San Francisco Real Estate Business & Politics

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.

Evan serves as Managing Director for Longfellow’s San Francisco Bay Area office. He is responsible for strategic growth and operations including oversight of acquisitions, development, property management, design and construction, asset management and leasing across properties in Northern California. Prior to Longfellow, Evan managed the San Francisco office of The John Buck Company with responsibilities for West Coast investment and development in office and residential totalling over $1.8 billion. He also led office acquisition and development activities for the Irvine Company’s Northern California region. Evan holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley

Travis’ portfolio includes high-tech companies, high-profile financial institutions, leading healthcare facilities, and Fortune 500 commercial office projects locally in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Southern California and across the West Coast. As Project Executive and leader of Truebeck Construction’s San Francisco office, Schultz is responsible for local strategy, expanding operations in the city, and interiors market development.

Mr. Dooling is a shareholder and chairs the RMKB Real Estate/Construction Practice Group. His practice consists of general trial work and outside general counsel work for business entities, individuals and insured’s. His trial practice includes experience in construction and construction defect litigation, professional liability (architects & engineers, attorneys, and real estate and insurance brokers), real estate, commercial disputes and general liability matters in the California State Courts and the Northern District of California. Mr. Dooling also represents and advises privately held and publicly traded companies in the capacity as outside general counsel; which includes the representation of general contractors, sub-contractors, engineering and construction management firms, real estate brokers and developers and a local community bank. The representation includes all aspects of the clients business, including, but not limited to, risk management, contract drafting and review, licensing, employment agreements and handling litigation matters. Mr. Dooling is a native San Franciscan who earned his undergraduate degree from the University of San Francisco, where he was the recipient of a four-year Harney Foundation Scholarship. While at USF, John earned varsity letters in baseball, golf and crew. Subsequent to his graduation from USF, John obtained a Real Estate Broker’s License and represented sellers and buyers in real estate transactions for Merrill Lynch Real Estate. He also owned and operated a popular sports restaurant and bar in San Francisco from 1990 to 1996. During this time John attended evening law school and earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence and was admitted to practice in 1991. Outside the firm, John lives in Burlingame with his wife Eileen (a Jersey girl), their daughter Elizabeth (Lily), and their dogs, Bogey and Skipper. He is an avid Giants (ex-bat boy) and 49ers' (ex-ball boy) fan and enjoys the occasional round of golf. John previously served as a Director and Officer (Vice President) for The Olympic Club and currently serves as a Director (Vice Chair) for the Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco and The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos. He is a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and past director of several non-profit organizations; including the Hibernian Newman Club, University of San Francisco Inn of Court, and the San Mateo Legal Aid Society. John also volunteers at St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco and the Maple Street Shelter in Redwood City.

Elaine Forbes was appointed by Mayor Ed Lee as Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco in October 2016, with the recommendation of the Port Commission. Forbes is one of eight women Port Directors in the United States. Before her appointment as Executive Director, she served as Interim Director and Deputy Director for Finance and Administration for the Port. Prior to joining the Port, Elaine Forbes held executive management and leadership positions at both the San Francisco Planning Department and the San Francisco International Airport. In addition, she has worked for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget Analyst’s Office providing fiscal and policy analysis and evaluating and reporting on complex municipal issues. Before beginning her tenure with the City and County of San Francisco, she worked as a redevelopment agency planner for the City of Oakland. She also has worked for several non-profit land use policy and economic development organizations including the Urban Strategies Council and the California Budget Project. Forbes holds a Master’s degree with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles in Community and Economic Development, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland. Forbes was born in San Francisco and resides in the Castro neighborhood with her partner.

Patrick Van Ness is responsible for project entitlement and development, including preparation of feasibility analyses, environmental, planning and engineering studies and review by municipal, state and federal agencies for all entitlements. Patrick has extensive experience obtaining approvals and permits from local municipalities as well as State and Federal agencies including the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), the State Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Patrick also oversees the development of community site planning, product design, landscape design and engineering. Prior to joining the SDG team, Patrick worked at Signature Properties for 17 years. As Director of Purchasing, he contracted for the construction of over 1,000 units; as Director of Sales and Marketing, he managed 20 sales agents and the marketing process for over 1,000 units; and as Senior Project Manager, he processed and received approval for over 4,500 units and 300,000 square feet of retail/commercial space, including redevelopment, mixed use and master-planned communities in San Francisco, Oakland and Novato. Patrick’s diverse experience provides him with a unique understanding of real estate development and the construction industry throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.

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.

Wally is an industry leader for complex ground up, seismic, tenant improvement and building renovations in office, retail, civic, hospitality and commercial buildings, many in occupied spaces. Wally is the primary client representative for his projects, ensuring that the project gets the resources and commitments it needs to guarantee a successful outcome. His responsibilities include client communication, design consultation, budget and cost estimating review and coordination of construction operations. Wally provides direct leadership to project management staff, performs executive-level project management functions, and executes business development efforts for the region. He is accountable for understanding the client’s project objectives and ensuring Pankow’s solutions meet or exceed the Client’s needs.

Sarah Sieloff is the Executive Director of the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR or "see clear"), the oldest and only non-profit in the United States solely dedicated to the reuse and revitalization of underutilized or contaminated land. Serving as a national platform for excellence in land reuse, CCLR organizes workshops, webinars, and provides one-on-one technical assistance on land recycling issues in low-capacity and low-income communities across the country, from California to Puerto Rico. Under Sarah's leadership, CCLR has grown substantially since 2015. Prior to joining CCLR, Sarah served as the Memphis Team Lead for the White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities, working with 25 federal agencies to bring resources and technical assistance to the City of Memphis. Sarah has a background in international development and is a Truman Scholar. She earned her Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University and her BA from Eckerd College.