Bisnow's National Retail Summit: Midwest Series

Louis Conforti

​CEO
​Washington Prime Group​

Louis G. Conforti became a Director of Washington Prime Group Inc. on May 27, 2014 and served as Interim Chief Executive Officer from June 20, 2016 until October 6, 2016 when he became Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Conforti served as Principal/Executive Director of Colony Capital, Inc. as the Global Head of Strategy as well as focusing on publicly traded investing from April 2014 until June 20, 2016. Mr. Conforti was Managing Director of Balyasny Asset Management LP (“Balyasny”), an alternative investment manager firm, from December 2013 until April 2014. Prior to his service with Balyasny, Mr. Conforti was Global Head of Real Estate for UBS O’Connor, the alternative investment management division of UBS AG, a financial services firm, from October 2008 to November 2013. During that time, he also served as Senior Portfolio Manager of O’Connor Colony Property Strategies, a partnership with Colony Capital LLC. Mr. Conforti also served as Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Investments at the hedge fund firm of Stark Investments from January 2005 to October 2008. His predecessor real estate hedge fund, The Greenwood Group, was acquired by Stark Investments in January 2005. Mr. Conforti served as Co President and Chief Financial Officer of Prime Group Realty Trust (“Prime”), a publicly traded office and industrial property real estate investment trust, from June 2000 to October 2003; as its Executive Vice President Capital Markets, from June 1988 to November 1999, and as its Senior Vice President Capital Markets, from June 1998 to November 1999. Prior to his service with Prime, Mr. Conforti worked at the investment banking firms of CIBC World Markets and Alex Brown & Sons within their real estate investment banking and capital markets divisions.

Joe Brady

Divisional Vice-Present – Real Estate
Walgreens

Joe is a 30-year industry veteran responsible for all aspects of Real Estate for Walgreens. The current $48 Billion portfolio is comprised of 10,000 retail stores (post Rite Aid real estate acquisition), office and industrial real estate totaling $3.2 billion in annual occupancy cost. Prior to joining Walgreens, Joe worked as a service provider (The Standard Group, later acquired by JLL), developer and retailer (Burger King, Hollywood Video). Joe is an active member of both ULI and ICSC, serving on the Government Relations Committee. Joe earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Villanova University and an MBA, with concentration in real estate finance and development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler). Joe is married to Shannon and they have two children: Grace and Joey. Additionally, Joe is the Immediate Past Chairman of Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago. Lookingglass is a Tony-Award winning, McArthur Foundation genius-grant recipient organization started 30 years ago at Northwestern University.

Liz Holland

CEO
Abbell Associates

Elizabeth (Liz) Holland is the Chief Executive Officer of Abbell Associates, an eighty- year old private real estate investment, development and management company with an approximately 5.5 million/sf portfolio, comprised of shopping center, office, and enclosed mall properties. Liz is responsible for overseeing all business and legal matters, including development, financing, leasing, capital and construction projects, and investor and tenant relations. Active in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Liz served as the worldwide Chairman (2016- 17). In addition to ICSC, Liz is also a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) - Commercial & Retail Council - Blue. Liz is a Trustee of Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) and a board member of: VICI Properties, Inc. (VICI); Village Bank & Trust; and The James Campbell Company, LLC. Prior to joining Abbell, Liz was a Senior Staff Attorney with the National Bankruptcy Review Commission, a Congressional commission charged with making recommendations to amend the Bankruptcy Code. Previously, Liz was a restructuring and business reorganization attorney with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York. Prior to becoming an attorney, Liz was a fixed income portfolio manager at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in New York. Liz currently serves on the board of The Primo Center for Women & Children. She also served for many years on the boards of Lighthouse Academies; Uptown United; and 1,000 Friends of Iowa.

