Future of Downtown

As a principal at Arrowstreet who excels at developing design solutions for contradictory constraints, Scott Pollack is responsible for some of the firm’s most complex developments; guiding these challenging projects through planning and approvals. He has also been instrumental in leading Arrowstreet’s planning for the U.S. military, such as for the Office of the Secretary Of Defense’s Healthy Base Initiative, which aims to improve health outcomes and create a healthier environment for military members and their families. Scott strives to use architecture to meaningfully impact people’s lives, which is evident in his design work as well as his philanthropic involvement with numerous New England non-profits: the Next Gen Committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Nuestra Communidad Development Committee, and the Somerville Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Scott’s propensity to color outside the lines transcends his architectural work and can be seen in his fine art and figure photography. His extensive business and personal travels have brought him abroad to 14 countries in addition to 48 out of the 50 states (leaving just Montana and Tennessee to be explored).

Maura Griffith Moffatt is Managing Director of Investments at Synergy Investments, a Boston-based real estate investment firm focused on the acquisition, repositioning and operation of commercial office buildings. Its current portfolio encompasses approximately 3.8 million square feet across 25 properties primarily in downtown Boston. In this role, Maura is responsible for acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio management, including debt and equity relations. Prior to joining Synergy, she was a Director of asset management with Long Wharf Real Estate Partners LLC, the successor to the Fidelity Real Estate Group following its spin-out from Fidelity Investments. At Fidelity, Maura was a Director involved in similar activities, overseeing the development, marketing, leasing, operations, financing and disposition of a national portfolio of diversified value-add real estate investments. Before joining Fidelity, Maura was a partner at the law firm of Goodwin Procter LLP in the firm’s Real Estate, REITs and Real Estate Capital Markets practice group, where her practice encompassed a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, with a concentration in the areas of real estate securities and capital markets, as well as real estate investment management, including property acquisitions, development, and debt and equity restructurings. Maura is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), currently serving as the ULI Boston/New England District Chair and is part of their Advisory Board Leadership Team. Maura also serves as a Board Member for the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), and is a member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, including the Real Estate Finance Association (REFA), Women in Real Estate Private Equity (WIRE), and Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW) (formerly NEWIRE).

Mr. Stephen N. Faber serves as an Executive Vice President of Related Beal, LLC. Mr. Faber served as Senior Vice President and Partner of Related Beal, LLC(also known as The Beal Companies, LLP). Mr. Faber oversees asset and property management of Beal owned and managed real estate as well as development of real estate investments. His diverse experience includes management, leasing, sale and development of individual assets and portfolio management for a variety of property types: research and development, office, retail, multi-family and planned unit developments. Mr. Faber has managed assets in seventeen different markets from Jacksonville, Florida to Seattle, Washington. He has significant systems design and implementation experience, and has authored and published detailed Policy and Procedure Manuals for property operations. Prior to joining Beal and Company, Inc., Mr. Faber was Vice President of Property Management with the Rubin Organization in Philadelphia. Mr. Faber was responsible for the management of over 5,000 apartment and condominium residences in five states. Preceding his employment at the Rubin Organization, Mr. Faber was Director of Property Management for Liberty Real Estate Group, a Boston-based real estate subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, where he developed a fee management subsidiary serving institutions, partnerships, and individuals. Mr. Faber is a Member of Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP). Mr. Faber received a BS degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

Rosemarie E. Sansone, President & CEO of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) Corporation, has focused on business, jobs and community in a career that has spanned the private and public sectors. She has worked in government, community affairs, advertising and fundraising. Rosemarie was twice elected to the Boston City Council, where she served at large, developing a broad understanding of the relationships among city, state and federal agencies. Later she played a pivotal role in attracting businesses, tourism and conventions to the city as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Business and Cultural Development in the Flynn administration. In 1994, she joined Suffolk University as director of public affairs, with responsibilities that included collaborating with public- and private-sector partners on downtown’s ongoing revitalization. In 2007, Rosemarie transitioned to the Downtown Crossing Partnership, the BID’s predecessor organization. As its leader she spearheaded the multi-year campaign that led to the BID’s establishment in 2010. Rosemarie brought a collaborative style built upon teamwork with hundreds of business and property owners as the driving force behind the creation and success of Boston’s first BID. In leading the BID, Rosemarie is committed to serving its members through direct and immediate attention to their needs and those of the district. She works closely with the mayor’s office, the Boston Planning & Development Agency, the Boston Police Department, and a host of other city agencies to ensure the BID achieves the district’s full potential as a premier and vibrant destination. Rosemarie studied liberal arts at Suffolk University and earned a master’s degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Boston. Rosemarie has served on many boards, including the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Economic Development Industrial Board. She currently serves on the board of Revolution 250, which commemorates the anniversaries of significant events that led to the outbreak of the American Revolution. In 2013-14, Rosemarie served on Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s transition team, advising the incoming administration about basic city services. In 2016, she served as co-chair of the commission that oversaw the creation of the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park in Boston’s Seaport.

