Boston Placemaking Summit

As President, Jim Halliday is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Company. In leading the Senior Management Team, Jim is responsible for coordinating the efforts of all aspects and functions of the Company. In sharing functional responsibilities with the other members of the Senior Management Team, Jim has primary responsibility for the leasing, property management, and financing efforts of the portfolio. Jim and the NB Development Team are currently working on executing the collaborative vision of New Balance and the community of Allston Brighton to transform Boston Landing into an exciting new and lively new mixed use district comprised of innovation, health & wellness, living and 18-hour/7-Days retail & restaurants activity, as reflected in its anchor tenancies of New Balance, Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics. Prior to this role, Jim served as the Real Estate Controller for the Company, where he was responsible for the financial reporting and lender & banking relationships for the Company, its property holdings, and its development projects. Jim has over 30 years of real estate experience, including Vice-President of Company Operations & Controller for Winstanley Enterprises, and as a Senior Asset Manager with Spaulding & Slye Investments, Great Point Investors, and Liberty Real Estate Group. Jim also held financial reporting related positions with Liberty Real Estate Group, The Beacon Companies, and Boston Properties. Jim obtained his MBA from Suffolk University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Jim is a licensed Massachusetts Real Estate Broker. Jim was a varsity competitive swimmer while at Northeastern University. Jim is also passionate about skiing and is a PSIA certified Ski Instructor, where you can find him on the Cranmore Mountain slopes in North Conway, during the winters. Jim also serves as an Ambassador for Parlor Skis, a New England based custom fit ski-maker based in East Boston.

Sam Kennedy is entering his 18th season with the club and his third as President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to his role with the Red Sox, Kennedy also acts as Chief Executive of Fenway Sports Management, a sports marketing and sales agency that is a sister company to the Red Sox under the Fenway Sports Group family. A native of Brookline, MA, who grew up within walking distance of Fenway Park, Kennedy, 45, joined the Red Sox in 2002 after 6 years working for the San Diego Padres from 1996 - 2001. Since joining the Red Sox, Kennedy has played a key role in the dramatic growth of the Red Sox brand. Recalling the days that he was able to come into the ballpark on his dad’s clergy pass, Kennedy’s particular focus the past few years has been on encouraging kids to come to the ballpark to experience Fenway Park through the creation of a “Kids Only” Gate K and a free ticket for all kids that sign up for Red Sox Kid Nation. Outside of the 81 days a year of baseball, Kennedy has also been instrumental in the transformation of Fenway Park into a year round venue, including concerts, hockey, soccer, football and even a “Big Air” skiing and snowboarding competition requiring construction of a 150 foot high ramp from centerfield to home plate. In 2004, Kennedy helped create Fenway Sports Management and has overseen its growth from that of a start-up to a world class sports marketing agency with an international roster of clients that includes not only sister companies the Red Sox, LFC, NESN and Roush Fenway Racing, but also partnerships with Boston College, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the Dell Technologies Championship, and a landmark marketing partnership with NBA superstar Lebron James. Kennedy has received many recognitions during his time with the Red Sox, including Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Award and his induction into the Sports Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Hall of Fame which includes multiple time recipients of the honor. This national honor placed him in the company of the most influential and creative young professionals in the business of sports. Kennedy is active in the community and serves on the MLB International Committee and MLB Ticketing Committee as well as the BIDMC Trustee/Advisory Board and Marketing Committee; the Trinity College Board of Fellows; Winsor School Board of Trustees; Dana-Farber’s Visiting Committee for Institute Initiatives; The BASE’s Advisory Committee; and Camp Harbor View Board of Directors. A former captain of the baseball team at Brookline High with friend and classmate Theo Epstein, Kennedy graduated from Trinity College (CT) in 1995. Kennedy and his wife of 20 years, Amanda, reside in the Boston area with their 15-year-old son, Jimmy, and 13-year-old daughter, Ally.

