National Student Housing Conference

Wesley Rogers

CEO
Landmark Properties

As President and CEO of Landmark Properties, Wes has overseen the design, financing, development, and operations of nearly $2 Billion worth of new construction student housing. Wes and Landmark have largely focused on developing student cottage communities under the “Retreat” brand, and, more recently, have expanded into luxury urban infill. Wes is responsible for establishing and implementing Landmark¹s overall corporate strategy. He is very involved in the development and finance side of the Company¹s business, but his hands on leadership style keeps him engaged in all aspects of the business. Landmark currently has approximately $800 Million in student housing currently under construction, making the Company one of the most active developers in the Space. Wes, an Athens, GA native, obtained his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Georgia in 1999 and his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from UGA in 2004. While finishing up his MBA, Wes partnered with James Whitley to form Landmark Properties in May 2004. Wes lives in Athens with his wife, Kimberly, and sons, James, Harrison and William.

David Adelman

CEO
76 Devcorp

Fred Pierce

President & CEO
Pierce Education Properties

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.

Jeff Githens

President, Development
Peak Campus

Jeff joined the Company in 2008. In his role as President of Development, he is responsible for all aspects of sourcing, underwriting, and executing of new development opportunities for the Company. Jeff has been directly involved in the development of over $500 million of student housing apartment properties including all product types – garden-style, mid-rise, high-rise, and historic redevelopment. He has successfully conducted complex land acquisitions, redeveloped environmentally sensitive Brownfield properties, as well as qualified projects for tax credit programs, including historic, and led difficult rezoning and entitlement efforts. Prior to joining the Company, he held several senior management positions in the development, construction, and technology industries. Jeff earned his MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he graduated with honors.

Justin Gronlie

Director & Head of Education Real Estate
Harrison Street

Mr. Gronlie joined the firm in 2010 and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. As a Director and Head of Education Real Estate in the Transactions group, he oversees the firm’s education investment platform. He is responsible for defining and implementing the firm’s investment strategy in university markets throughout the US as well as expanding Harrison Street’s Public Private Partnerships (P3’s). Mr. Gronlie has fostered relationships with public universities, academically selective private colleges and various other institutions, which has allowed Harrison Street to invest capital enabling its higher education partners to further their academic missions. Prior to joining Harrison Street, Mr. Gronlie was an Assistant Vice President within the Commercial Real Estate Group at Citizens Bank. In this capacity, he was responsible for underwriting and portfolio management in the Mid-Atlantic region. He also served as the bank’s student housing specialist, whereby he analyzed each lending opportunity the bank evaluated within the asset class. Before working at Citizens, Mr. Gronlie was a Senior Acquisitions Analyst at GMH Communities Trust, a student housing REIT. Mr. Gronlie holds a BBA in Finance from James Madison University.

James Wilhelm, III

EVP, Public Private Transactions
American Campus Communities

Jamie is the executive overseeing ACC’s P3 division, responsible for all on-campus business development efforts, including our American Campus Equity® (ACE) program. Under Jamie’s leadership, his team has developed and/or completed more than three dozen on-campus transactions – including third party, tax-exempt bond finance projects, conventional leasehold mortgages, university general obligation bonds, and direct investments under the ACE program. These transactions comprise nearly $2.1 billion in total development cost. All told, Jamie has been involved in higher education finance for more than 25 years. Prior to joining ACC in 2007, Jamie was an investment banker specializing in higher education and related non-profit finance. Throughout his investment banking career, Jamie participated in the origination of more than $2 billion of debt and derivative transactions for more than 80 higher education institutions and nonprofits. Prior to joining the company, he also served as the investment banker for more than $350 million of ACC projects prior to joining the company. Having worked very closely with higher-ed presidents, CFOs, and finance committees, Jamie has an unmatched understanding of the complex issues these leaders face when managing their balance sheets, debt capacity, and credit ratings while successfully achieving their overall mission and vision. His deep experience and unique perspective combine to help ACC achieve win-win solutions for the colleges and universities we serve. Jamie joined ACC from RBC Bank’s public finance department, where he served as the managing director of the higher education sector. Prior to RBC, he was a managing director with Banc One Capital Markets (currently JPMorgan Capital Markets) and held positions at McDonald & Company Securities (currently KeyBanc Capital Markets) and The Ohio Company (currently Fifth Third Markets).

Jason Taylor

Vice President, Public Private Partners
American Campus Communities

As vice president of public-private partnerships, Jason Taylor participates in American Campus Communities (ACC) business development and university partnership efforts. His responsibilities include assisting university leaders in the evaluation of facility financing and delivery options. Prior to joining ACC in 2019, Jason participated in the planning and execution of more than $1.5 billion in public-private partnership student housing, and advised more than 140 colleges and universities on the planning, feasibility and financing of campus housing. He served as managing director of university partnerships at Greystar where he led P3 student housing business development and partnership efforts in the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. He also served as chief executive of the advisory services practice in his 12 years at The Scion Group, which served more than 200 campus markets and advised more than $4.5 billion of student housing development during his tenure. He is an active member of numerous industry and professional associations, including the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Foundation Board of Trustees and ACUHO-I P3 Working Group, and is a frequent panelist and presenter on public-private partnerships and the future of higher education. Taylor began his career in university housing marketing and public relations at the University of Michigan, where he received his degree in economics.

Ed Datz

Executive Director, Real Estate
University of Pennsylvania

As Executive Director of Real Estate for the University oversee the strategic planning and management of Penn’s vast non-academic real estate holdings including real estate partnerships, off-campus housing, retail, development, brokerage (acquisitions and divestitures), third party leasing, urban planning and property management.

TJ Logan

Associate VP
Temple University

Dr. T. J. Logan currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at Temple University, where he oversees the department of University Housing and Residential Life, Student Center Operations, and Division-wide assessment and strategic planning efforts. Previously, T. J. served as the Director of Housing for Administrative Services at the University of Florida; where he supervised occupancy management of the largest single-site housing provider in the south-eastern United States, as well as marketing and brand management, customer service operations, safety and security, conference services, the university-wide office for youth protection, and corporate sponsorship programs. As a student affairs professional, T. J. has presented internationally on the topics of social media in higher education, innovation in university housing operations, enrollment management trends, occupancy management, and business operations. He has spoken at the CUBO annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the AACUHO annual conference in Melbourne, Australia. He has also served as the Business Practices and Enhancements Director for the ACUHO-I Executive Board, a panelist for the ACUHO-I Virtual Roundtable on social media in housing, and a faculty member for the ACUHO-I Chief Housing Officer Institute. In addition to formal speaking engagements, Dr. Logan has been published in a variety of trade magazines, books, and journals; and has written blogs for Socialnomics.net and studentaffairsfeature.com T. J. earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Florida, and his B.A. and M.B.A from Kent State University.

Ann Volz

Senior Project Executive
The Scion Group

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.

Samuel Olshin

Principal
Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Samuel E. Olshin, AIA, is a principal in Atkin Olshin Schade Architects of Philadelphia, PA and Santa Fe, NM. The twenty-five person firm specializes in a wide variety of institutional projects including university, museum, school, hospitality, and religious commissions. Clients include the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Bryn Mawr College, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Hamilton College, Pennsylvania State University, Princeton University, the Loomis Chaffee School, and the Episcopal Academy. Mr. Olshin received a BA and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. While a student, he received the E. Lewis Dales Traveling Fellowship, the Arthur Spayd Brooke Bronze Medal, and the Paul Phillipe Cret Thesis Medal. He is the recipient of the 1998 Philadelphia Chapter AIA Young Architect Award, and has served as architectural critic at Temple University, Drexel University, Philadelphia University, Villanova University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1989, Mr. Olshin has served Senior Visiting Studio Critic for the Introduction to Architectural Design course in the Growth & Structure of Cities Department at Bryn Mawr College. This course focuses on urban design strategies, investigations into building materials, and sustainable design initiatives. Mr. Olshin is a member and exhibitor at the Philadelphia Sketch Club, and serves on the Building Committee of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School and the Board of Mural Arts Philadelphia.

Anastasia Kouimelis

Senior Manager of Real Estate
SoulCycle

Nick Bayer

CEO
Saxbys

Nick Bayer has always been in the business of bringing people together, whether it’s as one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs or as a consummate team captain since Little League. So when he created Saxbys Coffee in 2005, he never really considered it to be a coffee company — instead, it’s a hospitality company fueled by great coffee. Saxbys has since grown from one corner café to a 30-unit, Philadelphia-based hospitality business with a mission: Make Life Better. Driven by deep-seated core values and O.D.D. (outgoing, detail-oriented, and disciplined) team members, Saxbys is headquartered in Center City Philadelphia with cafés in nine states and on a number of college campuses — and growing fast (30% a year fast). In April 2015, Saxbys opened its first experiential learning café. The product of a partnership between Saxbys and Drexel University’s Close School of Entrepreneurship, it’s the nation’s first entirely student-run café where students earn full academic credit through a university cooperative education (co-op) program. Nick is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and an adjunct professor at Drexel University, where he teaches a course in entrepreneurial franchising. As a frequent guest lecturer at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University’s Fox School of Business, American University’s Kogod School of Business and Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, Nick loves supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and encouraging everyone he meets to believe in the Saxbys mission and core values. He serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region and the board of Drexel University Steinbright Career Development Center. He resides in Center City Philadelphia with his wife and son.

Christina Zipf

Regional Real Estate Manager
Wawa

Christina is a Senior Real Estate Associate with Wawa, Inc. where she is responsible for the coordination and negotiation of real estate transactions within Wawa’s existing portfolio of 800 (+) stores. Prior to joining Wawa, Christina was a retail real estate broker at CBRE where she leased over 200,000 SF for her landlord clients and participated in bringing new tenants to the market such as Warby Parker, The Shade Store, Pandora, Juice Press, barre3, and CorePower Yoga.

Donald Moore

VP of Real Estate
Drexel University

As the Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities for Drexel University, Donald E. Moore is responsible for providing strategic master planning, general management and professional direction for all of the University's buildings and properties. He maintains oversight of the departments within Real Estate and Facilities, including business operations, environmental health and safety, facilities management, planning, design and construction, real estate and lease management, and transportation. Moore has over 35 years of experience in facilities and operations management, master planning, real estate development, and executive leadership. Prior to Drexel, Moore led Rowan University's facilities and operations during the largest and most sustained growth period in the university's history, implementing approximately $700 million in capital projects. Before that, he served for five years as associate vice president for facilities and operations at Stockton University, where he led the development of three satellite campus locations. Moore has extensive experience with commercial high-rise building development, and prior to his work at universities, he served in a variety of facilities and real estate management and consulting roles in both the public and private sectors. Moore serves on the boards of several community and development organizations in the region, including Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia and the Urban Land Institute's University Development & Innovation Council and Philadelphia Advisory Board. He is an active member of many professional organizations, including the Society for College and University Planning International, the Construction Management Association of America, and the Urban Land Institute. Moore earned a bachelor of science degree in Construction Management/Civil Engineering from Bradley University and an MBA from Stockton University.

Kyle Bach

CEO
The Annex Group

Kyle Bach launched The Annex Group, LLC (f/k/a Mecca Companies, Inc.) in 2006 to provide student housing in under served campus markets and affordable housing in large university communities. He oversees the companies strategy, capital and leadership platforms for all companies under The Annex Group umbrella. Bach has been involved in over $500 million of real estate development during his tenure. His passion, in university communities, is to provide housing opportunities that serve as a catalyst for economic development, not only for the residents of our projects, but also the communities and campuses we serve.

Edward Broderick

President & CEO
Gilbane Development Company

As President and CEO of Gilbane Development Company, Ed Broderick is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and overseeing day-to-day operations, fostering consistent performance and customer satisfaction. He has 35 years of experience in the engineering, development and management industries, including oversight of project and development management personnel, assisting project teams from building inception through completion, contract preparation and negotiations, staffing assignments and project financial monitoring. Mr. Broderick joined Gilbane’s comprehensive management training program in 1982. This four-year learning opportunity provided him with a full overview of the construction industry and expanded his knowledge of the company’s structural organization. Mr. Broderick has served in many capacities including project engineer, project manager and development manager on build-to-suit projects for clients such as First Data Corporation, BNY Mellon and the Columbia Energy Group. In 1999, he was named Vice President of Operations for Gilbane Development and then promoted to Executive Vice President in January 2008. In January 2014 he was named President, and in January 2018 he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Ed holds a BS from Manhattan College and an MBA from Providence College. He is a member of NAIOP, the Urban Land Institute, the Boy Scouts of America Executive Board, the Bishops Real Estate Committee, and has served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA.

