Bisnow Multifamily Annual Conference - Southeast

Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA is Chief Economist and Director of Research for Middleburg Communities, providing analytical support for C-level buy/sell/develop and market focus tactical decisions. Dr. Case has researched residential and non-residential real estate markets, domestically and globally, for more than 30 years. Prior to Middleburg Communities he worked as an economist with Fannie Mae, Nareit, and the Federal Reserve Board. His research encompasses investment return characteristics including returns, volatilities, and correlations with other assets; accurate measurement of appreciation in property values; inflation protection; use of DCC-GARCH and Markov regime switching models to measure and predict investment characteristics; the length of the real estate market cycle; and the role of the investment horizon. He has a particular interest in the relationship between listed and unlisted real estate markets. Dr. Case holds patents as the co-inventor of the FTSE Nareit PureProperty® index methodology and the backward-forward trading contract, and has been a frequent speaker at real estate and investment conferences. He has degrees from Williams College and the University of California at Berkeley and earned his Ph.D. in Economics at Yale University where he worked with Nobel prize-winning economist Robert Shiller.

Margaret "(Marjy") Stagmeier is the founder of TriStar and real estate investment firm, and President of TI Asset Management, Inc an independent asset management and real estate advisory firm for international and domestic real estate investors, based in Atlanta, Georgia USA. TI Asset Management has managed in excess of 5.0 million sqft of commercial and 3,000 units of residential real estate in the southeast United States and employs 30 professionals. Prior to starting TI Asset Management, she has served in executive capacities for a consortium of international real estate firms. Her experience draws from a wide range of real estate activity, from acquisition to mortgage banking and asset management to disposition. She has managed over $1.0 billion in real estate funds for predominately U.S. and European investors. Ms. Stagmeier and TriStar have developed a sustainable affordable housing model which uses affordable housing communities to stabilize low-performing elementary schools. Specifically, she targets blighted apartment communities near failing elementary schools, offers rents affordable for working poor families, and provides community wrap around services including free after-school programs, summer camps, affordable health care and gardens. Ms. Stagmeier is a graduate of Georgia State University with a B.S. in finance and has successfully completed the Georgia Certified Public Accountant examination. She is an active lecturer and contributing author to many periodicals analyzing the challenging industry of asset management, and co-authored the book Real Estate Asset Management: Executive Strategies for Profit-Making. She is on the board of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, The Atlanta Public School Affordable Housing Taskforce, Chair of 3Star Communities, Star-C and former Vice President of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.

Joel Dixon is Co-Principal of Urban Oasis Development and President of investment partner Catalyst Investment Partners, a boutique investment company that aggregates individual investor capital for investments in Atlanta real estate and early stage ventures. He has been instrumental in helping to raise the public profile of Sims REG and Urban Oasis as well as mobilize financial and political resources for expansion. Having been raised in the city of Atlanta, Joel understands the city and is well-connected with Atlanta's business and grassroots community leaders. Prior to launching Urban Oasis, Mr. Dixon has over 15 years of sales and business development experience in high technology and real estate. His past roles include being Senior Solutions consultant for Hannon Hill, a company with deep ties to the burgeoning Tech Venture community inAtlanta. He has a B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University and Certificate of Mandarin Chinese from Beijing Language and Culture University. Joel is a 2017 Graduate of the Urban Land Institute’s prestigious Center for Leadership.

Jerry McGaughy is the President and Managing Director of Epic Community Impact Fund. He has been involved in advocating for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Funds from the beginning. Following passage of CDFI Fund enabling legislation, he was an early adopter and worked to spread the good news about the benefits of becoming a CDFI. With over 12 years of community lending and investment experience, and over five years of community development consulting, Jerry was the Founder of Atlanta-based BusinessLINC Community Loan Fund dedicated to providing loans and technical assistance for community development in underserved areas. He also worked to both develop and manage the National BusinessLINC Coalition in Washington, D.C., a joint initiative of the Clinton Administration and the National Business Roundtable. Jerry rounded out his extensive experience with CDFIs by becoming a CDFI Fund grant reviewer, evaluating applications using the CDFI Fund’s establishing review criteria including such factors as community development performance, business strategy, marketing analysis, management capacity, and financial health and viability. Recently, Jerry facilitated a joint venture partnership with a global real estate private firm to create the Epic/Virtua Opportunity Zone Fund I, LP a $100M Opportunity Fund to provide investments in multi family, mixed-use, and commercial development projects located in Atlanta’s designated Opportunity Zone communities. Jerry attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. where he received his BA in Finance and Economics.

