State of the Office: Sunshine State Edition

As founder and Chief Executive Officer of Banyan Street Capital, Rudy Prio Touzet provides strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the firm’s operations. He brings more than 30 years of commercial real estate and financial experience to the firm, which he founded in 2007. Prior to founding Banyan Street Capital, Mr. Touzet co-founded America’s Capital Partners in 1997, and led the company for the next decade. During that time, the firm invested in and operated 13.8 million square feet of office properties, with a value of $1.9 billion, throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic United States in joint ventures with domestic and international investors. In 2009, Mr. Touzet combined many of the ACP assets with Eola Capital, LLC and helped to lead Eola through its merger with Parkway Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PKY) in 2011. He also served as an independent director of Parkway from 2011 to 2012. In 1997, Mr. Touzet joined Associated Capital Properties and served as its executive vice president until its sale to Highwoods Properties (NYSE: HIW), after which he served as the head of Highwoods’ South Florida operations. From 1981 until 1997, Mr. Touzet held a number of positions at Cushman & Wakefield, including managing director, Florida Area. Mr. Touzet earned a B.B.A. in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami.

W. Allen Morris is Chairman and C.E.O. of The Allen Morris Company. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Mortgage Broker, and holds the professional designations of CPM (Certified Property Manager of the Institute of Real Estate Management) and SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors). He is a past President of the Florida CCIM Chapter (Certified Commercial Investment Member of the Realtors National Marketing Institute) as well as holding the prestigious CRE designation (Counselor of Real Estate) and FRICS, as a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. . The Allen Morris Company, in its 58 th year, is one of the largest developers and managers of office buildings in the State of Florida, completing 80 office, industrial, multi-family, mixed-use, and retail projects around Florida and Georgia. Their headquarter office project , a Mediterranean-Revival style office building in the center of Downtown Coral Gables called Alhambra Towers, has won nine awards including "The Best of South Florida -Platinum Award's", “NAIOP 2003 Project of the Year - all categories" and the “2006 Community Advancement Award for Commercial Project of the Year” in Florida from the Developers & Builders Alliance. In 2013 the company launched Allen Morris Residential, and currently has five projects under construction: the 1.3 million square foot, 58-story luxury hotel and condominium - SLS LUX Brickell - a joint venture with Related Group; the 348-unit residential multi-family, $70 million Hermitage Apartment Homes in St. Petersburg, Florida; the $68 million Maitland City Centre, creating a new mixed-use downtown for the City of Maitland, Florida, combining the new City Hall, Central Park and Festival Street with residential apartments, live-work- office suites, and a Festival Marketplace with shops and restaurants; and Star Metals, Atlanta, a $250 million mixed use project with a 409 unit luxury, multi-family residential, a 12-story, Class “A”, 185,000 square foot office building and 46,000 square feet of retail and restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Morris has appeared as a leading authority on real estate topics as a frequent guest on the Fox Business News show CAVUTO with Neil Cavuto, on the Fox Business Morning Break with Charles Payne and in the Strategy Room with Eric Bolling. In addition to being an Officer and Director of more than thirty-five different real estate-related companies and President of a charitable Foundation and art museum, Mr. Morris was also Past-Chairman and Advisory Board member of Wachovia Bank of Miami. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received the top student in Marketing and Management studies. Mr. Morris is also very civic minded and having lived his whole life in Coral Gables feels very strongly about his City Beautiful. He is the former Chairman of the Florida Chapter YPO (Young Presidents' Organization), and currently a member of WPO (World Presidents' Organization), Executive Committee and Board member of The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Miami-Dade County (chairman of their VeritageMiami Wine and Food Festival) and a lifetime senior member of the Orange Bowl Committee. He has served on many national and local real estate boards and many local philanthropic boards. Mr. Morris has traveled extensively working with international clients, and served Florida on Economic Missions to Europe and Asia. He is also a licensed Commercial Pilot, flying himself on most of his business travel. For fun he spends time diving reefs as a certified scuba diver and is a Tae Kwon Do Master (fourth degree black belt). He has received numerous professional distinctions including the 2009 South Florida Business Leader of the Year Award in Real Estate, the 2011 REAL Trend Setter Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the 2014 Business Leader of the Year from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the 2016 Miami -Dade County Chairman of the Year Apogee Award from South Florida Business and Wealth magazine. He is a recipient of the Institute of Human Relations Award given by the American Jewish Committee and the prestigious Hickok Award from the Young Presidents’ Organization. His favorite saying sits on the edge of his desk facing visitors “How CAN it be done?”

