South Florida 2018 Forecast!

Nitin Motwani has been the managing principal of Miami Worldcenter since 2006. He is responsible for everything from land acquisition, zoning, and entitlements to financing, joint ventures, and development. Mr. Motwani is also a managing director of Encore Capital Management, which currently has over $1 billion of investments across the country, including holdings in Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona. Earlier in his career, Mr. Motwani was the president of Merrimac Ventures. Mr. Motwani is also actively involved in building the Miami community, through his roles as the chair of the Economic Development and Technology/Marketing and Communications Committees of Miami's Downtown Development Authority. Mr. Motwani is also a member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Beacon Council. He is also a co-chair of the nonprofit Operation Hope for Haiti, which has helped Haiti position itself for a sustainable, long-term recovery tied to economic development, education, and health.

Carlos Rosso is the Founder of Rosso Development, a fully integrated development firm focused on high-end boutique development opportunities. Rosso is set to oversee multiple upcoming awe-inspiring projects in key markets in South Florida and Latin America—with the first ever The Standard Residences in Midtown Miami as his debut project. Rosso founded Rosso Development in 2020 after nearly 20 years with The Related Group, where he was a driving force behind the company’s condominium operations. As the president of the condominium and international development divisions, he oversaw all facets of condominium development domestically and internationally. Over the course of his career, Rosso developed well over 16,000 units, and in the process, mastered diverse development disciplines including construction, project financing, land acquisition and sales and marketing. Under his leadership, Related successfully delivered iconic projects including the 1,600 unit Paraiso District in Miami; Residences by ARMANI/CASA designed by César Pelli; Hyde Beach House; Park Grove by OMA/Rem Koolhaas; Auberge Beach Residences and Spa in Fort Lauderdale; SLS Cancun & Residences in Mexico; and V:HOUSE in Brazil. Prior to his time at Related, Rosso held a number of positions across global development firms, having served as Vice President of Real Estate Development for Investment Properties Ltd. in Boston; and ten years as Project Director for Besix International, overseeing the development and construction of over ten million square feet of multi-family, hotel and office buildings in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Rosso graduated summa cum laude from the Universidad de Buenos Aires with a master’s degree in Architecture. He also earned a master’s degree in Real Estate Development and Finance, with the highest honors, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). www.rossodev.com

Faisal Ashraf is the Founder and Chief Executive of Lotus Capital Partners, LLC. From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Ashraf served as Managing Director and the Head of Capital Markets & Large Loan Lending at CCRE, the largest non-bank CMBS lender in the United States. During his tenure at CCRE, he successfully originated & risk managed over $4 billion in mortgage and mezzanine capital. Prior to joining CCRE, Mr. Ashraf served as a senior member on the US real estate finance team for Crédit Suisse where he structured and closed over $35 billion in debt and equity related products. Mr. Ashraf’s focus at Crédit Suisse was on LBO's, large loans, development debt, and mezzanine financing. He also served as the Deputy Head of the Real Estate Finance in Europe where his group financed over $5 billion of mortgage and mezzanine capital across eight countries. Mr. Ashraf started his career at Moody’s Investors Service where he underwrote over $15 billion in US commercial real estate loans. He holds a B.A. from Hofstra University.

Jon was a founding principal of ADD Inc Miami, an architecture and interior design practice which grew from two employees to over 100 before they joined Stantec in 2015. With the addition of a structural and civil engineering team, Jon now oversees 130 employees. He also co-develops the overall strategy, business development, and marketing of our growing Commercial Sector practice nationwide. Our Miami office has realized exponential growth under Jon’s client-focused leadership, designing hundreds of high-profile development projects and towers from the city’s urban core to the shoreline, helping to reshape the South Florida skyline. Recently, Jon has also proudly spearheaded the restoration of seven historic Art Deco hotels along the iconic Collins Avenue, merging each hotel’s timeless qualities with new, modern aesthetics. As a senior principal and seasoned architect, Jon specializes in commercial building design and project economics, analyzing the overall objectives which developers, public agencies, and neighborhoods envision. He uses that information to uncover additional development cost savings, ongoing operational efficiencies, and marketing benefits for high-profile, large-scale projects. Drawing from over 20 years of planning and design expertise, Jon organizes building forms, building uses, and sustainable design techniques to create dynamic, multi-faceted spaces which promote enjoyment, wellness, and productivity.

Michael Tillman is the CEO and CIO of PTM Partners, a Fort Lauderdale-based real estate investment and development firm focused on designing and building tech-forward sustainable multifamily housing in urban markets. PTM has invested, developed, constructed, and managed over $2.5 billion in real estate covering a broad range of mixed-use inclusionary projects in D.C., Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. PTM seeks medium-to long-term community-oriented development opportunities that create substantial value for residents, partners, and investors. Prior to PTM, Michael was a managing director of development and acquisitions for LeFrak, building and overseeing their multi-billion-dollar portfolio in South Florida. He holds his BBA from Emory University and earned his MBA from Columbia University’s Business School.

