DC Retail & Restaurant

Joseph Sitt is President and CEO of Thor Equities, a global leader in urban real estate development, leasing and management of commercial, residential, retail, hotel and mixed-use assets. Mr. Sitt is also CEO of Thor Retail Advisors, a premier leasing agent and exclusive representative of global retailers in their search for prime locations; Chairman of Thor Urbana, which develops and acquires retail, office and mixed-use properties in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla and other large Mexican cities; and Chairman and Managing Principal of Thor Urban Property Funds, an investment vehicle serving pension funds, investment banks, top-tier college endowments and foundations. Mr. Sitt was awarded the 2014 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Harvard professor Michael Porter and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) have also honored him for his commitment to fostering healthy competitive business conditions and new opportunities in inner city neighborhoods. He has served on the board of the Real Estate Roundtable in Washington D.C., the Department of Real Estate at Baruch College, and is a member of the Partnership for New York City. Mr. Sitt founded women’s clothing retailer Ashley Stewart, expanding the company to 380 stores in over 100 cities. He is a graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business.

As the President of Rappaport, Henry Fonvielle oversees the leasing strategy for third-party landlord and tenant representation services and all shopping centers within the company’s extensive portfolio. Dedicated to reinvigorating, designing, and constructing top-tier mixed-use developments and shopping centers within the D.C. market, Henry utilizes over 35 years of experience in the retail industry to create well-organized and exceptional projects from conception to completion. With comprehensive knowledge in a wide array of retail types including urban, mixed-use, neighborhood, lifestyle, and power centers, Henry is recognized as a trusted retail advisor and an expert in the commercial real estate industry.  His ability to form and cultivate close-knit partnerships within his team and among his clients enhanced Rappaport’s reputation as a well-respected and experienced firm committed to cultivating places. Under his leadership, the company’s leasing and brokerage portfolio soared from 35 to over 170 properties. Prior to joining Rappaport, Henry was Senior Vice President and Retail Department Head for the Vornado/Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty.  Henry is Co-Founder of the Skyland Workforce Center Leadership Council, member of the Executive Leadership Team for the Alzheimer’s Association – Ride to End ALZ, Emeritus member of the Foundation Board and Ball Chair of Children’s National Hospital, member of the Bisnow Diversity Board, Board member for Tall Ship Providence Foundation, Board member and Gala Chair for Atlas Performing Arts Center, and At-Large member of the Board of the USTA-Mid-Atlantic. Henry formerly served as Vice-Chair for Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, Board member for Federal City Council and Washington DC Economic Partnership.

Timothy Steffan has joined RPAI as President – Eastern Division, and is responsible for executing the strategic plan for the Company’s eastern region portfolio, including the oversight of asset management, leasing, property management and re-development. Prior to joining RPAI, Mr. Steffan was Senior Vice President, Asset Management and Commercial Leasing for Macerich’s Eastern region, which included partner relationships, strategic objectives and performance metrics, budgeting and forecasting, return analysis/pro forma modeling on development projects, and other company initiatives including Parking Revenue. In addition, he led the company’s commercial leasing ventures including Tysons Tower at Tysons Corner Center. Mr. Steffan received a B.A. from Syracuse University and a M.B.A. in Real Estate and Urban Development from The American University in Washington, D.C. He is also a licensed real estate broker in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Edward A. de Avila, Senior Development Director, leads and manages the delivery of complex mixed-use developments for Madison Marquette. Over 25 years of retail mixed-use experience on notable projects overseeing all retail functions, has given him the background and expertise to address the challenges of how to create meaningful destinations in the midst of this new economy. His project experience includes horizontal and vertical mixed-use, development in suburban markets and urban districts and, all facets of mixed-use development. Ed has been with Madison Marquette since February of 2016, and focused on distinguishing The Wharf, a new regional destination and urban neighborhood, comprising 3.2 mi sf of residential, office, hotel, retail, and cultural space. His oversight includes the leasing and delivery of retail, including design, development and delivery. He also is responsible for the redevelopment of the historic Fish Market and the 240,000 square foot class A office building designed by KPF, and accompanying market goods at the pedestrian level. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, he was Vice President of Development for Lerner Enterprises and managed the repositioning and redevelopment plan for White Flint Mall. Prior to joining Madison, Ed served as CEO of Village Partners in California, a mixed-use development company overseeing strategic planning, new business development, and overall management. Previously, he managed the entitlement and development of the showcase Country Club Plaza’s $240 million development program. In addition, as Managing Director of AMC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Centertainment, Ed saw the expansion of their large theatre formats and their participation in various suburban and urban mixed-use entertainment centers. Ed’s local accomplishments began overseeing the retail delivery of Reston Town Center’s first phase development, as well as Georgetown Park’s Phase II expansion. He completed numerous management and sales training at IBM, where he began his professional career, following his studies at California State University of Fullerton. Ed is an active member of Urban Land and ICSC, and active participant serving on various councils and technical assistance panels.

Within the industry and among his own team, Dan Simons is known for his energetic leadership style and passion for hospitality. An impressive career in the management ranks at several large, high-volume restaurants helped to propel him toward starting his own firm, which he founded in 2004 with mentor Michael Vucurevich. The two form a well-balanced partnership based on mutual respect and a shared vision. Founding Farmers, which they launched in 2008 with North Dakota Farmers Union, is the accumulation of their many years of industry experience, as well as their successful working relationship. As a skilled communicator, Dan is frequently called on to serve as the voice of Founding Farmers, whether he’s inspiring potential investors or sharing his knowledge at hospitality and educational events. The responsible practices, which form the backbone of Founding Farmers are an extension of the way he strives to live his own life. He takes great pride in being able to continually incorporate new methods and initiatives that give back to the environment and the community. He has been the recipient of a variety of awards within the restaurant industry and the business world that honor his commitment to sustainability and socially responsible practices.

Allison Cooke, Principal & Director of Hospitality Design at CORE architecture + design (CORE), is committed to listening and forming true design partnerships with her clients to help them realize their ambitions in built space, at all scales. She leads and grows the firm’s restaurant and retail work, while providing editorial feedback on interiors projects in their broad portfolio. She is focused on expanding the firm’s boutique hospitality and retail practice in DC and the greater mid- Atlantic region. Clients love her ability to seamlessly shift between conceptual brainstorming and straightforward conversation about technical requirements. She is also responsible for public relations and marketing initiatives and continuing education opportunities within the firm and broader community. A natural leader and presenter, she regularly participates in speaking engagements across the country focusing on the nuances and challenges of retail and restaurant design. Allison has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Miami University of Ohio. She is NCIDQ Certified and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

“Scott Museles is more than my attorney. He is one of my most important business advisors.” Janeen Gelbart, co-founder of Indiggo Associates LLC, a provider of leadership training platforms goes on to say, “He helped me raise my first million dollars of investment. He and his colleagues at Shulman Rogers help me manage the legal and business issues around investors, employees, alliances, vendors, and intellectual property. He has been a true partner in starting my business and helping me to make it successful.” Scott counsels start-up, early-stage and mature private companies, small-cap and micro-cap public companies, placement agents and investment banks, and investment fund sponsors on a wide range of transactional and business law matters. His practice emphasizes public and private placement offerings, mergers and acquisitions, angel and venture capital transactions, crowd-funding, private equity and real estate fund formation, reverse mergers, roll-ups, SEC and state securities blue sky compliance, corporate governance and general corporate law. For his clients that do not have in-house legal counsel, Mr. Museles often serves as the client’s "outside general counsel", taking a leadership role in managing the clients’ legal matters and providing effective and efficient solutions that are consistent with his clients’ business objectives. Throughout his career, Scott has counseled clients on business transactions and general corporate matters in a wide variety of industries, including hospitality, technology, government contracting, fuel distribution, medical device, real estate, business services, retail, aviation, sports and entertainment, restaurants, alternative energy, medical marijuana and specialty contracting. Scott has advised buyers and sellers on scores of transactions and, in addition to providing M&A advice, he has helped companies raise millions in private and public investment funds. As an important added value, Scott routinely helps his clients identify investors. Scott is Co-Chairman of the Firm’s Business and Financial Services Department and Chair of the Firm’s Securities Practice Group. Prior to joining Shulman Rogers, he served as Of Counsel at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. Scott began his career as an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Corporation Finance, where he worked on IPOs, mergers and other securities regulatory matters for companies in the investment banking, securitization, gaming, hotel, restaurant and leisure industries.