Harvey comes to Portman Residential from Mill Creek Residential Trust where he led development operations for the Atlanta region, and prior to that, Jamestown Properties. He brings a strong focus on mixed-use development, urban high-rise construction and strategic multi-family development to our team, managing national operations and overseeing strategy and execution. Harvey has spent his fifteen-plus real estate career building Atlanta, and has been involved in the development of more than 4,000 multifamily homes with a total capitalization of over $1.2 billion. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, Real Estate Group of Atlanta, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

George Hribar is the Director Implementation at Brilliant, a leading Smart Home and Smart Apartment company and recipient of the CES Innovation Award, the CTA TechHome Mark of Excellence, the IoT Breakthrough Award, and the CEDIA BEST Award. George and his team handle all facets of Brilliant’s Multifamily and Single-Family deployments. He has extensive experience scaling both Protech (Knotel) and Insurtech (Rhino) startups, and a passion for redefining and improving how we interact with physical spaces.

Bill is a Principal of Smallwood, a world-wide design firm providing architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and experiential graphics services. He has 18 years of professional experience in Architectural Design and Project Management for a broad range of projects including Multifamily, Commercial Office, Performing Arts, Worship and Industrial developments. His most recent experiences include The Walter, a 34 story, 376-unit Multifamily tower in the Park District of North Hills and the multi-year SkyHouse Program with 18 high-rise, urban, multifamily towers with over 6,000 units and 7,100-spaces of structured parking. Bill holds Undergraduate and Graduate degrees from the University of Cincinnati.

Tab Byrd is a Senior Account Manager in the Multifamily Development for Quantum Fiber, a segment within the Mass Markets division of Lumen, a global technology company based in Monroe, LA. serving customers in North America and 60 countries around the world.   Tab joined the company in 2009 and has held various roles throughout her career within the Consumer organization. Tab has been in the telecommunications industry, since 1998. Tab specializes in helping developers, builders, and property management companies meet their objectives by leveraging fiber-based and instant WiFi technology solutions across Georgia, Kentucky, and Florida. Tab holds an M.B.A. in Business Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and resides in Cedar Rapids, IA. She enjoys spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, traveling, and reading.

Jeryl founded Mitsch Design over 30 years ago. Today, it is a leading interior design firm working with the industry’s most notable developers and architects on multifamily, student living and senior care projects spanning over 35 states, including the much-anticipated Battery mixed use project in Truist Park, Atlanta. With its midwestern headquarters and 10,000 square foot furniture showroom, the firm also has satellite offices in Atlanta, Denver, Ohio, and Seattle. Jeryl strategically grew the firm into a value-added “partner “ with the capacity, talent, processes and specialties to provide seamless turnkey services to architects and developers. Services led by gifted NCIDQ designers, project managers, procurement specialists, installation teams and complemented by a working relationship with over 300 furniture manufacturers. Always focused on technology, Jeryl’s firm spearheaded the development of PreVU VR, Mitsch Design’s exclusive virtual reality system that allows clients to “immerse” and experience a space early in the design process… This allows clients to approve design recommendations or make revisions before a construction investment. Aside from design, Jeryl is passionate about the growth of women in business. In fact, she is a former president of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and has served on the Executive Board and as a board member for 15 years. Combining her desire to target the southern markets with the desire to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren, Jeryl moved to Atlanta in 2019.

