currently Managing Director and Head of Data Science for Private Investments at Two Sigma, where he partners with investment professionals, portfolio companies, and LPs to accelerate value creation through data, analytics, and AI. In 2015, Drew founded Alluvium, an enterprise AI company acquired by Augury (2019), and has advised organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies on applying advanced analytics to real-world business problems. Drew is a frequent speaker on AI, data strategy, and organizational transformation and is known for bridging deep technical expertise with commercial executive leadership.
President & COO,
Bellaire Partners
Amanda Cox serves as the President & COO; Co-founder for Bellaire Services Corporation and Bellaire Multifamily Management. Within Bellaire Services Corporation, she leads the team in asset acquisition efforts and monitors performance through the lifecycle of the portfolio. Within Bellaire Multifamily Management, Amanda supports the property operations team, leads value- add initiatives, and spearheads business development efforts. She is passionate about being a solution to underserved Texas syndications and has successfully built the third-party business for the firm directly through referrals who have witnessed and attested to her leadership. Ms. Cox has spent the last 18 years in multifamily property management, and before joining Bellaire Services Corporation, she was overseeing 11k units amongst 8 markets across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas as a Regional Vice President of Operations with one of the largest Texas based property management firms. She is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management, of which she served as the President of the Austin Chapter in 2020, and currently holds a seat in the International Governing Council for the organization. She is a mentor to many and is also a strong believer in knowledge growth, thus she is continuously expanding her industry knowledge beyond her B.A.in Business Management from Texas State University by achieving her CAM in 2013, ARM in 2014, and earned her CPM designation in 2016.
CTO,
Kilroy Realty
As Chief Technology Officer, I lead modernization agendas that integrate data, AI, and cloud capabilities to deliver measurable improvements in operational performance, client experience, and long-term value creation. With over 15 years at the intersection of business and technology, I’m known for aligning IT strategy with enterprise goals, unlocking portfolio intelligence, and delivering results that drive growth, efficiency, and shareholder value. I work closely with executive leadership to ensure technology functions as a strategic enabler—not just a support role.
Founder,
Multifamily X Consulting
Adrian Danila started in multifamily in 2003 as a part-time groundskeeper. Over the next two decades, he built his career through maintenance operations, capital projects, renovations, and executive leadership. He has overseen portfolios of up to 32,000 apartment homes and worked for large institutional operators including Greystar, Balfour Beatty Communities, and Cortland. Adrian is the founder of Multifamily X Consulting, where he helps multifamily owners and operators improve property performance. His work focuses on maintenance operations, execution, capital planning, supplier strategy, and the systems that directly affect onsite teams and residents. He also advises PropTech companies on how to build better products for the multifamily market. His focus is simple: technology has to work for the people who actually use it- operators, maintenance teams, property teams, and residents. Adrian is the founder of the Multifamily Facilities Leadership Council, a national council of executive facilities and maintenance leaders overseeing more than 3 million apartment homes combined. The council brings senior operators together to share what is working in the field, evaluate industry challenges, and push the maintenance conversation beyond theory. Adrian is also the founder of Multifamily X Media, a platform built around real conversations with operators, suppliers, and industry leaders about what is working, what is breaking, and where the industry is going. In addition, Adrian serves as Founder and President of The Trade Path Project, a nonprofit focused on building career pathways into multifamily maintenance and helping address the industry’s skilled labor shortage. Adrian’s work connects field experience, executive leadership, supplier strategy, media, and workforce development with one goal: helping the multifamily industry solve real operational problems.
CEO,
Leon Capital Group
Fernando De Leon is the Founder and CEO of Leon Capital Group, a diversified holding company overseeing twelve independently managed subsidiaries across three divisions: financial services, healthcare, and real estate. Founded as a real estate development company in Texas, Leon has evolved into a multi-industry enterprise with subsidiaries and externally managed companies employing approximately 4,000 people across multiple geographies. In healthcare, Mr. De Leon and his team founded and currently operate Specialty Dental Brands, Frontline Dental Implant Specialists, Advanced Medaesthetic Partners, Physician Directed Partners, Texas Heart Partners, Mattison Avenue, and Turnwell Mental Health. Collectively, these businesses manage over 600 locations and provide healthcare services to approximately 2 million patients annually. Leon Financial operates the firm's investment management business and its various fund offerings, including Bastion Insurance and Patient Capital, a specialty lending platform designed to expand access to critical healthcare financing for all Americans. In real estate, Mr. De Leon has structured investments with an asset value exceeding $15B. Leon Capital's vehicles have developed or invested in approximately 20,000 rental housing units, 25 million square feet of industrial, 15 million square feet of retail and self-storage, healthcare assets, and 10,000 residential land lots. Leon Capital also co-founded, alongside the Perot Companies, a European industrial operating company that has developed over 40 million square feet of industrial assets across the European Union. Mr. De Leon is a co-founder of Crexi, one of the largest digital marketplaces connecting buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in the commercial real estate sector. Crexi's intelligence platform serves more than three million real estate professionals with real-time transaction data. Mr. De Leon began his career as an analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Harvard College, where he was a Hoover Foundation Scholar and a National Coca-Cola Scholar. In 2025, Mr. De Leon received the Horatio Alger Award and was inducted into the organization's membership, a distinction honoring leader who have overcome adversity to achieve success and who are committed to supporting the next generation. The De Leon Family Foundation focuses on alleviating poverty in south Texas and northern Mexico and expanding access to healthcare. Through its De Leon Scholars program, the foundation awards scholarships annually to ten students across Texas who are dedicated to improving their communities.
Founder & CEO,
Cortland
Steven DeFrancis is the founder and CEO of Cortland. He has over 30 years of experience in complex multifamily development and management, specializing in unique development and value-add opportunities. His dedicated efforts took what began as a neighborhood property management company and grew it into an investment, development, and asset management firm with over $20B in assets under management. Since its founding in 2005, Cortland has expanded into an international, vertically integrated multifamily investment and asset management company focused on delivering superior, resident-centric apartment living experiences. Cortland has significant experience in acquiring, developing, renovating, owning, and operating multifamily communities, leveraging the services of its construction, design, and property, asset, and investment management affiliates. Through its hospitality-driven, consumer- focused approach to apartment living, the company seeks to challenge the conventional practices of the apartment industry while working to deliver outsized returns in high-growth metro and suburban areas. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cortland ranks as one of the largest apartment owners and management firms in the country with over 75,000 apartment homes across nearly 230 apartment communities, primarily throughout the Southeast, Midwest, and Texas. Internationally, Cortland operates investment and property management services in the UK to support the growing build-to-rent sector in that market. The company employs over 2,400 associates in the US and UK and is a Great Place to Work-CertifiedTM Company (2025). Steven earned his bachelor’s degree in Real Estate from The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He is a member of The Buckhead Coalition and serves on the boards of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership. He is also a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, The Urban Land Institute, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.
CEO And Co-founder,
Grotto AI
As CEO and Co-founder of Grotto AI, Nick has spent thousands of hours working hand in hand with multifamily operators to build AI sales enablement tools that fit seamlessly with leasing workflows. Grotto's goal is to help humans shine in the moments that matter most in the leasing journey, with products including tour coaching and live call guidance. Nick comes to the role with graduate training in AI from Stanford and nearly a decade of experience building AI products for highly regulated, operations-heavy industries with complex user workflows, including insurance, healthcare, and hiring. Most recently, he co-led development of the key technology at EvolutionIQ, which drove the company's $730MM acquisition in 2024.
CEO,
Charlesgate
Michael is a 20-year multifamily strategist and CEO of CHARLESGATE who brings a rare blend of operator realism and venture-style vision. Michael leads a team at CHARLESGATE known for challenging industry conventions to design and execute innovative approaches to property operations, marketing, and leasing that outperforms the market for partners and clients across their portfolio - while always keeping people-first outcomes at the forefront.
President & COO,
The Beach Company
Dan Doyle joined The Beach Company in 2004. Today, as President & Chief Operating Officer, Dan is responsible for the overall operations of The Beach Company and its real estate interests throughout the Southeast. He has over 30 years of real estate industry experience, with the majority spent in the multi-family residential development and management sectors. Dan’s undergraduate and graduate degrees are from the University of Michigan. His community involvement includes serving on the Board of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, Operation Home, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, its Executive Committee and past Chair of its Developer’s Council. Under Dan’s leadership, the company’s footprint has expanded to more than 20 areas in the Southeast to include dynamic emerging cities such as Greenville, SC, Nashville, TN, Richmond, VA, and Huntsville, AL.
Senior Vice President Marketing, Customer Experience & Centralized Operations,
Hillpointe
Josh entered the property management industry in 2008 as an onsite team member and Marketing Ambassador for Riverstone Residential. Since then, his ability to provide excellent customer service, effective brand management, and innovative marketing tactics have resulted in a successful 18-year-long career in property management marketing. Josh has taken his talents to some of the biggest names in multifamily housing organizations, including Riverstone Residential Group/Greystar, Cortland Partners, Weidner Apartment Homes, and now Hillpointe. At Hillpointe, Josh is responsible for the two internal teams: Marketing and Centralized Operations. Josh has been selected for multiple awards throughout his career, including Marketing Executive of the Year from Multi housing News. He’s been a national speaker at NAA, AIM, Optech, TAA, FAA and others. He attended Winthrop University with a focus in History and Marketing. He has also made several pivots to keep up with the age of digital leasing, including website migrations, Voice and Chatbots, CPMI reporting connected to real-time BI tooling, and cross-integrating technology stacks to track multi-lead attribution while prioritizing reputation and the customer’s experience across the board.
Vice President Of Operations,
Asset Living
Lindsay Duffy is the Vice President of Operations for Asset Living, providing executive oversight for a diverse multifamily portfolio across the Southwest division. With more than two decades of industry experience, she is recognized as a transformational leader known for driving operational excellence, accelerating asset performance, and developing high-performing teams that consistently deliver exceptional results. Throughout her career, Lindsay has led large-scale lease-ups, value-add repositioning strategies, acquisitions, due diligence, and operational turnarounds across conventional, student housing, affordable, and build-to-rent communities. Her ability to combine strategic vision with hands-on execution has established her as a trusted partner to owners, investors, and development teams throughout the multifamily industry. As an industry advocate, Lindsay has presented at numerous conferences and leadership events, sharing expertise on operational strategy, leasing performance, leadership development, organizational culture, and innovation. She is an Asset Living Ambassador, a graduate of the Lyceum Leadership Program, and serves on multiple industry committees and advisory boards focused on advancing education, leadership, and the future of multifamily housing. Lindsay also sits on the Arizona multihousing Association as a board chair for Asset Living. Her commitment to mentorship and professional development has made her a respected voice within the industry and a champion for cultivating the next generation of leaders. Lindsay’s leadership philosophy is rooted in servant leadership, accountability, and empowering others to reach their full potential. She believes sustainable success is built by investing in people, embracing innovation, and fostering cultures where high performance and genuine care go hand in hand. Whether speaking from the stage or leading complex operations, Lindsay brings authenticity, strategic insight, and an unwavering passion for elevating the multifamily industry.
Managing Director,
Newmark RF
Hope Dunleavy is a Managing Director at Newmark RF, where she leads the Multifamily and Customer Experience practice. She advises real estate owners and operators on aligning operations and technology to improve performance, strengthen governance, and support scalable growth. With more than 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, Hope brings a comprehensive perspective shaped by leadership roles across operations, accounting, training, and information technology. Her background enables her to connect strategy with execution, guiding organizations through complex initiatives such as operating model design, technology strategy, and system implementations. Known for her practical, results-oriented approach, Hope has built a reputation for helping organizations navigate change and translate business objectives into measurable outcomes. Her expertise spans both business and technology functions, allowing her to effectively bridge stakeholders and drive alignment across teams. Hope is also an active speaker, moderator, and thought leader within the real estate industry. She regularly contributes to conversations on technology transformation, customer experience, and the future of real estate operations, bringing a perspective grounded in hands-on experience and real-world application.
General Partner,
Shadow Ventures
Nick Durham is a General Partner at Shadow Ventures, a $100M AUM firm investing in frontier technology for the built world. Shadow writes pre-seed and seed checks, primarily into hardware, at the intersection of construction, civil infrastructure, utilities, and real estate. The firm is backed by some of the real estate owners, engineering services firms, and construction operators in the country. At Shadow, Nick has backed founders building electric autonomous heavy equipment, robotic microfactories for structural framing, and biological reactors that turn wastewater into drop-in fuel. Before VC, Nick worked as an investment banker for real estate equities and as a homebuilder in his family's construction business in Kentucky, then joined the built world tech media company BuiltWorlds as Director of Communications and Head of Research
Associate,
The Durst Organization & Durst Ventures
Nick Durst is an Associate at The Durst Organization and a member of the fourth generation of family leaders at the company. Founded in 1915, The Durst Organization is the owner, manager, and builder of 16 million square feet of Class A New York City properties including premier office towers and 4,000 rental apartments. Durst is recognized as a world leader in the development of high-performance and environmentally advanced buildings. Nick has spent nearly a decade at the company, currently serving on the Transactions team underwriting and facilitating active management of assets, financings, acquisitions, dispositions, and development deals. Nick also contributes to the management of Durst Ventures, a strategic investment portfolio seeking innovative solutions to building and operating buildings more efficiently and delivering a higher level of service to tenants and residents. Prior to joining his family business, Nick spent three years at GLG assisting private equity and venture capital clients with investment diligence work. Nick holds a BA in Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill and an MS in Real Estate Finance from NYU.