Angelo Bianco assumed the role of Managing Partner for Crocker Partners in January 2017. He previously managed Crocker Partners’ capital market activities and investor relations and directed operations in Florida and Texas, including acquisition and development opportunities, asset management, property management, and leasing functions. Most notably, he led the development of CityPlace Tower. Mr. Bianco joined the Crocker organization in 2001 as Senior Vice President at CRT Properties, Inc while Tom Crocker served as the CEO. During that time, Mr. Bianco was responsible for the acquisition of properties totaling 2.1 million square feet and managing the company’s Florida assets, which consisted of ten office complexes totaling 77 buildings. Previously, Mr. Bianco served as counsel for Tishman Speyer Properties, concentrating on the redevelopment of Rockefeller Center in New York City. He began his career as a real estate attorney in New York City. Mr. Bianco holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from George Washington University.

Barbara’s passion for interior design and her ability to synthesize her clients’ objectives into outstanding interior spaces are evident in her uncompromising design solutions. Leveraging her design talent and technical skill, Barbara is a key member to all project teams on which she participates.

Josh Procacci is a founding partner and Chief Investment Officer of IPCP and is responsible for acquisitions, transaction structuring, dispositions and conducting due diligence activities on behalf of the Company. Prior to forming IPCP with his partner, Jason Isaacson, Mr. Procacci was Vice President of Penn Florida Realty Advisors, LLC, the successor to Cypress Creek Capital, LLC where he held the same position. Throughout his career, Mr. Procacci has been instrumental in the acquisition, disposition and restructuring of over $5.0 billion of commercial real estate across the office, industrial and retail asset classes. Mr. Procacci grew up in Florida and started his real estate career as an Investment Analyst for LNR Partners in Miami Beach, Florida. His responsibilities included bond level financial modeling, valuation and risk profiling of existing CMBS multi-million-dollar investments and preparing quarterly financial reports for senior management to assess the company’s non-investment grade tranche positions. Prior to LNR Partners, Mr. Procacci worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading strategy and technology consulting firm, where he was responsible for the company’s treasury management and monitoring the company’s cash positions and investments. Mr. Procacci earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from American University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He also holds a Florida Real Estate Brokers license.

Brian Gale is Vice Chairman of Cushman and Wakefield of Florida. Through his 27 year career, Brian has overseen the signing of leases totalling 12 million square feet, with a value of over $2 billion. His team currently represents almost 7 million square feet of office space in South Florida, with buildings in Downtown Miami, Brickell, Coral Gables, South Miami, Coconut Grove, Wynwood, Airport West and has clients which include Metlife, Nuveen, Related, AEW, Prudential, OKO Group, Cain International, IP Capital, CIM, L&B, Banyan and Crocker Partners. From 1993 to 1999, Brian was a broker in the Miami office of CB Richard Ellis and from there he spent the next 18 years as a broker and Principal of Taylor and Mathis before joining Cushman and Wakefield in 2016. Brian is a 2 time “Broker of the Year” winner for Miami-Dade County.

Gonzalo Cortabarría, Senior Vice President of Swire Properties Inc, oversees the leasing and operations of Brickell City Centre, the $1.2-billion mixed-use development currently under construction in the heart of Miami’s financial district. Cortabarría joined Swire Properties in February 2015 and brings with him 25 years of experience in acquisition, development and asset management of large commercial real estate projects in the US and Latin America.

John is responsible for the development and leasing activities for the stations and transit oriented development in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.   John has more than 20 years experience in the commercial real estate business. Prior to joining the team, John served as Vice President at Flagler Development where he was responsible for real estate development and asset management of Flagler Development’s portfolio – including 12 million square feet in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and South Florida, as well as the sourcing of new development opportunities and acquisitions for the company within the Florida region. He was also Executive Director for Advantis, a St. Joe Company, where he was responsible for the leasing of a 21 building, 2.9 million square foot office park at SouthPark Center.   John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rollins College, is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). John’s a committed professional, but he and his wife of 20 plus years are also focused on ensuring their two young daughters are exposed to the “pura vida” lifestyle and get to Costa Rica for surfing excursions often.

Juliana Fernandez is a founding partner of AEI, a world-class commercial design firm that is among the largest in Latin America. Having led projects throughout Latin America, New York and Miami, she is recognized for her expertise in designing corporate and commercial spaces with a vision inspired by global resources and extensive travel. Juliana’s more than 22 years of experience, with clients including Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, Coca Cola, Globant and Holland & Knight, affords her profound knowledge of professional design that leaves a distinguishable, lasting mark and aesthetically communicates clients’ industry and brand personality. An architect by trade, Juliana graduated with honors from Rhode Island School of Design and attended Brown University. She earned a master’s degree in industrial design from Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan and is LEED accredited.

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.

Laura Kozelouzek is a recognized expert and visionary of the serviced hospitality and co-working industry for over 30 years. She is an innovator, and entrepreneur and well respected for her ability to create “high energy” results oriented co-working cultures. In July 2010, Laura created Quest Workspaces, inspired by a need to provide business owners with a high end, high touch all-inclusive work space solution that offered true flexibility and business building opportunities. Quest Workspaces operates 10 locations, 9 in Florida, currently Miami’s 3rd largest coworking operator, and 1 in New York City representing over 3,000 clients and 360,000 SF. In 10 years, Quest has become a leading brand, featured in over 65 publications including; Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Fortune Magazine and New York Times, named one of Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2016 and 2018 and voted Best Place to Work every year since 2012. Prior to Quest Workspaces, in 2004 Laura founded Synergy Workplaces, growing the company to 25 national locations, and over 25 million in sales. In 2008, Synergy was sold to Carr Workplaces. Before Synergy, Laura spent 19 years in the commercial real estate and hospitality industries. During that time, as an executive at HQ/Regus, she was responsible for its most profitable region, representing 80 locations, 5,000 customers and generated $180 million in annual sales. While at HQ, she played a lead role in an industry “roll up” and consolidating the sector. As a serial entrepreneur Laura has owned a trendy NYC restaurant, launched a NYC real estate newspaper, brokerage business, and is a recipient of dozens of leadership, service and real estate awards. She graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and is a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women. One of her greatest accomplishment was the creation of Quest Cares in 2012. A program that supports local nonprofits with complimentary office space and services through Quest. To date the program has donate over $650,000 to over a dozen deserving charities. Laura plays a very active role in the workspaces community as board member of the Global Workspace Association, WANY, and All Good Workspace. She is also a frequent speaker at coworking, real estate and entrepreneurial conferences. When she’s not in the office she can found spending her time with her teenage son Jordan on the ski slopes, scuba diving, or water skiing or traveling. To say Laura is an adrenaline junkie and adventurer would be an understatement!

Grant Killingsworth joined CBRE in January 2015 as First Vice President in the Occupier Services Group in South Florida, where he specializes in representing office tenants in the market. He brings nearly 15 years of commercial real estate experience to the industry, with an extensive background working for prestigious landlord and corporate clients. Mr. Killingsworth’s practice is based on the principle of building long-term relationships by providing innovative solutions to clientele regardless of size, scope or complexity of an assignment with uncompromising standards and integrity. Prior to his role with CBRE, Mr. Killingsworth spent nearly a decade with Jones Lang LaSalle as part of a team exclusively responsible for marketing and leasing over three million square feet of office space in South Florida, most notably Espirito Santo Plaza and 1221 Brickell in Miami’s Central Business District. Over the course of his career, he has represented a wide range of local, regional and multinational corporations, nonprofits and educational institutions. Mr. Killingsworth started his career in 2000 working for several institutional property owners. This experience provided him a deep understanding of the lease underwriting process, which has since allowed him to implement unique and creative strategies to drive meaningful cost savings for his tenant clients. He also has significant experience in the office development process, from the design and financial underwriting phase through construction and ultimately lease up.

David Ramos is the Vice President for Hotwire Communications Fision Enterprise Division. As Vice President, his responsibilities include business development, community relations, account management, and consumer sales for new and existing businesses, creating cutting-edge, convenient solutions for all their IT needs in office and commercial properties. He is a proven leader with extensive experience building and leading high performing teams that focus on changing the landscape of our industry within the Commercial Market. David began his cable career at Atlantic Broadband as a door-to-door sales rep, and was then given the opportunity to use his sales, management and innovation skills to improve business performance by leading the Florida region as their Sales Manager. Previously, he served as Vice President of Sales for Advanced Enterprises, one of the largest sales; call centers, and installation vendors for DIRECTV. Prior to that, he was a Director of Sales for Comcast overseeing residential sales, indirect retail, and special markets in South Florida. A graduate of Trinity International University, David holds a B.A. in Organizational Leadership, and a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Miami-Dade College School of Business and is a Certified Business Counselor with the SBA's SCORE program. David’s aim is to continue to drive innovation for Fision customers by introducing products, and services, that fit their technology driven business needs.