Brian Oates is Managing Director of Development at Pollack Shores Real Estate Group, and leads all of the firm’s new development projects. His duties include managing the division’s construction and development teams from the pre-construction phase through lease-up of completed projects. Previously, Brian was a Project Developer at Pollack Shores, where he completed over 2,000 units at a cost of more than $400 million. Today, as the development team’s leader, Brian now manages active projects of more than 3,500 units that total more than $1.5 billion in value. Before joining Pollack Shores, Brian led project teams at a gas and oil company in the acquisition, entitlement and development of new convenience and gas locations in Georgia and Florida. He also has over eight years of experience underwriting and developing residential communities across the Southeast with other development firms. Brian earned a bachelor’s of science in management from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a concentration in finance and land development. An active member of ULI Atlanta, Brian graduated from its Center for Leadership program in 2018. Brian enjoys following local Atlanta sports teams, playing and coaching soccer and spending time with his son, Samuel.

As a business professional with over 30 years of leadership experience, Scott is also a decorated combat veteran serving in the 82nd Airborne Division, Ranger Regiment and Small Mission Units. Scott brings to your organization unique perspectives he has gained from his battlefield experience to his own personal experiences, empowering you to unleash the untapped potential of leading your people. As a leadership and motivational speaker, who values dedication, service, and excellence, he has spoken to groups at all levels whether it is a Fortune 500 company or an eighth-grade middle school class. Scott loves helping others reach their absolute best through his shared leadership successes and failures. Early in life, Scott’s dedication, hard work, and determination put him in leadership positions that lead to an accomplished military career as a decorated infantry officer. After transitioning out of the military, Scott’s career in the private sector has been a model of service and excellence recognized with awards and decorations. Most recently he was awarded the Order of St. Maurice by the National Infantry Association. In the private sector, he has led large and small teams where they have earned national recognition for not only excellence in their respective industries but also for being recognized as leaders in their industry. Scott knows that excellence in leadership is a journey, not simply a destination. This perspective inspired him to teach, develop, inspire, and mentor hundreds of future leaders at all levels and at all organizations. He brings this same dedication to his work with business leaders as they strive to empower their teams and achieve their absolute best. Currently Scott overseas all east coast operations for Yates Construction, a national general contractor. In his spare time Scott enjoys traveling internationally, reading, cooking, live music and the outdoors - hunting, fishing and hiking.

Scott D. Greenwald, Esquire, Senior Vice President, is a licensed attorney in Louisiana and Wisconsin who has been involved in the evaluation, negotiation, and consultation of insurance claims for over fifteen years. Scott graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in History and Political Science, and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Emory University School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Scott served a one-year clerkship for Judge Nadine Ramsey, Civil District, Orleans Parish in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he assisted Judge Ramsey in making various rulings on the permissibility of asbestos, mold, and other toxin exclusions within Louisiana insurance forms. Prior to joining GGG/AI, Scott practiced law in New Orleans in the insurance field with the firm of Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr and Smith, whose client list included CNA, Chubb, Great American, and Scottsdale Insurance Companies. Mr. Greenwald is a frequent speaker/presenter to business owners, insurance brokers, real estate brokers, and property managers regarding the measuring of damages and the processing and handling of insurance claims, and recently gave a presentation on “Disaster Preparedness” at the Southeastern Affordable Management Housing Association’s (SAMHA) annual conference in Savannah, Georgia and on “Changes To Property Insurance In The Post Hurricane Sandy Era” at the Counsel For Affordable and Rural Housing’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Caperton (“Cap”) Putt recently joined Trez Capital to lead the commercial mortgage origination effort for the Atlanta Office. In this role Cap is responsible for hiring a team, sourcing new relationships, and providing financing for projects across multiple asset classes. Cap is an experienced real estate lender with relationships throughout the southeast. Prior to joining Trez, he managed the Southeast market for Citizens Bank and served as a Regional Executive in Wachovia’s Real Estate Financial Services Group and as a Regional Credit Officer with Iberiabank (f/k/a Georgia Commerce Bank). Based in Vancouver, Canada Trez Capital is a diversified real estate investment firm and preeminent provider of private commercial real estate debt and equity financing solutions in Canada and the U.S. Trez has a 23 year track record of delivering attractive returns for investors and helping borrowers achieve their goals. Trez has U.S. origination offices in Palm Beach, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York.