President,
Midwood Investment & Development
Jeff Dvorett is the President of Midwood Investment and Development where he is responsible for overseeing development, marketing, operations, and asset management for the company’s national portfolio. Midwood’s portfolio comprises over 140 residential, retail, and office properties across the United States, including developments like The Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, The Residences at Sportsmen’s Lodge,150 East 78th Street, and 210 South 12th Street. Dvorett, who joined Midwood in 2017 as Executive Vice President of Development, previously served as head of development for Kuafu Properties and senior vice president of Development at Extell Development Company. At Extell, he oversaw the development of over two million square feet of mixed used, residential and hospitality projects including ONE57, which features 94 ultra-luxury residences above a 210-key flagship Park Hyatt Hotel. Jeff received his MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science with Departmental Honors from Northwestern University.
Vice President,
Neuberger Berman
Mollie is the Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Almanac Realty Investors, the private real estate investment platform at Neuberger Berman. She spearheads efforts within the Almanac portfolio to adopt and implement new technologies, improve internal processes, and drive innovation. Mollie also leads the firm’s portfolio-wide data initiative, chairs the AlmanacAI Committee, and hosts the biennial Almanac Real Estate Technology Summit. She has been involved in the PropTech scene since 2017, and prior to joining Almanac in 2022, Mollie was the Vice President of Ventures at WAM Equity Partners where she made investments in early stage PropTech companies. Before that, she worked as an internal consultant and strategist at IBM. Mollie graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and a minor in Marketing.
Senior Risk And Fraud Officer,
Bottomline
Katie Elliott is the Senior Risk and Fraud Officer for Bottomline and oversees the fraud, compliance, and activations side of Paymode. Prior to Bottomline, Katie spent more than 20 years in the financial sector leading teams across the fraud, risk, BSA/AML/KYC, and audit programs. She managed extensive fraud prevention efforts including systematic surveillance of systems and data to identify and address fraudulent activities and implementing targeted fraud training programs. Katie is a Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and has her bachelor’s from The George Washington University.
Chief Strategy Officer,
RPM Living
Mariana Estrada is the Chief Strategy Officer at RPM Living, where she leads technology, strategic planning, ancillary and centralized services. With nearly twenty years in the multifamily industry, she brings deep expertise in scaling operations, improving performance, elevating associate and resident experience, and driving innovation across a national portfolio. Mariana holds a Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and received her CPM designation in 2015.
Manager, Investments & Ideation,
Zachry Construction Corporation
Rachael Ferrera is a dedicated leader with over 17 years of experience at Zachry Construction Corporation, where she currently serves as Manager of Investments & Ideation. She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and has driven key initiatives in Estimating, ERP implementations, Project Controls, and more - consistently bringing innovation and strategic insight to her work. Rachael also plays an active role in advancing the construction industry through board service and cross-sector collaboration between AEC professionals and technology innovators.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner,
Kairos
Alex is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Kairos. He is a Co-founder and Board Director of Bilt Rewards, Chairman of Rhino + Jetty, and a Board Director at Cera and Alloy. He has been leading Kairos since 2013, building out the K50 program and leading the company from its roots as a student-run organization into its current focus on building and funding companies designed to make life more affordable. He oversees all fund, portfolio, and venture studio operations, including the investment process, team, and governance. Prior to Kairos, Alex worked at Activision helping launch new IP including Call of Duty and Skylanders. Alex graduated from University of Southern California in 2010 and grew up in Los Angeles.
Chief Commercial Officer,
Cinch Home Services
Jes Fields, Chief Commercial Officer at Cinch Home Services, leads end-to-end commercial strategy, driving accelerated B2B revenue growth through channel expansion, strategic partnerships, and market development. She brings more than 20 years of experience scaling high-performing commercial organizations across Fortune-level and privately held companies and has been recognized for her industry leadership as a Top 50 Chief Sales Officer, Top Woman in Real Estate, and Inman Marketing All-Star.
Partner,
Citi Ventures
Jeff leads Proptech & Lending and Commerce & Retail investing at Citi Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Citi. Since joining Citi in 2022, he has led >$100mm of investments, including investments in Flex, Kasa, Pylon, Setpoint, Tomo, and Vontive. He is also the founder of Noho Ventures, a former Venture Partner at Fifth Wall, and the former Head of Assurant Ventures. With prior firms, he led investments in Doma, Pacaso, SmartRent, Vacasa, and others. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking, growth equity, and corporate strategy. Jeff received his MBA from Darden (UVA) and his BA from Columbia.
Founding CEO,
San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund
Rebecca (she/her) is the founding CEO of the San Francisco Housing Accelerator
Fund, a public private partnership that provides powerful new tools to improve the
delivery of affordable housing. Previously, Rebecca served as Director of Social Impact
Investment under the late Mayor of San Francisco Ed Lee, and before that was a Vice
President in Public Sector & Infrastructure investment banking at Goldman Sachs,
where she raised capital for local governments, universities, non-profits, and utilities
around the country. She received her BA. from Brown University and her MBA from the
Stanford Graduate School of Business. Rebecca was appointed to the Board of
Directors of the California Housing Partnership Corporation by Governor Newsom, and
also serves on the boards of the San Francisco Friends School and ARTA, a whitewater
rafting organization. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and three boys.
Founder,
EverResi Media
Gregory Frank is the founder of EverResi Media, the only dedicated media platform serving the SFR | BTR industry. He has spent over 30 years at the intersection of strategy, operations, and influence, building teams and driving results across real estate operations, multi-unit franchising, and politics — experience he now applies to building the platform and conversation the SFR | BTR industry has never had. In August 2025, Gregory launched INSIDE SFR | BTR, the industry's first weekly digital media program, serving as co-host and managing editor. In May 2026, in direct response to the historic 21st Century Road to Housing Act, he created and narrated his first documentary, At the Table, acclaimed by the industry for giving elected officials their first opportunity to hear directly from residents of BTR communities. A respected voice in the real estate and franchising community, Gregory keynotes alongside some of the industry's most respected corporate executives. Under his leadership, Gregory and the EverResi Media network are quickly becoming the most established platform in the single-family rental asset class.
CEO,
Northpoint
Dan French brings more than two decades of leadership experience in real estate operations, investments, and property management to his role as Chief Operating Officer at Northpoint. He oversees all core operational functions, including process optimization, technology integration, team development, and portfolio performance. Dan’s focus is on building a scalable, data-driven operational platform that supports Northpoint’s long-term growth and delivers superior service to clients and residents. Prior to joining Northpoint, Dan played a key role in scaling multifamily and single-family rental platforms across Texas and Florida, contributing to organizations that collectively managed and transacted over $2 billion in assets. His background includes leading cross-functional teams, improving operational efficiency, enhancing resident experience, and supporting strategic capital initiatives.
CTO,
UDR
Josh Gampp is a seasoned technology executive and is currently the Chief Technology Officer at UDR, Inc., a leading real estate investment trust specializing in multifamily housing. In his role at UDR, Josh is responsible for overseeing the company's Centralized, Marketing, and IT operations. In addition, he helps lead innovation efforts for the company and has been key in expanding UDR’s reputation as an innovation leader during his tenure. He brings a wealth of expertise to the position, having worked in various technology focused roles for over 20 years.
Managing Director,
Second Century Ventures
Dave Garland invests in technology and entrepreneurs that promise to advance the global real estate industry. As Managing Partner of Second Century Ventures (SCV) - the venture capital arm of the National Association of Realtors®, he oversees NAR REACH: the world's top real estate technology scale up program. As an industry practitioner, Dave has acquired, owned and managed portfolios of single family residential, commercial and development properties across America. He has provided two decades of strategic advisory and board services to numerous, public and private real estate and financial technology firms. Dave lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Partner,
Era Ventures
Raja Ghawi is a Partner at Era Ventures, a venture firm focused on innovation in the physical world. He invests in founders building durable, system-level businesses across real estate, construction, logistics, and infrastructure, with an appetite beyond software-only models. Previously, he led data and AI initiatives at Suffolk Construction and worked at McKinsey and its AI arm QuantumBlack. Raja is the author of "Platonic Ideals," a series defining standards of excellence for nontraditional startups operating in asset-heavy and operationally complex sectors.
Senior Vice President And Head Of Hospitality, Amenities, And AI,
RXR
Dave Gise is Senior Vice President and Head of Hospitality, Amenities, and AI at RXR. Dave helped establish and now leads RXR’s award-winning RXO hospitality program, overseeing resident and tenant experience teams across RXR’s commercial and residential portfolio. He also supports the strategic design, activation, and management of RXR's portfolio-wide eco-system of amenity spaces. In addition to Dave's hospitality role, he co-leads RXR’s AI and Digital Lab, where he oversees RXR's internal AI-Enterprise Strategy. Before joining RXR, Dave co-founded the Centre for Social Innovation NYC, launched four (4) prop-tech companies, and spent the first 18 years of his career in the fitness industry.
CEO & Co-Founder,
Waltz
Yuval Golan is the Founder and CEO of Waltz, a Fintech-Proptech-Wealthtech startup providing foreigners with a simple, remote experience to invest in, purchase, and financially manage U.S. residential real estate. Golan was recently featured in Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, The Washington Post, Inman, and HousingWire, and quoted in and other leading international media outlets with over 2.5 billion impressions globally. In addition to global news coverage, he has received accolades such as The 2024 Inman Best of Proptech, The Miami Israel Collective Community Recognition Award, and The FiNext Leadership Visionary Award. Golan has managed operations generating billions of dollars in revenue across 18 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. His expertise spans M&As, leveraged buyouts, venture capital, and real estate investment, with a portfolio of properties in the U.S., Europe, China, and Israel. He is an experienced executive in business development, consulting, finance, fund-raising, operations and sales (B2C, B2B, B2G, G2G). He was previously the CEO of Unique 1 Asia International, which provided strategic consulting and project management services.
General Partner & Founder,
RE VC
Alon is the General Partner and Founder of RE VC, a specialized venture fund investing in early-stage real estate technology startups. RE VC’s debut fund built a portfolio of 16 companies and delivered top-decile performance, establishing a strong foundation for its second fund. RE VC is distinctively built around a team of seasoned real estate operators, not just financiers, giving the fund a rare edge in evaluating, supporting, and scaling founders at the intersection of real estate and technology. Prior to RE VC, Alon co-founded DTI Holdings, a vertically-integrated private equity real estate firm that acquired and actively managed a substantial portfolio of residential multifamily and commercial assets across Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia. Earlier in his career, Alon worked at McKinsey & Company - first as a Strategic Consultant advising on private equity engagements, and later at MIO Partners, McKinsey's proprietary investment office, where he helped launch a new private equity vehicle and built a diversified portfolio delivering consistently strong returns. Alon holds an MBA from Duke University and a B.A. in Economics from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. He is a veteran officer of the Israel Defense Forces Intelligence Corps.
Founder,
Catchpoint Collective
Jamie Gorski is a veteran C-suite leader with more than 25 years of experience as a Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Experience Officer in the multifamily industry. She is the Founder of Catchpoint Collective, where she serves as a strategic advisor and fractional CMO and CXO to property management companies, PropTech providers, and real estate investment firms. She helps leaders integrate AI, centralize operations, optimize marketing, and accelerate growth. Jamie is also Co-Founder of JourneyLens, a customer research and journey mapping firm that delivers data-driven insights to transform the renter and employee experience. JourneyLens creates detailed and actionable journey maps that uncover friction points, inspire innovation, and guide organizations toward higher satisfaction, loyalty, and performance. Known for redefining customer experience and branding for some of the largest portfolios in the United States, Jamie has led portfolios ranging from 20,000 to more than 75,000 units. She has implemented industry-first AI and automation solutions and transformed marketing strategies at Windsor Communities and The Bozzuto Group. A frequent national speaker and board advisor, Jamie served on Zillow’s Multifamily Advisory Board for more than a decade and remains active across industry and academic boards, including The Ohio State University, Bilt Alliance, and RETTC. She has earned more than 40 awards for leadership, innovation, and technology.
SVP, Head Of Real Estate Portfolio Management,
GIC
Ali is a seasoned real estate investment professional with 16 years of global experience in portfolio and asset management, investment strategy, designing scalable & resilient data ecosystems, data governance, and artificial intelligence. He currently leads the Portfolio Management team for the Americas at GIC, where he is responsible for performance oversight, portfolio exposure, data analytics, strategic asset planning, and partner and investment return optimization across a multi-billion dollar real estate platform. Ali is widely recognized for resolving complex financial structures, particularly in distressed assets and evolving market environments. His leadership includes reworking leases, executing hold-sell analyses, and driving critical allocation decisions through in-depth performance review and exposure management. He combines strategic acumen with technical strength in data analytics, portfolio modeling, and reporting systems. He is well-versed in data governance and cleansing, and is actively integrating LLM and AI capabilities into real estate workflows to enhance insight and scale. Prior to GIC, Ali was a Senior Director at EY, where he advised Fortune 500 companies and institutional investors on capital markets, acquisitions, divestments, restructuring, valuations, and digital transformation strategy. Ali holds a MS in Real Estate Finance from New York University (NYU).
Founder,
Thesis Driven
Brad is the editor of Thesis Driven, a publication covering innovation in the built world. Over the past decade he has co-founded General Assembly, a pioneer in education and career transformation specializing in today's most on-demand skills, as well as Common, a multifamily operating company focused on innovative housing typologies like coliving. In addition, Brad sits on the boards of Playcrafting and StageGlass and is an advisor to a number of companies including Breef, Stacklist, and Arrange.
