San Antonio Construction & Development Summit

Helena Finely is a seasoned multifamily executive with more than 25 years of experience in development and construction. She leads EMBREY’s construction division and has oversight for all residential and commercial buildings in the company’s portfolio. Before joining EMBREY, Helena was on the founding leadership team of Vero Sade, which develops, builds and operates Class-A residential real estate. Helena’s previous experience includes leading multifamily construction for Morgan Group Development, Trammel Crow, Gables, and Post Properties. Her portfolio includes construction of 29 multifamily and mixed-use projects with more than 6,800 units and combined budgets of more than $830 million. Helena was recruited from South Africa on a full swimming scholarship to the University of Houston, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. She has competed in many ultra-distance events including the Colorado River 100-mile kayak race, the Leadville 100-mile mountain bike race, Ironman Texas, and a variety of adventure races, triathlons and marathons. She and her husband, David, have three children and four grandchildren.

Zio Pekovic is a principal and co-founder of Scarlett Hotel Group, a hotel owner/operator/developer. He is involved in all aspects of the expansion of SHG's portfolio and strategically innovating its acquisitions platform. Mr. Pekovic has developed strong relationships with local owners, brokers, and financial institutions throughout the country and internationally, allowing him to identify both on and off-market opportunities for the company. His responsibilities include identifying and analyzing potential hotel investments and structuring JV partnerships with private equity funds, endowment funds, family offices, and private investors. Mr. Pekovic is also involved in asset management and investor relations. Additionally, he is responsible for identifying third party management and receivership opportunities. Mr. Pekovic has B.A. degrees in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a Cornell University certified asset manager and is a licensed Illinois managing real estate broker. Scarlett Hotel Group is an approved owner and operator of Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG Hotels.

Pawel (Paul) Hardej (Principal), is an architect, developer, entitlement expert and community steward. He combines the vision and passion of a long-time entrepreneur with the steady hand and structured approach of a corporate professional, allowing him to interface naturally with a wide range of clients and partners. He has been directly responsible for the acquisition, design, development or redevelopment of almost $2 billion of mixed-use, condominium, multi-family communities totaling over 2,000 units, as well as multiple retail and entertainment properties. Pawel has also negotiated millions of dollars in incentives, tax credit deals and complex entitlements and is considered a zoning and urban planning expert. Prior to founding Metropolitan, he was an Executive Vice President at Lincoln Ventures and also served as Vice President of Development at Intracorp, one of North America’s largest residential developers, where he managed the development of multiple projects, including the 49-story 44 East condominium high-rise project in downtown Austin, TX. Pawel started his career in Chicago, IL, his first adopted hometown in the United States as the founder and CEO of Metropolitan Development Enterprises where he developed numerous award winning mid-rise and town home projects over a ten year stretch. A native of Warsaw, Poland and now residing in Austin, TX, Pawel studied Architecture at both Warsaw Politechnic University and at the University of Detroit Mercy and also at the International Academy of Merchandising & Design in Chicago.

Luke is a seasoned Structural and Sustainability Engineer with two decades of comprehensive industry expertise including new building design, existing building investigations, and structural material sustainability. In February 2022, he brought his wealth of knowledge to Nucor's corporate sustainability team, assuming the role of Sustainability Specialist. A proud graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Luke is not only a licensed professional but also an active member of multiple industry groups. His dedication extends beyond the workplace; he participates in tradeshows and networking events, enjoying the opportunity to engage with industry peers. Luke's passion for design, architecture, and sustainability is evident in his pursuit of discussions on how steel can emerge as the sustainable material of choice, aligning with your green design goals.

