Michelle Adeeb is a seasoned business strategist, executive coach, and C-Suite consultant with over 20 years of experience in driving growth, building high-impact networks, and creating strategic opportunities across the architecture, design, construction, and real estate development sectors. As the founder of Michelle Adeeb Consulting, LLC, Michelle leverages her deep industry insight and an exclusive professional network of 20,000+ contacts to help companies accelerate business development, secure key relationships, and win new deals. She is known for her authentic approach to leadership and her ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities that others may overlook. Michelle’s professional journey spans strategic consulting, marketing, sales leadership, and executive coaching, with a strong emphasis on mentoring and empowering professionals to achieve tangible results. She is also a thought leader and content creator with hundreds of posts and articles that reflect her passion for inspiring others, sharing practical insights, and fostering meaningful professional connections

Zack joined Unicorp in early 2020 as a Development Manager and now serves as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees the company’s core operational functions and is instrumental in driving execution, improving efficiency, and supporting the company’s continued growth. With a strong foundation in development, construction, and project funding, Zack brings a strategic and hands-on approach to managing Unicorp’s expanding portfolio.  Over the past 5 years, Zack has been at the forefront of project development for The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences, as well as multiple multi-family and mixed-use developments in the state of Florida. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance. While at Richmond, Zack was a student-athlete on the Division I golf team, competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference—a testament to his discipline, leadership, and competitive drive.

Jillian manages commercial projects for healthcare, retail, multifamily and municipal clients. She specializes in preconstruction, bringing value to the startup process for new developments and renovations. Jillian grew up in Pinellas County and has lived in St. Petersburg since 2015. She is the founder and president of YIMBY St. Pete, an advocacy organization dedicated to passing zoning reforms that promote equitable housing and transportation policies. State of Florida Certified Contractor ULI Tampa Bay Executive Board Founder & President, YIMBY St. Pete Member, State Housing Initiatives / Affordable Housing Action Committee (SHIP-AHAC), St. Petersburg City Council

Greg Lindsay is a generalist, urbanist, futurist, and speaker. He is a 2022-2023 urban tech fellow at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, where he leads The Metaverse Metropolis, exploring augmented reality at urban scale. He is also a senior fellow of MIT’s Future Urban Collectives Lab, a senior advisor to Climate Alpha, and a non-resident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Strategy Initiative. He’s been cited as an expert on the future of cities, technology, and mobility by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, USA Today, CNN, NPR, and the BBC. He’s a partner at the advisory firm FutureMap, and has advised Intel, Samsung, IKEA, Starbucks, Audi, Hyundai, Tishman Speyer, British Land, André Balazs Properties, Aldar, Emaar, and Expo 2020, along with numerous G20 government entities. He was previously the urbanist-in-residence at URBAN-X — BMW MINI’s urban tech accelerator — the director of applied research at NewCities, and founding director of strategy at its mobility-focused offshoot CoMotion. Greg speaks frequently about cities, mobility, innovation, and globalization, including appearances at 10 Downing Street, the United States Military Academy, Sandia National Laboratories, the OECD, Harvard Business School, the MIT Media Lab, and the Aspen Ideas Festival. His work with Studio Gang Architects on the future of suburbia was displayed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2012. His work has also been displayed at the 15th, 16th, and 17th Venice Architecture Biennales, the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, and Habitat III. He sits on the board of CREtech Climate, and was guest curator of the 2018 and 2019 editions of reSITE. He was previously a contributing writer for Fast Company and Fortune, and an editor-at-large for Advertising Age. He is co-author of the 2011 critically acclaimed international bestseller Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Harvard Business Review, The Financial Times, McKinsey Quarterly, Time, Wired, The Atlantic, The New Republic, New York, Slate, Quartz, Inc., Politico, The Economist Group, The World Economic Forum, The Nikkei Asian Review, World Policy Journal, Next City, Marie Claire Italia, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and Departures. Greg is a two-time Jeopardy! champion (and the only human to go undefeated against IBM’s Watson).