Peter Borzak

CEO
Pine Tree

About Peter College: George Washington University Professional Experience: Balcor Company 1984-1987 First Dearborn Properties 1987-1990 Plymouth Court Properties 1990-1995 Pine Tree Commercial Realty 1995-Present Aggregate Pine Tree Portfolio: 78 Shopping Centers, $1.01 Billion Organizations: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Chicago (Mentor) YPO (Real Estate Network Chair 2012-2014) ICSC ULI NAREIM Deerfield AYSO Deerfield Youth Baseball Association Boards: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chicago Standard Club of Chicago Harold Eisenberg Foundation George Washington University Center for Real Estate Advisory Board Marquette University Center for Real Estate Advisory Board Deerfield Park Foundation

John Kite

CEO
Kite Realty

John Kite is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kite Realty Group. Kite Realty Group is a full service vertically integrated real estate investment trust focused primarily on the development, ownership and operation of high quality neighborhood and community shopping centers in select markets in the United States. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (KRG) and has over $4 billion in assets. Mr. Kite is responsible for the strategic direction and operating results of the company. He serves as the head of the company’s capital allocation committee which is responsible for major capital transactions. Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer of Kite Realty Group upon its initial public offering in August 2004, Mr. Kite was President of Kite Companies from 1997–2004. In 1994 Mr. Kite was named President of KMI Realty Advisors an affiliate of the Kite Companies. KMI Realty Advisors is a full service SEC registered real estate advisory firm. Mr. Kite joined the Kite organization as Chief Financial Officer of Kite Development in 1990. Mr. Kite was a Business Development Officer in the Commercial Lending Department of Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago, IL from 1987-1990. Mr. Kite graduated from DePauw University with a BA in Economics in 1987.

Maria Toliopoulos

SVP, Director of National Retail Leasing
RPAI

Andrew McCaughan

Chief Development Officer
Shake Shack

Andrew McCaughan is Chief Development Officer for Shake Shack, a leading fine casual restaurant company serving the most delicious premium American fare. Andrew leads Real Estate strategy and site selection, and is responsible for the Design, Construction and Facilities functions. In 2010, Andrew joined the company when it operated 3 Shacks, and has since touched every restaurant during Shake Shack's growth. Prior to joining Shake Shack, Andrew began his career in his hometown of Chicago working in multiple facets for renowned Chef and Restaurateur Rick Bayless, where he cultivated his passion for the restaurant business from fine dining to street food.

Steven Miller

Fund Manager
Viking Partners

Steven Miller is responsible for Viking’s investment activities, including acquisitions and financing. Steven began his career in real estate in 1991, as an associate with the Midland Development Group, where he was promoted to partner in 1995. Following the sale of Midland in 1998, he became a principal in his own firm, focusing on the development, leasing and sale of retail shopping centers. He has developed properties for such prominent national retailers as Home Depot, Target, Walmart, and Blockbuster. Throughout his career, Steven has developed an extensive network of owners, brokers, developers, bankers, and retailers that provides a pipeline of acquisition opportunities. Steven graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in finance. He holds a broker’s license in Ohio and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Rob Nadler

EVP, Managing Director
Peaceable Street Capital

Christy Catlett

VP, Leasing
Westfield

Nick Wibbenmeyer

Managing Director, Chicago
Regency Centers

Steven Levin

CEO
Centennial Real Estate

Steven Levin is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Centennial. Mr. Levin is a 32-year veteran of the real estate industry with experience in investment, management and financing of commercial real estate. Prior to the formation of Centennial in 1997, Mr. Levin served as Executive Vice President of Patriot American Corp., a real estate investment and management company. From 1987 through 1994, Mr. Levin was Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hampton Real Estate Group, Inc., a national real estate investment, asset management and property management company with a portfolio of commercial properties in excess of $500 million. In 1982, Mr. Levin co-founded The Levin Companies, Inc., a Texas-based real estate investment and property management company. From 1977 to 1982, Mr. Levin was an owner of a women’s apparel retailer with 60 stores located in malls and community shopping centers throughout the Southwest. Mr. Levin began his career there as Chief Financial Officer and subsequently became President. From 1975 to 1977, he worked at Deloitte and Touche (formerly Touche Ross & Co.) in the auditing department. Mr. Levin graduated in 1975 from the University of Southern California with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He has been a licensed certified public accountant for 30 years. Mr. Levin is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and is a past member of the Urban Land Institute where he served on the Urban Development/Mixed-Use Council.

