Phoenix New Construction & Development

Always moving. Always fearless. That’s Joshua Simon. Joshua started SimonCRE in 2010, during some of the toughest of economic times. As Founder and CEO, Joshua leads the company’s growth strategy while directing the daily operations. SimonCRE develops properties all across the country. To date, the company has completed over 283 projects across 23 states, equaling a total value of $1 billion. Under his leadership, SimonCRE has become a vital partner in the rapid growth of many national retailers within emerging communities. Beginning with the new retail center of Village at Prasada, which at 700,000 square feet is the largest open-air retail center to be built on the West Coast in the last 15 years, he has expanded his efforts to better serve tenants and communities alike. To this end, several other open-air retail centers are now under development: Prasada North, which will cover 350,000 square feet; Roosevelt Commons, covering 100,000 square feet; Asante Trails, which will be a multi-phase 44-acre mixed-use project; and Elm Street at Surprise City Center, which will be a multi-phase 40-acre project with the first phase occupying 70,000 square feet. All of these developments are poised to add exciting new retail and dining options for consumers.

Laura Ortiz is a Managing Principal and oversees the firm’s retail developments and its Development Managers. Her responsibilities also include new client development and relationship management, tenant lease negotiations, and developing and implementing tools and systems for the management of Evergreen’s projects. Laura graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance & Economics from the University of Arizona. She has been with Evergreen since 1994.

Mary Alexander’s background in real estate includes extensive planned community development and public homebuilder experience. Her accomplishments have included land acquisition and entitlement projects, infrastructure planning and finance, public lands transactions, community governance structuring and documentation, sales contracting and regulatory approvals, employment matters, litigation management, construction contracting and warranty enforcement. Ms. Alexander recently was named a Fellow in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. In her current position, she directs corporate governance and legal services for DMB, in addition to overseeing the Company’s talent resources, information governance, risk management and insurance programs. Prior to joining DMB, she served as Associate General Counsel for Del Webb Corporation and Pulte Homes, Inc. She began her legal career at the law firm Streich Lang Weeks & Cardon, which is now Quarles & Brady.

Terry O'Neill has been a developer of commercial properties for more than 35 years. At a young age he started his career in a senior position with one of Canada's leading shopping center, office tower and hotel developers. After working for Canada's largest commercial development at that time, the Campeau Corporation, Mr. O'Neill started this own firm, which he took public on the London Stock Exchange in 1986. From Sacramento CA, to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates he has been responsible for all aspects of different commercial developments. He has a deep understanding of compliance with diverse building codes and has dealt with many city planners, community groups, lenders and partners. Terry has a keen eye for what makes a raw piece of land "a good project" and he certainly knows how to execute a project schedule and budget to get a quality job done. His ever craving desire to learn has kept him on top of new building technologies and methods. In recent years he has made use of and deployed different methods of construction allowing for construction schedules to be reduced by as much as 60% in comparison to more traditional and conventional techniques. During the past eight years Terry O'Neill has been consulting for various hotel owners and developers working on hotel projects in Phoenix, Tucson and Scottsdale Arizona, and in Cleveland and Columbus Ohio, Monterey California, and in Hermosillo Mexico. Hotel projects have included brands such as IHG's Holiday Inn and Suites, Ritz Carlton, Motel 6, Marriott's Fairfield Inn, Courtyard and Residence Inn, Best Western Premier, Embassy Suites, and the former InterContinental Montelucia (now the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia). In 1995 Mr. O'Neill earned his Master's degree in Business Administration from Queen's University in Canada.

Jeff Moloznik serves as Vice President of Development at RED Development, LLC. Most recently, he managed the development of CityScape Phoenix, RED Development’s $500 million, 2.5 million sq. ft. mixed-use, high-rise destination in Downtown Phoenix. Since project conception, Jeff led the development of CityScape Phoenix. With more than 40 retail tenants; a 242 room hotel; 600,000 square feet of class A commercial office space; a City of Phoenix Park; two parking garages; and 224 high rise residential apartments; CityScape Phoenix has created a place to call Downtown Phoenix. Currently, Jeff is overseeing the development of The Union Dallas. A similarly configured mixed-use, high-rise infill redevelopment project in Uptown Dallas and anchored by a 60,000 SF urban, full service Safeway grocery store. Jeff’s responsibilities include public and private financing, entitlements, tenant relations, design oversight, construction coordination, marketing, community outreach, and governmental relations. Additionally, Jeff is the Asset Manager of RED Development’s newly completed Kimpton Hotel Palomar at CityScape, Phoenix’s newest four-star boutique hotel. Prior to CityScape, Jeff lead the development of over one million square feet of open air RED Development retail centers in communities across the Midwest and Southwest. Committed to the local community, Jeff currently serves on the Board of Special Olympics Arizona, the American Heart Association, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, the Board of Genesis Academy Charter School in downtown Phoenix, the City of Phoenix Tourism and Hospitality Board, and the Phoenix Parks Foundation Board of Directors. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He resides in Phoenix, Ariz., with his wife, Molly.