Pedro Gassant is a partner in Holland & Knight's Miami office and a member of the Real Estate Section, as well as a regional co-chair of the firm's national Land Use and Government Team. Mr. Gassant practices in the areas of governmental advocacy and land use, focusing on land use and zoning matters in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He represents lenders, builders, family offices, developers and institutional owners in all aspects of land use law through the entire development process. Mr. Gassant has extensive experience guiding clients through both entitlements and tax abatements under the Live Local initiative. He has been successful in obtaining approvals for Live Local projects in Orlando, Florida, and has provided assistance in Riviera Beach, Florida. His knowledge extends across the state of Florida, where he aids clients with the tax abatement under Live Local process to enhance the feasibility and affordability of their developments.

Kyle currently serves as Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. In this position he represents the City of Orlando with regional interlocal partners, the Florida legislative and executive branches of government, federal agencies, and Congress. He also serves as the City’s liaison with intergovernmental organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and the Florida League of Cities. Kyle has been with the City of Orlando for over 19 years. He was previously Assistant City Attorney and then as Chief Assistant City Attorney he led the City’s Economic Development legal team. Kyle has extensive experience in land use law and represented the City’s Municipal Planning Board and other land development boards for many years. He is also an advisor to Mayor Dyer in the Mayor’s capacity as board member on several regional transportation governing bodies including the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the Central Florida Expressway Authority, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, and MetroPlan Orlando. Kyle is a Past President of the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, immediate-Past President of the Florida Association of Intergovernmental Relations, serves on the National League of Cities Federal Advocacy Committee for Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations, and is a longtime member of the Florida League of Cities Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations Legislative Policy Committee.

Laura leads the residential and lifestyle arm of Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s best-selling multi-generational community in the U.S. since 2018. Located in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Lakewood Ranch has over 49,000 residential units, 6 million square feet of non-residential mixed-use space, two office parks, a medical center, four hotels, and six grocery anchored shopping centers. Laura oversees a portfolio of 16,000+ lots under active development by 20 builders, manages Main Street and Waterside Place, and is chief marketing officer for various operating companies--including the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and LWR Commercial. Laura serves as Chair of Mission Advancement for ULI Tampa Bay and is a member of ULIs Community Development Council Gold. She is Treasurer of the Association of Florida Community Developers.

Jason Reynolds is a purpose-driven public administrator with more than 18 years of experience advancing economic development and fostering healthy, prosperous, and sustainable communities. He serves as a Deputy Director in Orange County Government’s Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department, providing strategic and operational leadership for the Housing and Community Development, Neighborhood Services, and Building Safety Divisions. Jason holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Florida and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is actively engaged in the community through board service with the Primrose Center and the Blankner School Foundation.

As Director of Smart Communities at VHB, Curt is a future-focused leader managing collaborative teams that address complex community and mobility planning issues, including future-ready smart cities, advanced air mobility, sustainable community development, and healthy community design. He is a Principal at VHB, and leads the company's efforts for electrified mobility, broadband equity and access, and other smart city strategic planning services for the entire firm footprint. With 20 years of urban and environmental planning experience, he focuses on using technology and innovation to make our communities more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. Curt currently serves as District Council Chair for the ULI Central Florida, one of the fastest growing regions of the country. He earned a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with Honors from the University of Illinois. Urban Land Industry Voices: https://urbanland.uli.org/curt-ostrodka

Brian has been a Member of the Urban Land Institute since 2002. He served as the Chair of the ULI SW Florida Regional Council from 2008 - 2010. He also served as the Chair of the ULI Florida Community Housing Development Council (CHDC) from 2022 - 2024. He is a member of the ULI Community Development Product Council (CDC Black). He is the Chief Investment Officer for the Barron Collier Companies; a family-owned business located in Naples, Florida that owns approximately 65,000 acres of land. Over the past 29 years he has been involved in numerous commercial, office, mixed use, multifamily and residential projects including Ave Maria (a Top 20 Selling MPC). In addition to Brian's involvement in the ULI, he is a graduate of Leadership Collier and Leadership Florida. Previous to joining the Barron Collier Companies, Brian was a Manager with Ernst & Young, where he served a number of Real Estate clients. He received his undergraduate degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Michelle Adeeb is a seasoned business strategist, executive coach, and C-Suite consultant with over 20 years of experience in driving growth, building high-impact networks, and creating strategic opportunities across the architecture, design, construction, and real estate development sectors. As the founder of Michelle Adeeb Consulting, LLC, Michelle leverages her deep industry insight and an exclusive professional network of 20,000+ contacts to help companies accelerate business development, secure key relationships, and win new deals. She is known for her authentic approach to leadership and her ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities that others may overlook. Michelle’s professional journey spans strategic consulting, marketing, sales leadership, and executive coaching, with a strong emphasis on mentoring and empowering professionals to achieve tangible results. She is also a thought leader and content creator with hundreds of posts and articles that reflect her passion for inspiring others, sharing practical insights, and fostering meaningful professional connections.