Jeffrey Graham entered the Property Tax Consulting industry with The Stallings Group in 2008 as a Consultant. He aided in the growth of The Stallings Group’s residential property tax appeal portfolio, and worked closely with the Stallings Group team to build his knowledge base in the commercial property side of the industry. Commercial property tax appeals became the focus, and Jeffrey Graham managed accounts for reputable clients such as Hines, Cbre, and Colliers. In 2012 The Stallings Group was sold to Paradigm Tax Group, at which point Jeffrey Graham was offered a position specializing in Commercial property tax appeals around the Southeast. After two years received a promotion to the level of Managing Consultant, which focused on the larger accounts with national portfolios of property. In that position he was involved with client management, new client sales, team building, strategic planning for the Southeast office. Jeffrey Graham consistently led the Southeast office in new clients sales, and learned a great deal about the marketing side of the industry. In 2016 Jeffrey Graham along with Bill Graham formed The Graham Group, which is a southeastern based property tax consulting firm. Jeffrey Graham has taken the roll of managing partner; along with managing client’s partners with Bill in the Growth of the client base, team, and reputation of The Graham Group. Jeffrey Graham and The Graham Group represent clients with Office, retail, Multi-family, Hotel, and Industrial portfolios. Jeffrey Represents clients with portfolios ranging from a single property to well over a hundred. Jeffrey specializes in property valuation thru multiple valuation methods such as Income analysis, comparable property analysis, Sales analysis, and cost of development analysis. Jeffrey has achieved many property value reductions over the years, and worked to partner with property owners and managers to ensure their property tax burdens reduced to favorable levels. One specific property reduction success story involves a Midtown Atlanta trophy office tower; the Fair Market Value of the property was lowered nearly 60 million dollars, which resulted in a tax savings of roughly 1.1 Million dollars. Jeffrey Graham is driven to see The Graham Group grow and build long lasting client relationships. He strives to be an active partner with taxing jurisdictions around the southeast, and continue to build his knowledge base of local legislation and tax laws.

Cortney Newmans serves as Lima One’s Head of National Accounts. In this role, he is charged with managing large, institutional-scale accounts for the company. His product focus includes multifamily properties and single-family portfolios for Lima One. Additionally, Cortney leads the expansion and optimization of Lima One’s national partnerships and strategic relationships across the Company’s lending network. In his role as Director of Business Development starting in 2014, Cortney oversaw development of sales operations into 42 states including the District of Columbia. His responsibilities included providing senior-level management to business development teams. Cortney has personally originated over $275MM in SFR and Multifamily assets and overseen the production of over $375MM. Cortney is also a real estate investor with nearly 10 years of real estate ownership and management experience, with a strong track record of executed value-add deals. He currently owns over 65 doors.

As Senior Director, Jake Reid specializes in assisting both private and institutional clients in the disposition and acquisition of multifamily properties throughout Georgia. During his career, Mr. Reid has represented clients in the dispositions for more than 200 properties totaling over $600 million. Through the Franklin Street collaborative platform, Mr. Reid is able to focus on clients’ financial needs and goals as a focal point of the exit strategy – including a detailed marketing plan tailored for a seamless transaction to achieve maximum proceeds for his clients. Initiating Franklin Street’s Atlanta multifamily sales practice in 2010, Mr. Reid oversees Atlanta’s growing team dedicated to serving the multifamily communities throughout the Southeast. Prior to joining Franklin Street, he served as part of the apartment sales team for Marcus & Millichap’s Atlanta office for more than nine years. Before his career in investment sales, Mr. Reid gained valuable experience in apartment management with LIT Properties based in Midtown Atlanta. In addition to existing multifamily sales, he has unique experience with the marketing of suburban land, urban infill, and adaptive reuse properties. Mr. Reid is currently a member of the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and a recipient of numerous awards including being recognized as one of Real Estate Forum’s 2016 50 Under 40 professionals. He has received Franklin Street’s Sales Achievement Award from 2012 to 2018 and was a Top Earner Award winner in Atlanta for 2015. Mr. Reid graduated from the University of Georgia in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in International Business with a concentration in Finance. He is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in the state of Georgia.

