5th Annual Chicago Construction & Development

David Moore joined Equity Office in late 2016 to lead and oversee the firm‘s Chicago market. David is responsible for the strategic direction and management, business development, and value creation efforts for the company’s assets and activities in downtown and suburban Chicago, with a current portfolio of approximately 11 million sq. ft. of commercial real estate. For the prior 10 years, David worked at Hines where he was responsible for sourcing, analyzing, underwriting, and driving execution of acquisition and development opportunities across multiple product types of commercial real estate. In this role, he led cross-functional design, construction, leasing, accounting, and property management teams on multiple complex development projects.   Prior to his time at Hines, David held positions at Henry Crown and Company and Credit Suisse First Boston. David also has an entrepreneurial spirit and previously started Red Room Ventures, an outdoor media company that produced and placed specially-designed advertising units at grocery stores throughout Chicago, and Illini Messages, a campus-based advertising concept.    David holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from University of Illinois and earned his MBA from Northwestern University. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Janice Goldsmith joined Zeller Realty Group in 1989. As Principal, Goldsmith is responsible for overseeing all construction, development, redevelopment, physical due diligence, and tenant improvement work for the Zeller Realty Group portfolio. While with Zeller, Goldsmith has been responsible for office building and high rise parking structure new construction, as well as redevelopment and re-tenanting of existing office buildings, retail facilities, parking, and a variety of other product types in a wide range of markets; in addition, she has provided consulting services for office, hotel, and residential new construction and redevelopment. Goldsmith is currently managing the $100 million redevelopment of The Wrigley Building into a retail/office complex, having negotiated construction and easement agreements with the City of Chicago, completed City of Chicago Landmark designation and Class L Property Tax Incentive approval, and is managing State and National Park Service approvals associated with Federal Historic Tax Credits. Previously with Urban Investment and Development/JMB Realty Corporation, Goldsmith was responsible for construction on the 900 North Michigan Avenue project, a $450 million 2.7 million SF multi-use development on Michigan Avenue in Chicago which included a retail vertical mall and department store, Class A office, parking structure, Four Seasons Hotel; and luxury condominiums. Goldsmith was also involved in the construction of office buildings in Chicago, Hartford, Houston, Cleveland, as well as several pavilions and infrastructure at Epcot Center in Orlando. Prior to joining Urban/JMB, Goldsmith was with Romanek Golub & Company, a Chicago office building developer, and began her construction career with Turner Construction Company. Goldsmith is an honors graduate from the University of Illinois-Chicago. She also completed advanced studies at the University of Chicago Masters of Business Administration program. She has been Vice-Chair of the Codes Committee for the Chicago Building Owners and Managers Association for several years and has worked closely with the City of Chicago in developing and implementing new building codes and departmental structuring and procedures.

Benjy is a Registered Architect with more than 20 years of varied design experience. A Principal and Firmwide Design Leader in Gensler’s Chicago office, he previously served as Regional Design Leader in our Shanghai office. Benjy brings a global perspective to his work, which includes international airports, luxury retail, urban planning and high-rise, mixed-use buildings. He applies a unique, analysis-driven design process to every project, specializing in 3-D and computational applications to better understand space and building performance. Benjy’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions led to the creation of Poppy Seed, a mobile application that maps memories and moods to help understand urban spaces. Benjy received his B.A. in Architecture with a minor in Urban Studies from Lehigh University and his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2005, he was named a top young professional by Architectural Record.

Since joining the firm in 2002, Dennis has completely transformed BEAR Construction Company’s role as a strategic advisor and partner to clients. Throughout Dennis’s 40+ year career he has worked for Architecture, Development, Subcontracting and General Contracting firms which gives him a well-rounded insight into all aspects of the industry. Through his leadership of the preconstruction & estimating team, Dennis transformed the way BEAR predicts costs and labor upfront in order to see the entire life cycle of a project from start to finish before ever beginning the work. This degree of accuracy allows BEAR to find efficiencies within the work and build in cost and schedule savings for BEAR’s clients. Dennis is an integral part of BEAR’s executive leadership team, providing seasoned and steady leadership across all segments of the company’s operations. Dennis was a driving force behind BEAR’s involvement at the Old Chicago Post Office, the hugely successful renovation of the iconic structure that anchors Chicago’s entrance from the west. Dennis holds a degree in Applied Science from the College of DuPage and is ASPE Certified. Dennis is a member of the Chicago Boys & Girls Club Advisory Committee, a Choose DuPage Board Member and is actively involved with the BEAR Foundation. He has personally helped raise millions of dollars for many of the charities that BEAR supports.

Jon has been with Humanscale since 1996, and has enjoyed being a part of Humanscale’s progression to an industry leader in people, productivity and workstation functionality. In his 20 years with Humanscale, Jon has served as Canadian Sales Director and North American Director of A&D. Jon is currently the Director of Workplace Strategy, a role that has him deeply involved in the design industry to better understand industry trends, salient conversations and inspiring stories. Jon’s role is to work harder to ensure that the Humanscale brand remains top of mind and relevant. Jon has had articles published in Contract magazine, Loft Life and Design at Work. A LEED Accredited Professional since 2007, Jon is passionate about understanding the role Humanscale can play in the Net Positive Movement, where we don’t just take less from the environment, but rather create healthy and restorative places to work and live. Jon has been a speaker at a number of conferences, most recently the Central Pennsylvania GreenCon and the Delaware Valley Green Council Sustainability Symposium.