Managing Partner & Founder,
Zacua Ventures
Vivin Hegde is the Founding and Managing Partner at Zacua Ventures, a global venture capital firm dedicated to transforming the Built Environment. With over 20 years of global experience at the intersection of construction, technology, and innovation, Vivin is a leading voice in advancing AI, robotics, and industrial digitization across the construction ecosystem. Prior to Zacua, he held senior leadership roles at Hilti, where he launched its North American corporate venture arm and led the Hilti-Trimble joint venture focused on emerging technologies like robotics, IoT, and AR/VR. He began his career at McKinsey & Company, advising Fortune 500 firms on growth, strategy, and operations across multiple continents. Vivin sits on several advisory boards, partners with startups and corporates globally, and is deeply committed to shaping the future of the built world. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from NITK Surathkal and an MBA from IIM Calcutta.
VP, AI & Innovation,
WinnCompanies
Anne is a strategic advisor for real estate organizations with over twenty years of experience leading strategy and technology development across real estate, technology, and financial services companies. Prior to The Strategic Edge, Anne founded, developed, and sold two technology companies, steered strategic planning and development for an $18 billion affordable housing & commercial real estate portfolio, and established impactful partnerships with Fortune 100 companies and real estate industry associations.
SVP, Residential Operations,
QuadReal Property Group
Dean Holmes is responsible for the combined operations and performance of QuadReal and Parkbridge’s Canadian residential and resort portfolios. Dean also serves on the Board of Directors for Article Student Living, a US based Student Housing Company. Before joining QuadReal in 2018, Dean spent his entire career working in the US multifamily industry. He was the Senior Vice President of Operations with Campus Apartments where he oversaw operations for the firm’s national student housing portfolio. Previously he was the Chief Operating Officer with Equus Capital Partners/Madison Apartment Group and a Division Vice President with Berkshire Property Advisors. Dean holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees from the University of Maryland and is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He is a Certified Property Manager Candidate and a member of the Multifamily Advisory Board for TransUnion.
Principal & Founder,
Real Estate & Housing Advisors (REHA)
David Howard is Principal and Founder of Real Estate & Housing Advisors (REHA), a public affairs and consulting practice based in Washington, DC working with housing companies - owners, investors, developers - to understand and respond to issues involving policy and media scrutiny. David is a frequent speaker and author on a range of real estate and housing issues, to include single-family and multifamily rental housing; build-to-rent development and investment; housing affordability; corporate operating and business practice; and institutional ownership.
Prior to founding REHA, David served for six years as CEO of the National Rental Home Council (NRHC), the nonprofit organization representing the interests of the single-family rental housing industry. As NRHC's first CEO, David was instrumental in developing and delivering the single-family rental housing industry's public affairs agenda, establishing a presence for the organization and industry on Capitol Hill and in state houses and city halls across the country. During his time at NRHC, David frequently testified on behalf of the industry in legislative and regulatory hearings, and was regularly featured in the mainstream and trade press, to include the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, and other media outlets.
David has also served in executive roles at the Home Builders Institute, workforce development affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders; the Urban Land Institute (ULI), an international research and policy organization supporting sustainable urban development and responsible land use practice; and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), the trade association representing the REIT and publicly traded real estate industry.
Vice President & Chief Customer Experience Officer,
Continental Properties
Garrett Hrncir is the Executive Vice President & Chief Customer Experience Officer at Continental Properties, where he leads the Customer Experience, Marketing, AI, and Market Research teams. In this role, Garrett drives Continental’s customer-first vision, harnessing data-driven insights and innovative marketing strategies to elevate the customer journey and deliver exceptional value across the company’s multifamily housing portfolio.
CEO,
Foxen
Kevin Jacobson is the CEO of Foxen where he is leading the modernization of multifamily proptech with value-add solutions and services that increase revenue and reduce risk. A seasoned operator and former investment banker/VC, he previously held leadership roles at high-growth SaaS businesses including as COO of LogicGate and as CFO at Kapow. Kevin earned his BS in Finance from Miami University.
CEO And Co-founder,
Inspectify
Josh Jensen is the CEO and Co-founder of Inspectify, a venture-backed technology platform in the real estate services industries. Inspectify streamlines the property inspections and valuations across the entire property lifecycle through its network of over 100,000+ service providers and proprietary inspection and valuation technology. Before Inspectify, Josh was the Vice President of Operations at Flyhomes, a nationwide real estate brokerage, where he was responsible for all real estate operations for the company and helped scale the business from seed to Series B. Josh is also an active real estate investor and developer, focused on building more housing stock in the Pacific Northwest. He has an MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and resides in Seattle, WA, with his wife, Mary, and their three children.
Founder & CEO,
Rilla
Sebastian Jimenez is the CEO and Founder of Rilla, the leading AI coaching platform for in-person sales. Backed by Google Ventures, Rilla is revolutionizing sales coaching with AI-powered ride-alongs, and is featured on the Forbes Cloud 100, the Wealthy Contractor, and the Forbes Next 1000. Sebastian is a former stand-up comedian, and was a finalist for this year's EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
COO,
University Partners
Chris Johnson is the Chief Operating Officer at University Partners, where he leads operations strategy, asset management, and IT systems. Focused on driving efficiency and innovation, he oversees initiatives that optimize asset performance at scale across the organization. Prior to joining University Partners, Mr. Johnson served as Senior Vice President of Property Operations at UDR, where he led portfolio operations, platform innovation, revenue management, FP&A, and data analytics for over 60,000 apartment homes. Mr. Johnson joined UDR in 2012 as an Internal Auditor before transitioning into Operations in 2013, where he supported new development, redevelopment, and NOI-enhancing opportunities on the West Coast. He later moved into portfolio management and was promoted to Vice President and Area Director for the Southern California region in 2018.
CIO,
The NRP Group
Rachel Johnson joined The NRP Group in 2010 as an Asset Manager and was promoted to Chief Information Officer in 2012. In 2022, she was elevated to Principal and Executive Team Member, reflecting her role as a strategic leader shaping NRP’s long-term growth and operational scalability. Johnson leads all aspects of technology across the enterprise, including IT Infrastructure & Operations, Enterprise Applications and Business Solutions, Data & Analytics, Property Technology, and Cybersecurity. Her work sits at the intersection of business strategy, risk management, and innovation, ensuring technology directly enables NRP’s vertically integrated development, construction, and property management platform. Since her arrival, NRP has grown from approximately 350 employees to more than 1,100, expanded multifamily production significantly, and grown its managed portfolio to over 30,000 units valued at more than $2.5 billion. Technology innovation under Johnson’s leadership has been a key driver of this scale. During her tenure, The NRP Group has consistently ranked among the Top 10 largest developers and builders in the U.S. and has become the nation’s leading developer delivering both affordable and market-rate housing at scale. Johnson has led multiple enterprise-wide transformations, including the modernization of NRP’s cloud and hybrid infrastructure, implementation of advanced data and analytics platforms, digitization of core development, construction, and property management workflows, and the integration of best-in-class enterprise applications across the organization. More recently, her focus has centered on artificial intelligence strategy, automation of knowledge-intensive workflows, secure data access, and enterprise cybersecurity, ensuring innovation is deployed responsibly and at scale. She is currently driving NRP’s AI and digital strategy, emphasizing practical, ROI-driven use cases such as compliance automation, operational intelligence, predictive insights, and improved collaboration across business units—while maintaining rigorous governance, privacy, and security controls. Johnson is known for aligning emerging technologies with real-world business outcomes and for building platforms that integrate seamlessly across devices, systems, and teams. Johnson serves on the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a mayor-appointed body responsible for reviewing commercial and residential zoning matters. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Management Information Systems from Miami University
Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer,
BXP
Colin Joynt serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer for BXP where he is responsible for overall information service delivery including application and data services, infrastructure, and IT services. Prior to joining the Company in January 2024, he had more than 20 years of experience serving in IT leadership roles at NavigatorCRE, Retail Properties of America (RPAI) and Kite Realty Group. Mr. Joynt is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and serves on the Realcomm Advisory Council.
CEO,
Atlas Real Estate
Tony has over 25 years of executive leadership experience in the finance and real estate industry. Before joining Atlas Real Estate, he was a senior leader at a top-four bank, overseeing cross-functional teams in the US and overseas. He leads the overall strategy and direction of Atlas Real Estate while maintaining a relentless commitment to the firm’s values and culture. In 2024, under Tony’s leadership, Atlas Real Estate was named Best of Colorado Property Management for the seventh consecutive year by ColoradoBiz Magazine. In addition, Tony was awarded Most Admired CEO by the Denver Business Journal and he is a finalist for CEO of the Year in the 3rd Annual SFR Industry Awards.
VP,
Unified Residential
Dalia Kalgreen is a multifamily leader and passionate advocate for using AI to strengthen the human side of property management. She focuses on transforming mindsets, elevating teams, and teaching organizations how to work with technology in ways that feel practical, empowering, and genuinely usable. In addition to her work with Unified Residential and Direct Path Solutions, Dalia serves the industry as a Region 3 Delegate for the National Apartment Association, the Vice President of Education for the Columbus Apartment Association, and a member of the Columbus Apartment Association’s Board of Trustees. Whether she’s consulting, teaching, or speaking on national stages, her mission remains the same: empower people, elevate leadership, and shape a future where tech and humanity operate in true partnership.
Founder And Managing Partner,
Rebuild Capital
Jeremy Kaner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Rebuild Capital, an opportunistic investment fund taking a hybrid VC/PE approach to strategic PropTech and ConTech investing. Prior to founding Rebuild, Jeremy held senior investment positions at Olive Tree Holdings, Tishman Speyer and Picus Capital, and helped establish the PropTech and ConTech investment banking practice at Barclays.
Inception Global Head Of Physical AI,
NVIDIA
Les Karpas is NVIDIA Inception's Global Head of Physical AI, coordinating NVIDIA's relationship within the greater startup ecosystem of robotics, automotive, manufacturing, mobility, smart cities, and smart spaces. He has a deep background in computer vision, digital manufacturing, and robotics. His past roles include being an architect, manufacturing engineer, startup CEO, venture studio executive, and corporate venture capitalist. He has expertise in driving solutions from inception to market, having worked for and collaborated with such entities as Stanley Black & Decker (DeWalt), Intellectual Ventures, Herman Miller, iRobot, Cirque du Soleil, and the artist Anish Kapoor. He has also been the lead inventor on 5 issued patents.
General Partner & Co-Founder,
Stackpoint
Chris Kelly is a serial entrepreneur and Co-Founding General Partner at Stackpoint, a venture studio that conceives, funds, and builds agentic AI companies in high-barrier industries. Chris and his co-founder Adam Pase have created over $2 billion in equity value across multiple ventures. Previously, Chris co-founded Convene and EvoJets, which generated over $2B in revenue and attracted hundreds of millions in funding. Known for his hands-on support of founders, he brings deep operating experience and a powerful network to every stage of company building. Chris has been named twice to Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list of Most Promising Entrepreneurs and recognized by Ernst & Young, Crain’s, and CoreNet Global for his leadership in entrepreneurship.
President,
Blueprint
Martin oversees Blueprint, which brings together innovators across the real estate, construction and climate sectors redefining the future of the built world. Blueprint was acquired by Inman in 2024 with Martin staying on as President, continuing to define the event strategy and developing industry partnerships. Before taking the helm at Blueprint in 2022, Martin was Managing Director at Context365, a leading alternative investment technology platform. He led the business development efforts for both the year-round digital platform products as well as the events portfolio until it was acquired by Apex. Martin first started his career in London working for Terrapinn, a leading global B2B Media Business before moving to New York in 2010 and subsequently becoming Managing Director – Americas. During his 14 years with the firm he launched multiple event brands, acquired events and successfully turned around the profitability of the US business under his leadership. He has also held roles as one of the Founding Members of the Great British Business Club Committee for UK Trade & Investment and other advisory positions.
Founder,
The Points Guy (TPG)
Brian Kelly is the Founder of The Points Guy (TPG), the trusted travel media platform that has revolutionized the travel and loyalty industries. From his beginnings in finance, Brian has used his expertise and passion to transform TPG from a personal blog to an unrivaled media powerhouse with over 11 million monthly visitors. His first book, How to Win at Travel, debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list and is the ultimate resource for everything from leveraging airline and credit card points to planning your dream itinerary. Dubbed ""The Man Who Turned Credit-Card Points Into an Empire"" by New York Times, Kelly's dynamic personality, deep industry knowledge, and extensive global travels have inspired millions to make their travel dreams a reality. Brian’s valued expertise has made him a regular on top morning shows such as CBS Mornings, Good Morning America, and LIVE with Kelly & Mark and news stations including CNN, MSNBC, ABC, Bloomberg and more. Over the years, Brian’s impressive work has been recognized on AdWeek’s Young Influentials list and Travel & Leisure’s Most Notable People in Travel list, and he has been named is Forbes’ #1 Travel Influencer and an OUT100 recipient. A firm believer that travel is a global force for good, Brian currently serves as a Committee Member for Rainbow Railroad, Global Ambassador for PeaceJam, and Co-Chair of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Leadership Council.
