SoCal Student Housing & University Development

Ann Volz has over 25 years of real estate experience in program/project management, property management, student management, business development, and marketing. She has been actively involved in virtually all aspects of project development, from strategic planning through ongoing operations in student housing. Her background includes leadership positions at a national program-management firm and an international architecture firm, as well as being on the management team of three large development projects, a significant mall renovation and a 52-story urban mixed-use building. As Senior Project Executive with The Scion Group, Ms. Volz provides and supervises delivery of student housing real estate advisory services to Scion’s clients. With a strong focus on higher education residential life facilities over the past 15 years, Ms. Volz bears keen expertise and experience in market studies, programming, P3 Advisory Services and owner’s representation. Ms. Volz received her Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing.

Nolan Zail is a founding principal of Impact Urban, a real estate development company that advances innovation, sustainability and equity to create positive impacts in urban environments. Nolan contributes over 30 years of experience in real estate development including design and construction, developing and re-developing residential, commercial, historic and mixed-use projects. Nolan’s mixed-use and residential development experience includes founding principal of Transform Urban (CA), Senior Vice President of Development with Carmel Partners (CA) and development manager with Santa Clara Development Co. (CA). In addition, Nolan has commercial development experience with Cushman & Wakefield (NY) and non-profit housing redevelopment experience with Common Ground Community (NY). Prior to real estate, Mr. Zail has worked for award winning architectural firms on residential and commercial projects. Nolan was the Project Executive with Carmel Partners for UC Davis West Village, a 130-acre planned net zero energy mixed-use development that received the Urban Land Institute Global Award of Excellence. Nolan received a Master of Science (Real Estate) from New York University; a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Horticulture) from the University of Melbourne; and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Notable Projects include UC Davis West Village, Davis, CA; Grand Central Terminal Redevelopment, New York; Prince George Affordable Housing Redevelopment, NY and ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia.

Mark is the President and Founder of MJW Investments. After beginning his career as an attorney, Los Angeles native Mark J. Weinstein founded MJW Investments in 1983 when he discovered the potential of real estate investment and development through several successful ventures. Under his leadership MJW has acquired approximately 1 billion dollars of real estate holdings in all asset types. He also spearheaded the adaptive reuse of Santee Village, one of Los Angeles’ largest adaptive reuse projects of over 800,000 sqft. of mixed-use in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles. Mr. Weinstein’s passion for, and expertise in property repositioning has been a guiding factor in the company’s growth and success. Mark is the majority owner of the firm’s $800MM diversified real estate holdings. More recently, Mark has led the firm’s strategic growth into student housing and has amassed a portfolio of student housing properties at Michigan State, Washington State, Brigham Young University, UC Santa Barbara, Texas Tech, University of Illinois and University of Oregon. The firm continues to expand its Southern California multifamily portfolio. Throughout his career, Mr. Weinstein has maintained active associations and leadership with numerous civic and philanthropic groups. These include a three year term as Chair of the Jewish Federation’s Real Estate Construction Division; and active associations with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), the Guardians, an agency dedicated to serving the elderly, and the Jewish Venture Philanthropy fund. Mr. Weinstein holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara (summa cum laude), and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School (dean’s list).