Lisa Nickerson, winner of the 2016 PRISM Award for Marketing Professional of the Year, is the true definition of an entrepreneurial businesswoman. Having earned The Nashua Telegraph’s 91 Progress’ Entrepreneur of the Year at 17 years old, Lisa is now the CEO and founder of Nickerson PR, an award-winning full-service communications agency that offers an integrated blend of public relations, social media, digital content, creative services, and events expertise. In June of 2018, Lisa was featured on Chronicle as Greater Boston’s Real Estate Expert. A multiple-industry award winner, Lisa is a well-respected, sought-after speaker and moderator, and a devotee of professional and community service. She is an active member of ULI | New England’s Advisory Board, ULI Women Leadership Institute Co-Chair and Communications Chair, American Marketing Association, Board Member & VP of Sponsorship, Boston Women in Media & Entertainment Board Member, former SIOR New England Board Member & Communications Chair, and a member of NAIOP and CREW. Lisa received her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College in Marketing and Finance. She maintains her Massachusetts Real Estate License and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration at Babson College. Lisa received her Real Estate Certificate from Boston University. She resides in Wayland, MA, and is a proud mother of three outstanding teenagers – her two sons are highly decorated Eagle Scouts and her daughter is a competitive gymnast.

Since 1981, John has grown the company his grandfather started into an integrated investment, development, and management platform. He has expanded Midwood’s portfolio to over 130 retail, residential and office properties in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Beyond Midwood, John’s philanthropic interests are primarily focused in education and the arts. John is a Trustee Emeritus of Wesleyan University, past chair of Wesleyan’s Capital Campaign and was previously Chair of the Brandeis International Business School. John is currently a Trustee of The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Board President of the Usdan Center, Board member of UJA-Federation (and member of the Audit Committee), Board member of the Hastings Center, past Board President at Bronx House, and on the corporate board of Merchants National Properties.

Prior to founding KIG Real Estate Advisors (“KIG”), Mr. Krebs has over 25-years of real estate investment and development experience ranging from institutional investment management at UBS and JP Morgan to opening and leading the vertically integrated private equity firm Normandy Real Estate Partners Boston office. KIG operates under two ventures, Strategic Land Ventures (www.strategiclandventures.com) and Washington Square Ventures (www.wsvllc.com), platforms that focus on residential development from land acquisition and permitting through vertical development. KIG has a strong track record of the successful re-zoning and permitting of its sites under special permit and Chapter 40b, creating significant land value prior to the vertical development of its projects. KIG currently has 580 units in 5 apartment projects under development throughout the Boston Metro, totaling over $225 million in total development cost. Prior to founding KIG, Mr. Krebs was a Partner at Normandy Real Estate Partners, responsible for opening and overseeing Normandy's Boston office. During his 10 years at Normandy, Krebs built a $2 billion dollar office and residential portfolio with notable projects including the foreclosure, repositioning, and sale of the John Hancock Building (now 200 Clarendon), the acquisition and repositioning 99 Summer Street in downtown Boston, assembling and permitting Center 128 in Needham, a 2 million square foot mixed project which included the development of Trip Advisors Global HQ, and the permitting, design and development of Troy Boston, a 378-unit residential project in Boston’s South End, co-developed with Gerding Edlen. Mr. Krebs began his career in New York holding positions with global investment management firms UBS and JP Morgan. While at JP Morgan, Mr. Krebs held the title of Senior Vice President and team leader, responsible for more than $4 billion in real estate investment and development on the East Coast. At UBS, Krebs was an Assistant Vice President, investing more than $500 million in equity into real estate for pension funds and foreign investors. Mr. Krebs is a graduate from Providence College and has a MBA in Finance from Fordham University.

Tony Hsiao is a Principal and Director of Design at Finegold Alexander Architects. He is a driving force in the evolution of the firm’s design practice, and his expertise ranges from historic preservation to adaptive use to contemporary design for new buildings. Tony is leading the design on many of the firm’s current significant projects, including: The Boulevard along The Greenway, The Lucas - a church to condominium conversion in the South End, and the new LEED Platinum targeted Lowell Trial Court, which will be the largest state courthouse in the Commonwealth. He is also involved in numerous synagogues around the country and several public libraries and mixed use projects throughout New England. Tony is actively involved in the community and current serves as Vice-chair of the MidCambridge Neighborhood Conservation Commission. He was past Chair of the BSA Honors and Awards Committee, recently stepping down in 2015. Tony is an avid traveler and has visited over 30 countries. Most recently, he trekked through Vietnam’s Hang Son Doong. It is the largest known cave in the world and has been seen by fewer people than have summited Mt. Everest. His passion for exploration and discovery has been a source of inspiration in both his personal and professional life.