Senior Vice President Of Innovation And Technology,
Preiss
Whitney Kidd is an award winning PropTech executive and recognized industry leader, recently honored as a 2024 GlobeSt. Woman of Influence in the PropTech Executive / Innovator category. She serves as Senior Vice President of Innovation and Technology at Preiss, where she leads the development of innovation practices and technology strategy for the one of the nations largest student housing owner/ operators. Since joining Preiss in 2022, Whitney has spearheaded initiatives that merge cutting-edge technology with operational excellence delivering measurable results in revenue growth, risk reduction, and expense management across the student and multifamily housing sectors. Her customer-first leadership approach is marked by a commitment to innovation, data-driven performance, and practical implementation. Whitney is also the founder of IRIS Technologies, The Preiss Company’s technology consulting subsidiary, which supports both internal and third party clients with strategic advisory services, R&D pilots, and national technology deployments including robotics, mobile first access, AI automation, and smart community infrastructure. Prior to her time at Preiss, Whitney co-founded ROVR Score, a connectivity scoring platform designed to evaluate and promote internet quality at multifamily communities. She previously held a leadership role at RealPage, where she oversaw the Student, Military, and Urban markets. Under her leadership, the business unit delivered 30% year-over-year growth, generating $20 million in recurring revenue. With more than 18 years of experience in real estate technology and property operations, Whitney is also a founding board member of The W.Collective, a national organization advancing women in leadership within the student housing industry. She is a frequent speaker, moderator, and advisor, shaping the conversation around the future of housing, automation, and resident experience.
President,
Centennial Real Estate
Paul is a real estate executive with over 25 years of open-air, lifestyle, and enclosed mall real estate experience. Throughout his industry tenure, he has worked for some of the most distinguished global real estate and entertainment companies in the world including The Blackstone Group, Equity Office Properties, DreamWorks Animation, Westfield Corporation, and Caruso. Most recently, Paul served as Chief Operating Officer for CenterCal Properties where he was responsible for the oversight and leadership of the entire operating company and was responsible for the launch of its third-party advisory business. Paul’s most notable accomplishments include launching a $660 million redevelopment and repositioning project for Willis Tower in Chicago, the largest redevelopment project undertaken by The Blackstone Group anywhere in the world and the development of 8500 Burton Way and The Americana at Brand; both mixed-use developments located in Los Angeles. He held leadership roles in the redevelopment of Westfield Century City and Westfield Valley Fair and oversaw the executive management of Westfield’s west coast operations. Paul also pioneered a multimillion-dollar retail development and entertainment business for DreamWorks, launching two first-of-its-kind location-based entertainment concepts specifically developed to embrace and enhance the changing retail environment.
Managing Director,
Moderne Ventures
Carolyn Kwon is a Managing Director at Moderne Ventures, a strategic venture capital and growth equity firm with more than $600M in assets under management investing in technology companies in and around real estate, finance, insurance, and home services. Carolyn leads the Moderne Passport Program Blueprint 2026 - Speaker Packet Page 2 and the Moderne Network, connecting Moderne's portfolio companies with 1,500+ industry executives and corporate partners to drive customer introductions, strategic guidance, and operational support.
CEO,
Brandywine Homes USA
Jackie Lee is the CEO of Brandywine Homes USA, a leading property management firm overseeing more than 4,000 single-family rental homes across 13 markets. Under her leadership, Brandywine has evolved from a single-client operation into a high-performing, process-driven organization serving some of the largest institutional investors in the country. With a background spanning maintenance operations, leasing, and property management, Jackie brings hands-on experience and strategic insight to the single-family rental sector. She has led efforts to standardize operating procedures across markets, improve leasing velocity, and streamline maintenance workflows—while also launching resident-facing initiatives like flexible payment plans and limited hardship assistance programs. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Jackie serves on the board of the Georgia Rental Home Council. Her leadership is guided by a clear personal mantra: do the right thing—for residents, employees, and partners alike.
Managing Partner & Co-Founder,
Blueprint Equity
Sheldon is a Founder and Managing Partner of Blueprint Equity, a San Diego-based early growth equity firm focused on investing in and scaling market-leading enterprise software, B2B, and tech-enabled service companies. Prior to founding Blueprint, Sheldon was Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development at PayLease, where he identified and executed strategic initiatives to accelerate the company’s growth trajectory. He also previously worked as a member of the investment team at Mainsail Partners and an Analyst with Piper Jaffray’s Technology Investment Banking group.
Managing Director And The Chief Data Scientist,
BGO
Chris Liedtke is a Managing Director and the Chief Data Scientist at BGO, where he builds the analytical systems that drive and inform investment decision-making across the firm. He previously served as Vice President of Research & Strategy. Before joining the firm in 2019, Chris was Senior Manager of Data Science at Putnam Investments, where he founded and led the firm's data science function and built machine learning systems that shaped decisions across equity, fixed income, and sales analytics. Earlier in his career, he worked as an economist at RTI International. Before entering investing, Chris served six years in the U.S. Navy, completing four combat deployments across the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Horn of Africa. He served as a search-and-rescue swimmer aboard the USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), where he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his service during counter-piracy engagements off the coast of Somalia. Chris holds an M.B.A. from NYU's Stern School of Business and an M.S. in Analytics from the Institute for Advanced Analytics at North Carolina State University, and has completed advanced doctoral coursework in AI/ML at George Washington University. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy, Economics, and Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Founding Partner,
Beach Street Development
As Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner at Beach Street Holdings and Beach Street Development & Operations, John and his partners are leading the development and operations of a portfolio of pioneering surf-lagoon anchored resort, club, and residential projects in top tier markets across the United States. Beach Street's projects sit at the intersection of real estate, technology, hospitality, wellness and active lifestyle culture. John has been at the forefront of the surf park and surf-anchored real estate movement for over a decade. He co-founded Surf Park Central and Surf Park Summit, the first media platform and global conference dedicated to the surf park and man-made surf anchored real estate industry. Beach Street’s current developments include DSRT Surf in Palm Desert, California—the first surf-lagoon anchored for-sale residential community and resort in North America (currently under construction, opening Summer 2026)—along with large-scale projects in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, South Florida. Beach Street is also the long-term operator of Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach, VA which is also currently in the final stages of construction and scheduled to open later this summer.
VP,
Slate Asset Management
Braden joined Slate in 2019. He is responsible for the asset management of Slate Grocery REIT and Slate’s investment strategy focused on essential real estate assets in North America, including managing relationships with joint-venture partners, supervision of third-party property management and leasing professionals, preparation of annual operating budgets, and approval and execution of capital spending and leasing programs. He previously managed investor relations for both of Slate’s publicly-listed REITs. Prior to joining Slate, Braden was on the real estate investment banking team at Scotiabank. He holds an Honors Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School at Western University.
VP, Innovation & Venture,
AvalonBay
David is VP of Innovation and Venture at AvalonBay, where he drives NOI through product incubation, strategic investing, and P&L ownership. He’s built and scaled business lines across real estate tech and global alternatives, with full-cycle experience from concept to execution. A trained architect turned operator, David brings a systems-thinking lens to growth and capital allocation. He chairs the firm’s Innovation Committee and is a frequent speaker on sustainability, strategy, and investing. David holds an M.Arch from Penn and a B.S. in Architecture from UNLV.
SVP, Innovation & Implementation,
CLS Living
Erin Mahone brings over 15 years of experience to her role as SVP, Innovation and Implementation at CLS Living. She has served in diverse roles from Leasing Professional to Regional and National Training Support. At CLS, Mrs. Mahone specializes in training and customer experience and is certified by Forbes Travel Guide. She developed CLS’s proprietary 5-Star Service Training platform, which integrates luxury hospitality standards into multifamily property management. At CLS, Mrs. Mahone is responsible for leading innovation and implementation efforts, driving process improvements, and introducing strategic solutions that enhance operational efficiency and performance.
CFO And Head Of Partnerships & Strategy Of Housing Trust Silicon Valley,
Housing Trust
Julie Mahowald is CFO and Head of Partnerships & Strategy of Housing Trust Silicon Valley since January 2016. Her responsibilities include strategy and planning, capital structure and capital raise, finance, administration and operations. She has also served as interim CEO of Housing Trust on two occasions. Julie drives partnership opportunities and stewardship for Housing Trust. She is part of the leadership team who established TECH Fund, the Apple Affordable Housing Fund, and Google’s Launch Initiative–each investing funds to start up or preserve of affordable homes within months of establishment. Her passion is bringing impact capital to community development. She was named non-profit CFO of the year in 2023 by the SF Business Times and Larkin Street Youth Services. Julie brings over 30 years of corporate finance, treasury management, and strategy experience in high growth tech firms such as Oracle, Maxtor, Celestica, and various Silicon Valley start-ups. Julie’s roles included raising capital from banks and venture firms, international finance, and guiding an initial public offering. Julie also has extensive non-profit management experience. She served on the board of the Los Altos Community Foundation for 7 years and is a past co-Chair. Julie was a long-time board member of East Palo Alto Kids Foundation. Julie earned her BA in Economics from Tulane University and an MBA in Finance and MA in International Studies from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania where she was a Fellow with the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies.
Senior Portfolio Director,
P.B. Bell
Angela Marotta is Senior Portfolio Director at P.B. Bell, where she oversees a portfolio of multifamily communities throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, directing operations, financial performance, marketing, and staffing. Since joining P.B. Bell in 2025, she has contributed to new business development and lease-up efforts. Angela's 28 years in property management span five states and nearly every corner of the industry. She started as a leasing agent and worked her way up — a path that keeps her connected to the day-to-day realities of onsite teams and residents even as she operates at the portfolio level. Her background includes new development lease-ups, renovations and repositioning work, acquisitions, adaptive reuse, and turning around underperforming assets, with experience across conventional, affordable, and newly built communities. An entrepreneur at heart, she also helped launch two property management companies, giving her an owner's perspective on operations, asset strategy, and client relationships. Known for delivering strong financial results without sacrificing team culture or the resident experience, Angela has built her reputation on straight talk, accountability, and investing in the people around her. She believes lasting performance comes from developing capable teams and leading with both high standards and genuine support. Angela holds an Arizona Real Estate License and is an active member of the Arizona Mult housing Association.
EVP Sales & Marketing,
PetScreening
Arlene Mayfield is the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, where she leverages her extensive experience in the apartment industry to lead strategic sales initiatives. Known for her innovative approach, Arlene is at the forefront of PetScreening’s efforts to expand its footprint in the multifamily sector. Before joining PetScreening, she served as Senior Vice President of National Accounts at Rent. She successfully managed a team of national account executives and client service managers, demonstrating her adeptness in guiding high-performing teams and executing robust sales strategies. Throughout her career, Arlene has been recognized for her ability to drive revenue and adapt to the dynamic demands of the industry. Her leadership is characterized by a flexible and forward-thinking methodology that keeps pace with industry changes. Arlene is passionate about enhancing PetScreening's service offerings, aiming to make them indispensable to property owners and managers. Her dedication to creating more pet-friendly living environments aligns with PetScreening’s mission, as she enthusiastically propels the company’s growth in the multifamily space.
Senior Vice President Of Property Management,
Buckingham Companies
Melissa McClure is Senior Vice President of Property Management at Buckingham Companies, a vertically integrated real estate firm with over 40 years in business, $3 billion in gross assets under management, over 70 communities, and more than 14,000 residential units. Melissa brings two decades of experience in property management, with expertise spanning multifamily, student housing, value-add communities, lease-ups, and asset management. During her career, she led the redevelopment and expansion of a management division, creating significant operational efficiencies and long-term growth. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration, all while maintaining a strong focus on results. A graduate of Indiana University, she is recognized for combining strategic vision with hands-on execution to maximize value for both owners and investors.
Co‑Founder & CEO,
Tempo Works
Kevin McGlade, Co‑Founder & CEO of Tempo Works, leads a robotics company focused on automating the slow, repetitive tasks that are often overlooked but essential to every construction project, starting with concrete finishing. Prior to founding Tempo, he led sales and market expansion at Scythe Robotics, where he helped scale autonomous technology across large landscaping operations and grow the company to a national footprint. Today, Kevin is bringing that same mindset to one of construction’s most labor-strained trades, building machines that take on the dull, repetitive work so skilled professionals can focus on the complex, high-value tasks that truly drive progress.
Managing Director, Property Management – Southwest,
RangeWater Residential
Erica McLaughlin is the Managing Director of Property Management for RangeWater Residential's Southwest division where she oversees a portfolio of communities across Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. Leading a team of Regional Managers and Directors, she is responsible for operational performance, client relationships, and the strategic initiatives that drive growth across the division. She partners closely with the firm's Business Development team to expand RangeWater's presence with both new and existing clients. Erica joined RangeWater in 2020 with more than a decade of multifamily experience spanning nine states. She began her career as a traveling startup manager, directing onsite transitions, rebranding, and repositioning efforts for newly acquired value-add assets across more than a dozen markets nationwide. She was later promoted to Regional Manager in Phoenix, where she oversaw the Southwest portfolio across Texas, Arizona, and Southern California. Over the course of her career, she has led a wide range of communities—including value-add, LIHTC, stabilized, student housing, lease-up, and renovation properties—throughout the Southeast and Southwest. A Charleston, South Carolina native, Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Relations and Advertising) with a minor in Business from Anderson University. She is an active member of the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the Arizona Multihousing Association (AMA). She was named a finalist for Supervisor of the Year at the 2019 AMA Tribute Awards and a top-three finalist for Executive of the Year in 2023. Erica lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband, Nate, and their son.
Partner,
Camber Creek
Alexandra Nicoletti is a Partner at Camber Creek and supports the firm’s deal flow, diligence, transactions, and portfolio management. Alexandra currently serves on numerous Camber Creek portfolio company boards. Prior to joining Camber Creek, Alexandra worked in real estate private equity; her roles included acquisitions and asset management positions at several leading real estate investing and operating companies globally, including Brookfield Properties, Norges Bank, and Apollo Global Management. She has over a decade of experience structuring complex deals and has closed commercial real estate transactions and managed portfolios totaling over $10 billion in value. Alexandra began her career in real estate investment banking at Goldman Sachs. She received a BS from Duke University.