Fred Pierce (“Pierce”) is CEO of Pierce Education Properties (“PEP”), a leading national student housing investment, development and operating company that was listed amongst the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America (2018 & 2019). Mr. Pierce was selected a “Student Housing Pioneer” by Real Estate Forum Magazine (2013), received Ernst & Young’s San Diego Region “Entrepreneur of the Year®” Award for the Real Estate & Construction Industry (2012), named one of “50 Influential Leaders in San Diego” by the San Diego Daily Transcript (2017–2019), included in “San Diego 500 Influential Business Leaders” by the San Diego Business Journal (“SDBJ”) (2018–2023), named finalist for the “Most Admired CEO” by SDBJ (2018- 2019) and received the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Moving San Diego Forward Award” (2019) on behalf of “Friends of SDSU”, for his work on the successful SDSU West Ballot Initiative (Nov. 2018) that has become San Diego State’s (“SDSU”) Mission Valley Campus and Snapdragon Stadium (opened Fall 2022). Fred was twice awarded SDSU’s “Distinguished Alumni Award” by the Alumni Association (2022) and Fowler College of Business (1999), he being one of six alumni to have won that award twice in the last 25+ years. Since 2007, PEP has completed $1.3 billion in student housing acquisitions and operated more than 34,000 beds serving 34 universities in 19 states, ranking it among the leading buyers and managers of student apartments in the country during that period. PEP was ranked by Student Housing Business Magazine (“SHB”) in 2023 amongst the “Top 25 Owners” of student housing in the U.S. and has been listed by SHB as an “Industry Titan” every year since 2016. PEP has ranked #6 nationally amongst student housing companies in J. Turner’s “Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) Power Rankings”. For 10+ years, the firm served as master developer of the award-winning, 131-acre, multi-billion-dollar College Community Redevelopment Project at SDSU together with SDSU Foundation (now known as SDSU Research Foundation). PEP has earned numerous national and international awards for its development projects including three “Gold Nugget Awards of Merit” from the Pacific Coast Builders Conference and the “Award of Excellence” as The Outstanding University Real Estate Project in the country from the Association of University Real Estate Officials. Previously, Fred was a principal and CFO of Los Angeles-based Platt Companies where he directed the acquisition and financing of $400 million in real estate assets. Prior to that, Fred was West Region Director of Real Estate Consulting for Price Waterhouse (now known as PwC), and Director of Real Estate Investment Consulting for KPMG Peat Marwick/Goodkin Group (now known as KPMG). Fred is Chairman of the NMHC Student Housing Research Fund Board, Chairman-Elect of The Campanile Foundation Board (SDSU’s Endowment), Vice Chairman of Beta Theta Pi Foundation Board, and Executive Committee Member of SDSU’s Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate Board. He is a Member of the Franklin Pierce University Board of Trustees (immediate past Chairman), SDSU Fowler College of Business Board (immediate past Chairman), SDSU Mission Valley Campus’ Residential Advisory Board and Public Art Advisory Board, Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute Board and University of Georgia Residential Property Management Board. Mr. Pierce is a Trustee Emeritus of the 460,000-student, 23-campus California State University (CSU) System Board and Past Board President of the City of San Diego’s Pension Fund (SDCERS, $10.6 Billion AUM), where he also chaired its Real Estate Investment Committee. Fred is a former Board Member of INVESCO’s $350 million Real Estate Fund I, and Past President of the CSU Alumni Council, SDSU Alumni Association and Poway Unified School District Foundation Board. Fred completed real estate finance studies in the MBA program at SDSU, and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, cum laude, from SDSU. Prior to founding PEP, Fred was a principal and chief financial officer of Los Angeles-based Platt Companies where he directed the acquisition and financing of $400 million in real estate assets. Prior to that, Fred was Western Regional Director of Real Estate Consulting for Price Waterhouse, as well as Director of Real Estate Investment Consulting for KPMG Peat Marwick/Goodkin Group. For six years (1999-2004), Fred served as a Trustee of the 23-campus, 460,000-student California State University (CSU) System, where he chaired the Institutional Advancement, Audit, and University and Faculty Personnel committees. Fred is also Past President of the Board of Trustees of the City of San Diego’s Pension Fund ($4+ Billion), where he also chaired its Real Estate Investment Committee. He is currently Chairman of SDSU’s Fowler College of Business Board and Executive Committee Member of SDSU’s Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate. Mr. Pierce is also a board member of Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute and The Aztec Club at SDSU. Fred is a former board member of INVESCO’s $350 million Real Estate Fund I, and Past President of the CSU Alumni Council, SDSU Alumni Association and Poway Unified School District Foundation. Fred completed real estate finance studies in the MBA program at SDSU, and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, cum laude, from SDSU.

