DFW Retail Forum

Herbert D. Weitzman is Executive Chairman of Weitzman. In 1990, after nearly 30 years in the real estate business, Weitzman founded the company, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm that now ranks as one of the largest retail-focused real estate services firms based in Texas. On the brokerage side, Weitzman leases a retail portfolio of approximately 44 million square feet in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. As a property manager, Weitzman is responsible for managing a statewide portfolio of more than 22 million square feet of retail and commercial properties.

Gar Herring serves as President and CEO of The MGHerring Group, a Dallas, Texas - based developer of regional shopping centers and mixed-use projects in the United States and Mexico. Over the past 35 years the company has developed more than 30 regional shopping centers, primarily regional enclosed malls, comprising more than 25 million square feet of retail space. Prior to joining The MGHerring Group in 2004, Gar worked at Donahue Schriber in Newport Beach, California, developing and acquiring neighborhood shopping centers in California and Nevada. Previous real estate experience also includes positions with Guaranty Bank, The DeBartolo Corporation and The Staubach Company. This extensive background in real estate development, acquisition, leasing and financing provides the unique skillset required in his current role, where he is responsible for all aspects of development and operations of MGHerring properties and projects, as well as leading an in-house team that includes leasing, financing, construction management, architectural services, tenant coordination, asset management, marketing and operations.

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.

As CEO of VCC, Derek Alley is the senior officer responsible for implementing the strategic plan for the Company. After growing up in Little Rock and learning many roles on jobsites and projects, Derek went to Stanford University to earn his BS in Management Science and Engineering, Derek then started his career in investment banking. Afterwards he moved to BlackRock, Inc in their Private Equity Real Estate Acquisitions Group based in San Francisco, CA. Under his guidance, VCC is consistently listed in the top 100 contractors by the Engineering News Record, largest contractor in Arkansas, a top 15 multifamily contractor, and recognized as the largest retail contractor in the Country. Derek is a member of the Young Presidents Organization, ICSC, ULI, the Texas Real Estate Council and sits on multiple boards including the Encore Bank Board of Directors and the Variety Charity of Texas.