Co-Founder & CEO,
Cardinal Group Companies
Alex is a co-founder and the CEO of Cardinal Group Companies. Over the past 15 years, he has held various leadership roles including President of CG Management, COO and was named CEO in May of 2020. He is responsible for the overall vision of the company and for ensuring the Cardinal Culture is strong for the Company's over 2,500 team members. Prior to Cardinal Group, Alex was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. He is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio, and received his MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. In his personal time, he serves the veteran community of Colorado as a Board Member of Salute Colorado and is the proud father to his four children.
CEO,
Howard Hughes Holdings
David O’Reilly is the Chief Executive Officer of Howard Hughes, responsible for driving the sustainable growth of the company’s assets and unlocking meaningful long-term value across the company’s portfolio. He previously served as the company’s President and as its CFO, the role in which he joined Howard Hughes in 2016. As the architect and leader of the company’s 2019 Transformation Plan, he realized meaningful reductions in overhead, executed on the sale of non-core assets, and refocused the company on its highly profitable MPCs. His leadership has successfully positioned the company for growth, further diversifying Howard Hughes’ funding sources and increasing its liquidity to enable the company to pursue value-creating opportunities. Prior to joining Howard Hughes, Mr. O’Reilly served as Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer of Parkway Properties, a New York Stock Exchange-traded real estate investment trust focused on office properties. He served in the position from November 2011 through October 2014 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in August 2012. He also served as the company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer from May 2012 through August 2012. Previously, Mr. O’Reilly served as Executive Vice President of Banyan Street Capital and as Director of Capital Markets for Eola Capital LLC. He served in the investment banking industry as Senior Vice President of Barclays Capital Inc. and in a similar capacity for Lehman Brothers. Mr. O’Reilly graduated from Tufts University with a BS in Civil Engineering and received his MBA from Columbia University.
Assistant Vice President,
Harrison Street Asset Management
Matt Page is Assistant Vice President at Harrison Street Asset Management, a $110 Billion AUM Investment Management Firm. In his role, Matt works on a small team overseeing insurance and risk management initiatives across the Harrison Street ecosystem. Prior to Harrison Street, Matt worked in a variety of roles in insurance, operations, private equity, and a Series A funded tech-startup. Matt is Wabash College alumnus and sits on the Wabash Club of Chicago Alumni Board. Outside of work, Matt stays busy with his wife, Kara, and 3 children under 4yrs old. He currently lives in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.
Vice President, Technology Strategy,
Irvine Company Retail Properties
Mickey Papillon is a real estate industry veteran with 25 years of experience, including multiple executive roles at both public and private companies. He is currently Vice President, Technology Strategy at Irvine Company where he directs initiatives and projects of significant scope and complexity to support the strategic needs of the retail division.
Prior to his current role, he served as Vice President, Asset Management at Federal Realty Investment Trust, where he oversaw the company's Maryland Portfolio. Over his career, he has worked on notable mixed-use projects including Pike & Rose, Bethesda Row, Santana Row and Kierland Commons.
Chief Operating Officer,
Cloud Apartments
Apoorva Pasricha is the Chief Operating Officer of Cloud Apartments, an asset-light development platform industrializing multifamily housing. Rather than owning factories, Cloud pairs a patented, mechanically-engineered modular building system with a certified partner network—delivering housing faster, cheaper, and with lower risk, while scaling through partnerships rather than capital-intensive infrastructure. Cloud's system is in the process of being deployed across $1B+ of multi-family developments, representing nearly 3,000 housing units. Pasricha has spent her career applying technology to the built environment across the private and public sectors. At Zoox (acquired by Amazon), she built the Operations Strategy function and led a $100M supply chain roadmap, scaling autonomous-vehicle operations from R&D toward commercialization. As Deputy Director of Technology and Innovation for the City of San José, she operationalized a $24M Digital Inclusion Fund, and earlier led the $800M consolidation of eight agencies at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and was recognized as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum.
EVP, IT,
Waterton
Mr. Pearce joined Waterton in 2013 and serves as executive vice president of information technology. In this role, Mr. Pearce is responsible for all technology used at the corporate offices and our multifamily communities. He oversees the support of all technology in use, and is responsible for the implementation of strategic solutions and the ongoing improvement of the firm’s technology platforms. Mr. Pearce has over 35 years of information technology and leadership experience. Prior to joining Waterton, Mr. Pearce was the head of information technology at Henderson Global Investors where he was responsible for the design, development and ongoing support of the technology infrastructure and systems used in support of Henderson’s Real Estate, Institutional and Retail (Mutual Fund) departments in Chicago, IL and Hartford, CT.
Founder,
ECL Prop Solutions
Scott Pechersky is the founder of ECL Prop Solutions and a technology advisor with more than 25 years of operating experience in multifamily real estate. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer at RPM and SVP of Technology at Alliance Residential. Scott has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Technologists in Real Estate and is a former Co-Chair of NMHC OpTech. Today he runs ECL Prop Solutions, advising on technology strategy across multifamily operations, private equity, and proptech, helping turn operational data into measurable business value.
CEO & Founder,
Kasa
Roman Pedan is the Chief Executive Officer of Kasa Living, Inc., the leading flexible accommodations brand and manager which he founded in 2016. Roman has over a decade of experience in real estate investing and technology entrepreneurship. He was an early team member at KKR's Real Estate Private Equity group where he worked on hotel transactions totaling $1.2 billion across the U.S. and was involved in every hotel transaction that KKR closed during his tenure. Roman was also an early team member at Juniper Square, a market-leading investment management platform, and was the founder of a startup called book.ly, a profitable, vertical e-commerce website that sold more than $15mm of textbooks. Roman earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.S. in Economics with a Real Estate and Finance concentration from The Wharton School, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. In addition to leading Kasa, Roman is an avid skier, traveler, and reader with particular interests in hospitality organizations, history, and leadership.
Head Of Operations,
Veritas Investments
Jay Pedde is an operations executive specializing in large-scale multifamily housing platforms and centralized property management models. He oversees operations for a portfolio of more than 6,000 apartment homes across San Francisco and Los Angeles, leading property management, leasing, marketing, maintenance, and construction teams within a vertically integrated operating platform. Jay’s work focuses on building scalable operating systems that improve portfolio performance while navigating complex regulatory environments. His teams are fully centralized and have rolled out AI-enabled resident engagement tools, and integrated maintenance dispatch systems designed to increase operational efficiency and improve the resident experience. In addition to operational leadership, Jay is actively involved in developing future leaders within the multifamily industry, mentoring emerging managers and helping build executive leadership pipelines within his organization. His organization was recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work in Multifamily, reflecting a strong focus on culture, leadership development, and operational excellence.
Founder And CEO,
Loft
Mate is Founder and CEO of Loft, which has become Brazil’s market leader across broker services, mortgage origination, and real estate fintech since 2018. Recognized as one of Brazil's top 10 CEOs by Forbes, he previously co-founded Printi, a leading e-commerce platform for customized materials & services with operations in Brazil and the United States (sold to NASDAQ-listed Cimpress). Mate is also a Founder and Investment Partner at Canary, Brazil's foremost seed-stage technology investment firm.
EVP,
Capital Square Living
As executive vice president of Capital Square Living, Ryan Perez is responsible for marketing, business solutions, revenue management and learning and development. With a core focus on operational performance and business analytics her role guides Capital Square Living’s digital strategy, customer experience, expense control, rent growth and technology platforms.
Managing Partner,
Era Ventures
Clelia Warburg Peters is the Managing Partner of Era Ventures, a venture capital firm she founded in 2022 to invest in innovative business models that reimagine the physical world. Previously, Clelia was a Venture Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, supporting the firm's Proptech practice and investments. Prior to Bain Capital Ventures, she was a co-founding Partner at MetaProp, one of the foundational early-stage Proptech venture funds. Clelia was the President of Warburg Realty until its sale to Coldwell Banker in 2021, where she worked alongside her father, CEO Frederick Warburg Peters. She currently lives in her native city of New York with her husband and two children.
Managing Director, Marketing,
Rose Associates
With more than 30 years of experience in New York and throughout the Northeast area, Debbie Rae Peters serves as Managing Director of Marketing for Rose Associates, where she leads all corporate and property marketing initiatives across the organization. In her role, she oversees brand strategy, corporate communications, lead generation, digital marketing, online reputation management, resident engagement, public relations, and marketing operations for Rose’s diverse portfolio of multifamily communities, as well as the company’s corporate marketing efforts. Drawing on leadership roles with industry-leading organizations including AvalonBay Communities, AIMCO, Roseland, Greystar, and Beam Living, Debbie develops innovative and cost-effective marketing strategies that drive measurable results, strengthen brand awareness, increase leasing performance, and enhance the resident experience. A recognized multifamily marketing professional, Debbie is an active member of the Multifamily Innovation Advisory Council, where she collaborates with industry leaders to explore emerging trends, share best practices, and help shape the future of multifamily housing. Her passion for innovation, technology, and resident experience has positioned her as a respected voice within the industry. In addition to her marketing expertise, Debbie has been a strong advocate for fostering inclusive workplace cultures. Throughout her career, she has helped establish and support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and initiatives focused on professional development, mentorship, and belonging, creating opportunities for team members to connect, grow, and succeed. Known for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and deep understanding of the multifamily industry, Debbie continues to drive marketing excellence while supporting Rose Associates’ commitment to growth, service, innovation, and exceptional customer experiences.
CEO & Founder,
Facilimax
Amy Polvado began her career in the software and semiconductor manufacturing industry before transitioning to commercial real estate in 2003 by founding a construction company serving the retail and multifamily sectors. By 2014, her company was active in 16 states, building various projects. In 2008, she expanded into real estate investing and established a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm, which managed over $1 billion in assets by 2022. In 2019, Amy founded Facilimax, an AI proptech company aimed at addressing inefficiencies in the commercial real estate industry. In addition to her role as Founder and CEO of Facilimax, she holds the position of Chairwoman of the US Proptech Council, the trade association for the proptech industry in the United States. In January 2025, she authored "From Data to Deals: How to Use AI to Up Your Real Estate Game.
Co-Founder & CEO,
PURE HomeRiver Property Management
Joe Polverari is a fintech forefather who helped build the infrastructure behind modern banking, and is now applying that same playbook to the $70B residential property management industry, long fractured and resistant to scale and innovation. A seasoned entrepreneur, he has served as CEO and C-level operator at private and public technology companies across fintech, cybersecurity, analytics, and AI. His expertise in building transformative SaaS and outcome-based systems traces back to his early career as a software M&A specialist and multiple exits, including Yodlee's 2014 IPO. A trained corporate and IP lawyer turned serial technology entrepreneur, Joe has spent 35 years in M&A and hundreds of acquisitions across SaaS, fintech, and services. Joe is a strategic unifier who not only consolidates companies but also unifies their cultures, processes, brands, and technology into growth-oriented ecosystems. A complexity killer and tech/AI pragmatist, Joe aims to be ahead of innovation hype cycles, sussing out what is real, what is useful, and what adds genuine business value. Joe co-founded PURE Property Management in 2020 and, after completing 75 acquisitions in 3 years, recently completed a merger with HomeRiver to form PURE HomeRiver, the nation's largest and fastest-growing third-party single-family rental property management company, managing 40,000+ properties across 35+ states with over 25,000 five-star reviews. Joe lives in California with his wife, Stephanie, has two adult children, and spends most of his free time on the slopes and fairways, no matter the weather.
Director Of Leasing & Marketing,
The Brodsky Organization
Joe Porritt is Director of Leasing & Marketing at The Brodsky Organization, where he oversees leasing strategy, marketing, customer experience, and technology initiatives across a portfolio of approximately 9,000 apartment homes throughout New York City. With nearly two decades of experience in multifamily real estate, Joe has led lease-ups, repositioning efforts, portfolio optimization initiatives, and technology transformations at both The Brodsky Organization and Related Companies. His work focuses on translating data into operational decisions, helping onsite teams improve performance through better processes, analytics, and emerging technologies. Today, Joe is leading several initiatives centered on AI, centralized leasing, customer experience, and the modernization of the multifamily technology stack. He is particularly interested in how operators can move beyond dashboards and reporting to create actionable systems that drive measurable outcomes. Joe is a graduate of Michigan State University and holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. He has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Financial Times, The Real Deal, and StreetEasy, and frequently speaks on the future of leasing, marketing, and technology in multifamily housing.
EVP, Technology,
JBG Smith
Jeremy Poteet is the EVP of Technology at JBG SMITH where he leads a team of business minded technologists responsible for technology and innovation based transformative initiatives. He has over 20 years in real estate technology across many asset types in the real estate space and is passionate about the adoption of technology and leading others in solving complex process, technology, reporting, and organizational challenges.
CEO & President,
Digital Realty
Andrew (Andy) Power is the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Digital Realty. Andy also has served as Digital Realty’s President since 2021 and as Chief Financial Officer since 2015 with responsibility for global portfolio operations, technology development and innovation, service provider and enterprise customer solutions, asset management and information technology, as well as the company’s financial functions across its global platform. Prior to joining Digital Realty, Andy held positions of increasing responsibility at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he most recently served as Managing Director of Real Estate, Gaming and Lodging Investment Banking and was responsible for relationships with over 40 public and private companies, including Digital Realty. Prior to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Andy was employed by Citigroup, where he held similar positions. During his career, he has managed the execution of over $30B of public and private capital raises, including the largest REIT IPO to date, and more than $19B of merger and acquisition transactions. Andy was part of the lead underwriting team that advised Digital Realty on its initial public offering in 2004 and served as a lead manager on nearly every subsequent public capital raise. Andy serves on the Board of Directors of Americold Realty Trust (NYSE: COLD), where he is a member of the audit committee and investment committee. He has also joined The Real Estate Roundtable’s Board of Directors for a three-year term on July 1, 2024. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Analytical Finance from Wake Forest University.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner,
Navitas Capital
Travis Putnam is a Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Navitas Capital, an early-stage VC fund specializing in technology & AI solutions for the built world. Navitas is backed by many of the largest real estate companies in the US and has a track record of being an early investor in category defining startups including PlanGrid, Matterport, Procore, & EliseAI. In addition to his venture capital work, Travis is a Co-Founder of Frontline Holdings, a vertically integrated owner, operator, and third-party property manager of multifamily properties with a current portfolio of over 10k units. Travis holds a degree in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is an active member of YPO Bel Air. Travis lives in Los Angeles with his wife and five children.
