Oakland State of the Market & Opportunity Zones

Before joining the A’s, Tan was Senior Vice President and U.S. Head of Development at Bentall Kennedy, one of North America’s largest real estate investment advisors. During her tenure, the company invested in the development of more than $3 billion of mixed-use commercial, multi-family, and logistics projects throughout the U.S. Tan has additional experience as Executive Vice President and Director of Northern California Operations at Related California, where she opened the office and built up a $2 billion pipeline of affordable and mixed income, mixed use developments throughout the Bay Area. Her work included successful partnerships with Oakland based non-profit EBALDC, the Oakland Housing Authority and Acts Full Gospel Church on community redevelopment projects in East Oakland. She was also the Executive Vice President at BRIDGE Housing Corporation, where she led teams focused on all aspects of the development and financing of mixed income and affordable housing communities, as well as large scale redevelopment efforts throughout California, including Chestnut Linden, Mandela Gateway and Central Station in West Oakland, MacArthur BART, and St. Josephs in East Oakland. During her tenure at BRIDGE, she oversaw the development of $3.5 billion of affordable and mixed income housing, pedestrian-oriented commercial space, and community facilities. Throughout her work and volunteer career, Tan has worked with nonprofits and local organizations to effect positive change focused on raising the quality of life and increasing opportunity in lower income communities. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the S.H. Cowell Foundation; SPUR; and Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. She is a former longtime volunteer at EBALDC, serving on its Board of Directors and its Real Estate Committee. She is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, and the Stanford Real Estate Council. Tan and her husband are Resident Fellows at Stanford University, where they work to create an enriched residential experience for 270 undergraduate students. Tan holds a BA in Architecture from University of California, Berkeley and a MBA from Stanford University. She is a Registered Architect in California.

Peter leads regional development activities in the Bay Area. His current projects include Uptown Station (400k SF office), 1100 Clay St. (288-units), Jack London Square (333-units) and One Tehama (100k SF office). Prior to CIM, he was a Director for Irvine Company on Santa Clara Square and Santa Clara Gateway. He also was a Project Manager in New York City where he worked on the Empire State Building and the 9/11 Memorial.

Matt Ticknor is a developer specializing in multifamily mixed-use infill projects, including acquisition, entitlement and joint venture partnerships. With over a decade of high-level real estate experience, Matt has been involved in over $2 billion of real estate development and investment. Prior to founding Junction Properties, Matt served a dual role as a developer of multifamily projects in the Northwest as well as served in a capital markets role for the west coast development division of Greystar, the largest property manager in the country with 400,000 units under management and over $2 Billion worth of projects in development. Previously, Matt was an assistant vice president with Real Estate Capital Partners (RECP) responsible for identifying development opportunities on the west coast. While at RECP, Matt underwrote and oversaw the acquisition and development of 7,400 apartment homes and 500,000 square feet of commercial space. Matt has a BS in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University and a Masters in Real Estate Finance from New York University.

As Design Director, Mark brings over 35 years of experience in architecture, leading the charge on a broad spectrum of project typologies ranging from small multifamily residential projects to large scale, complex mixed-use development. Mark is known for his collaborative approach, reflecting a belief in a truly integrated process from project onset to delivery. Notably, Mark was the Design Director for The Jasper – a 39-story high rise; Truckee Artist Lofts – a 77-unit modular, affordable housing project; and Electric Lofts – a micro-unit, co-living, urban-infill apartment building in Oakland. With an attention to detail and focus on materiality, Mark continues to lead successful design projects tuned to the local conditions and incorporating innovative approaches to project delivery. As a college lecturer teaching design and MEP integration, he has passed these successful strategies on to the next generation of architects.

Brennan is a landscape architect and urban designer with 19 years of experience working at all scales of the built environment and for all types of clients. He is a founding partner of GROUNDWORKS Office and amongst a new generation of designers using technology as tool for designing, prototyping and constructing innovative landscapes. His work seeks to expand the field of landscape architecture and build projects that imbue the complexities of our environmental conditions and promote a strong civic stewardship. He prefers to solve every problem with a Pentel Sign Pen Model #S520 and a roll of trace paper, and he usually isn’t very far from a tape measure.