Since 2013, Jay Parker has been the Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman Florida Brokerage where he has capitalized on his extensive brokerage relationships and realtor contacts to grow Douglas Elliman’s presence in Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Aventura, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Palm Beach and Jupiter. Jay has shown a propensity for leadership throughout his career. His fundamental role in handling over $300 million in mergers and acquisitions at the Law Firm of Gunster Yoakley Valdez Fauli & Stewart in the Miami and Palm Beach Real Estate Departments ultimately led his client to an IPO. Then, as General Counsel for LandTel Communications in New York, he oversaw the implementation of a Pan-European fixed wireless market. In this role, he raised over $375 million from numerous private equity firms and restructured the company’s assets after recognizing a funding gap at a time when the industry was in distress, thereby avoiding bankruptcy. In late 2001, Jay returned to Miami Beach to form Clear Title Group, LLC a boutique real estate title insurance company focused on offering closing services to luxury condominium and home buyers. After strengthening his brokerage roots in South Florida while also representing Titan Capital as the company’s local counsel, Jay sought a joint venture, founding Titan Capital Florida, LLC in 2006. Jay continues to serve as Managing Partner of Titan Capital Florida, a Direct Lender with offices in New York, Connecticut and Miami. In its first year of operations, Titan Capital Florida closed on over $100 million in transactions. In 2010, Jay formed Beloff Parker which grew to Beloff Parker Jacobs, a real estate and transactional law firm based in Miami Beach. Building off Parker and Beloff’s long- standing relationships in the Miami market, Clear Title Group quickly distinguished itself as one of the largest and most successful real estate law firms in the area, representing many of Miami Beach’s most respected developers, landlords and tenants, as well as handling some of their most significant real estate transactions. Jay received a Bachleor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario located in London Ontario Canada. During this time, he spent a year studying abroad in Tel Aviv. Jay completed his studies at the University of Miami, School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1998. Today, Jay lives with his twin boys in Miami where he is a member of the Florida Bar Association and serves on the Board of Governors for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Jay is also President of the Executive Board of Mt. Sinai Medical Center Foundation and sits on the Miami Association of Realtors Leadership Board.

​​Arnaud Karsenti is the Managing Principal of 13th Floor Investments where his core focus is on management and growth of the firm. Mr. Karsenti is primarily responsible for the general direction of the firm’s investment strategy and overall capitalization. In this capacity, Mr. Karsenti’s role is one of new business origination, deal structuring, and investor relations. Mr. Karsenti has been active in the real estate business since 2003 when he began his real estate career assembling and developing land parcels in Miami’s urban cores. These initial one-off acquisitions led to the creation of 13th Floor in 2007, which has acquired, developed and managed over $1.5 billion in real asset value since inception. These transactions have ranged from property acquisitions to restructuring of distressed debt, fractured residential inventory, community district development bonds, and a host of joint venture structures. Prior to founding 13th Floor, Mr. Karsenti founded Collegeboxes, the nation’s leading college-based shipping and storage companies, which was acquired by U-Haul in 2004. Mr. Karsenti is an active member of the Young President’s Organization, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and a variety of other local and national philanthropic organizations. Mr. Karsenti graduated cum laude from the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and holds an MBA from the Harvard School of Business.

A verb more than a noun, Natalia embodies a Founder-in-Chief, community builder extraordinaire, and resident madrina to the many businesses, organizations, and humans she helps incubate, develop, and inspire. An organizational psychologist and technologist with degrees from Harvard and Columbia University, she is laser focused on merging innovation, entrepreneurship, and lasting community impact. Above all, she leads from her heart. Whether it's business, civic engagement, or the arts (yes, her brain and work often span across areas) Natalia's solution to most things is rooted in collaboration and guided by a desire to create projects, start conversations, and build communities that are as inclusive as they are dynamic. And she does so with grace and aplomb. Her dedication is informed by her life as a twice-immigrant née to Russian and Cuban parents, an interdisciplinary approach, and a fascination with complex systems. Nothing if not passionate, she is a creative thinker and a bold executer. Just look at what she did with the Cambridge Innovation Center’s Miami expansion in the first year. Natalia is the Founder of Awesome Foundation MIAMI, a micro-granting leader in South Florida that has supported almost 100 grassroots projects over the last five years, as well as a Co-Founder of Aminta Ventures, a vehicle meant to educate/empower professional and philanthropic women to become angel investors. She serves on the boards of LocalTAU and Venture for America (Miami), and was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Commission on Community Service, which oversees the delivery of more than $32M annually to high-impact service programs across the state. When done exercising her left brain, her right brain kicks in. She's the co-creator and curator of Love Lost, Miami - an annual art exhibit that explores loss through personal and ordinary items that come alive through their accompanying stories. A dedicated fan of jazz and the opera, she is also a talented amateur photographer and infuses her own vodka. Natalia is a cat mom, porteña by choice, an avid hobbyist - just ask for the activity du jour, - a regular speaker/panelist, and an occassional contributor to outlets such as The Huffington Post, the World Economic Forum,Mic, and La Nacion.