Mr. Robinson is a corporate and commercial real estate attorney whose practice includes representing lenders, real estate investors and middle-market companies in a variety of corporate and commercial real estate matters including the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, mixed-use developments, acquisition, construction and mezzanine financing projects, commercial leasing, and real estate-related loan sales and purchases. Mr. Robinson's clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and include private equity real estate funds, family offices national REITs, construction companies, national real estate and asset management companies, community banks, hedge funds, and medical practices. Robinson Franzman LLP is based in Atlanta, Georgia and serves clients across the United States in the multifamily acquisitions and development, commercial real estate finance, private equity, financial services, commercial real estate development and investment. Robinson Franzman is committed to providing the highest quality work product in the industry and immediate responsiveness to its clients’ needs. With a focus on practice areas such as multifamily finance transactions and syndications, commercial real estate development, commercial lending, and general corporate and business law, Robinson Franzman is able to provide a full suite of legal services to clients from all sides of the deal – whether buying, selling, or financing. Robinson Franzman also specializes in structuring and negotiating private equity real estate investment deals on behalf of multifamily sponsors and investors, which includes negotiating waterfalls, preferred returns, and handling securities filings on behalf of its clients. Robinson Franzman’s clients include multifamily investment firms, family offices, commercial real estate developers, community and regional banks, institutional non-bank lenders, investment and asset managers, national REITs, commercial real estate investors, and small business owners. It is Robinson Franzman’s commitment to client services and success that has enabled the firm to develop long-standing professional relationships with each client. Robinson Franzman strives to become an integral strategic partner with all of its clients and to add value through high quality and efficient legal services.

Jeff Robertson is responsible for the implementation of business plans, financial analysis and operational strategies for FCP’s investments. Before joining FCP, Mr. Robertson was a Senior Associate at Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP, where he performed real estate valuations for billions of dollars of commercial real estate assets in the United States and abroad. While at Deloitte, he serviced clients such as real estate investment trusts, large manufacturing corporations, national healthcare providers, and other owners of large real estate portfolios. Mr. Robertson began his career with a real estate investment firm focusing on distressed and foreclosed residential properties in central Virginia. Mr. Robertson attended the University of Virginia, where he received a BA in Economics and History.

Matt Ferrari is the Co-Chief Investment Officer and Head of Acquisitions at TruAmerica Multifamily. Based in Miami, Florida Mr. Ferrari heads the firm’s acquisitions team and also oversees operations and asset management across their Eastern and Central United States portfolio of over 17,000 apartments. Mr. Ferrari also is a member of TruAmerica’s Investment Committee. Since joining the firm in 2016, Matt has played a meaningful role in the firm’s growth, having overseen the acquisition of over 38,000 apartments totaling $8.0 billion throughout the U.S., including TruAmerica’s expansion into the Eastern U.S. multifamily markets while also helping grow its stable of investors. Previously, Mr. Ferrari was an Investments Director at AvalonBay Communities Inc., an S&P 500 publicly traded multifamily REIT where he was responsible for acquisitions and dispositions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. During his four years at AvalonBay, Mr. Ferrari was responsible for $500 million in acquisitions and $1.3 billion in dispositions. Prior to his time at AvalonBay, Mr. Ferrari worked for Archstone Communities Inc. in their leadership and development rotational program as a Management Development Associate before becoming a Regional Operations Director for their Eastside Manhattan portfolio in New York City. Mr. Ferrari holds an M.B.A. from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a B.S. in Management and Business from Skidmore College. He is also a member of the Steering Committee at Georgetown University’s Steers Center for Global Real Estate.

