Greater Phoenix Multifamily Summit

John Carlson, President of Mark-Taylor Companies, has dedicated the last 20 years of his career to the organization. Through his strategic direction and expertise in macroeconomics, John has scaled Mark-Taylor to its largest size in the company’s history while increasing employee engagement. He credits the exceptional people and the authentic and ambitious culture at Mark-Taylor as the keys to the company’s continued success.

Melise has been with MG Properties since June 1998 and has over 25 years of experience in multi-family property management and condominium conversion. She has managed and overseen multifamily portfolios of up to 12,000 apartment homes throughout the western United States, which included properties as large as 1,100 units. Melise is a Certified Property Manager with the Institute of Real Estate Management. She is a member and instructor with the San Diego County Apartment Association, the California Apartment Association, the National Apartment Association and the North County Managers Association.

John Kobierowski has always had a passion for real estate, development and construction. For over 30 years, John has focused that passion to become a leader in the multifamily industry. His experience includes having brokered over 1,400 multifamily transactions, developed and sold over 800 condominium units, and owned/managed over 1,000 apartment units, homes and condos. In brokerage, John has co-founded and built three successful regional and national brokerage firms and has had the privilege of working with some of the most innovative and successful people in the multifamily industry. What John loves most about this industry is watching, and helping, people grow in their understanding of owning and operating smaller complexes and building it into a portfolio of multifamily assets. The keys to success are rooted in hard work, luck (timing) and a solid strategy (evolving skill set). John is the Senior Managing Partner of ABI Multifamily, a Phoenix-based multifamily brokerage and advisory firm. ABI represents the next generation of the brokerage business with its focus on cooperative-brokerage. Unlike brokerage of old, cooperative-brokerage focuses on the building and development of teams of seasoned and hardworking professionals/brokers. Each member of the team possesses their own unique skills-sets, knowledge and experience; by embracing individual skillsets, and understanding how it best compliments/serves the group, maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole. This is further strengthened by a strong technological platform and a dedicated support staff team. Since its launch in 2013, ABI Multifamily has grown into a widely-respected and sought regional brokerage company with teams servicing Arizona, California and growing into the Texas market. In 2018 alone, the Phoenix team has closed over 120 multifamily transactions and expects to round out 2019 with over 130 total sales.

Lee Scott is a Loan Officer with PGIM Real Estate Finance. In this role, Lee is responsible for direct lending relationships across the United States with a focus on sourcing multifamily debt on behalf of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, Life Company, and PGIM REF's proprietary Balance Sheet / Bridge Lending programs. Lee opened the PGIM Real Estate Finance San Diego, CA office in 2018 after previously working for the firm in Washington, DC. Lee holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a member of the Urban Land Institute, San Diego Apartment Association, Virginia Tech Pamplin Recent Alumni Board (RAB), and the CFA Society San Diego.

Manjula is a member in the zoning and land use planning and real estate areas of the firm. Her practice focuses on zoning-related services, including master planned zoning approvals (specific plans, planned area developments, planned community developments), rezoning approvals, general plan amendments, variances, conditional and special use permits, zoning interpretations and violations, and zoning due diligence. In addition, Manjula assists clients with the negotiation and implementation of development agreements, GPLETs and other development-related agreements. She frequently appears before planning commissions and city councils on behalf of clients regarding zoning and development projects. Prior to attending law school, Manjula was a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Rep. John J. Rhodes III and chief of staff to Maricopa County Supervisor Tom Rawles (D-1). She is also a former member of the Tempe Planning Commission and currently serves on the Tempe Community Action Agency Board of Directors.

Bryce Hall is an accomplished architect and executive with more than 20 years of experience in residential architecture. As the President of KEPHART, he guides the strategic vision and direction of the firm, providing support for eight additional Principals who help drive KEPHART’s success. Bryce’s contagious passion and deep knowledge of the industry inspires his peers to pursue continuous growth and education. Bryce attended the University of Colorado, where he earned master’s degrees in both architecture and business administration, allowing him to understand the industry more comprehensively, from the perspective of both an architect and a developer. His enthusiasm for these two interests, combined with his deep understanding of client needs throughout the duration of a project, have helped solidify KEPHART as the architect of choice for many national developers. Bryce’s exemplary leadership has earned him recognition as one of ENR’s Top 20 Under 40 AEC Professionals in the Mountain States Region and President of one of Denver’s Best Places to Work. He also represents and shares KEPHART’s thought leadership on a national stage at events like the National Multifamily Housing Conference and the Pacific Coast Builders’ Conference.