A charismatic Boston native and Harvard graduate, Ed Kane is the visionary leader behind New England’s preeminent hospitality company, Big Night Entertainment Group. For over 30 years Kane has been pushing the envelope in Boston’s restaurant and nightlife scene, introducing award-winning venues and one-of-a-kind concepts. Kane’s eye for design has garnered countless industry awards and has made Big Night Entertainment Group synonymous with style. An influential Boston businessman in his own right, his leadership and expertise has earned him a spot in the Massachusetts Hospitality Hall of Fame. Kane began his illustrious restaurant career in 1989 when he and his brother, Joe, bought and renovated a ’50s-style diner. Their transformation built what is now the popular Hingham Harbor restaurant, Stars. In 1992, the Kanes – along with partners Greg Acerra and Arthur DeCarli – purchased an old granary in Hingham and transformed it into an architectural wonder, Tosca. The new restaurant quickly became an iconic local eatery, receiving countless national design and Best of Boston awards. Following the success of Tosca, the team opened nearby Caffé Tosca, with lighter Italian fare, and then launched the fast-growing FireKing Baking Company. Tosca and Caffé Tosca gave Kane and his partners a good taste of the Boston restaurant and hospitality scene, leading them to start Big Night Entertainment Group in 2006. In 2008, the group debuted Shrine Nightclub and Red Lantern in Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino. The sultry, dramatic restaurant and casino club debuted to rave reviews and national recognition. Shrine is like nothing New England has seen before, outfitted in the latest technology and introducing renowned acts to New England for the first time. Shrine earned a coveted spot in the top 35 on Nightclub and Bar’s prestigious “Top 100 Nightclubs in the Country”. Following the success for Shrine, Kane and the Big Night Entertainment Group team introduced Scorpion Bar and High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge to Foxwoods in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In 2016 the group continued their Foxwoods expansion and partnered with celebrity chef and television personality Guy Fieri to open Guy Fieri Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar. Kane and Big Night Entertainment Group moved their culinary success to Boston in 2011, opening three new restaurants within a year - Red Lantern, located in Back Bay, is a luxurious Pan-Asian hotspot, widely known for its sophisticated taste with both early and late-night dinners, the perfect completion to a night out on the town and Empire, the first Asian-fusion restaurant to hit Boston’s Seaport District, mixing Asia’s eclectic culinary tastes with Boston’s lively nightlife on a prime oceanfront location. In 2016 Kane and Big Night Entertainment Group headed to Foxborough’s Patriot Place where they opened their second Scorpion Bar location right outside of Gillette Stadium. 2017 saw Big Night Entertainment Group introduce the all-day French-Californian concept, Explorateur, just steps away from the iconic Boston Common. This one-of-a-kind dining experience transforms from a European café in the mornings to a luxurious dining room in the evenings, where sophisticated dishes embrace modern French cuisine with West Coast flair. Kane spearheaded Explorateur from concept to creation, utilizing his experience to design this multifaceted dining venue located within the historic Grand Masonic Lodge. In 2017, Kane and his team also unveiled the duo of The Scorpion Bar Boston and The Grand at Boston’s burgeoning Seaport District. Expanding from the immense success at Foxwoods Resort and Casino and Patriot Place, Scorpion Bar Boston exudes excitement with its signature inventive Mexican fare and libations. Located just upstairs from Scorpion Bar is Boston’s premier nightlife destination, The Grand, a $14 million Las Vegas-style nightclub featuring top of the line audio and vision technology in a space that is equally luxurious and exciting. Welcoming top talent from around the globe, including celebrity DJ’s like Steve Aoki, Marshmello and Tiësto, The Grand offers an unprecedented nightlife experience to Boston and is the first ever Boston venue to be named Dance Club of the Year by Nightclub & Bar. Most recently, Big Night Entertainment Group debuted CBS Sporting Club in collaboration with The Kraft Group and CBS. This modern gastro sports pub is located in the heart of Foxborough’s Patriot Place. In fall 2018, Big Night Entertainment Group also introduced the arcade bar VERSUS to Downtown Crossing in Boston. The space is packed with retro modern arcade games, iconic pop art murals by local New England artist Dirty Dek, televisions, 1980’s pop culture-inspired design elements and a state of the art sound system. In 2019 Kane and the BNEG team are once again reinventing the city of Boston’s entertainment and nightlife scene with brand venues set to debut in 2019 including Mystique and Mémoire, flagship luxury dining and nightlife destinations at Encore Boston Harbor, a five-star, $2.6 billion resort expected to open in the summer of 2019, and Big Night Live, a premier luxury music hall featuring over 40,000 square feet of live entertainment and nightlife space at the highly-anticipated Hub on Causeway.