Zar Haro is a Managing Director with NorthMarq. Zar and his team are responsible for Investment Sales and capitalizations in Central and South Texas. In his nearly 15 years of experience, Zar has personally closed over 400 Multi-Family Investment sales and capitalizations. The team has completed over $8 Billion in transactions and Zar has personally closed over $4 Billion in transactions. Northmarq is leader in Multifamily Investment Sales and Financing to both private and institutional apartment owners and developers. Northmarq is a Multi-Family Powerhouse with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD Licensing, as well as over 100 Correspondent Life Insurance relationships. Geographic Coverage: San Antonio, Austin, and Texas Secondary Markets. Specialties: Multifamily – Investment Sales, Debt Advisory, Equity Placement, Affordable, LIHTC Experience: Prior to joining Northmarq, Zar most recently worked at JLL as an Executive Vice President Zar and before then spent 8 Years Institutional Property Advisors/Marcus & Millichap in Multi-Family Investment Sales and Meridian Capital, LLC in New York City as commercial debt and equity advisor where he oversaw debt origination and equity placement for multifamily, retail, office, industrial, hospitality, self-storage and mobile home park in Texas and New York. Awards/ Accolades:  San Antonio Business Journal- Top 5 "Heavy Hitters in Real Estate"  San Antonio Business Journal “ 40 under 40”  Costar Power Broker in- 2020, 2019, 2018, 2014, 2013  National Achievement Award winner 2014  Sales Achievement Award winner, 2015, 2013, 2012  National Pace Setter, 2008 Professional Membership organizations:  NMHC National Multi-Housing Council- Chairman’s Circle  Urban Land Institute –Mixed use Product Council- Top 150 Real Estate Executives in the country ULI is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world  REEC- Real Estate Executive Council – leading professional trade association formed to promote the interests of minority executives doing business in Commercial Real Estate  RECSA (Real Estate Council of San Antonio) is the advocate for owners and professionals in the real estate industry, informing and educating its members and community leadership  MBA- Mortgage Bankers Association Professional Speaker/ Thought Leader:  CCIM- Guest Multifamily Expert Speaker  The Multifamily Masters- Guest Speaker  BizNow- San Antonio State of the Market Moderator  IREM- Expert Speaker- Multifamily  Old Capital Conference Guest Speaker—2 X guest Professional Community Involvement:  Board Member- The Urban Renewal Agency for the City of San Antonio-Appointed by the Mayor of San Antonio. The Mission of OUR SA is to development and implement strategies to eliminate community slums and blighted areas and also meet the revitalization, redevelopment, rehabilitation and conservation directives as identified by City management and approved by City Council.  Mentor-University of Texas Real Estate Finance and Development students at UTSA. CCIM’s goal is to broaden students’ real estate education by grounding them in the real world, dealing with the people they will meet, on the job and in the pursuit of their real estate career. The winning team receives the CCIM-John Vogel-UTSA Project Competition Award.  Volunteer Executive Committee Member- Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Northmarq NorthMarq is committed to developing a diverse and inclusive company at all levels. Zar serves on the diversity, equity and inclusion initiative is chaired by Eduardo Padilla, former CEO Highlighted Transactions:  Lone Star Brewery – Iconic Mixed Used redevelopment site in Downtown San Antonio, TX, Single most controversial site  Tribute at the RIM - New Construction Class A asset, San Antonio, TX Largest single asset Multi-family trade in the City of San Antonio  Rio Grande Valley Portfolio – New Construction Portfolio 475 Units, 2017 Construction, Brownsville, TX – Largest Apartment Trade Ever in the Rio Grande Valley  The Catherine-Austin, TX Highest Price Per unit ever recorded in the State of Texas-2017

Chief Strategy Officer Connie Gonzalez is responsible for establishing strategic direction to further advance Brooks’ growth, expanding on the success of the last 20 years. In addition, she leads business development, public affairs, community engagement, and project management initiatives. Connie is also the Executive Director of Brooks Gives Back, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves as the vehicle by which all members of the Brooks community can invest in nonprofit initiatives impacting people in the neighborhoods surrounding Brooks, which has distributed more than $450,000 since 2019. Connie joined the Brooks team in November 2015 and previously served as the Director of Strategy & Community Relations and Director of Public Relations. Prior to joining the Brooks team, Connie was a weekend anchor and reporter for both KNWA and KFTA in Fayetteville, Arkansas and KSAN in San Angelo, Texas. Raised in San Antonio, she began her professional career as an intern with News 4 WOAI and worked in public affairs at Spurs Sports & Entertainment. An advocate for community involvement, Gonzalez serves as an Executive Committee member of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Foundation and the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo). She also serves on the CAST Med High School Advisory Board of Directors, the Texas A&M University – San Antonio Mays Center Community Advisory Council, and on the City of San Antonio’ Removing Barriers to Housing Technical Group. Connie previously served as Chair for the City of San Antonio’s Planning Commission and Chair for the South Texas Business Partnership Board of Directors, formerly known as the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she participated in the 2021 Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program. A graduate of Leadership San Antonio Class 44, the City South Leadership Class 30 and the North Chamber Innovative Leadership Program, Gonzalez also served on the Leadership San Antonio Class 45 Steering Committee.