Adrienne Akin Faulkner is the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Faulkner Design Group (FDG), a fully integrated national interior architecture and design firm specializing in multifamily housing and senior living environments. Working with the largest developers, contractors, real estate investment groups, and management firms across the country for more than 28 years, Adrienne consistently blazes a path of leadership and innovation by understanding global social trends and advocating for the highest quality of living for all stakeholders. Adrienne also serves as president of additional entities affiliated with FDG, including Architectural-Images, a unique art-line/collection, and Design Expediting Services International, a turn-key receiving, storage, warehouse, and installation company. Her passion for design and architecture stems from her grandfather, George L. Dahl, FAIA, Chief Architect and orchestrator of the 1936 Centennial World’s Fair Exposition in Dallas, The University of Texas Austin Masterplan, and thousands of projects across the country. Adrienne considers herself a student of the world and connector of people, regularly traveling across six continents, including an annual trip to Salone del Mobile in Milan. Adrienne shares her leadership acumen with multiple philanthropic organizations as an active board member of the Dallas Historical Society, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, and the Dallas International Film Festival. She is also a board member of Friends of Fair Park, AURORA, and EarthxFilm. Her passion for service started young while growing up at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church and continues today as a member at Highland Park United Methodist Church. She leads her companies in service by coordinating multiple volunteer opportunities per year for her employees. She is regularly involved with such charitable organizations as the Yellow Rose Gala, World Vision, CC Young, the North Texas Food Bank, and the Byron Nelson Annual Golf Tournament. Adrienne graduated Cum Laude from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration double major in International Business and Finance. She also graduated with honors with an Associate Degree in Interior Design. Faulkner is NCIDQ certified, a Registered Interior Designer licensed in 22 states, a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers, IDEX, and a LEED Green Associate. She maintains memberships with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, International Interior Design Association, the Leadership Board of the National Association of Home Builders, and dozens of other national and local organization.

Michael Israel, based in Chicago, is a prominent entrepreneur and innovation leader with deep expertise in the technology and real estate sectors. Over the past decade, Michael Israel has been at the forefront of launching and scaling disruptive startups, driving success in both software and hardware industries. His ability to innovate has made him a sought-after figure in the venture capital-backed startup community. Currently, Michael Israel holds the position of Chief Innovation Officer at Shapack Partners, a role that underscores his leadership in Chicago’s dynamic real estate market. In addition, he runs DISRVPT VENTURES, an independent consulting firm serving top-tier clients such as LG Group, Kiferbaum Development, Finalyze Capital, Mode Mobile, and Mark Cuban Companies. Michael Israel’s influence extends across various sectors, reinforcing his status as a key player in the Chicago innovation scene.

Kelli Berry brings 45 years of subcontracting and interior design experience to her projects. Iconic Design Studio is sought after for logical solutions to difficult design requirements. Her extensive product knowledge helps IDS guide clients to the latest technological advances in all interior finishes. IDS boasts a solid reputation for adhering to budgets and meeting project deadlines. As an international, award-winning, full-service interior design firm offering solutions for senior living, healthcare, corporate, retail and multifamily projects, IDS is well versed in writing accurate specifications to provide an easily maintained facility. The result is a recognizable return on investment.   Berry’s work encompasses projects completed from California to North Carolina. She currently is providing IDS expertise for a 40,000 SF healthcare facility in American Samoa, a testament to her international (and national) accounts   An accomplished artist in acrylic and watercolor, Berry has created numerous corporate and individual commissions and has exhibited at galleries across the country.   Berry is proud to boast ongoing professional relationships with architects in the Valley and nationwide to service the needs of their clients. She is the consummate team player. The mission of IDS is to provide interior architecture and design services for its clients and to collectively team with larger architectural firms to provide cohesive outsourced professional services for interior architecture and design services. Berry’s awareness of client needs and level of knowledge have resulted in several national and local awards during her tenure in design, sales and marketing. Her practice encompasses senior living, healthcare, corporate, and retail design genres. Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Berry holds a BFA in interior design from Mississippi University for Women and a minor in art history.