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

Kenneth Naylor, a LEED Accredited Professional, oversees the strategy and operations of Atlantic | Pacific Communities. Mr. Naylor has authored urban planning articles for a variety of regional and national publications, and serves one of the nation’s most challenged affordable housing markets – the Florida Keys – in his role as a member of the Monroe County Commission’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. In 2011 he was named one of the four “Young Leaders” in the industry by Affordable Housing Finance magazine, and he was named Multifamily Executive magazine’s Rising Star of the Year. Prior to joining the team in 2003, he worked throughout the Southeast with Hunter Properties, Inc. on office, residential, and corporate data center developments. He graduated with Honors from the University of Miami.

Craig Ustler, MAI, CCIM is the Owner and President of Ustler Development, Inc., a real estate development company, and President of Ustler Properties, Inc., a commercial real estate brokerage company. Ustler is an owner, investor, developer and broker of various property types including multifamily residential, student housing, hotel, office, restaurant, retail and mixed-use. He has extensive experience in land sales, urban planning and highest and best use analysis. For over twenty-five years, Ustler has focused on urban infill projects as advocated by the “new urbanism” planning movement. In particular, projects have been concentrated in Downtown Orlando neighborhoods including Creative Village, Health Village, North Quarter, Thornton Park and the Central Business District.

Mayor Jerry L. Demings is a native of Orlando. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida State University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Orlando College, now Everest University. He served as Orlando’s first African American Police Chief and first African American Orange County Director of Public Safety. In 2008, he was elected the first African American Sheriff and Constitutional Officer in the history of Orange County and was re-elected in 2012 and 2016. On August 28, 2018, Mayor Demings was elected the first African American Mayor of Orange County and was sworn in as Mayor on December 4, 2018. He is the chief executive for over 8,000 county employees with a budget of $5.4 billion.

Emi Adachi is a Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Research at Heitman. She is an equity owner of the firm. Emi leads the North American and Asia Pacific research teams, overseeing strategy development and underwriting for all private equity and debt investments. Emi also manages ongoing research support for Heitman's portfolio, including sitting on the firm’s Valuation Committee. Additionally, Emi analyzes demographic and technological trends and their impact on real estate investment strategy and portfolio construction. Emi is a co-founder and Board Member of People of Color & Allies (POCA), one of Heitman’s employee resource networks. Previously, Emi was the Director of North American Investment Research and Co-Head of Global Research Operations. Emi received a BA with honors in Urban Studies from Stanford University. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute Global Exchange Council, Stanford Alumni Real Estate Council, the NAIOP Chicago Board, and the Lambda Alpha International Ely Chapter.

Matt Levinson is a seasoned public relations strategist and one of Florida’s leading experts in retail real estate and public affairs communications. Since joining O&G in 2000, he has advised an array of prominent developers and landmark projects, helping clients navigate complex challenges and shape narratives that earn trust, build community support and advance business goals. For two decades, Matt led the PR strategy for Turnberry Retail, guiding openings of major shopping destinations in Las Vegas and South Florida and spearheading the transformation of Aventura Mall from a regional center into a globally recognized luxury destination. His work reflects a deep understanding of how communications, public policy and placemaking intersect to influence perception and drive success. Today, Matt heads O&G’s Public Affairs and Retail & Real Estate practice areas, with clients including Kimco Realty, Lincoln Road, GL Homes, Mattamy Homes Pier Sixty-Six Residences, Foundry Commercial and more. He leads a multidisciplinary team focused on developing strategic campaigns that elevate client brands, engage key stakeholders and strengthen community relationships. He also serves as Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Florida Retail Development Council and previously taught as a lead instructor for the ICSC John T. Riordan School for Retail Real Estate Professionals.

