Miami's 2017 Outlook & Forecast Forum

Mr. Defortuna is President, CEO and Founder of Fortune International Group, a Miami-based full- service real estate firm recognized throughout South Florida, Latin America and Europe as a leader in high-end luxury real estate. He oversees all of the company’s activities across all of its business units. Mr. Defortuna is involved with the strategic decision making of the group, as well as the day-to-day operations of each of its divisions. He started the business in 1983, and quickly became a driving force in real estate. Through his company’s success and far reach into U.S., European and Latin American markets, Mr. Defortuna is widely recognized for having made a significant contribution to the internationalization of Miami and its reputation as a global business, trade and vacation hub. He currently serves as a member of the Mayor of Miami's International Council and also as Director of the Argentine-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in Miami. Additionally, he is a member of several charitable organizations in Miami, such as Manos del Sur, Mt. Sinai Hospital and St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. Mr. Defortuna holds a Bachelors Degree in Electrical and Chemical Engineering from the National University of Argentina and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Miami. Fully fluent English and Spanish, Mr. Defortuna is married to Ana Cristina and has five children.

Robert (“Bob”) Zangrillo is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dragon Global. Zangrillo is a veteran investor and executive in the social networking, entertainment media, eCommerce, mobility, software and mobile industries and his talents for providing significant financial returns for his investors and building teams dedicated to delivering leading industry solutions are widely known. Over the last few years, Zangrillo has diversified into commercial real estate development in Miami, where he has partnered with Tony Cho to build Cho Dragon, one of Miami’s leading real estate development companies. Over the last eight years, Zangrillo has built Dragon Global into one of the leading venture growth firms based on his track record of investing in the leading technology growth companies, including Facebook, Jet.com, Twitter, Uber Technologies, and Zynga. Zangrillo has over twenty-five years of experience in venture capital with a remarkable track record. He has been a pioneer in the venture growth investment area where he has led some of the largest primary and secondary investments. Zangrillo was one of the earliest late stage venture growth investors in Facebook. During the period from 2008-2012, Zangrillo became one of the largest late stage investors in Facebook, through multiple predecessor funds, leading to his founding of Dragon Global. Zangrillo was both one of the early visionaries to recognize the enormous potential of social media in 2008 and Internet commerce in 1995 and how they both would transform the way business is conducted in the new global economy. Over the last twenty-five years, Zangrillo has been a prominent figure in the Internet community, with significant roles as a Chairman and CEO, venture capital investor, active executive director and advisor to high-growth companies. Zangrillo has been recognized for his leadership in the industry and has received numerous personal and technology awards, such as 1998 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year and Crain’s Top 40 under 40 Award. From 2001-2006, Zangrillo was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, where he served on the Committee on Finance and Budget. Zangrillo received his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and his BA from the University of Vermont.

Bernardo Fort-Brescia, FAIA, is a founding Principal of Arquitectonica. He studied architecture and urban planning at Princeton University and received a Master of Architecture from Harvard University, where he later taught. Today Arquitectonica has designed buildings in 58 countries from offices around the world. Mr. Fort-Brescia’s designs have won hundreds of design awards. His work has been featured in 6,000 national and international publications and has been the subject of numerous museum exhibitions in the Americas, Europe and Asia. He is the recipient of the AIA Florida Honor for Design Award and the AIA Silver Medal for Design Excellence. He was honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame. Mr. Fort-Brescia was honored by the Salvadori Center in New York with the 2000 Founder’s Award. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Urban Land Institute Lifetime Achievement Award, marking the first time an architect has won the award. Mr. Fort-Brescia has taught at Harvard University, University of Miami and Florida International University, and has chaired architectural advisory boards at these institutions as well, including the University of Miami School of Architecture. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Wolfsonian Museum and the New World Symphony. He is also a strong supporter of the National YoungArts Foundation. Mr. Fort-Brescia currently sits on the Urban Land Institute Advisory Board.

Kerri L. Barsh represents public and private clients in public infrastructure matters, as well as environmental regulatory and litigation issues. She was a member of the Greenberg Traurig team that worked on some of the state’s most prominent public-private transportation projects including the construction of the PortMiami Tunnel and the widening of Interstate I-4 in and through Orlando, Florida’s largest P3 project. The two projects demonstrate how public-private partnerships can facilitate development of public infrastructure. Kerri also worked on the California Light Rail Project that connects the mega regions of the state running from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin. She was selected by Miami Today as “Best of Miami: Thought Leaders” in 2016 and South Florida Business Journal one of 25 “Influential Business Women” in 2011.

