Bay Area Student Housing & Higher Ed Summit

Rosemarie Rae brings more than 35 years of experience in finance and administration to her role as UC Berkeley’s Vice Chancellor of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. During the course of her work in the public and nonprofit sectors, she has developed a wide depth and breadth of knowledge in budget and financial management, strategic planning, and operations. The Office of the Vice Chancellor of Finance includes Capital Strategies, the Controller’s Office, Finance & Capital Asset Strategies, Financial Planning & Analysis, University Business Partnerships & Services, and the Immediate Office. Together these teams oversee university financial services and controls, lead an integrated approach to planning and development, provide accurate and timely information and analyses to inform campus decision-making in service of UC Berkeley’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Rosemarie takes great pride in how our institution shapes higher education and her focus on collaboration, accountability, and the greater harmonization of operating and capital planning continues to further the goal of financial sustainability. Prior to coming to Berkeley, she served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of The National Trust for Historic Preservation, she also served as an Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Financial Officer at Volunteers of America; held senior leadership positions at Experience Works and LORAL Space and Communications; and was a principal and founder of Balrae Associates, an Information Technology services firm. Rosemarie holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Radford University and a masters degree in public administration from American University.

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.

As Managing Director of the Construction Real Estate group, Mr. Whitesell is responsible for expanding the firm’s work with established commercial real estate developers and investors seeking construction loans nationwide. He is also responsible for handling all ground-up construction transactions for the real estate group on the West Coast. An industry veteran of 30 years, Mr. Whitesell's experience includes construction financing, bridge lending, debt investment and restructurings on the lending, portfolio and legal sides of the business. Prior to joining CapitalSource, Mr. Whitesell held senior positions at banks and debt funds, originating and directing regional and national platforms for construction, bridge, mezzanine and preferred equity transactions in all product types. He has been responsible for over $22 billion in structured bridge and construction loans during the course of his career. Mr. Whitesell’s strong track record of originating and closing profitable investments while building and maintaining quality relationships helps his clients grow their businesses and profitability.

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.

Caroline Guibert Chase practices real estate, development, and land use law, with an emphasis on representing real estate developers in the entitlement of residential, commercial and institutional development projects. Having worked as an urban planner for five years in the public and private sectors before attending law school, Caroline has a unique ability to understand and counsel clients on governmental planning processes including the rezoning of the Central SoMa, Transit Center District, Eastern Neighborhoods and Western SoMa plan areas in the City and County of San Francisco. Caroline also has significant experience with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other state and local laws affecting the development of real property. Caroline's involvement and passion for her practice is also evident outside of the firm. Caroline is on the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition (SFHAC) Board, the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) Housing Policy Committee and the SPUR Land Use Planning and Rebuilding Task Force and co- authored SPUR’s publication On Solid Ground: How Good Land Use Planning Can Prepare the Bay Area For a Strong Disaster Recovery. As part of her involvement in the SFHAC Regulatory Committee, Caroline participated in the drafting of legislation to encourage the production of much-needed student housing in the City and County of San Francisco. Caroline is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a nonprofit education and research institute focused on land use issues. Notable Representations University of San Francisco Caroline advises USF on an ongoing basis regarding its Institutional Master Plan (IMP) and campus development projects, including USF’s Center for Science and Innovation project, a major new 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art science center in the heart of USF's main campus. That project was named a 2013 San Francisco Business Times Real Estate Deal of the Year for “Best Community Impact.” Caroline also worked with USF on a 600-bed student housing project, which was unanimously approved by the San Francisco Planning Commission in 2018. TMG Partners Caroline worked with TMG Partners on the development of a multi-billion dollar portfolio of development projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the 155 Fifth Street and 208 Utah Street projects. The 155 Fifth Street project required significant upgrades to an existing building for the new campus for the University of the Pacific’s Dugoni School of Dentistry and was named the 2012 Real Estate Deals of the Year Winner of "Best Office Sale, San Francisco" by the San Francisco Business Times. The 208 Utah Street project required legally establishing approximately 60,000 square feet of existing office space in a zoning district where office uses are no longer permitted due to the Eastern Neighborhoods rezoning. This created a complex process involving a series of Zoning Administrator determinations and Planning Commission approval. Forest City Development Caroline worked with Forest City on land use and entitlements matters for the development of a mixed use project at 2175 Market Street consisting of approximately 88 residential dwelling units and ground floor retail space, most of which is proposed to be used as an innovative "market hall" featuring multiple local businesses in a shared space. The project required conditional use authorization from the Planning Commission, a series of variances from the Zoning Administrator, and a Costa-Hawkins Agreement for the on-site affordable rental housing component of the project. Caroline also worked with Forest City and Hearst Corporation on land use and entitlements matters for the development of the "5M" project, which will be located on about four acres at the juncture of San Francisco’s Downtown, South of Market (SoMa), and Mid-Market neighborhoods. 5M is a 1.8 million square foot multi-phased mixed use development of low-, mid- and high-rise buildings housing commercial, residential, retail, and arts and cultural uses. 5M will create about 840 housing units (of which 40% will be affordable), and include significant new public open space and community capital investment, while restoring the historic San Francisco Chronicle buildings and preserving two other historic buildings, one of which will be dedicated for use as a cultural artistic community center. The project required multiple approvals, which were obtained in 2015. Wilson Meany Caroline worked with Wilson Meany on land use and entitlements matters for the development of an expanded Foundry Square III project at 505 and 525 Howard Street. The project completed the prominent four-building Foundry Square development and consists of approximately 250,000 square feet of office space and ground floor retail space. The project required various Planning Commission approvals, including multiple Planning Code exceptions. Wilson Meany ultimately sold the Foundry Square III site and architectural drawings to Tishman Speyer. The four-building Foundry Square development won the ULI Award for Excellence: The Americas Competition in 2010. Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) Caroline worked with TNDC on land use and entitlements matters for the development of an affordable housing development at 1036 Mission Street. The project required a series of variances from the Zoning Administrator and various Planning Commission approvals, including multiple Planning Code exceptions. Publications & Speaking Engagements Caroline is a contributing author of the firm’s Unfamiliar Terrain blog, which provides insights into the complex Bay Area land use landscape. Her articles include: • "San Francisco Finally Poised to Adopt Central SoMa Plan" • "Local Implementation of Senate Bill 35" • "Governor Brown Signs Major Housing Package Into Law" • "Compromise Inclusionary Legislation Set for Final Approval" • "Ting Density Bonus Legislation Now Limited to San Francisco" • "Ting Legislation Seeks to Pave the Way for Fees on Density Bonus Units" • "Competing Inclusionary Housing Proposals Introduced at the Board of Supervisors" • "Inclusionary Housing Recommendations a Mixed Bag for Developers" • "State Density Law Debuts in San Francisco" • "Bursting at the Seams: Expanded 'Purple Pipe' Requirements" Professional Activities Caroline is admitted to practice in California and North Carolina. She is a member of the California State Bar, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and the Urban Land Institute. She also serves on the SPUR Housing Policy Committee and the SFHAC Board. Caroline is also an accredited LEED® Green Associate. Education Caroline earned her law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Caroline received her undergraduate degree in urban planning with honors from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Since 1994, David Seward has served as the Chief Financial Officer of UC Hastings College of the Law where he is responsible for financial and business management functions and capital planning where he leads implementation of the school’s long range campus plan which will culminate in the development of a new graduate Academic Village. Active in the Tenderloin, Seward recently concluded his second four year term on the Board of Directors of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, an organization focused on sidewalk cleaning, graffiti removal, and neighborhood improvement. He also serves on the board of the Tenderloin Museum. Mr. Seward grew up outside Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan also attending the University of San Francisco, graduating with an MBA in Finance.