Thomas Rowe

Principal
Michael Graves

With the firm since 1984, Tom Rowe’s experience encompasses from small, focused interventions within existing facilities to large-scale, free-standing buildings. Tom excels at integrating complex program requirements and designs buildings tailored to the needs and cultures of his clients. Guided by an understanding that each project, regardless of its size, is an opportunity to improve efficiencies, Tom develops long-term client relationships and has earned national awards for design excellence. With extensive experience in civic and academic architecture, Tom is member of the U.S. Courthouse Access Advisory Committee.

Bob Keane

Managing Principal
WDG Architecture

Bob Keane, AIA, is a managing principal and owner of WDG Architecture, PLLC. Keane leads WDG’s Higher Education Studio and has over 25 years of experience in the higher education sector. Prior to joining WDG Architecture in 2004 to initiate the Studio, Mr. Keane spent 17 years at Design Collective, Inc. (Baltimore, Maryland), where he led the design of a half billion dollars of higher education work. Mr. Keane’s university design experience is vast, ranging from campus master planning and mixed-use developments, to health science and chemistry laboratories, to performing arts facilities, and to student housing. His designs can be seen across the United States on more than 15 campuses. Since joining WDG, Mr. Keane has directed numerous university projects, developing a national portfolio with recent projects in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, New York and Michigan. Keane has master planned and designed over 2.5 million-sf of student housing over the past 10 years, providing public and private clients over 8,000 beds and wide ranging amenities. Projects have included on- and off-campus, traditional suites and apartments, living-learning with classrooms, and retail. In addition to his design experience, Mr. Keane speaks professionally and academically on the subjects of urban planning, campus planning, student housing, and the profession of architecture. His ability to conceptualize, coordinate, and explain solutions to complex design problems among team members and client/user groups has proven invaluable to clients and the firm. Mr. Keane has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and regularly participates in The Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and the Society of College and University Planners (SCUP).

Jared Hutter

Principal, Co-Founder
Aptitude Development

Jared Hutter founded BLVD Equities, the predecessor to Aptitude Development in 2014 after working in all aspects real estate development for the previous 8 years. Long having an interest in student housing since his time at Syracuse University when he recognized the pent up opportunity given the zero supply of purpose built student housing, Jared founded BLVD Equities with the intention of building ground up student housing around the country. After successfully completing his first development at his alma mater of Syracuse and ultimately selling the completed project to ACC, BLVD Equities became Aptitude Development. With a proven model amongst its investors and a fresh infusion of cash, Aptitude currently has about 2,000 beds in various stages of the development cycle with a primary focus on urban core pedestrian sites, many of which are boutique in nature and mixed-use projects. Jared holds a BS from Syracuse University in Finance and Entrepreneurship and a Masters in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.

Sarah Bonder

VP
ManageGo

Sarah currently serves as the Executive VP of Sales at ManageGo for the North American region, where she focuses on building strategies and collaborating with property managers and partners to help drive innovation in the property management space. With an extensive history in management and sales, Sarah joined ManageGo in 2013 and took on responsibilities in sales, consulting, and strategic partnerships. Sarah has held a series of increasingly expanding positions, including managing the in-house sales team as director of sales. Sarah also advises on the strategic development of the ManageGo product with her knack for market research and strategic expansion. By engaging with experienced real estate developers and industry leaders, following real estate development trends and attending a multitude of educational technology and real estate conferences, Sarah has been instrumental in driving the ManageGo product to new heights.

Jack Boarman

CEO and Senior Practice Leader
BKV Group

Jack Boarman founded the multi-discipline and award-winning firm, BKV Group, in 1978 and over the last 40+ years has expanded the company to be national student housing leader with over 190 design professionals working on projects throughout the United States. Jack is a Senior Practice Leader of Housing at BKV Group, focusing his work on the development of residential environments that utilize trend-setting ideas with a creative effort that translates client’s vision into a reality. Jack embraces a vision of growth and quality, which he incorporates in each of his designs. Jack is a renowned student housing expert, and speaks frequently at national and regional events and conferences including Interface, NMHC, Bisnow, and more. Recent and notable student housing projects Jack has designed include WaHu Student Apartments and The Marshall, both in Minneapolis, MN; Georgia Heights Apartments in Athens, GA; The Standard at New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ; The Standard at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC; and, The Standard at Auburn in Auburn, Alabama.

Gary Moriarty

Regional Business Development Manager
Swinerton

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.

Steve Behrle Jr.

Chief Development Officer
GMH Communities

Stephen Behrle, Jr. is the Executive Vice President of Development for GMH Communities. Steve is responsible for sourcing and evaluating new development opportunities for GMH. Additionally, Steve is responsible for overseeing the entitlement and design process, structuring debt and equity financing for property transactions, and managing all phases of the development and construction process. Steve brings over 20 years of commercial real estate experience to his current role at GMH. Since joining GMH in 2000, Steve has overseen the acquisition and development of over $1 billion of residential and commercial properties. Steve received his Bachelor of Science in Real Estate from Pennsylvania State University in 1997

Brian Thompson

EVP, Investments
CA Ventures

Will Baker

Managing Director
Walker & Dunlop

With over 16 years of experience in multifamily finance, Will Baker, managing director, is responsible for new loan originations with a focus on manufactured housing and student housing properties throughout the country. Mr. Baker also focuses on conventional multifamily loan originations through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, bridge, CMBS and HUD executions. Throughout his career, Mr. Baker has originated over $6.0 billion in Agency financing, including over $1.3 billion in 2016 placing him at the top of the origination rankings for Walker & Dunlop. Mr. Baker also serves as a consultant to Four Point Student Housing Investments and assists buyers with a variety of financing options on their student housing sales listings. He was involved with the first and largest manufactured housing loan through Freddie Mac’s new manufactured housing program in 2014 and played a large role in placing Walker & Dunlop at the top of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s student housing production rankings. Mr. Baker is an integral part of Walker & Dunlop’s production team, which has been ranked as the #1 Fannie Mae® DUS lender for the past three years and is the fastest growing Freddie Mac® Seller/Servicer in the country. Mr. Baker is a frequent speaker at student housing industry events and has served on panels at Real Share, Interface, NMHC, George Allen Roundtable, and Bisnow events. In addition, he helped Walker & Dunlop climb to the top of the Agency leaderboard in student housing loan volume with over $1.2 billion in 2016. He is also a member of the NMHC’s Student Housing Committee and “40 under 40” group. Mr. Baker was also selected as one of Bisnow’s “top 35 under 35” in 2011 for the greater Washington DC area. Mr. Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics at Washington & Lee University in 2001. Beyond the Company, Mr. Baker qualified for his Certified Commercial Investment Member (“CCIM”) designation and currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama along with his wife Susannah, and their son, Wilson, and two daughters, Eliza and Annie.

Russell Rochestie

Managing Director
Toll Brothers

Russell Rochestie is responsible for overseeing the capital markets and financing of all Toll Brothers Apartment Living communities from acquisition to disposition. Russell is also involved in setting the strategy and the financial operation of the division. Prior to joining Toll Brothers Apartment Living in 2018, Russell worked in the Toll Brothers corporate finance department starting in 2002 and was involved in the capital markets and investor relations activities of the company. Since 2013, the finance department has raised over $12 billion from both public capital markets and project-level financing. Russell earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Emory University.

Yuanliu (Jacky) He

CEO
DMG Investments

Jacky is a growing entrepreneur and has diverse experience in real estate development and investment in the US market. He founded DMG Investments LLC (“DMG”), a subsidiary of a leading China-based real estate development and investment firm Do Think Group. Jacky is the Chief Executive Officer of DMG. Within six years, Jacky has successfully made visionary investment solutions and targeted major and suburban US markets and helped the company invest in 9 premier multi-family and condo projects with over $500 million. His entrepreneurial mindset and business acumen allowed him to lead the company to expand and grow rapidly.