Led by Principal Shahab S. Karmely, New York based KAR Properties is a real estate investment and development firm. With over 28 years of international real estate experience, Shahab S. Karmely has honed an impressive pedigree in transactional, managerial, and developmental disciplines. These, combined with an extensive background in fine arts and design, are the foundational elements of his development expertise and overall vision. As the founder of KAR Properties LLC, and through KAR and/or its affiliates, Mr. Karmely has acquired, repositioned, and monetized over 3 million square feet of office, luxury mixed-use, and industrial space in the US, Southeast Asia, and Europe. With offices in New York and Miami, KAR currently oversees the management of a core portfolio of assets and a development pipeline in excess of 5 million square feet. KAR has made a significant entry into the Miami market with acquisitions in excess of $200 million in established and emerging neighborhoods. The firm is currently developing 2000 Ocean in Hallandale Beach, a 38-story, a private residential enclave located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. In Downtown Miami, KAR Properties is also developing One River Point, a two-tower, 60-story development that will rise 800 feet above the Miami River. Mr. Karmely’s background as an owner/manager and developer gives him a unique perspective and invaluable insights in analyzing and implementing the appropriate strategies for a variety of asset classes. He champions innovative and inventive approaches in response to changing market conditions, trends, and new opportunities as is required in today’s dynamic real estate markets.

A graduate Industrial Engineer and Attorney, he has focused on environmental and technology issues throughout his career. Continuedly elected since 1968, Harvey has served as a Mayor, Miami-Dade County Commissioner and currently as Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. He has served under three Presidents in Advisory roles: President Carter – Intergovernmental Science, Engineering and Technology; President Reagan – Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and President Clinton – U.S. Commission on Sustainable Communities. He has been deeply involved in Climate Change issues, as a founder and officer of the ICLEI USA (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) and as Chair of Miami-Dade Task Force on Climate Change and currently as Chair of the County’s Sea Level Rise Task Force.

James F. Murley serves as Assistant Dean for External Affairs, College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs and Director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions, Florida Atlantic University. Governor Charlie Crist appointed Jim as the first Chair of the Florida Energy and Climate Commission. Jim also serves as Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force and is a member and chair of the Build Environment Committee of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force. Jim is Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the Urban Land Institute's Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council and was recently appointed a member of Mayor of Miami-Dade County's new Sustainability Advisory Board. Jim is a former Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs and Executive Director of 1,000 Friends of Florida. Jim is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Jim graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio with a BA in History and George Washington University Law School. He is a graduate of Class IX Leadership Florida

Stephen Owens is a 30-plus year veteran of Swire Properties, Inc., one of the leading real estate developers in South Florida and a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based Swire Properties Ltd, and has been in charge of U.S. operations since 1985. Prior to assuming his current role as President, Mr. Owens oversaw Swire’s commercial and residential investment portfolio totaling more than two million square feet.

Reinaldo Borges has a Masters Degree in Architecture with a focus on Mixed-Use and Hybrid urban projects and urban design. With over 25 years of Professional experience, he has won numerous international design competitions awards. His work has been published in national and international architectural publications and ranges from design collaboration of the New American Airlines Arena in Miami, to the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel in South Miami Beach, to a New Carillon Canyon Ranch Resort in Miami Beach, to Community Centers and Fire Stations in Sunrise Florida. He is a Florida and Maryland registered architect, a certified member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and an active member of the American Institute of Architects and the US Green Building Council. Reinaldo has developed a well-rounded background in the field of architecture, in projects ranging from luxury high-rise multi-family residences to resort/urban hotels and complex mixed-use facilities to Fire Stations and Building renovations. Moderate to Luxury condominium high-rise design and hospitality projects are his strongest design specialties. Reinaldo uses responsive creative problem solving from concept to final detailed execution of the work, with an enthusiastic team oriented approach. He has successfully collaborated with national design teams in design collaborations numerous times. During the design of the new American Airlines Arena where Mr. Borges as the design leader, directed a team of over 20 design professional ranging from Sports Architects to Structural and Mechanical Engineers. Rigorous design oriented and balanced with a strong technical background is the Borges leadership approach to the profession of architecture and engineering systems. PROJECT EXPERIENCE • 888 Brickell Corporate Tower, LEED Building, Miami FL • Palm Center Residential Mixed-Use Housing, Sustainable Design, Hialeah FL • Infinity at Brickell Phase I, 60 story, Condo Tower, Miami FL • Miami Free Trade Zone, Office Building, Miami Fl • UPS Distribution Center, Miami FL • Susquehana Financial Office, LEED Building, Hagerstown, MD • Mansion on the Beach, Condo Hotel, Miami Beach Fl • Lofts at Mayfair, Coconut Grove Fl • Webster Hotel Boutique, Miami Beach Fl • E-suites Business Hotel Prototype, 150 Key- 300 Locations USA • Beach Club in Marco Island, Restaurant and Club, marco Island Fl • Royal Palm Resort Hotel, 424 room, 2 17 story Towes, Historic Preservation MB • Carillon Swisshotel, 650 rooms in 2 towers with Convention Facilities, MB • American Airlines Arena, 20,000 Basketball seating, mullet- use Arena, Miami Fl • Community Village Beach Club, Sunrise Fl • Fire Station No 83, Police Substation, Sunrise FL

