Dallas Construction & Development: Hot Projects

Pat Priest has extensive leadership experience in key financial and operational roles of both public and private companies, as well as active participation in community based service organizations. Prior to joining the DRC team, Ms. Priest served as Chief Financial Officer of The Kor Group, an investment, development, and management firm specializing in the hospitality and multi-family industries. As a member of the Executive Committee, she was directly responsible for development of the strategic plan for growth, implementing new management systems, and building a motivated team for this privately held California based company. Prior to Kor, Ms. Priest served as Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, and member of the Board of Directors of The Beck Group, a multi-national construction, architecture and development company. In addition to her role as Chief Financial Officer, she initiated and chaired the Beck Risk Council and Beck University, and served as Managing Director of Beck Technology, Ltd., which developed and marketed parametric design and construction technology to the building industry. Her experience also includes Rosewood Property Company and Wyndham International. For 10 years, Ms. Priest served as Executive Vice President and member of the Executive Committee for Rosewood. Joining the company at its inception, Priest assisted in developing it into a nationally recognized real estate group. As Wyndham’s Chief Investment Officer, she defined and directed investment activities following the initial public offering of the hospitality REIT and sourced capital through public and private debt and equity placements. Ms. Priest also served as President of Intershop Real Estate Services managing the North American portfolio of this Swiss based publicly traded company. She began her career at KPMG & Austin Industries in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Priest holds a BBA from the University of North Texas, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ms. Priest’s community based service activities include: * University of Texas McCombs School of Business Advisory Board – Awarded Lifetime Membership for work in identifying and addressing the barriers to entry for women in the MBA program. * City of Dallas Design District Tax Increment Financing Board – Chair of this Board established to revitalize a historical district into a vibrant community in the City. * Real Estate Council – As a member of the Board of Directors of The Real Estate Council Foundation, assisted in development of the strategic plan for the foundation, screened applicants for community grants, and participated in the executive committee to assist large impact grant recipients, including the initial Woodall Rodgers Park Impact Grant. * Dallas Independent School District – Served as an Executive Coach to principals in Dallas ISD schools. * YMCA – Served on the Major Gifts Committee, raising funds from large corporate and individual donors for the YMCA Scholarship Program. * Grameen Foundation – Participated in financial and operational review of the micro-finance lending program for women in indigenous Indian tribes in Chiapas, Mexico. International Women’s Foundation – Previous Board Member and active participant in the Dallas Chapter of IWF. Her husband, John Priest, is a professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington, and they have two children.

Mr. Collins founded Gatehouse Capital and is responsible for the company's overall strategic direction and both capital and partner relationships. Prior to founding Gatehouse in 1997, Collins was a partner in a Trammell Crow family affiliate, COO of Hampstead Group, and COO of Americana Hotels and the affiliated investments of the Bass Family of Ft Worth. He holds an undergraduate degree in both liberal arts and teaching from University of Akron, and graduate degrees in both liberal arts and business finance from Southern Methodist University.

Neal Sleeper is President of Cityplace Company, the developer of a 130-acre mixed-use project in Uptown Dallas. Since forming the company in 1991, Mr. Sleeper has overseen the development of over 4,000 residential units and 640,000 square feet of retail space, 250,000 square feet of office, and a 150-room hotel (under construction) in a mixed-use environment. Cityplace Company has been responsible for over $900,000,000 in new development since 1993. The remaining 5 acres of the Cityplace development will be a high-density, transit-oriented, mixed-use development. From 1986 to 1990 Mr. Sleeper had a development consulting firm, Sleeper & Associates, which advised private owners and institutions on development, zoning and public-private partnerships. From 1975-1986 Mr. Sleeper was with Murray Properties Company in various roles including being president of a property management and leasing company, and being the Dallas commercial development partner. Sleeper began his real estate career with Henry S. Miller Company from 1972-1975. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Finance in 1968. Mr. Sleeper is the past chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Transit-Oriented Development Council. He is on the board of directors and was a founding member of The Real Estate Council and is past chairman of TREC’s Government Affairs Committee. He was the 2009 chairman of the board of Goodwill Industries of Dallas. He is currently chairman of the TOD TIF and the Farmers Market TIF District. Additionally, Sleeper is or has been on the board of directors of the Building Owners and Managers Association, NAIOP, Oak Lawn Forum, Dallas Theater Center, Friends of the Katy Trail, Uptown Public Improvement District, Cityplace Area TIF District, Preservation Dallas, and the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority. He is a member of Dallas Assembly.

Rick Perdue serves as Managing Director of Development in Texas for Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC. He is responsible for sourcing and executing the company’s development activities in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metropolitan area. Prior to Mill Creek, Rick was with Tonti Properties where he served as Director of Acquisitions & Development nationally. Mr. Perdue has overseen the development, acquisition, disposition and conversion of several thousand apartment units representing a notional value of over $950 million. Mr. Perdue developed La Valencia at Starwood, the first Energy Star certified apartment community in North Texas and winner of the “Green Multifamily Project of the Year” award by the National Association of Home Builders. He is LEED accredited through the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Mr. Perdue received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Auburn University and an MBA in Finance from Tulane University. He is also a CFA charterholder and is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Texas. Mr. Perdue is a Board Member of The Real Estate Council of Dallas (TREC) and current Chairman of the Associate Leadership Council (ALC) program. He is also a charter member of the North Texas Multi-Family Product Council through ULI. Mr. Perdue is also a founding Board Member of the Circuit Trail Conservancy, an organization tasked with connecting the Dallas trail system.