Josh Bhatti is the Vice President of The Bowery Presents, a concert promotion company based in New York City. As the leader of the Boston office for nine years Josh has helped build the company which is focused around a core of bringing great music and the best concert experience for both fans and artists. As a trusted industry tastemaker, The Bowery Presents produces dynamic entertainment experiences at dozens of venues regionally, presenting more than 2,500 shows per year. Josh heads up the day-to-day operations in the Boston office as well as being the lead talent buyer in the region that produces over 500 concert events per year at their exclusive venues The Sinclair, Royale, Great Scott, and other non-exclusive venues such as the TD Garden, Agganis Arena, The Boch Center, and others. Josh led the opening of The Sinclair, a live-music venue and restaurant which opened in December of 2012, the first venue that The Bowery Presents has operated in Greater Boston. Recently, The Sinclair has been named the best rock venue numerous times by Boston Magazine, Improper Bostonian, Yankee Magazine and has one a number of Boston Music Awards. In March 2019 it was announced that The Bowery Presents will be opening a new purpose-built 3500 capacity venue in the Boston Landing Development with an anticipated opening date of 2021. Josh has worked with a vast cross section of some of the most talented performing artists, including LCD Soundsystem, Kendrick Lamar, The National, Elvis Costello, Leon Bridges, and The Weeknd, and has created corporate events for American Express, Converse, and Red Bull and was responsible for talent buying for the first four installments of the Boston Calling Music Festival. Josh graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in International Affairs. He is originally from Plainville, Massachusetts and now resides in the Boston area with his wife and two children.

Rob is part of a trio of friends who left their day jobs to follow their passion for brewing. In early 2012 Rob and his two other Co-Founders launched Night Shift Brewing in Everett, MA. For the past 5+ years Rob has lead the brewing team at Night Shift pushing for innovation and the creation of unique world class beers. In the fall of 2016 Rob and his Co-Founders launched a second business venture, Night Shift Distributing. Rob now leads this disruptive beer wholesale operation as well as the brewing operation as the President. Additionally, Rob also serves as a the President of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Brewers Guild where he works to protect and promote the state's brewing industry.

Esther Tetreault is half of Trillium Brewing Company’s founding duo. Together with her husband JC, Esther had a vision to create more than internationally acclaimed beer, but also to create a way of life and a place to share experiences. Also known as @MrsTrillium, Esther has developed a culture of collaboration and creativity at Trillium Brewing Company. Esther has the unmatched ability to positively influence everyone around her and while Trillium may have started in a small corner of the world in Boston, her impact is felt globally. Esther is a powerhouse of business in the craft brewing industry. Since being founded in 2013, Trillium has flourished due to Esther’s dedication, attention to detail and her careful cultivation of the brand. Esther continually inspires others with her tireless work ethic, tenacity and aspirations of excellence, all of which have greatly impacted the success of Trillium and how the company continues to evolve into a bright and lasting future. Collaboration extends beyond Trillium’s breweries, beer garden, restaurant and farm. Esther works with local organizations such as the Friends of Fort Point Channel and the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy to create new experiences for the community. Esther also currently sits on the National Advisory Board for Family Reach, is a national nonprofit dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of cancer. Prior to founding Trillium Brewing Company, Esther worked as a Business Analyst and later honed her inherent entrepreneurial skills by starting a fitness and wellness company. Esther holds an MBA from Bentley University and enjoys spending downtime with JC and their two children.

Jesse Baerkahn is the President and Founder of Graffito SP (“GSP”), a Boston-based real estate development and urban design firm focused on complex ground-floor leasing + activation projects. Jesse’s multidisciplinary work at GSP combines his transactional training as an attorney and broker with lessons learned through other entrepreneurial endeavors within the real estate, arts and entertainment fields. Jesse has been working hands-on with restaurateurs, retailers, artists, makers, and other creatives in various capacities for two decades and is an outspoken advocate for real estate development strategies that embrace localism and experimentation. Jesse is currently on the Board of Directors for the Kendall Square Association, Now + There, and was previously a Board Member for the Artisan’s Asylum. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA) and Northeastern University School of Law (JD).

As the Senior Leasing and Marketing Manager for NB Development Group, Erin Harvey coordinates the leasing and marketing for the Company’s real estate portfolio. Erin is responsible for managing Broker relations, lease analysis and execution, retail build-outs, property tours, marketing strategy, and is involved in the acquisition of new properties. Erin has leased over 30,000sf of retail in the first phase of a multi-phase strategy and has been involved in recent office/lab transactions totaling over 725,000sf. Erin has a broad range of experience working in Boston’s commercial real estate industry. Prior to joining NB Development Group in 2011, Erin held positions at Columbia Group Realty Advisors, The Chiofaro Company and Paradigm Properties. Erin graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Economics and played on the Varsity Basketball team for 4 years. Erin is a member of the Urban Land Institute including the ULI Development Council, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Commercial Real Estate Women Boston and the Real Estate Finance Association.