As President and Co-Founder of Terra, David Martin’s ambition has been to evolve the South Florida landscape and enrich the lives of the people within it. He has spent the past 15+ years recognizing opportunities to invigorate Miami's spirit by creating truly original and exceptional spaces in unexpected places thus redefining the way people live, beyond the norm. David's vision has led the company operations, sales, and marketing as well as investment and development projects. David leads some of Miami’s most impactful real estate developments, with an emphasis on neighborhoods like Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Doral and Weston. Examples are the Bjarke Ingels-designed Grove at Grand Bay and the Rem Koolhaas/OMA-designed Park Grove, two new luxury condos that are helping revitalize Coconut Grove. Glass, a 10-unit condo designed by Rene Gonzalez, was recently completed in Miami Beach's SoFi district. Eighty Seven Park, Terra’s newest project just up the coast in North Beach, will be a 70-unit beachfront condo designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. Terra is also developing the Modern and Neovita communities in Doral, as well as Botaniko in Weston, a master- planned community designed by Chad Oppenheim and Roney Mateu. With a unique interest in education, the arts and health foundations, David is actively involved in South Florida’s civic and business communities. He and his wife support several organizations with philanthropic contributions, including Miami Children's Health Foundation, Vizcaya Museums and Gardens, and the Wolfsonian FIU. He’s also an advisory board member for the UM School of Architecture Real Estate Development + Urbanism program and a member of the Latin Builders Association. David and his family are also responsible for the donation of the Freedom Tower to Miami Dade College in 2008. David is a graduate of the University of Florida with a master in business administration.

Ryan Shear manages the development of a growing real estate portfolio with over $10B in assets, including all acquisitions, financing, construction, design, marketing, sales and operations. Ryan primarily focuses on new construction condo and multifamily high rises in urban cores, including Miami, New York, Orlando, Denver, Atlanta and more. Recent condo projects he’s spearheaded include Echo Aventura, Echo Brickell, Muse Sunny Isles, Sage Longboat Key Residences, E11EVEN Hotel & Residences and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami. Recent multifamily projects include X Miami, Society Las Olas, Society Biscayne, Society Orlando and Society Wynwood. Ryan graduated with a BA in Business Administration from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University in Atlanta.

Sarah Emmons is a social impact professional with a focus on launching impactful initiatives that increase equity for all people. She serves as the Managing Director at Radical Partners, a social impact accelerator in Miami that invests in solutions to our region’s most pressing challenges - such as housing affordability, public transit, and inclusivity - through leadership development and community engagement. In this role, Sarah designs and oversees implementation of massive community engagements (such as 100 Great Ideas and 10 Days of Connection) and leadership development initiatives (such as Leadership Lab and Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp). Sarah is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for P.S. 305, an education advocacy non-profit that works with parents and teachers to improve Miami’s schools. Sarah began her career as a high school mathematics teacher and Teach for America corps member in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has since worked as a Mayoral Fellow in the Chicago Mayor’s Office and as a Research Manager at the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab. Sarah earned a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

Javier F. Aviñó serves as Practice Group Leader of Bilzin Sumberg's Land Development & Government Relations Group. Javier focuses his practice in land use and zoning law. In South Florida, he is the first stop for developers before they put a shovel in the ground. From the development of multiple Affordable Housing Projects, negotiating multi-million construction loans, to assisting with a $2.4 billion high-speed passenger rail project connecting South and Central Florida, Javier's deep roots in the community have allowed him to assist in projects that are helping to shape the landscape in South Florida. He represented The Sydell Group, developer of the trendy Freehand Miami hostel (formerly the Indian Creek Hotel), in its acquisition, zoning, and liquor license issues related to renovating the historic Art Deco building. He also represented Miami Produce Center, an entity controlled by Robert Wennett, in the filing of a Special Area Plan (SAP) with the City of Miami for a proposed eight-building development with over 1 million square feet of residential, office, retail, hotel, and educational components in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Javier has been recognized by Chambers USA, South Florida Business Journal, and South Florida Legal Guide. Javier has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston College and received his J.D. from the University of Miami.