Bay Area Modular Construction Summit

Responsible for the strategy, developement and growth of Marriott's' Select Service and Extended Stay Brands in the US and Canada. By partnering with our owners and investors, our brand leaders, architecture and construction, franchise and managed operations, I strive to drive future strategic growth and ensure the success of our brands. Brands include: AC by Marriott Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfeild Inn and Suites Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites

Ken Lowney is the Founder and President of Lowney Architecture, a multidisciplinary practice offering architectural, interior, and master planning services. With locations in Oakland and Honolulu, the firm focuses its practice on residential, mixed-use, hospitality and retail projects. In his hometown of Oakland, Ken leads discussions about community development, affordable housing and off-site construction design methods while serving in leadership roles for the Modular Building Institute, SPUR, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Oakland Land Use Committee. Lowney Architecture first made its mark with expertise in urban retail, specifically grocery store design. The firm is now also synonymous with the design and delivery of innovative, prefabricated projects, having designed over 6,000 modular units.

Jim has over 20 years of design-build experience, specializing in integrated and manufactured systems. Jim works closely with developers and owners on how best to implement prefabrication strategies on their projects, whether it is complete façade or structural systems.

Mark Oertel is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Lewis Brisbois and chair of the Surety and Fidelity Practices. He has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of surety, fidelity, insurance law, professional liability, construction, and commercial disputes. He handles the following types of matters: • Contract surety disputes involving all phases of payment and performance bond claims, litigation and recovery • Commercial surety claims including license and permit bonds • Fidelity bond claims • Employee dishonesty claims • Construction disputes including all phases of contracting, performance and liability • Commercial disputes both domestic and international • Professional liability defense • Insurance coverage and litigation including extra contractual claims

Matt provides and assists in project development with a high focus placed upon the modular aspects of operations and project development. His years of experience in the modular sector continually provides the support and solutions to contribute to the success of projects. Proset Modular and Proset Construction Partner/Marketing  Co-Owner of Proset Modular and Proset Construction  Commercial Modular General Contractor as well as Commercial Modular Installation Subcontractor. Proset installs over 1000 modular units/year for multiple modular manufactures and developers and contractors. Licensed in eight states. Primary types of construction include Hospitality, Assisted Living, Multi-Family. Craft Master custom building systems 2006-2010 Owner / Founder  High end Modular manufacturing facility located in Fruita CO.  Manufactured High end custom homes servicing resort markets  Manufactured multifamily projects High Mark Development Inc. 2000-2017 President/Marketing  Owner and Creator of High Mark Development Inc.  Constructed over 75 homes and many multifamily projects in the Telluride/Aspen area over the last 20 years

Troy has been in the Modular Industry since 2001 and spent over 17 years with Guerdon Enterprises playing an integral role in the company’s growth and development. From his years directing the Design & Project Management teams, Troy has built a foundation of knowledge and continues to push the limits of “traditional” design standards within modular construction. His focus and attention to detail have proven invaluable for driving projects of all shapes and sizes through the manufacturing and site assembly process. Troy’s focus and forethought for product innovation, modular feasibility studies and constructability reviews have been an invaluable asset to many award-winning modular projects. Troy’s current role with NeUdesign Architecture is leveraging his years of industry knowledge to help “bridge the gap” between the traditional design-build and the factory manufacturing process. Troy is happily married with three active children who keep him on the go outside of the office. Not content with sitting on the sidelines, Troy coaches baseball, football and basketball as their kids continue to grow and pursue individual passions. Troy and his wife are often found hosting an event to celebrate the season with an assortment of meat on the BBQ to enjoy with friends and family.

Doug is a modular industry veteran bringing many years of experience in modular built multifamily and hospitality projects; including, executive experience at Guerdon Enterprises An expert in operations, Doug offers extensive experience in strategic relationships. business planning, leadership development and creative problem solving. Doug has in-depth experience developing and implementing processes that contribute significantly to profitability. Doug is taking Prefab Logic to the next level. He is responsible for designing and implementing innovation that drives the modular industry forward while establishing a progressive culture.

Mitch Lund joined Fulcrum with a decade of experience in the commercial modular building industry where he was actively involved in leading teams through the entire lifecycle of custom modular construction projects across the US, including design/engineering, estimating, procurement, project management, manufacturing, and site supervision. With modular and offsite construction riding a tidal wave of success and media attention, involvement in $1B of modular projects, a nation-wide team of construction professionals from across all segments of the construction industry, and a decades-long track record of success managing construction risk on behalf of lenders, investors, and developers, Fulcrum is perfectly and powerfully positioned to help the real estate industry make informed decisions with its full range of Modular Risk Management services.

Amanda has worked in the development and construction of primarily affordable housing for more than 15 years. She has overseen the new construction and rehabilitation of more than 1,200 multifamily units and more than 100,000 square feet of commercial space in California and Arizona. Amanda has led business development for modular project management and general contractors, and owners’ representation and construction management for affordable housing development. She specializes in groundbreaking, sustainable projects that have a compassionate component. At CRATE, Amanda’s industry knowledge and ability to attract and manage deal flow are optimized. In her current role, she focuses on client development, pipeline management, and the orchestration of complex construction needs and demands.