Mr. Protopappas developed his first live/work project in 1985 and has developed and managed over sixty commercial and residential projects during the past twenty-eight years. During that time, Mr. Protopappas transformed many neglected properties by turning them into mixed-use live/work spaces. These projects, such as the historic Tribune Tower and the Bakery Lofts at the site of the former Remar Bakery in Emeryville, are representative of his innovative approach to revitalizing urban neighborhoods through mixed-use projects. Mr. Protopappas is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with an A.B. in Economics. He served on the Port of Oakland’s Board of Commissioners from 2000 to 2007 and as its president from 2004-2005. Mr. Protopappas currently serves on the Board of Directors of Summit Bank, the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Foundation, the Oakland Police Foundation and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.

Charles Kahn is the managing principal of Studio KDA, a 25-person architecture firm specializes in multifamily housing, retail centers, and restaurants with services ranging from master planning to interior design. Studio KDA is diverse in project type but unified in its mission: to use design to create places that are true to their culture and context, that are engaging and lasting, and that foster social interaction. As a former developer and general contractor, Charles’ perspective is informed by a deep understanding of his clients concerns and objectives. He enjoys working with people and is often sought for his aptitude in building consensus with municipalities, neighborhood groups, and local businesses to get complex projects entitled and built efficiently. Charles is a frequent lecturer at U.C. Berkeley, a panelist at ICSC events, and is a current member of the City of Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustments Board and Design Review Commission. He received a BA from Harvard University and Masters from U.C. Berkeley.

As founding principal of Levy Design Partners in 1979, Toby Levy brings years of highly-engaged leadership in the design profession and community. She oversees and participates in all aspects of the firm’s work from programming to design, design production, and construction. Her work has been widely recognized, and the American Institute of Architects honored her with the title of Fellow (FAIA) in recognition of her contribution to advancing the standards of architectural practice, education and training. Throughout her years of professional practice, she has regularly taught architecture at institutions including the UC Berkeley, Columbia University and California College of the Arts. As a result of her participation on the University of California at Berkeley Design Review Team and the AIA Design Review Committee, she has developed a broad perspective on the successful resolution of design problems.

Jason Overman is a partner at Lighthouse Public Affairs, the largest public affairs firm in Northern California. Jason has 17 years of experience in professional politics and leads Lighthouse’s Oakland office—providing thoughtful, ethical, effective advocacy for a diverse set of blue chip clients by crafting winning messages and navigating the complexities of government. Prior to joining Lighthouse, Jason served as a local elected official in the East Bay from 2004 to 2008—and has worked as a spokesman, speechwriter, and strategist to elected officials such as Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan, former California Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, and the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. Jason has deep relationships throughout the Bay Area with prominent elected officials, journalists, and civic change-makers. Since becoming a lobbyist in 2015, Jason has worked with over 80 different clients, providing political representation and strategic counsel on high-stakes, high-profile matters in the intersection of politics, community, and media. In particular, he's played a critical role in political strategy for the entitlement of large real estate projects such as UrbanCore's E. 12th Street Remainder Parcel near Lake Merritt, Mill Creek Residential’s 18-story tower in Berkeley, and other controversial efforts. Jason hails originally from Washington, D.C. and has a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. A dedicated Cal Football fan, Jason lives in the Oakland Hills with his fiancée, Jean, and their pup, Henri.

Alexander J. Pugh is a Partner in Lubin Olson's Real Estate, Business, Finance and Workouts, and Construction Law Practice Groups. Mr. Pugh represents clients in a wide range of real estate and business transactions, including debt and equity financing, real estate acquisitions and sales, real estate construction and development, commercial and industrial leasing and ground leases, workouts, mortgage loan repurchase transactions, and UCC and mortgage foreclosures. He represents private equity funds, hedge funds, corporate and individual developers and owners of office, multi-family, retail, hotel, industrial, recreational and high end residential real estate, mortgage and mezzanine lenders, and other public and privately-held companies investing in or using real estate.  Mr. Pugh also has particular expertise in matters relating to California broker licensing. Before joining Lubin Olson, Mr. Pugh practiced in the real estate and finance group at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in San Francisco.  Mr. Pugh lives with his wife, son and daughter in San Francisco. Mr. Pugh was honored by Thompson Reuters as a Northern California Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in 2016 and 2017.