Patrick McMahon is senior vice president – regional development for Federal Realty Investment Trust. In this capacity, he is responsible for the management of the Trust’s development pipeline in the Northeast, including the multi-phase development at Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. Mr. McMahon, who has been active in real estate development for nearly 20 years, joined the Trust in 2013 and most recently served as vice president – development. Prior to this, Mr. McMahon was vice president of development in the Northeast Region at Simpson Housing LLLP, where he oversaw all aspects of the development process. Prior to that, he was a project director at Edward A. Fish Associates, a large New England real estate development company. Mr. McMahon sits on the Board of Directors for Heading Home, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides shelter and social services to homeless families. He also sits on the Board of Trustees for the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Inc., a 40-year-old non-profit affordable housing development corporation. Mr. McMahon holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College.

Sabrina is the VP of Marketing and Merchandising at Samuels & Associates, leading the firm’s marketing and PR efforts and its retail leasing and merchandising strategy. She brings a wealth of experience in marketing and strategy for global brands including PUMA, Tretorn and Carlsberg Brewery, both in the States and abroad. This multifaceted insight into the world of consumer trend-spotting uniquely positions her to advance Samuels & Associates’ proactive, holistic approach to community-building and large-scale development. Sabrina has a passion for understanding and aligning community wants and needs with development opportunities to achieve a larger neighborhood vision with long-lasting impact. A native New Englander, Sabrina grew up in Boston and attended Stonehill College. She is a member of CREW Boston, and serves on NAIOP’s Marketing Committee and the United Way’s Executive Real Estate Committee. Sabrina previously served on Mayor Martin Walsh's Onein3 Council (Spark). She lives in Somerville with her husband and their dog, Prince Harry.

Josh Levy is the co-founding Principal of Waterstone Properties Group, the 2nd largest retail developer in New England. Waterstone specializes in mixed use developments, retail, healthcare, office, and Logistic Centers. Josh is actively involved in all facets of the company for Waterstone’s nearly 70 commercial properties. In recent years, Josh has spearheaded Waterstone’s new mixed-use projects including the 2.4M sf flagship experiential development project ROCK ROW in Greater Portland, Maine. Josh is actively involved in fostering partnerships with civic organizations, government officials, brokers, and tenants all to serve the community through Waterstone’s projects, and he maintains relationships with retail tenants and brokers throughout the U.S. A graduate of Boston College, Josh has pursued continued real estate education through MIT, Boston University, ICSC and CCIM. He has been a guest lecturer at both Harvard University and Boston College, and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, NH ICSC Next Generation Committee, Young President’s Organization, Boston College TREK and sits on the board at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts. Josh is actively involved with the Dakshana Foundation in India and other local Boston organizations.

As Founder and Creative Director of LLM, Leila Mitchell is an expert at communicating identity and information to shape experiences that connect people to place. With more than 20 years of design experience in a variety of disciplines, her process begins with engaging the collective voice and ends with capturing the audience in a compelling story. Whether it is environmental graphics design, wayfinding and signage programs, marketing campaigns, or branded interiors, Leila turns the design focus onto the end users who will be sharing the built environment. Recent and current clients include The Skating Club of Boston, the Museum of Science Boston, Craft Food Hall Project, Longfellow Real Estate Partners, and Gingko Bioworks. Leila earned a B.S. in Architecture from The University of Virginia and an M.F.A from The Dynamic Media Institute at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Prior to founding her own business, she was a Creative Director and Associate Principal at Neoscape, a creative agency for real estate marketing, for six years. Leila is also currently an adjunct professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology, College of Architecture and Design, and is a Board Member of the Design Museum Foundation. Most recently, she was selected to join the Massachusetts College of Art’s Alumni Leadership Council.

Meredith Christensen joined CBRE/New England's Boston office in 2014 and is First Vice President with the Urban Advisory & Transaction Services team. Ms. Christensen is a 15-plus-year veteran of the business, specializing in development and leasing across multiple asset classes including laboratory, office, industrial and retail. Her work prior to CBRE/NE was largely on the investment and principal side of the business. Ms. Christensen offers a unique perspective to clients wishing to maximize the value of their real estate needs through branding, strategy and immediate value creation.