Darren is a Director at Fulcrum, a leading Construction Risk Management firm that provides a wide range of professional services on all project types for clients nationwide. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from DeMontfort University in the UK and is a Fellow of the RICS, the largest international real estate professional body in the world dating back 150 years. Darren started his career 22 years ago in London and has since spent 18 years in Phoenix, Arizona and Southern California, where he moved in 2011 to assist in the growth of Fulcrum’s West Coast Region. Several years ago, Darren foresaw the current challenges the construction industry is experiencing relating to labor shortages and associated cost increases and drew upon his international experience to identify Modular Construction as a potential solution. He has since led a team of professionals at Fulcrum to complete extensive research, develop a vast network and provide Construction Risk Management services on numerous projects relating to Modular Construction.

As Chief Operating Officer, Benjamin guides concept innovation, design direction and management execution for Graves Hospitality. With over 20 years of industry experience, he is renowned for launching a plethora of successful hotel, restaurant and commercial projects and expertly overseeing their management and growth. Always setting new benchmarks for modern travelers as well as bar and restaurant patrons, Benjamin's projects have ranged from New York to Disney World and include a noteworthy portfolio of local Twin Cities properties. He is credited with spearheading Minneapolis' upscale hotel renaissance, which began with the opening of the Graves 601 Hotel in 2003. In 2011, Benjamin opened Hotel Williamsburg, a stylish boutique hotel that became a model for the future of Brooklyn's hospitality industry. Recently, he opened the first-ever Minnesota InterContinental hotel in St. Paul. Due to Benjamin's ability to execute upscale concepts that reflect the local community, Graves Hospitality was awarded the MSP airport project, a 300-room luxury hotel located on the main terminal, opening in 2018. Additionally, construction has begun on a 300-room hotel and luxury apartment development Downtown Minneapolis, and plans are in motion to open the first hotel in the Uptown area, validating and expanding Grave's neighborhood-centric, lifestyle-focused hospitality movement. Recently, Benjamin's restaurant team opened Rival House in St. Paul, Arthur's in northern Minnesota, Bradstreet Craftshouse in Minneapolis, Bucks in Chicago, and the Piedmont in Marquette, MI. All are hallmark examples of Graves' savvy ability to create relevant concepts that combine a chef-driven menu and a multitude of beer and cocktail experiences within perfectly designed, expertly managed spaces. As a testament to his skills and success, Benjamin was recently awarded the Minneapolis Business Journals' 40 under 40 distinction.

Zac Shore is the Co-Founder and Principal of Avenues Development. Avenues Development is a real estate development company located in San Francisco. The company serves as an owner’s representative for a range of development companies and high net-worth individuals throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Services include all aspects of real estate development; from an initial highest and best use feasibility analysis, entitlements, financial analysis, construction management, and general value-add consulting services to get projects on the right track and set up for success. Zac has entitled nearly two thousand units in the Bay Area, built the first modular project constructed overseas and erected in California, and is involved with other emerging technology construction projects. Zac was a general contractor for 10 years, then attended MIT for a degree in Real Estate Development. After MIT, Zac has been involved in many facets of Bay Area Development over the past decade.

Beginning in 1994, Kevin Nivinskus has developed a career with a variety of projects including designs for the Salk Institute, a monastery in Italy, shipping container housing solutions, modular affordable Housing, UCSD student housing, elementary and high schools, housing for the formerly homeless and many others. In 2017 Kevin started the firm, GLO Architecture. GLO Architecture is a mission-driven, creative architecture firm based in San Diego, California. We specialize in affordable housing solutions as well as mission-driven industries such as senior housing and education. The award-winning firm has a portfolio which includes affordable housing for seniors, formerly homeless, veterans and families. Additional projects include academic, residential, commercial as well as mixed-use buildings. GLO Architecture works spans the state of California notably in San Jose, Los Angeles and of course our hometown San Diego. GLO Architecture is dedicated to a collaborative, and creative design process. Participating in community design reviews, design workshops and one-on-one client design charettes. A signature of GLO Architecture is to provide personable, creative, collaborative and efficient designs. Kevin personally leads each project for its full duration, assisted by a team of collaborative and talented architects. This ensures that trust, relationships, design integrity, and coordination are maintained throughout the journey of the project. The firm is noted for creative solutions within limited budgets and designs that are sensitive to specific sites and program criteria.

Dafna Kaplan is the founder and CEO of Cassette, a uniquely collaborative multi-family modular housing supplier & subcontractor delivering best-in-class modular systems with well-planned project integration and implementation services. Kaplan’s industry expertise and executive leadership spans A/E/C, consumer tech, non‐profit, and entertainment industries. In 2018, Kaplan’s study and analysis of the prefab/modular construction market sparked the 2019 founding of Cassette. Kaplan currently serves on the boards of the AIA | Los Angeles and the Western Museums Association. She has also served on the ULI Executive, Communications and Urban Marketplace Committees, the A+D Museum board, and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) accessories board. Kaplan has an MBA, Summa Cum Laude from the UCLA Anderson School of Business, and a BA in Human Services from the University of Oregon.

Having worked on both the architectural and construction side, Adam has a wide range of industry experience. After obtaining his Bachelors of Architecture degree he began his career with a Boston architectural firm before transitioning to Construction Management in New York City. For more than six years, Adam provided estimating and project management services for two specialty trades on residential and commercial projects. Before joining Fulcrum, Adam worked for a General Contracting company, primarily focused on the high-end residential market in Manhattan. Adam is currently responsible for a variety of services at Fulcrum including Plan & Cost Reviews, Construction Draw Reviews, Construction Project Management And Modular Risk Management Services for various clients on the west coast.