Josh Zemon

Principal
Walton Street Capital

Principal. Mr. Zemon has a BBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Todd Siegel

SVP
CBRE

For over a decade, Todd Siegel, Senior Vice President with CBRE, Inc. has specialized in leasing retail space in high-rise Class A office buildings, urban storefronts and mixed-use developments throughout Chicago and across America’s high-street retail markets. His expansive knowledge of market fundamentals and retail drivers enable him to develop and implement top tier strategies to assist his clients with the procurement of quality tenants for the development, redevelopment and repositioning of their retail assets. His depth of services also extends to design consultation, merchandising, opinion-of-value, property evaluation, target marketing, tenant analysis/selection and complex lease negotiations. As a specialist in urban retail development and consultancy, Todd has successfully planned and implemented numerous challenging, high profile retail and mixed-use projects, including the development located at 730 North Michigan Avenue and the redevelopment of 400 Post Street on the northwest corner of Union Square in San Francisco. Mr. Siegel currently represents the retail component on several of the country’s highest profile assets including, 980 North Michigan Avenue, 646 North Michigan Avenue, 444 North Michigan Avenue, The Tribune Tower, Fortress’ Miami Central Station and Blackstone’s $500 million retail redevelopment of the Willis Tower - Chicago. Internationally, Mr. Siegel is overseeing the retail development of Santiago Chile’s most recognizable urban mixed-use project, Territoria Apoquindo. In 2013, Todd collaborated with CBRE’s New York office to complete Chicago’s most high profile transaction of the year–the representation of Eataly’s 65,000 SF Chicago Flagship. In 2017, Mr. Siegel and partners secured and completed a transaction for the largest Starbucks in the world–45,000 SF on North Michigan Avenue for the company’s prolific Chicago Roastery–only 1 of 4 globally. As an industry expert, Todd is regularly featured in The New York Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, Heartland Real Estate News, and Northern Real Estate Magazine. He has been a speaker before prestigious industry groups, including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Chicago Convention, and the Chicago Appraisal Institute (CCAI). An active participant in the community, Todd served as Chairman for the 2013 Greater Chicago Food Depository’s 25th Annual Real Estate Gala, an event that generated over$1,050,000 to fight local hunger. Prior to joining CBRE, Todd worked with a boutique real estate firm in New York, NY.

John Hofmann

Senior Vice President - Production Leader
KeyBank Real Estate Capital

John is the Regional Production Manager for the Great Lakes region and oversees the origination of multifamily and commercial loans across the Midwest. In addition to his production responsibilities, John has been active in the new production innovation for the Commercial Mortgage Group. Most recently, John helped in developing CMG’s non-recourse “debt fund” programs. Prior to taking his role as the team leader for the Midwest John oversaw the commercial production team from the Mid-Atlantic to the West Coast. Before joining Key, John worked at The Private Bank (CIBC) where he was a Managing Director. Prior to The Private Bank, John was the Co-Head of the Nomura Credit and Capital Inc’s Chicago office, responsible for sourcing CMBS and balance sheet loans throughout the Midwest. John started his career at LaSalle Bank where he originated large loan and structured CMBS transactions. John received his Bachelors of Science from Miami University and Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a member of the ICSC and Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Marina Berrones

Associate, Project Architect
DLR Group​

Marina has been working in the industry for over 15 years, and enjoys working with the people that utilize the spaces and places of the project. As a Project Manager, her responsibilities include coordinating between both clients and consultants to develop the project’s design. Marina believes establishing a team environment based on collaboration is important to successfully deliver any and every project. This dynamic of ideas shared between clients and DLR Group keeps a project on time and on budget. Spaces become destinations, creating a place where people want to be.

Benjy Ward

Regional Design Leader, Principal, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Gensler

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.

Thomas Bernier

SVP
Bucksbaum Retail Properties