With over 28 years of experience in master planning, design, and construction administration domestically and abroad, Sean is a key strategic leader on our education team. Sean’s work on student life, athletic, science, and academic buildings is recognized across the industry for fostering community and supporting student success. Over the past decade, Sean has worked on a range of large-scale campus projects including: the Arizona State University Carson Center, Sun Devils Stadium, and university master plans in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda and throughout the US. Prior to that he worked on such campuses as University of Virginia, University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University. He is an active presenter at USGBC and has written extensively about Integrated Project Delivery. As a lifelong hockey player, Sean recognizes the power of the built environment to bring people together for a common cause. He believes that campus design should inspire collaboration, spark conversation, and deepen connections, as well as address the ongoing institutional challenges of recruiting, retention, and revenue.

Roy Griffith is Director of Corporate Development at Clark Pacific where he focuses on strategic planning, market and product development, enterprise technology solutions, and sales organizational support. Before Corporate Development, Roy led Clark Pacific’s Virtual Design and Technology practice, where he developed and implemented Industrialized Construction technologies and practices that are leading to increased efficiencies in the construction industry. Prior to joining Clark Pacific, Mr. Griffith was Director of Corporate Development at Gehry Technologies, where he led the Parametric Design and Risk Mitigation Practices that provided construction professionals with financial Building Information Models. Mr. Griffith was a project designer using CATIA at Gehry Partners after studying with Frank Gehry. While under Gehry’s guidance, Mr. Griffith worked as Architectural Designer and 3D Coordinator for complex building projects such as the Grand Avenue Project, The Brooklyn Arena, and the Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris. Mr. Griffith worked as an investment banker prior to entering the construction industry. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his M. Arch from Yale University.

Michael has more than 24 years of experience in the architectural design of public facilities, primarily on California education campuses. As Design Principal at NAC Architecture, Michael leads design with a strong emphasis on community engagement believing that his best work is informed by real and pragmatic concerns. An energetic designer, Michael has led projects to win 14 AIA awards in his career. He is a frequent lecturer and activist focused on improving the human experience for students and communities. Currently, Michael is studying evidence-based strategies for design for education and the how design can prepare students for the jobs and workspaces of the future.

Laurie Stone was named associate senior vice president for real estate and asset management in September 2013. She is responsible for the oversight and management of a wide variety of real estate matters, including the acquisition and sale of university property, negotiation and management of university leases, negotiation and oversight of ground lease agreements with third-party developers, management of all tenant-occupied properties owned by the university, land use master planning and entitlements, management of the faculty-staff housing assistance programs, property tax payments, exemptions and appeals, and the management of title to certain non-real estate assets. Laurie Stone and her staff also work with the office of planned giving and restricted fund accounting to document the acceptance of gifts to the university and to manage the disposition of all gifted real estate and gifts-in-kind. Laurie Stone joined the university in 2006 as university counsel and program director for capital construction development before joining the real estate department in 2010. From 2010 to 2013 Laurie served as executive director for real estate and asset management. Prior to joining USC, Stone was an associate with the law firm of Latham & Watkins from 1997 to 2006, where she specialized in land use and environmental law. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in construction management from USC, and graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine School of Law.

Mark Cunningham is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Housing, Dining and Hospitality Services at the University of California, San Diego and is in his 36th year of service to the campus. As an Auxiliary enterprise, Housing, Dining and Hospitality Services is required to be self-supporting financially and receives no Federal, State, UC or UC San Diego funding. Income is generated from his customers and it is their choice to live/dine in his facilities. He is responsible for 8M+ sq. ft. of facilities providing a wide variety of housing and dining options to just over 16,000 students, staff, faculty and their dependents through 725 career staff and 1,300+ student staff. Currently, he has three new housing projects totaling over 4,200 new beds going into construction in 2017-18.