Brian Cassidy, AIA is the President of CCBG Architects, Inc. with studios in downtown Phoenix and San Diego. He has been involved in many adaptive reuse, and mixed-use high-density housing projects in greater Phoenix, including more than 12,000 new apartment units. This work includes a diverse body of warehouse renovations that are breathing new life into our city. Brian passionately advocates to build Phoenix into a world class city in which to live, work, worship and play. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, and is the Chair of the Phoenix Warehouse District Council, which promotes and brands the District in concert with a series of creative volunteers and businesses.

Stanton Shafer serves as Chief Operations Officer. His role is primarily engaged in the company’s operations, focusing on the management of the company’s six million square foot portfolio of national and international properties, including 3,000 apartment units. Shafer’s background includes 22 years as a successful Capital Markets broker with Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial, joining the company in 1989 when it was Grubb and Ellis. During those two decades he completed sales of nearly $1.5 billion in assets and was selected as the NAIOP-AZ Investment Broker of the Year. Prior to his career as a real estate broker, Shafer spent 10 years as a practicing real estate attorney. Stan’s education background includes an economics degree with distinction from Iowa State University and a Juris Doctors Degree, Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University.

Founder and Managing Partner at George Oliver and GO Industrial George Oliver and GO Industrial are locally-based commercial real estate companies that operates on the cutting edge of office and industrial workspace environments. George Oliver believes your workspace should enhance productivity, improvement employee retention, and help your business better compete in an increasingly volatile marketplace. Healthy, happy and productive workspaces are giving businesses the upper hand, and unrivaled design, amenities and tenant experiences are front-and-center in every one of their buildings. Experience the difference yourself at any of our award-winning buildings in Phoenix, Chandler, Scottsdale, Austin, Denver, or visit www.georgeoliver.com.

Keith Earnest joined VanTrust in 2014, already having more than 25 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate and more than 20 years of experience as a Developer. At VanTrust, Keith oversees all phases of the real estate development processes in Arizona, Southern Nevada and California. Specific responsibilities include project feasibility, market analysis, site acquisition, entitlements, design and construction oversight, as well as leasing and sales. Prior to joining VanTrust in 2014, Keith was Executive Vice President with RED Development where his primary focus was the development of the CityScape project in Downtown Phoenix. CityScape is a mixed-use urban project that includes more than one million square feet of class A office, retail, restaurants, a Kimpton Palomar hotel and residential apartments. Keith also spent 11 years with Opus West Corporation where he was responsible for the development of more than five million square feet in Arizona, Nevada, California and Utah. During his tenure with Opus, he developed one million square feet of specialty retail and power centers, one million square feet of industrial distribution space, and more than three million square feet of Class A office. Keith began his development career as Vice President with Trammell Crow Company overseeing leasing and management of over two million square feet of projects in Greater Phoenix, Tucson and San Diego. Keith is a graduate of Arizona State University, College of Business Administration with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He is a licensed Arizona Real Estate broker and served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Valley Partnership. Keith is currently a member of ICSC, ULI, and NAIOP. He is active in many charitable organizations including the Phoenix Thunderbirds, Southwestern Human Development, SAARC, Arcadia Little League and ASUSC. Keith also served on the Facilities Committee for Xavier College Preparatory.

Larry is responsible for the leadership and overall management of the western markets, including Phoenix, Denver and Austin. His primary responsibilities are the pursuit of real estate development opportunities in various sectors, including office, industrial and multifamily, as well as defining the office’s daily strategies and future growth plans. Larry brings 30 years of real estate experience to Opus. His experience includes development, investment, tenant representation and serving as a landlord on various commercial properties. Larry holds a Master of Business Administration in marketing and finance from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University. He is on the board of directors for Downtown Tempe Authority and is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL). Additionally, Larry is a member of NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association, and the NAIOP Research Foundation.

Crel brings 20 years of sales and marketing experience to Polaris Pacific clients. He oversees Sales Managers and sales teams throughout Arizona while managing key lender and client relationships in the region. In 2016, he was nominated for Sales Manager of the Year by both the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Building Industry Association (BIA). Crel graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona

Brad Smidt is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for GPEC. He manages the team that works with companies considering large industrial, office and data center projects in the Phoenix area. During his time at GPEC, Brad has helped more than 150 companies expand or relocate to the Greater Phoenix area. Prior to GPEC, Brad worked in economic development in both the cities of Mesa and Chandler. Brad is a native Arizonan who grew up in Greater Phoenix. His local ties have contributed to his vast knowledge of the area and familiarity with the unique assets of its workforce. In 2008, Brad received the Economic Developer of the Year award from the Arizona Association of Economic Development. Brad is an active member of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, and serves on the University of Arizona Eller MBA Industry Advisory Board. Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in regional development from the University of Arizona. He holds a Certified Economic Developer Certification from the International Economic Development Council.