President,
First Washington Realty, Inc.
Daniel J. Radek is the President of First Washington Realty, Inc. where he is responsible for the building, managing and performance of the portfolio and is a member of the firm’s investment committee. Before he joined First Washington, Mr. Radek served as the Chief of Staff to the Founder, Chairman and CEO of J.E. Robert Companies, a global real estate investment company that owned and managed more than 15,000 assets totaling $28 Billion across 17 countries. Mr. Radek was also a founder and Chief Information Officer of Fresh Direct, an online fresh food manufacturing and distribution company in New York City.
Founder,
Zero RFI
KP Reddy is the founder of Zero RFI, launched in March 2026 with a $13.8M seed round led by General Catalyst to transform the owner's representative model using AI. A second-generation civil engineer with 25+ years as a founder, operator, and investor across AEC, AI, robotics, and automation, KP has founded and exited three companies and leads Shadow Ventures, a VC firm focused on the built environment. Where others see a $10T industry with 60 years of declining productivity, KP sees the greatest technology opportunity of our generation — and he's building it.
Vice President Of Programs And Strategy,
Ivory Innovations
Chad is Vice President of Programs and Strategy at Ivory Innovations, an operating foundation and applied research center based at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business. At Ivory, Chad works to align research, capital, and implementation to advance innovative housing affordability solutions. Chad holds particular expertise in factory-built housing and has co-authored several papers on the subject with the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and Harvard.
Managing Director, Property Management,
Greystar
Richard Regitano is a Managing Director at Greystar, leading the company’s maintenance, facilities, and engineering groups within the Property Management business. He oversees the teams responsible for all technical operations across Greystar’s national residential portfolio. Richard is responsible for enhancing the group’s performance through data-driven metrics, efficiency-focused initiatives, and continuous improvement of onsite technical operations. He is dedicated to advancing Greystar’s vision of becoming the industry leader in maintenance and engineering for rental housing. Richard began his career in construction and engineering. Prior to joining Greystar, he spent 11 years at AvalonBay Communities, where he held various engineering roles, ultimately serving as Vice President of Engineering for the AvalonBay US portfolio for the last five years. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering technology with a minor in electrical engineering from Northeastern University.
VP, Tech & Innovation,
Jamestown
Jay Richard-Yu, VP of Tech & Innovation at Jamestown, is a visionary leader dedicated to infusing the “wow” factor into Jamestown’s premier mixed-use properties and vibrant communities. With an unrelenting passion for the intersection of creativity, technology, and discovery, Jay champions elevating digital marketing, pioneering proptech solutions, and avant-garde innovation to craft unforgettable experiences that both delight and inspire. Under Jay’s stewardship and with his experience supporting pilots and deployments of emerging and new technologies, Jamestown’s assets remain at the cutting edge of technology in the commercial real estate landscape. His innovative approaches range from immersive LED screens and interactive digital kiosks to dynamic experiential programming, EV and parking operations, and state-of-the-art AV/IT solutions. These initiatives not only enhance the guest experience but also drive NOI and create operating efficiencies for Jamestown’s teams and properties. Jay is a relentless innovator, consistently pushing the boundaries of technology to amplify guest and tenant experiences.
Principal,
LMI360
Ted Ritter has worked and travelled extensively throughout North America, Europe, The Middle East and Asia. He is the Principal of LMI360, a company that solely supports organizations that support the Built Environment, His is the current Global Co-Chair of the IFMA Information Technology Community and a Past President of the Phoenix Chapter of IFMA. He is a co-author of “The Facility Manager’s Guide to Information Technology”, author of multiple articles and has contributed to over 150 presentations on Best Practices regarding the use of FM Technology, Sustainability and Brand Management. Ted has over 30 years of experience in facility operations and project management. He has supported client projects with a wide range needs including those of: IBM, American Express, Bechtel, MDS Pharma, Roche, Motorola, Boeing, Mandalay Resort Group/MGM, Multiple Universities, Distributed Retailers, the Department of Energy, State Governments and the Department of Defense. He was named an IFMA Fellow in 2019.
General Manager,
Hensel Phelps’ Mission Critical Integrated Solution (MCIS) Group
Adam Rogers grew up in West Texas and pursued his passion for construction at Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science in 1996. Since then, Adam has dedicated 30 years to Hensel Phelps, gaining invaluable experience across eight states and three countries. His work has contributed to more than $10 billion in project value. Currently, he serves as the General Manager for Hensel Phelps’ Mission Critical Integrated Solution (MCIS) group, where he oversees approximately $3 billion in annual data center revenue across multiple regions throughout the United States. In this role, he leads teams delivering high-stakes, mission critical projects that support the evolving needs of technology and digital infrastructure.
CEO,
Quinn Residences
Richard Ross is CEO of Quinn Residences, a leading owner, operator, and developer of dedicated rental communities across the Southeastern United States. A 40-year industry veteran, Richard is pioneering the Dedicated Rental Community (DRC) model and reshaping renting for modern Americans. Prior to Quinn Residences, Richard held roles as CFO and later CEO of Trade Street Residential, Inc. (NYSE: TSRE) and as an independent director of several public REITS. His experience uniquely positions him with strong financial discipline and strategic vision, which he brings to the housing industry. Richard has grown Quinn Residences’ portfolio to more than 5,200 homes across 33 communities, establishing it as a pioneer of the Dedicated Rental Community model. A leading voice in the national conversation on housing affordability, Richard gives families the flexibility of renting without sacrificing the stability and community of suburban life. Under his leadership, Quinn Residences has become known for its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and putting residents first.
President,
Birge & Held
Overseeing a wide range of investment services, Aaron has been involved in more than 100 commercial real estate transactions. His expertise and leadership have been instrumental in the success of Birge & Held’s growth and operational strategy.
Principal,
RET Ventures
Aaron Ru is a Principal at RET Ventures, a proptech focused early-stage venture fund backed by UDR, MAA, Greystar, Invitation Homes, and other real estate industry participants. Aaron focuses on investing in startups that address technology challenges in the single family rental, multifamily and short term rental spaces. Prior to RET Ventures, Aaron worked as an investment professional at Naspers Ventures, where he invested in early and growth stage technology companies. He began his career as an investment banker with UBS. Aaron has an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as a BS in Business Administration from UC Berkeley.
Managing Director And Head Of Business Partner Solutions,
StepStone Real Estate
Nick Russell is the Managing Director and Head of Business Partner Solutions for StepStone Real Estate, where he leads the asset class’s efforts to modernize and scale its operating infrastructure through technology enabled process transformation. He oversees the development of strategic roadmaps and cross functional solutions that strengthen the firm’s operational foundation and enable more efficient, data driven decision making. Before joining StepStone, Nick served as Head of Investor Account Management at Juniper Square, overseeing institutional client engagement, advancing technology adoption to reduce reporting friction, and launching the firm’s Institutional Investor Customer Advisory Board. Previously, he spent more than a decade at MSCI, managing key relationships with major U.S. pension plans and global real estate investment managers while contributing to new product development and applied research initiatives. Nick is an active participant in industry groups focused on reporting standards, performance measurement, and responsible investment, including PREA, NCREIF, and NAREIM. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Executive Chairman & Founder,
Collective Residential
Alex Samoylovich is a real estate entrepreneur and technology innovator leading three interconnected ventures that span multifamily development, property management, and resident experience technology. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CEDARst Companies, a diversified holding company headquartered in Chicago, Alex and his partners have developed into a top vertically integrated national development firm with a portfolio valued at more than $4 billion and over 10,000 units. CEDARst is recognized for adaptive reuse, community- centered design, and long-term neighborhood investment across major U.S. markets. As Founder of Livly, Alex has created an operating system and platform for buildings that enables a unified experience for building owners and residents to connect and create frictionless interactions within multifamily communities. Livly helps unlock value for landlords and enhanced experiences for residents through software, automation, and data integration. As Founder and Executive Chairman of Proper., Alex is building a national property management platform designed to bring scale, centralized staffing, and modern technology to independent operators while maintaining service quality and operational excellence. Alex began his career as an equity and options trader, bringing capital markets discipline to his approach across real estate development, technology platforms, and strategic business building.
Chief Operating Officer,
Rently
Andre Sanchez, Chief Operating Officer at Rently, is a seasoned business operations executive who focuses on Renty’s organizational growth and development. Since joining Rently, Andre has implemented the systems and policies required to evolve the company into a stable, global enterprise with offices in the United States, India and China. Andre holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Boston, an Executive Education Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Biochemistry degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Director Of Industry And Professional Programs, And Director Of The Real Estate Transformation Lab,
MIT’s Center for Real Estate
James Scott is a Research Scientist, lecturer, Director of Industry and Professional Programs, and Director of the Real Estate Transformation Lab at MIT’s Center for Real Estate, with a primary focus on real estate automation and technology. MIT’s Center for Real Estate has a forty-year history of pioneering research and thought-leadership that trains generations of professionals to capitalize on today’s dynamic markets, understand transformative technologies and facilitate sustainability goals using its insights from around the globe. Among other positions, James is also ‘Innovator-In-Residence’ for IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) where he identifies new technologies that help IREM members operate their buildings more efficiently, improve their properties’ competitive positioning, and better serve clients. James has written numerous industry papers and gives regular presentations globally on automation, ‘Proptech’ and the future of innovation in the industry. James combines a background in commercial real estate with a unique understanding of real estate technology to identify the products and processes that will provide the future spaces in which people will want to live and work.
EVP Operations, Chief Legal Officer,
Continental
Paul oversees the operations of Continental’s portfolio, ensuring that we deliver outstanding service to our customers and strong financial results to our stakeholders and that we provide an environment where our team members can learn, own their career and find opportunities to grow. In overseeing legal operations, he works with a team of legal professionals who help bring strong deals to completion. Before joining the company, Paul was an attorney with the firms of Michael Best & Friedrich and Reinhart Boerner in Milwaukee.
CEO & Founder,
SERHANT.
Ryan Serhant is one of the most successful and well-known real estate brokers in the world and he is credited with innovating and changing how real estate is sold. He is the founder and CEO of SERHANT., a multidimensional real estate brokerage that sits at the intersection of media, entertainment, education, and technology. Ryan is an award-winning innovator, entrepreneur, producer, author, public speaker, educator, content creator, and star of multiple TV shows, including the two-time Emmy-nominated Million Dollar Listing New York and star and executive producer of Netflix’s first NYC-based real estate reality show, Owning Manhattan. Prior to SERHANT., for more than a decade, Ryan led the #1-ranked residential real estate sales team in New York City. In September 2020, during the height of the pandemic and amid uncertain market conditions, Ryan launched SERHANT., a next-generation real estate brokerage built as a content-to-commerce ecosystem, with a vision to change the way real estate is viewed, bought, and sold. SERHANT.’s flywheel model spans its award-winning in-house film studio, tech-enabled edtech subsidiary SellIt.com, and the S.MPLE AI platform, creating scalable customer acquisition across brokerage, education, and content creation. Since then, the firm has solidified its position as one of the fastest growing and top real estate companies in New York City, now operating in 15 states, and has become the most-followed real estate brand in the world, amassing over 10 million followers across all social platforms, and a critically acclaimed Netflix-series. Under Ryan’s leadership, SERHANT. has grown to more than 1,500 agents and over 200 employees. The firm approaches real estate with a business model flywheel that includes content, community, pop culture and commerce – and SERHANT. received the prestigious industry award as the 2025 Inman Most Innovative Brokerage. The firm is headquartered in Manhattan and has a 15,000-square-foot headquarters in the heart of SoHo called ‘SERHANT. House,’ which was designed to be the real estate brokerage office of the future and serves as part office, part creative studio, and part clubhouse.
Senior Vice President,
Zillow Rentals
Michael Sherman leads Zillow Rentals, overseeing the business and product teams responsible for Zillow’s rental marketplace. Since joining Zillow in 2012, Michael has held leadership roles across several of the company’s businesses, focusing on building products and partnerships that create value for both consumers and industry partners. Under Michael’s leadership, Zillow Rentals has grown into the most visited and most trusted rental platform in the industry and a key driver of Zillow’s broader growth strategy. His teams are building a differentiated two-sided marketplace with the largest selection of rental listings for renters and unmatched reach for property managers, operators, and landlords. Before joining Zillow, Michael led business development at a San Francisco startup and worked in finance. He holds degrees from George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Principal,
August Hill
Stefan leads August Hill's advisory business, where he helps executives across real estate, financial services, and insurance go-to-market and scale revenue using exclusive market insights and strategies they compile from their unique position and participation within the industry. Stefan specializes in working with companies across SFR, Residential Real Estate, Multifamily and Insurtech. Prior to August Hill, Stefan worked for Accenture where he was a Management Consultant in the CFO & EV practice.