As Senior VP of Western Development for EdR, Steve brings 35 years’ experience in construction and development. Steve’s recent career has focused on public-private and mixed-use real estate development in association with universities and colleges, public entities, not-for- profit organizations and other institutions. His most recent projects include Roosevelt Point at Arizona State University- Downtown in Phoenix, AZ, the renovation of Bowles Hall at UC Berkeley – a 1928 historic residential college, and a new honors college and residence hall at Boise State University. In his current role, Steve is responsible for providing leadership to project development teams and management of EdR’s projects in the western U.S. region. Prior to joining EdR, Steve was SVP Development for Concord Eastridge, a development company focused on public-private partnerships, and was Director of Alternative Finance and Delivery for Turner Construction Co., where he was responsible for management of design/build/finance and public-private partnership development projects on a national basis. Steve also previously served as SVP Technical Services with Westin Hotels & Resorts. He earned his M.Arch. from University of Washington and his B.A. in architecture from Yale University.

Pete Angelis is Assistant Vice Chancellor of UCLA Housing & Hospitality Services and has served in his current position since 2007. In his current capacity at UCLA, he oversees a service driven auxiliary enterprise that generates over $330M in annual revenues and employs approximately 2700 team members. The operation houses more than 17,000 students, faculty and staff and serves roughly 30,000 meals daily. The hospitality division includes the 4 star Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center, UCLA Guest House and Lake Arrowhead Conference Center; Bruinwoods Resort. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Vice Chancellor, Pete worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years with industry leaders working with industry leaders such as Hyatt Corporation and Hilton Worldwide Hotels. Pete received his B.A. in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and completed the Executive Program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. Pete and the UCLA Housing & Hospitality Services team are focused on continuing a tradition of excellence in providing premier residential housing, dining, and other hospitality services for students, visiting conference guests, and UCLA faculty and staff. Under Pete’s leadership, the H&HS team has consistently achieved top customer and team member satisfaction scores, while funding well over $1 billion dollars in housing developments and renovations that are either underway or in the early planning stages.

Bill LaPatra is a leader within the student housing and higher education practice at Mithun. He has served as design partner on campus housing projects at UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz and the University of Washington representing more than 7,000 student beds. Bill is adept at balancing the many voices and needs that characterize campus residential projects. He is well versed in a range of project delivery methods, including Design/Build and GC/CM approaches. His work on UCI Mesa Court Towers, a Design/Build project, has been recognized by numerous national awards. Bill’s expertise extends to commercial and corporate projects, notably including extensive work with Silicon Valley tech clients to create innovative workplaces.

Gary Moriarty is Swinerton’s California Regional Business Development Manager & Manager of Public Private Partnership Services. Gary has over 30 years of experience providing development, planning, design, and construction insight for private and public sector clients, as well as capital improvement projects and programs. Gary has built his career on finding creative ways to improve how major public sector capital improvement projects and programs are planned, designed, financed and maintained, and he deeply believes that P3’s are a viable alternative to the traditional ways of financing, delivering, and maintaining public infrastructure.

As part of the new generation of leadership at KTGY, David Senden is instrumental to the expansion and increased design profile of the firm. Mr. Senden specializes in urban infill residential and mixed-use developments, with work across the United States and internationally. In addition, he has a substantial portfolio of campus housing and specialty projects including affordable developments and recreation facilities. Since joining KTGY in early 2002, he has led teams in each of KTGY’s offices and often travels where needed to contribute to the firm’s most challenging design opportunities. As member of KTGY’s Board of Directors, Mr. Senden is responsible for setting the big picture, strategic vision for the firm, increasing the firm’s profile and ensuring work at the highest levels. He was named to Building Design + Construction magazine’s list of the industry’s top 40 under 40 and has designed numerous award-winning projects from coast to coast. Mr. Senden is a frequent speaker at various national and regional industry events and has written and contributed to countless articles touching on all aspects of design and the building industry. A lecturer and critic at several universities, Mr. Senden emphasizes the connection between the profession and the academy and values mentorship as key to developing talent and integrating the most current design thinking.