Artemio De La Vega is the founder and CEO of De La Vega Development, a commercial real estate firm specializing in dynamic mixed-use developments. Mr. De La Vega has more than 25 years of experience in the entrepreneurial and real estate industry, with a focus on single-tenant, multi-tenant retail centers and mixed-use developments. He brings a versatile and deep knowledge of development, master planning, entitlements, construction and capital markets to every project. Mr. De La Vega has successfully invested, acquired, developed or redeveloped more than 100 commercial real estate projects throughout the world. Some of his more notable projects include the 900,000 square-foot Las Palmas Marketplace in El Paso, TX; the 900,000-square-foot Canyon West in Lubbock, TX; the 400,000-square-foot Kings Crossing in Shreveport, LA; as well as multiple industrial distribution and manufacturing facilities for clients such as Chrysler, General Motors, Alcoa, Yazaki, Bergamasca and more. As a recognized leader in the commercial real estate industry, Mr. De La Vega frequently serves as a panelist for many leadership and future vision summits. He is also a guest columnist for a variety of publications and active with several professional organizations, including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and The Real Estate Council (TREC). In addition, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Chancellor’s Council of the University of Texas System, is a board member and donor to the FEMAP Foundation, and a proud donor and supporter of the Artemio De La Vega Scholarship Fund for the benefit of Hispanic students at the University of Texas, El Paso. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas, is a graduate of Culver Military Academy, Jr. Reserve Officers Training Corps and holds an FAA private aircraft license. Mr. De La Vega enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.

Ryan is a Vice President with Stoneleigh Companies, a private real estate investment company focused on the acquisition and development of income producing multi-family properties. Stoneleigh was formed in 2008 and its portfolio includes 3,700 existing units and another 2,400 units in various stages of development and construction in Colorado, Illinois and Texas. Ryan has been active in the national real estate market the past 12 years managing all phases of multi-family real estate construction and development. Ryan has a track record of successfully delivering over 2,000 residential units and multiple commercial properties. Before joining Stoneleigh, he was a Development Associate and Manager with a private real estate development and management company located in the northeast from 2005-2012. Ryan graduated with a BS in Architecture and a minor in City Planning from Georgia Tech and a MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Jim is a proven development and construction management professional responsible for coordinating all aspects of design, construction and overall development for VanTrust. He brings with him more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate development and construction. His project experience includes office, industrial, retail, multifamily and mixed-use projects. As Director of Development Services, Jim is responsible for the successful delivery of VanTrust projects in the southwest region. At VanTrust, Jim incorporates his development background, civil engineering education and industry relationships to coordinate all aspects of design and construction to ensure budget, quality and timely delivery. Jim is a graduate of The Catholic University of America where he earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, concentration in Construction Management. He holds many industry memberships, including: Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.; Associated General Contractors of America, Inc.; Design Build Institute of America; NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association; Urban Land Institute; and The Real Estate Council.

Jeff DeBruin supervises Trammell Crow Company’s Dallas/Fort Worth area Construction Group. The Construction Group possesses the capability of managing the entire development process including assisting with property assessments, conceptual planning, initial scope and budget establishment, programming, scheduling, design, construction, and comprehensive reporting of same for projects spanning a wide variety of product types. Currently, Mr. DeBruin’s chief responsibilities include project execution, operational support and oversight, business development and staffing assignments. Mr. DeBruin, and the construction group as a whole, serves as a single point of contact for project communication and control. His construction background in Project Management, Estimating and Purchasing; process driven and detailed personality; and knowledge of both the development process and local market serve to benefit the client. This experience, gained in a variety of product lines, specifically serves developments in capacities such as consultant contracting, conceptual planning, early profiling of comprehensive project costs and mitigation of risks to both project schedule and budget. This role routinely entails proactive involvement and reporting from concept through occupancy.

A genuine emerging leader within the DFW construction industry, Brandon brings over 18 years of experience to FCL Builders. Brandon has managed the construction of Class A office building and industrial facilities ranging from 60,000 SF to 1.4MM SF throughout Dallas-Ft. Worth. Brandon is successfully serving some of the region’s most prolific owners and developers. In his current position, his responsibilities include the design coordination of the project in conjunction with the end users needs, contract management including negotiations and purchasing of subcontracts, management of contract issues with the client, and implementation of the company procedures for each specific project.

Corbett Nichter was named regional leader for A&P's Gulf States region in January 2013. Prior to joining A&P, Corbett held senior management positions with Turner Construction Company and CF Jordan Construction. In these roles, Corbett was responsible for business development, marketing, contract negotiations and operations, and for the overall performance of market verticals and geographic business units. Corbett serves on the boards of directors for the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center and Helping Restore Ability and has been active in the community through organizations such as the Happy Hill Academy & Home and the Presbyterian Night Shelter. He also served on the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, helping to secure financial commitments in excess of $2M annually to support the agricultural youth of Texas. In 2002, Engineering News-Record recognized Corbett with the prestigious Newsmaker of the Year Award, and in 2007 he graduated from Leadership Dallas, a program of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. Corbett earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX and his MBA from Houston Baptist University in Houston, TX. He and his wife, Heather, have two children, reside in Grapevine, TX and are members of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, TX.

Robert R. Martin leads the Office and Industrial Divisions for Arch-Con’s Dallas office and oversees business development, estimating, project management and construction. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry constructing more than $300 million in work. Before joining Arch-Con, Martin worked for Jordan Foster Construction, Rogers-O’Brien and Cadence McShane Construction where he gained experience in all product types with projects ranging from 20,000 square feet to 1.6 million square feet. With a bachelor’s degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University, Martin is an active member in NAIOP’s North Texas Chapter and TEXO Association.

Mary Miano has 20 years of experience providing creative solutions to her clients' workplace needs. Mary's expertise lies in identifying opportunities and listening to the clients’ specific challenges. With a keen ear, she is able to understand workplace issues and challenges and apply solutions that are tailored to meet those specific needs.