Founder, Managing Partner, And Chief Investment Officer,
Antithesis Ventures
Alex Shtarkman is the Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of Antithesis Ventures, the first early-stage special situations platform. Antithesis was founded on the belief that thousands of venture-backed companies, founders, and management teams have been and continue to get lost between their first round of capital and their ultimate exit – trapped in the capital chasm between traditional venture capital and private equity due to capitalization, valuation, operational, and market challenges. The firm’s platform capabilities span both capital and consulting verticals as well as educational content aimed at bringing greater transparency to the realities of the early- stage technology market. To learn more about the firm, please read our Antithesis Manifesto and Platform Overview. Prior to founding Antithesis Ventures, Alex spent nearly a decade as an investor and Operating Partner at Revolution, specifically the Revolution Ventures early-stage investment funds. During his time at Revolution Ventures, Alex was closely involved as an investor and board member across a diverse set of companies, including Homesnap (acquired by CoStar), Mint House (merged with Kasa), ResoluteAI (acquired by Research Solutions), MemberSuite (acquired by GrowthZone), Grid & Pixel, and eSUB, among others. Prior to Revolution, Alex was an investment banker in the Consumer Investment Banking Group at Raymond James, where he advised leading consumer, retail, e-commerce, and restaurant companies on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions. Alex is recognized for his highly engaged, never quit investment and portfolio management style, partnering closely with founders and management teams to overcome complex business building and market challenges. He was recognized by the Venture Capital Journal as a “40 Under 40 Rising Star of Venture Capital” and by DCA as a “VC and Private Equity Star.” Alex has served on and continues to support multiple innovation, industry, and non-profit boards and organizations, including CRETI (Center for Real Estate Technology & Innovation), the Urban Land Institute Innovation and Technology Council, Endeavor, Village Capital, and the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School. Alex received his B.A. in International Studies, with minors in Economics and Entrepreneurship & Management, from Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He also earned an M.A. in International Finance and International Law from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Chief Innovation Officer,
eXp Realty
Seth is the Chief Innovation Officer at eXp Realty with a past that includes two startup exits and a couple of technology patents. At eXp, he leads innovation initiatives focused on applying AI, automation, and other emerging technologies to help agents work smarter, grow their businesses, and drive operational efficiency. He started in real estate as an agent and broker, but spent most of his career as a startup founder in real estate technology. After multiple acquisitions, exits, and leadership roles, he joined eXp about six years ago to focus on innovation at scale. Seth lives in San Diego, CA, with his wife, 7-year-old son, and a very mischievous goldendoodle.
Chief Operating Officer,
Collective Residential
Khushbu Sikaria is the Chief Operating Officer at Proper, an operator-led acquisitions platform that brings together high-performing property management companies into a national collective. By combining local market expertise with institutional-grade resources, centralized infrastructure, and a modern technology ecosystem, Proper enables its partners to scale efficiently while preserving the identity and performance that made them successful. In her role, Khushbu leads Proper’s operational strategy and execution across people, operations, legal and finance, marketing, and M&A. She is focused on integrating acquisitions, building scalable systems, and driving organizational performance across a rapidly growing platform. Known for connecting strategy to execution, she aligns teams, processes, and technology to support growth while maintaining operational discipline. A multifamily innovator and business strategist, Khushbu has spent her career driving transformation at the intersection of real estate, technology, and consumer experience. Before joining Proper, she held executive leadership roles at Willow Bridge, Sentral, and Bozzuto, where she led cross-functional initiatives across large-scale residential portfolios and complex operating environments.
VP, Head Of Marketing,
Kiavi
Rebecca oversees Kiavi’s marketing and growth strategy, including brand strategy, demand generation, new product and market expansion, partnership channels, lifecycle marketing, communications, thought leadership, and more. She applies 15+ years of experience in real estate marketing and PR to drive rapid growth and market differentiation for Kiavi. Prior to joining Kiavi, she held product marketing leadership roles at JLL, a Fortune 200 commercial real estate services firm, where she built, launched, and scaled new products globally. A real estate investor herself with a portfolio of rental properties, she is committed to Kiavi’s mission of empowering real estate investors to help combat the housing shortage by creating move-in ready homes across the country.
CEO & Trustee,
AMH Homes
Bryan Smith was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AMH and named a member of the company's Board of Trustees in January 2025. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer since 2019, helping guide the company's growth into a leading owner, operator, and developer of single-family rental homes in the United States. Smith joined the company before its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013 and has held several leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Executive Vice President and President of Property Management. Throughout his tenure, he has helped build the company's operating platform and in-house development program, supporting its long-term strategy and growth. Smith earned a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in California.
Group Controls Manager For Building Group,
Sundt Construction
Curtis D. Smith is a Group Controls Manager at Sundt Construction, Inc. and a retired Sergeant First Class (E7) in the Arizona Army National Guard whose 20-year military career shaped a leadership style grounded in disciplined planning, mission-first execution, and accountability for people, equipment, and outcomes. Across both uniformed service and the construction industry, Curtis is recognized for bringing clarity to complex environments—aligning teams, data, and process to strengthen governance, reduce risk, and improve performance on fast-moving construction portfolios.
Co-Founder And CEO,
The CenterCap Group
Deborah Smith is Co-Founder and CEO of The CenterCap Group, a boutique investment bank dedicated to the real assets sectors. She leads the firm's strategic capital and corporate transformation consulting practices, advising founders, companies and investors. Her track record spans more than $100 billion in mergers, acquisitions and restructurings across Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, and CBRE Investors, where she co-headed M&A for their $40 billion investment management platform. A NYSE-listed board director (Aimco) and repeat ""Woman of Influence,"" she holds honors degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Sydney.
Chief Innovation & Technology Officer,
American Landmark Apartments
Adam Smolyar serves as Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at American Landmark and is a member of the Senior Executive Management Committee. In his role, he leads the firm's enterprise technology strategy, innovation agenda, and digital transformation across core systems, data architecture, cybersecurity, and resident-facing platforms — with a focus on outcomes over tools. Adam brings 30 years of experience driving complex technology and innovation initiatives across real estate and related industries, most recently as Director of Innovation Initiatives and Tech Investments at UDR, and previously as Chief Marketing and Technology Officer at the Urban Land Institute. His career also includes senior roles at Savills, JFNA, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Pitney Bowes, and KPMG Consulting. Adam holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Boston University.
SVP, Information Technology,
Fengate Asset Management
Kazim Somji is Senior Vice President, Information Technology and Head of Technology at Fengate Asset Management, an alternative asset manager, where he leads enterprise technology, data, AI, and cybersecurity strategy supporting Fengate’s real estate platform. He partners closely with business leaders to build secure, scalable platforms that improve operations, strengthen risk management, and support long-term value creation. Previously, Kazim led business-first technology transformations across financial services and served as CTO of a Brookfield Asset Management-backed technology firm.
Founder & CEO,
Monumental Labs
Micah Springut is Founder & CEO of Monumental Labs, a company building AI-powered robotic stone carving factories to unleash an art and architecture renaissance. The company began operations in 2023 and produces sculpture, ornament, and structural stone building components for the world's leading artists, collectors, architects, developers, and restorers.
Springut, a tech entrepreneur who trained as a stone carver, believes that after decades of industrial efficiency overtaking aesthetic ambition in the built world, robotic automation will allow us to build cities with the splendor of Florence, Paris, or pre-war New York, at a fraction of the cost. Recent projects include restorations of Carnegie Hall, The Frick Collection, and the Villard Houses, as well as several new buildings for Benedictine College and for Robert A.M. Stern Architects at a major university.
Hint,
Founder
Martha Stewart is a New York Times-bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning TV host, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught billions of people the joy of homemaking. Martha is best known for turning her passion for everyday living into a business empire that has made her a household name around the world. In 1972, she launched a catering business in Westport, Connecticut, which led to her first book, Entertaining, now available again as a facsimile edition. She has since published 102 books and founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, spanning publishing, television, and digital platforms. Her products are sold worldwide, reaching over 100 million fans each month. Martha most recently founded Hint, a new home management platform bringing expert-led guidance to homeowners. Among her philanthropic efforts, she established the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai in 2007. She is the proud mother of Alexis Stewart and grandmother of Jude and Truman.
Founder,
LL Creative Solutions
Advisor Lauren Stinson brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to Multifamily Real Estate, having built her career on both the operations and supplier sides of the industry. She began at Alliance Residential Company and went on to hold key roles with RPM Living and Radix, as well as contributing to industry advancement through Multifamily Leadership and the Multifamily Innovation Council. Drawing on her deep operational insight and strategic mindset, she launched LL Creative, where she now helps Multifamily and Proptech brands translate real operational challenges into compelling content, scalable systems, and strategic growth initiatives. Her work bridges the gap between operational reality and executive level vision, empowering companies to communicate more effectively, differentiate in competitive markets, and build stronger, more human-centered brands.
Principal,
Kalel Companies
Amy Stokes is a powerhouse in the housing industry with decades of experience in leading large-scale new construction and rehabilitation projects valued at over $1 billion. At Kalel, she drives the sourcing and execution of development projects across the portfolio with precision and expertise. Previously, as Vice President at Monadnock Development, Amy orchestrated the development of approximately 2,400 residential units throughout New York City. Her tenure as Deputy Director in the New York City Housing Authority’s Real Estate Department showcased her leadership in managing teams that collaborated closely with government agencies on financing and closing new construction and preservation projects, including pioneering the first RAD transaction. Amy kickstarted her career shaping housing finance policy for the New York City Council Speaker’s office. She also contributes her insights to the field through her role on the advisory council for both the New York Housing Conference and the Fund for Public Housing.
Vice President Of Corporate Development,
PURE HomeRiver Property Management
Jennifer Stoops is Vice President of Corporate Development at PURE HomeRiver Property Management, where she leads strategic growth initiatives and acquisitions across the rental housing industry. With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, Jennifer has helped scale property management organizations, evaluate investment opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and drive strategic growth across single-family, multifamily, institutional investment, and Build-to-Rent. A nationally recognized industry leader, Jennifer is a frequent speaker at conferences across the country and currently serves as Chair of the National Rental Home Council’s North Carolina Chapter. She also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for REI Ink, contributes thought leadership through published articles, and hosts Meet The PM™, a podcast featuring conversations with the owners, operators, investors, and executives shaping the future of property management. Jennifer is passionate about advancing the rental housing industry through education, collaboration, and practical leadership.
President,
PLACE Inc.
As the President of PLACE, Inc., Chris Stuart, in collaboration with co-founders Ben Kinney and Chris Suarez, is responsible for driving the organization's cross-functional growth objectives by scaling the company's technology and consulting platform to include a diverse offering of consumer services. Prior to his role with PLACE, Stuart served as the President & CEO of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global franchise network representing more than 50,000 agents across 11 countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. During his time with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the network expanded from 32,000 agents to more than 50,000 agents including all of the network's global expansion beyond the U.S. Prior to his role with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Stuart served as Managing Director & EVP of Intero Real Estate Services until it's successful acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway's HomeServices of America. In that role Stuart had primary responsibilities for the firm's franchise business unit, client services, marketing, and technology, as well as the Leadership development and training program. A graduate of Texas A&M, Stuart started his career in the enterprise technology and systems integration space first with a boutique firm in New York City and then with Oracle Corporation as a global account executive. Stuart's experiences in both the technology and real estate industries serve to galvanize his pursuit of scale and diversification within PLACE's business operations.
Founder & Principal,
Niche Holdings
Mike Taravella is the Founder & Principal of Niche Holdings. He has purchased and own over $200M (1000 units) in multifamily assets throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Colorado. Mike has created a 3rd Party Asset Management consulting practice that helps clients across the country optimize the portfolio’s value (1.4k units) and launched an AI reporting suite. Mike asset managed a portfolio of over $175M (1,500 units) while helping create systems and operations for their internal property management group. Mike was a licensed CPA in the state of Michigan and helped Dan Gilbert's family office launch and manage several startups from esports to tech.
Managing Partner,
GS Futures
Aaron Toppston is the Managing Partner of GS Futures' early stage venture investment fund focused on technology for the built environment. The fund is supported by GS E&C, one of the largest contractors in the world and member of GS Group, a large Korean conglomerate. Previously, Aaron worked at Navitas, a proptech venture fund, and The Walsh Group, an ENR Top 20 contractor. Aaron attended Kellogg (MBA) and Miami University (BS) and lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
Director Of Strategic Initiatives,
Eden Housing
Eric Tsai serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives at Eden Housing, where he leads the organization’s AI efforts and helps teams work more efficiently. In this role, Eric has launched several firmwide enterprise AI initiatives focused on saving employees time, improving access to reliable information and data, strengthening data quality, simplifying everyday processes, and creating better ways for departments to work together. Since joining Eden Housing in 2017, Eric has contributed to major initiatives across the organization. Before becoming Director of Strategic Initiatives, he spent seven years in Eden’s Asset Management department, where he developed deep experience in portfolio operations, process improvement, data accuracy, and cross-department collaboration. In 2025, he led Eden’s effort to obtain an initial credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, where the organization achieved the highest rating given to a nonprofit affordable housing developer. In 2023, Eric established and co-led Eden’s Innovation Team, helping introduce new tools, clearer workflows, and practical ways to improve how work gets done across the organization. Eric is a member of Eden’s Extended Leadership Team.
Principal - Investments Team,
Osso
Sophie is a Principal on the Investments team at Osso and is responsible for evaluating and executing acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to joining Osso, Sophie worked as a Real Estate Acquisitions Associate in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs and as an Investment Banking Analyst at Stifel Financial Corp. Sophie graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in International Studies. Before attending university, Sophie served in the Israel Defense Forces as a Foreign Liaison Non-Commissioned Officer to the Jordanian Armed Forces.