As Vice President of Corporate Development for Florida East Coast Industries (FECI), Francois Illas is responsible for pre-development project issues including land use, environmental, traffic and general governmental regulation, as well as property acquisition and seller issues. Mr. Illas’ involvement spans across projects for FECI and its subsidiary companies including a $3 billion transportation and commercial real estate investment, which also represents the United States’ first privately owned and operated intercity passenger rail system connecting Miami and Orlando; Flagler Global Logistics, the largest industrial developer in Florida and an integrated logistics company; and Flagler, a full-service real estate company focused on the commercial office sector.

Javier F. Aviñó serves as Practice Group Leader of Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development & Government Relations Group. Javier focuses his practice in land use and zoning law. In South Florida, he is the first stop for developers before they put a shovel in the ground. From the development of multiple Affordable Housing Projects, negotiating multi-million construction loans, to assisting with a $2.4 billion high-speed passenger rail project connecting South and Central Florida, Javier's deep roots in the community have allowed him to assist in projects that are helping to shape the landscape in South Florida. He represented The Sydell Group, developer of the trendy Freehand Miami hostel (formerly the Indian Creek Hotel), in its acquisition, zoning, and liquor license issues related to renovating the historic Art Deco building. He also represented Miami Produce Center, an entity controlled by Robert Wennett, in the filing of a Special Area Plan (SAP) with the City of Miami for a proposed eight-building development with over 1 million square feet of residential, office, retail, hotel, and educational components in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Javier has been recognized by Chambers USA, South Florida Business Journal, and South Florida Legal Guide. Javier has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston College and received his J.D. from the University of Miami.

Joe Hernandez is a sought-after transactional real estate and business lawyer with a unique perspective: he is able to draw from his prior work experience as a banker and general counsel for a private equity firm to inform his representation of a variety of clients seeking to engage in complex commercial real estate and business transactions. Joe’s clients include real estate developers, financial institutions, private equity firms, high net worth individuals, and public entities in all phases of complex commercial real estate and business transactions in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. He handles acquisitions, development, financing, leasing, joint ventures, and advises clients on raising capital for real estate projects. Joe has also developed a particular niche representing condominium associations and cooperative corporations being pursued by developers for acquisition of the units and termination of the condominium or cooperative. Joe coordinates a multi-disciplinary approach in order to counsel clients in navigating the myriad of legal issues faced by associations and unit owners in these situations. Joe also represents condominium associations, community associations, developers of condominium projects, and groups of unit owners in a variety of condominium law and community association matters, including turnovers, dispute resolution, casualties and construction defects issues. Joe is an agent for several national title insurance companies and has handled the resolution of complex title insurance issues involving real property in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining the firm, Joe served as general counsel for an asset management firm owned by Cerberus Capital. Prior to that, Joe was the head of the real estate practice group at the Miami office of an AmLaw 100 firm and a real estate shareholder at one of the largest law firms in the country. Prior to law school, Joe was a banker at a large money center bank in New York and also worked for the predecessor of Bank of America for five years as a corporate and real estate banker. Joe was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) in 2017. Active in the community, Joe is on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Greater Miami. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law and teaches courses in real estate finance for the Real Property Development L.L.M Program.