Patrick Kennedy is the owner of Panoramic Interests, a development firm that has been building housing, live-work space, and commercial property in the Bay Area since 1990. The firm has focused on dense, mixed-use, mixed-income, infill developments, typically financed with private funds. All of the multi-family housing projects include below market rate units. The firm’s projects incorporate the Smart Growth principles designed to discourage auto use, mitigate sprawl, encourage local business, and enhance the pedestrian streetscape. Mr. Kennedy grew up in the East Bay, and attended Claremont McKenna College, majoring in Economics and English. He is a former member of the Carpenters Union and Steelworkers Union, and the California Bar. After college, he worked as a contractor, and then attended Harvard Law School and MIT, graduating with a J.D. and a Masters in Real Estate Development. Early development work included building his own house, and renovating several small commercial properties. His hobbies include open water swimming and ultra-light backpacking, both of which have furnished surprising insights into his work in development.

Ross Stackhouse is a Principal at Tidewater Capital. His primary responsibilities include managing the firm's operations and directing Tidewater's market research and investment strategy. Mr. Stackhouse also directs many of its philanthropic and community engagement activities. Before joining Tidewater, Mr. Stackhouse worked for The JBG Companies in Washington, D.C., where he led a variety of residential, office, hotel, and retail investments including the management of new acquisitions and support of numerous development and asset management projects. Mr. Stackhouse also oversaw the firm's market research platform during his time at JBG. Mr. Stackhouse is an active member of the Bay Area Council, SPUR, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Urban Land Institute. He is also a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) and serves as the Chair of the organization's Northern California Chapter. A native of lower Manhattan in New York City, Mr. Stackhouse holds a Bachelor of the Arts with Honors in Environmental Studies from Brown University. He is passionate about sustainable development, creative land use, and the evolution of vibrant urban environments.

Chek F. Tang, AIA, NCARB, is a veteran architect and urban designer with a passion for and commitment to building livable communities that reflect the fundamental values of smart growth and sustainability, collaboration and community. He has led significant urban design projects both internationally and throughout the Bay Area, including community planning, transit-oriented development and mixed-use buildings. He believes in a strong collaborative relationship between the client, community, and a multi-disciplinary design team. He also has a deep appreciation for the challenges facing both the private and public sectors, and so embraces a balanced approach in addressing pressing global challenges. Chek received a Master of Architecture, Cum Laude, from the Ohio State University, is actively involved in several professional organizations including the American Institute of Architects and the Urban Land Institute, and has been the recipient of numerous design and development awards.

Jeff Ludlow has been managing multidisciplinary environmental land development for Langan’s Bay Area private and public clients for more than 33 years. His specialty are complex remediation projects that not only require creative remediation solutions, but a very skillful approach to permitting through a multitude of regulatory agencies. A combination of in-depth knowledge and practical experience with complex sites, such as industrial properties, landfills, superfund sites, wastewater streams and mine tailings, has allowed Jeff to design mitigation solutions that are cost effective, constructible and integral to other building systems. In short, Jeff’s far-reaching expertise render him and his Langan team invaluable partners to developers, owners and architects alike.

Sherry Okun-Rudnak leads BAE’s Atlanta practice, as well as projects across BAE offices. She specializes in providing practical real estate development advisory services, economic development support, housing studies, market studies, financial feasibility analyses, and economic impacts analyses to BAE’s clients. She is currently leading BAE’s assignments in providing development advisory services to Fulton County to support the disposition and redevelopment of five former hotels located within the Fulton Industrial Boulevard Corridor. She is also providing market and feasibility services to the City of Sandy Springs in support of the North Springs MARTA Station TOD & Peachtree Dunwoody Road Corridor Study. Sherry has lectured on real estate market analysis for the ULI Real Estate School, and is an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Policy Studies.