HAC’s Executive Director since November 2016, Todd has been active in Bay Area politics throughout his professional career. His campaign experience includes serving as political director for Scott Wiener’s first successful California State Senate campaign (2016), campaign manager for the Recreation and Park funding measure (2016), and campaign manager for the Soda Tax (2014). A public school parent of three, Todd is an avid community volunteer and weekend pickleball player.

Brinkman spearheads ACC's the public-private partnership initiatives. He has participated in the award or development of approximately $4 billion of public-private partnerships across the country. One of his key responsibilities involves helping institutional leaders determine whether a partnership model is a viable alternative to develop purpose-built student housing and how institutions can leverage the private sector to deliver the types of housing that today’s student consumers demand. In his 21 years with ACC, Brinkman has served in a variety of capacities, including market analyst, director of development, and vice president of on-campus development. He is an active participant in numerous industry conferences, such as NACUBO, ACUHO-I, SCUP, AOA and NACAS. He graduated summa cum laude from Texas State University with B.B.A.s in marketing and finance.

Meckel has a long association with the college. In 1985, he was hired to develop CCA's architecture program and served as founding chair for two years. From 1987 to 1992, he was campus architect, responsible for developing facilities to support the college's growing enrollment. He was appointed dean of the School of Architectural Studies in 1992 and served in that capacity until 2000. Following an academic restructuring in 2000, Meckel became special assistant to the president, advising on facilities and strategic planning.

Denise Pinkston has over 30 years of experience in real estate and development including acquisitions, asset and construction management, marketing, leasing, planning/entitlements, transit and green building, planning management, and public affairs. Ms. Pinkston was named one of the Bay Area’s Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times in 2012, 2013, 2016 and was named to their Forever Influential Honor Roll in 2014. Prior to TMG: Ms. Pinkston directed Current Planning, Code Enforcement, Housing, and Redevelopment as the Marin County Planning Services Coordinator. She served as a zoning officer, planning commissioner, chamber of commerce board member, and instructor at SFSU and Mills College. Ms. Pinkston cares deeply about improving housing and transportation programs and policies and has served in the following policy leadership roles: Board Chair of MVGO and EmeryGoRound shuttles; Chair Bay Area Council Housing Committee Chair &Vice Chair Berkeley Zoning Board Moderator, Technical Committee, MTC Committee to House the Bay Area (CASA) Member SPUR Housing Committee Technical advisor on State bills to ease rules for ADUs and Student Housing Ms. Pinkston attended the University of California at Berkeley where she earned a B.A. in History, and a Masters in City and Regional Planning.

Jeff Brink has over 20 years of structural design experience with significant developments up and down the west coast, ranging from Performance Based Design high-rises to mixed-use projects at Candlestick Point, the SF Shipyard, and Yerba Buena Island. Current projects include the City of San Francisco’s new office tower at 1500 Mission Street and the Virgin Hotel adjacent to the Moscone Center. Jeff’s technical expertise at integrating innovative structural systems, combined with his broad understanding of the construction industry, allows architecturally decisive projects to be achieved while still maintaining the project budget.

After spending his early career as a planning consultant, Dan Frattin has practiced land use and environmental law at Reuben, Junius, & Rose since 2006. Dan handles a variety of residential, commercial, and institutional projects for both private and public sector clients. He worked closely with the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition and then-Supervisor Scott Wiener on San Francisco’s incentive program for student housing and its micro-housing ordinance. Working with Panoramic Interests, Dan entitled San Francisco’s first micro/student housing project, as well as its first housing development approved under the state density bonus law. He also served as CEQA counsel for UC Hastings’ Long Range Development Plan and was the lead attorney for California College of the Arts recent campus consolidation project.