There’s so much to say about Morris Kaplan. He’s definitely a man of high energy. Also one of engineering knowhow, family closeness, spiritual conviction, keen insights, operational acumen, land discoveries, constant integrity, vanguard achievements, widespread generosity, worldly travel, New Jersey roots and a Florida address. That’s the CliffsNotes bio. Here’s the longer one. It all started in 1976 when Morris graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in civil engineering. Educated, eager and motivated, he applied his energies to gaining hands-on experience. Morris’ roots began by learning construction from the ground up during 25 years in the field. Over the next two decades, his development expertise blossomed into all the various disciplines of real estate – closely following the career path of his revered father. It’s not surprising. Family is and always has been universally central to Morris. A dad of three and grandfather as well, he’s married to the wise and lovely Sandra Lisman Kaplan, who puts it this way: “My biggest and most important titles are Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Friend. For me, my family is what always comes first.” Besides being occupied with the responsibilities listed above, Sandra makes it her business to support Morris and provide exceptional insight on issues that sometimes frustrate him. She has been a great sounding board for the whole Kaplan team. Her passion to see the firm’s projects succeed is evidenced by her participation in various aspects of communities that have been developed and ones currently on the drawing board. Behind every successful man is a great woman . . . that is Sandra. Morris is wholeheartedly thankful to have a great partner like her. Ranking second in devotion is the couple’s love of community. Giving back is instinctive, their service to Jewish organizations undeniable. He’s a past president of Young Israel of Bal Harbour, KSpace, Bris Avrohom and Monmouth Torah Links and is active in these and many more. On top of that, he’s built four synagogues, two in Florida and two in New Jersey. Sandra has also been actively involved for 35 years in Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO). With religion such a huge part of his life, integrity is a credo without boundaries for Morris. He’s resolute about doing the right thing. All the time. Regardless. In and outside of work. His track record is an eye-opener. Kaplan has developed 30,000 homes and 3 million square feet of non-residential projects over the last 46 years as a family company. Very focused on big dreams, Kaplan has a long-term goal of developing a billion dollars of real estate on a bi-annual basis. On the way to that target, he’s accomplishing some very daunting feats. From developing master-planned communities, working through environmentally challenging sites to build apartments, implementing new technologies like lightweight steel framing and modular constructions, building in urban or suburban markets, Morris has overseen projects that would have stymied most large and national developers. Operating ahead of the curve, Morris has instituted a slogan – The Impossible is Possible. Following his 1986 move to open up new markets in the Southeast, his 450 Piedmont development made headlines as the first private development in downtown Atlanta. Soon more and more Kaplan Residential developments were rising up in cities throughout Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas . . . and the groundbreaking announcements just keep on coming. All of this has come full circle in that Kaplan Residential recently broke ground in downtown Atlanta on a 17-story high-rise utilizing a lightweight steel framing technology, the first installation of its kind in the U.S. Like we said, Morris Kaplan is definitely a high-energy guy.

Steve LaMontagne is a Partner at Moore Colson and leads the firm’s Real Estate Practice. Steve has extensive experience in all sectors of the real estate, construction and hospitality industries, including fund managers and advisors, registered investment advisors (RIAs), REITs, developers, institutional investment vehicles, operating properties, and syndication of private and public partnerships. During his 35+ years of experience in the real estate industry, several years were spent in capital markets working exclusively on real estate transactions. In his role as leader of the Moore Colson Real Estate Practice, he works with a variety of real estate clients. His expertise includes real estate investing, accounting, financial reporting, and auditing matters. Prior to joining Moore Colson, Steve was an Assurance Partner and leader of the Southeast Real Estate Practice with the international accounting firm of KPMG, LLP. Steve worked with KPMG, LLP since 1983 as a CPA. Steve became the leader of KPMG’s Atlanta real estate practice in 1997 and shortly thereafter became the Director of the Real Estate Practice for the entire southeastern United States. He also served on several National Committees utilizing his expertise in the area of real estate finance including leasing, mergers and acquisitions, financings, public offerings and sales of real estate.