Charles Leddy is the owner and CEO of Presidian Hospitality, a San Antonio-based hotel investment and management company, Source Strategies, a hospitality data and feasibility company covering the state of Texas, MLSA Ventures, a real estate private equity group and Presidian Cares, a non-profit organization with a focus on causes important to the San Antonio community. Today, Presidian owns and/or manages sixteen Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG and upscale boutique hotels and resorts, with a geographic focus on Texas. Charles is also the Co-Chair of Hope Lodge San Antonio, a lodging and rehabilitation facility that will provide free lodging to cancer patients and their caregivers who are seeking treatment in San Antonio. Charles held leadership positions in investment banking, mergers & acquisitions, management consulting and operations before returning to San Antonio in 2012.

VersaTerra is a full-service land development firm that combines decades of experience with expertise and relationships to deliver impactful projects for its clients and property owners. Led by CEO Paul Basaldua, VersaTerra offers services spanning from concept and design work to engineering and construction, ensuring that our clients maximize the value of their projects. The firm’s promise to its clients is to invariably deliver the right solutions, no matter the challenge, using the bedrocks of VersaTerra: knowledge, skill and service. That promise is backed by Paul’s decades of experience overseeing all aspects of development operations for a portfolio of land development projects worth millions of dollars. Through his career, Paul has effectively delivered engineering and construction management on residential development projects while working closely with local municipalities to ensure the development team delivered the best and most efficient end product to their clients. Paul’s primary goal is to partner with clients and trade partners to build working relationships based on trust, accountability, sincerity, and added value. The VersaTerra team has deep roots in South Texas. It is the preeminent expert in navigating the complex and varied development requirements and business environments in more than a dozen municipalities in the greater San Antonio area and along the Interstate 35 corridor. A nimble land-development firm that concentrates its resources and efforts on both buying and developing land, VersaTerra also serves as fee-development consultants for other builders and developers, as well as joint-venture partners with property owners.

Tim O’Krongley, A.A.E., IAP, IACE, has more than 35 years of experience in the aviation industry, including over 30 years of airport management. In his current role as Deputy Aviation Director of Planning Infrastructure and Design for the City of San Antonio Aviation Department, O’Krongley directs a $2.4 billion new terminal and enabling projects development program, as well as all other capital improvement programs for SAT and Stinson. O’Krongley’s experience includes serving as the Aviation Planning Director at a national consulting firm, where he oversaw the Aviation Planning Team and the development of facility planning projects, Airport Master Plans, Strategic Plans, Safety Management Systems, ACRP, and PARIS projects. As the Assistant Aviation Director for SAT and SSF, O’Krongley created several airport-wide programs, such as the Foreign Object Debris Prevention Program and the Security Management System Program (SeMS), and the Safety Management System (SMS) program, which is frequently regarded as the standard for North American airports. O’Krongley is a globally recognized expert in SMS and has been involved in aviation safety planning since the FAA’s pilot programs. He also served as one of six authors of the official, worldwide SMS document for Airports Council International. Key projects O’Krongley has been involved with include building a new airport, a new terminal building, significant airfield programs, new parking garages, and a consolidated rental car facility. Additionally, he has over 16 years as an adjunct professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he taught graduate and undergraduate Airport Management, Planning, and Operations courses, and 15 years as an instructor for Airports Council International World (AMPAP) Instructing courses in Airport Management for the International Airport Professional Accreditation Program – a joint venture between ACI and ICAO. O’Krongley holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Studies, and a Master’s in Aeronautical Science and Aviation Management, both from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is an Accredited Airport Executive, an International Aerodrome Certified Employee through AAAE, and an accredited International Airport Professional through ICAO and ACI. O’Krongley was recently appointed to the ACI World Facilitation and Services Standing Committee, which focuses on universal design – a key focus area for the new SAT terminal. Tim is also a commercial instrument-rated pilot and owns an airplane, which he shares with his wife and sons – all pilots!