Alan D. Lev is the Chairman of Belgravia Group, Ltd., a Chicago based, and Phoenix area residential homebuilder specializing in townhome, condominium, and apartment developments. Belgravia has developed over 2,500 homes in Chicago as well as rental apartments and commercial projects, and three times recently was awarded Developer of the Year from Chicago Agent Magazine and Impact Award winner from Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago. He is also in the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago Court of Honor and the Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame. Alan joined Belgravia Group in 1989. Mr. Lev earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy in 1982 from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. He later obtained his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago in 1985. During law school he worked in the tax department at Price Waterhouse. Mr. Lev practiced real estate law from 1985-1989 at Greenberger, Kraus and Jacobs and then Goldberg, Kohn, et al. He has been a CPA since 1982, an attorney since 1985, a licensed real estate broker since 1989, a licensed insurance broker since 2012, a licensed personal trainer since 2017 and a Registered Investment Advisor since 2020. Alan is a proud member of the Chicago Association of Realtors, is Past President of the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chicago, is Past Chairman of the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Directors Loan Committee at First Bank Chicago and on the Advisory Board of TRO Investment Advisors, Blip Energy and Equilibrium Ventures. He has a strong attachment to the Chicago area and the University of Illinois and has been involved in many charitable and civic organizations and with the University of Illinois by guest lecturing in the business school, funding a scholarship, participating in the business school job shadow program, and serving on the Business Alumni Board and Dean’s Business Council.

Robert J. Bond, co-founder and president of Bond Companies, a national real estate development and investment firm with three decades of experience in financing and creating properties that enhance the communities around them through sustainable practices, innovation and a relationship-oriented approach. Its goal is to develop properties in concert with community, leaving a positive and lasting legacy while generating significant returns for its partners. Since its founding, Bond Companies has focused on fully sustainable designs and innovative building practices for the variety of ventures it has undertaken, from transit-oriented developments and master-planned communities to multifamily, retail, mixed-use, civic and hospitality projects. Within the past year Bond Companies has opened multifamily/mixed-use projects including Spoke Apartments in the River West neighborhood of Chicago, Inspire Southpark in Charlotte and 333B Echo Park in Los Angeles. As a thought leader, Rob has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and Investor Business Daily, as well as several industry publications discussing mixed-use development and the retail marketplace. His philosophy focuses on downside yield protection through the effective use of risk management. As a frequent speaker on the development process, Rob guest lectures at the University of Wisconsin and has presented to the London School of Economics. He has spoken at several industry conferences including the Urban Land Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centers, Bisnow, the Big Ten Real Estate Forum, and Young Real Estate Professionals, among others. He is an active participant in several professional and trade organizations, including the Urban Land Institute (UDMUC Red Council) and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (former chapter chair and founder, Chicagoland Chapter), a member of the Metropolitan Planning Council, a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Wisconsin Center for Real Estate and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the City Club of Chicago. Rob is the former chair for real estate acquisition and dispositions for the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and a National Council Member of The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Rob's personal contribution to his community includes helping at-risk youth make a positive difference as a role model in his ongoing relationship with Chicago's Principal for a Day program. He also acts as a volunteer youth coach and participates in the City of Chicago's Real Men Read Program, and is an active mentor and senior thesis advisor at North Lawndale College Prep School. Rob is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison holding a Master of Science in Real Estate Investment Analysis and Appraisal Theory with a concentration in Finance. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics.

As Director of Clayco’s residential business unit, Alan provides design and planning oversight and delivers full-service building solutions to clients on a national level. He has over 35 years of experience in the development of a wide range of residential, multi-use, hotel and hospitality projects. Alan looks for clients, projects and relationships that understand and embrace the partnering concept in pursuit of great opportunities to deliver impactful results for our clients. Alan is also active in the full range of development activities for multifamily projects in conjunction with CRG, Clayco’s development arm. Alan began his career as an architect with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and has a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Washington University and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois. He has been a member of the Home Builders of America, the Urban Land Institute, the Real Estate Investment Advisory Council, the American Institute of Architects, and the Chicago Real Estate Alliance. He has also served on the boards of the Chicago Development Council, Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Chicago Building Congress. He has taught real estate development at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, DePaul University’s MBA program, and for the Urban Land Institute.

Adam Toosley is a Partner in the Litigation Practice Group, and Leader of the Construction and Real Estate Litigation Practice Group. Adam has extensive experience in the handling of many different types of disputes including those based on mechanic's liens, commercial mortgage foreclosure, construction defects and contracts, warranty law, the Uniform Commercial Code, fraud and business torts, deceptive business practices, trust and estate-related improprieties, equipment leasing, claimed violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, as well as in contract negotiation and business workouts.