Founder And CEO,
The Agency
Mauricio Umansky is the Founder and CEO of The Agency, a global real estate brokerage operating with 145+ offices in 14 countries. The brokerage utilizes world-class technology and innovative marketing strategies to assist agents and their clients in achieving their real estate goals. Since its inception in 2011, the firm set out to create an industry-disrupting model that would redefine the business and foster a unique culture rooted in the core philosophy of collaboration. In its ten years, The Agency has done that and much more. Mauricio has achieved nearly $5 billion in real estate sales and holds the distinction of selling the most homes in the country priced above $20M. He has represented some of the world's most noteworthy properties, including the Playboy Mansion-the first house in L.A. to sell above the $100M mark-the Walt Disney Estate, and residences owned by Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Prince. Mauricio and The Agency also represent some of the world's top developers and resort brands, including One&Only, Rosewood and The Ritz-Carlton. Together with his team, Mauricio is noted as one of the highest-producing agents by The Wall Street Journal's REAL Trends annual list. He has also received the Entrepreneur Of The Year Greater Los Angeles Award for 2023 and been ranked #69 on Swanepoel's 2023 Power200, a prestigious list of top real estate executives in the U.S. With solid infrastructure and a renowned brand that is featured on international television shows -including Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and most recently, Buying Beverly Hills on Netflix-The Agency has grown to over 100 offices and over 2,000 agents across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. Poised for further expansion with like-minded partners in strategic markets, The Agency was recognized by Inman as a top luxury brokerage, noted by The Financial Times as one of America's Fastest Growing Companies and has ranked among Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing private companies in the country for seven consecutive years. Mauricio recently published The Dealmaker, now available in bookstores around the country. He is also a proud member of The Young Presidents Organization (YPO), an influential and world-renowned business networking organization. His philanthropic work includes serving as a board member for Giveback Homes, an organization dedicated to building homes for families in need. He is also a longtime supporter of The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the National Breast Cancer Association.
AVP, Marketing,
Macerich
Jameson Valone, AVP, Marketing, Macerich Jameson leads digital marketing for Macerich, overseeing a multidisciplinary team that manages all web, email, social, SMS, paid media and reputation management platforms. He is also a product leader for Quikspace, a proprietary platform to browse and lease commercial space online. Prior to this, he was head of marketing for BrandBox, a solution enabling direct- to-consumer brands to open physical retail stores. He holds an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business and a BA in advertising from Pepperdine.
Executive Director Of Labs,
Keller Williams
David Voorhees serves as the Executive Director of Labs, the innovation hub of Keller Williams (KW). He ensures the voice of the real estate agent remains as the foundation of KW technology and solutions. Voorhees is focused on disrupting the traditional approach to real estate. He trains and consults internationally with 1000s of real estate agents and teams on systems and models, technology and best practices. Voorhees also serves as the owner of a top producing Austin, Texas-based real estate team, Voorhees/Powell Real Estate Group. Since 2015, Voorhees has served as a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams.
CEO & Chief Investment Officer,
Fifth Wall
Brendan Wallace is founder, CEO & CIO of Fifth Wall, the largest investment firm focused on technology for the built environment. The Firm is driving the growth of nearly 170 companies, backing category-defining PropTech leaders such as Opendoor, Procore, Blend, Hippo, and Bilt. It's supported by nearly 115 of the world's largest real estate owner-operators including CBRE, Hilton, Hines, Marriott, Public Storage, Related, and Starwood. Prior to starting Fifth Wall, Brendan co-founded Identified, a workforce optimization data and analytics company that raised $33M of venture funding and was acquired by Workday (NYSE: WKDY) in 2014. He also co-founded Cabify, the largest ridesharing service in Latin America, and has been an active investor, leading more than 60 angel investments. Brendan started his career at Goldman Sachs in the real estate, hospitality, and gaming group before joining Blackstone’s real estate private equity practice. He graduated from Princeton, where he received his BA in political science and economics. He received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
CEO & Chief Investment Officer,
Fifth Wall
Brendan Wallace is founder, CEO & CIO of Fifth Wall, the largest investment firm focused on technology for the built environment. The Firm is driving the growth of nearly 170 companies, backing category-defining PropTech leaders such as Opendoor, Procore, Blend, Hippo, and Bilt. It's supported by nearly 115 of the world's largest real estate owner-operators including CBRE, Hilton, Hines, Marriott, Public Storage, Related, and Starwood. Prior to starting Fifth Wall, Brendan co-founded Identified, a workforce optimization data and analytics company that raised $33M of venture funding and was acquired by Workday (NYSE: WKDY) in 2014. He also co-founded Cabify, the largest ridesharing service in Latin America, and has been an active investor, leading more than 60 angel investments. Brendan started his career at Goldman Sachs in the real estate, hospitality, and gaming group before joining Blackstone’s real estate private equity practice. He graduated from Princeton, where he received his BA in political science and economics. He received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
CRO,
Asset Living
David Walther is responsible for partnerships, strategic initiatives, and M&A for Asset Living. David has worked in finance for over 15 years, gaining experience and expertise in real estate, acquisitions, and financial reporting. Prior to Asset Living, David worked at companies such as KPMG and RSM providing transaction advisory services. At Asset Living, his goals include driving organizational growth through acquisitions and leading initiatives for continuous improvement. David is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelors and Master of Business Administration from Valparaiso University. When David is not in the office, he enjoys kayaking, reading, and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Principal,
Folio Strategy Partners
Donal Warde is the Principal of Folio Strategy Partners, where he advises real estate investment firms on portfolio strategy, data infrastructure, and operational execution. He spent nine years at HQ Capital Real Estate (now CP Capital), managing $2.4B in multifamily portfolios with Investment Committee voting rights across an $11B AUM platform. He subsequently held CEO and director-level roles at real estate technology companies and inside institutional owner-operator portfolios, gaining hands-on experience in how data and technology create value at the property level. Donal has authored six research papers published in AFIRE Summit Journal and Thesis Driven, and serves on the board of Columbia University's Real Estate Alumni Network (RENCAA). He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Chief Operating Officer Of Property Management,
Kairoi
Kari Warren is the Chief Operating Officer of Property Management at Kairoi, where she leads with intention and impact across all property operations, construction services, marketing, and client experience. With more than 25 years of multifamily leadership, Kari is known for elevating organizations through thoughtful strategy, innovative branding, and a relentless focus on the resident and client journey.
Prior to joining Kairoi, Kari served as head of operations for Anyone Home and held senior executive roles at BRE Properties and AvalonBay Communities, overseeing high-impact marketing, branding, and communications efforts across expansive portfolios.
A proud graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations, Kari is also a member of CHIEF and serves on both local and national advisory boards. Deeply invested in the community, she volunteers at Antonian College Preparatory High School and is a dedicated supporter of local theater. When not working, you’ll find Kari enjoying time with her family and golden retrievers, blending heart and hospitality in everything she does.
Founding Partner & Managing Director,
Khosla Ventures
David Weiden is a co-founder and Managing Director at Khosla Ventures, a $20b venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley. David focuses on Internet, enterprise and financial services. Within real estate, David has served on the board of directors of companies including Opendoor and co-manages a residential real estate portfolio. David has been recognized by Fortune and Forbes as one of the top technology investors.
Industry Chair Of The Real Estate Transformation Lab,
MIT Center for Real Estate
Steve Weikal is a lecturer, researcher, and thought leader focused on innovative new technologies and business models that are reinventing traditional ways of developing, transacting and managing real estate. He is the Industry Chair of the Real Estate Transformation Lab at the MIT Center for Real Estate, which explores how emerging technologies impact the commercial real estate industry, and is also the Managing Partner of MET Fund II, which invests in early-stage, MIT-connected start-ups focused on solutions for the Built Environment Transition. Previously, Steve was the Head of Industry Relations at the Center, responsible for managing relationships with its global network of corporate partners and more than 1,300 alumni from 48 countries. Steve is a member of the advisory board of Noa VC in London and serves on the boards of eight real estate technology companies. An ardent industry advocate, he speaks regularly about real estate technology to corporate clients around the world and at leading industry conferences including AFIRE, CCIM, CoreNet, NAIOP, YPO, and PERE. Steve has been quoted by numerous media outlets, including BuzzFeed, TechInsider, Medium, USA Today, CP Executive, Harvard Real Estate Review, the Boston Globe, IPE Real Assets Europe, and Anuario Inmobiliario LatinoAmerica. Steve holds a Master’s of Science in Real Estate Development (MSRED) and Master’s in City Planning (MCP) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a law degree (JD) from Suffolk University Law School. He began his real estate career restoring and redeveloping historic theaters in Detroit’s Fox Center entertainment district.
SVP, Innovation & Technology,
PeakMade Real Estate
Erica White is a technology and innovation executive with 18 years of experience leading digital transformation, enterprise technology strategy, and cutting-edge proptech initiatives across the student housing and multifamily industries. Known for aligning technology with business strategy, Erica has led enterprise-wide initiatives focused on AI enablement, cybersecurity, operational observability, centralized reporting architecture, and scalable digital transformation. Her leadership approach centers on building connected technology ecosystems that improve visibility, empower teams, and drive measurable business outcomes across large portfolios. Prior to joining PeakMade, Erica served as Senior Vice President of Technology and Strategic Initiatives at Article Student Living. There, she led enterprise technology, innovation, reporting, and technology capital expenditure initiatives across a national portfolio. Erica has been widely recognized for her leadership and influence within the proptech industry. She was named a GlobeSt. 2026 Woman of Influence in the PropTech & Innovation category, a GlobeSt. 2025 Woman of Influence in the Diversity category, and a GlobeSt. 2022 CRE Tech Influencer. She is also a four-time Student Housing Business Innovator Award winner for helping design and build a proprietary centralized reporting platform that transformed portfolio-wide data visibility and operational insight. A recognized thought leader in real estate technology, Erica is a frequent speaker and panelist at national industry conferences, where she shares insights on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation strategy, and the future of proptech in real estate operations. Her work and thought leadership have been featured in CIO Magazine and Intelligent Build.Tech Magazine. Erica actively contributes to the advancement of technology and innovation within the industry through several leadership roles. She serves on the RETTC Innovation + Emerging Technology Committee, the Blueprint Advisory Council, and the Student Housing Insight Shop Talk Leadership Committee. She is also the Co-Founder of The W. Collective, a leadership networking forum dedicated to empowering and connecting women in the student housing industry, showcasing her commitment to mentorship, leadership development, and advancing greater representation and collaboration across the industry.
Managing Director, Property Management,
RangeWater Residential
Wendy Wilson brings more than 25 years of experience to her role as Managing Director, Property Management, at RangeWater Residential. Prior to joining the team, Wendy held positions with long tenures at highly esteemed firms including CF Real Estate Services, Greystar, RPM Living, and Trammel Crow Residential. She has managed portfolios exceeding 20k+ units across multiple regions including the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast. Wendy’s vast experience spans the gamut across all asset classes with a concentration in the Class A and B space, conventional multifamily, senior living, and affordable housing. She has demonstrated success with all stages of the development life cycle from conception and new construction, through lease-up and stabilization, as well as strategically leading assets through renovations, repositioning, and acquisition/disposition transitions. Wendy embodies a culture and people focused approach to leadership. She has proven abilities with recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent at all levels of property operations, and in leading large teams of high-performing, regional leaders. Wendy has a degree in Business, previously served multiple terms as President for the Charleston Apartment Association, and has been actively involved with the National Apartment Association for over two decades. She is passionate about giving back to her local community and volunteers for 100 Women Who Care (Midlands and Charleston Chapters), Cinderella Day Charleston and initiatives that support veteran’s services in her area such as Big Red Barn Retreat.
Founder And Managing Partner,
Equity Angels
Katherine Winston is the Founder and Managing Partner of Equity Angels, an industry-leading accelerator for early-stage companies in the proptech ecosystem. Kat is a highly recognized technology catalyst and recipient of the 2025 Inman Innovator of the Year award. She brings over two decades of experience as a marketing and communications strategist, community builder, and go-to-market startup operator. Prior to launching Equity Angels, she spent over a decade shaping brand strategy for Sotheby’s International Realty agents and served as the Chief Marketing Officer for the AI-powered real estate analytics firm Plunk. At Equity Angels, Katherine leverages her deep capital networks and operational expertise to equip emerging founders with the operational execution and capital readiness required to scale, leading the organization's strategic partnerships with premier global conferences like Blueprint Vegas.
Partner & Managing Director,
RET Ventures
Since joining RET Ventures as Partner in 2019, Chris has overseen much of the firm’s activity, including leading new investments, fundraising and providing guidance to RET’s growing portfolio of real estate technology companies. Prior to RET, Chris spent twelve years at global private equity firm TPG, where he led growth investments in tech-enabled companies and partnered closely with CEOs and entrepreneurs. He began his career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Chris has an MBA from the Stanford GSB as well as an AB in Economics and an SM in Computer Science from Harvard University.
Co-Founder And Managing Director,
Suffolk Technologies
Wan Li Zhu is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Suffolk Technologies, a built environment venture capital firm investing in and accelerating construction and real estate innovations. Affiliated with tech-forward construction leader Suffolk, Suffolk Technologies has backed 30+ ConTech and PropTech startups across AI & automation, sustainability, supply chain, financial services, and smart building themes. Wan Li is an experienced technology investor and was previously a Partner at Fairhaven Capital, a Boston-based VC firm that has invested over $430M in enterprise software and deep tech. Wan Li founded and runs MIT Alumni Angels, which has backed 100+ MIT-affiliated startups. Prior to venture capital, Wan Li held product and marketing leadership roles at Microsoft. Wan Li holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from MIT in Computer Science.