Anthony De Yurre is a Partner in Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development & Government Relations Group. His practice exclusively focuses on the representation of real estate developers and investors in complex land use and zoning matters with a focus on transit oriented development, large scale mixed-use development, public private partnerships and multifamily workforce housing. As a native Miamian, Anthony recognizes the tremendous need for attainable housing throughout Florida and is heavily engaged in Live Local Act (SB102 and SB328) legislation, interpretation and application at both the state and local levels. Anthony is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Miami’s LL.M. in Real Property Development where he teaches “Problem Solving Large Scale, Mixed-Use Development”. He is also Co-Chair of the University of Miami’s Real Property Development LL.M Advisory Board. Upon graduating from Duke University and Vanderbilt Law, Anthony returned home to Miami to earn his LL.M. in Real Property Development from the same program he teaches at today at the University of Miami. Anthony is also fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Kristine is an experienced Residential and Commercial Real Estate professional. She is a Senior Vice President with Meyers Research and leads consulting projects throughout the Southeast and Florida. Prior to joining Meyers in 2019, Kristine managed projects with another national consulting firm for several years. Kristine also worked for two large home builders providing feasibility guidance for land acquisitions and community development. Her experience in commercial real estate includes asset management, due diligence and acquisitions with a large Real Estate Investment Trust, a 1031 exchange company and a publicly traded apartment REIT. Kristine has a BBA from the University of Iowa with majors in Finance and Marketing and a minor in English. She also earned a certificate in Urban Real Estate from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Kristine is currently the Chair of the ULI Community Housing and Development Council in Florida, as well as a member of the Southwest Florida Executive Committee and former chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative. She is also a member of the RNDC-Gold National Product Council. Kristine serves on the Local Planning Agency for Lee County, Florida, a resident advisory board that works with the Board of County Commissioners.

Hi! I'm a Community Redevelopment Agency Manager for the City of Kissimmee, overseeing projects for both the Downtown Kissimmee Community Redevelopment Agency and Vine Street Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as in the City’s regionally designated Brownfields Area named the Kissimmee Environmental Redevelopment Area. I'm a Rochester, NY native and relocated to Florida over 7 years ago by way of Colorado after completing a two-year term as an Americorp VISTA for an economic development corporation. Before joining the City of Kissimmee, I was an Economic Development Specialist and Redevelopment Specialist for the City of Cocoa, FL. My diverse background ranges from journalism to corporate social responsibility in the oil and gas industry. I'm also a certified Florida Redevelopment Association Redevelopment Administrator (FRA-RA). I have a passion for developing local solutions that leave a lasting impact on communities.

Mark Franceski is a managing director of research and securities at Zelman & Associates, based in Bethesda, Maryland. In his role, he is responsible for leading multifamily industry and REIT research for the firm. He has nearly 20 years' experience as a commercial real estate market research expert and data strategist specializing in the multifamily sector.   Prior to Zelman, Mr. Franceski served as executive director of multifamily analytics at global brokerage Avison Young and spent 10 years as head of research at Bozzuto, a national mixed-use investor, developer, builder, and operator, where he focused on market research, business intelligence, and data analytics. Mr. Franceski earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Washington and Lee University and his master's degree in business administration from George Mason University. Outside of the company, he serves as adjunct faculty for Georgetown University’s master’s in real estate program, teaching real estate market research and analysis. Mr. Franceski lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and four children.

Tom is President, Chief Investment Officer and Partner of Kitson & Partners. Tom has over 27 years of experience in the real estate industry, which includes a broad understanding of the capital markets. Tom helps set the strategic direction for K&P and spends the majority of his time focusing on growth initiatives for K&P, both through investment and capital sourcing. Tom is responsible for the company’s 1,500,000 square foot retail shopping center portfolio as well as its development pipeline of approximately 800,000 square feet of retail. Tom is also responsible for K&P’s Finance Division and Market Strategy team as well. Prior to joining the K&P team in 2003, Tom spent eight years in New York City as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, where he served as Vice President of U.S. Acquisitions for the Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. During his career on Wall Street, Tom worked on both the agency and principal side of the real estate business, where he executed on over $8 billion of real estate transactions. Tom graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He is an Advisory Board member for the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at the University of Notre Dame and also serves as a board member on the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. Tom is a long-time volunteer for the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association, where he has served in a leadership capacity in the TOPSoccer program (focusing on children with developmental delays). Tom is also an active member in the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers.