The Future of Alexandria

Frank is responsible for managing all phases of the development process, from initial underwriting and programming, to entitlements, design, and construction. Since 2018, Frank has driven the expansion of the firm’s development pipelines in targeted markets along the eastern seaboard, including the greater Washington, DC area, Connecticut, and South Carolina. ‍ Frank has over a decade of experience managing complex commercial real estate development projects, totaling over $1.3 billion. Most recently, he oversaw the development and delivery of the Blake in Alexandria, Virginia—a Class A, 300-unit multifamily community. As the director of ground-up developments like the Blake, Frank’s expertise is in construction and project management, but his influence ranges from initial program development and team selection, to hand-picking interior design elements, project marketing, and coordinating city and community groups. Frank’s responsibilities also include working closely with the acquisitions team to source new opportunities for multifamily developments, like Harbor Landing and 75 Tresser in Stamford, Connecticut. In 2021, Frank was named to GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum’s 50 Under 40 List for his achievements, including the successful development, lease up, and sale of The Mason and The Hudson in South Carolina. ‍ Frank received his MBA with a concentration in finance from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is an active member of the Rosslyn BID Urban Design Committee Board, NAIOP Northern Virginia, and the Urban Land Institute.

Jon has over sixteen years of experience in the affordable housing and urban planning fields. Since joining AHDC in 2014, he has overseen the development, acquisition, or renovation of over 800 units across seven communities, with an additional 500 units in planned development. Prior to AHDC, Jon worked as the director of development for Volunteers of America where he oversaw all real estate development activities for the organization in the mid-Atlantic region. Jon sits on the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee and the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance Advisory Committee.”

Shelley Murphy serves as President and CEO for Wesley Housing. A former senior executive with Verizon Communications, she provides strategic direction and general executive leadership to Wesley Housing’s award-winning affordable housing programs. Since coming to Wesley Housing in 2007, Murphy has overseen a retooling of the organization, including the acquisition and renovation of more than 850 new affordable housing units and the expansion of Resident Services to more than double the number of residents served. Strongly committed to improving the lives of individuals and families in her community, Ms. Murphy is a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee for Fairfax County, the Communities of Faith United for Housing, sits on the Board of the Virginia Housing Coalition, and is the President of the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA). She also serves on the Advisory Board for Virginia Community Capital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master’s in business administration from Willamette University.

Noah Hale: Director, Development Noah supports Fairstead’s growth planning for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and development of affordable and mixed-income housing, focusing on core markets across the U.S. Noah leads Fairstead's partnership with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), Mill Creek Residential, and The Communities Group, which together are planning to redevelop the Samuel Madden Homes site in Old Town into a new mixed-use, mixed-income community. Before joining the company, Noah was Director of Development for TM Associates Development, where under his leadership more than 1,500 units in multiple projects were entitled, in development and completed. Noah, who earned a BS in Resource Economics from the University of Florida, is currently pursuing an MPS in Real Estate at Georgetown University.

Pillsbury partner James Bobotek concentrates his practice on a variety of construction and insurance matters. Jamie guides clients through all phases of development and construction of commercial properties, including preparation, review and negotiation of development, design, construction, design-build, and related agreements. Jamie also counsels clients in analyzing insurance coverage claims, formulating risk management strategies, and developing contractual insurance requirements. Jamie has secured many favorable outcomes for commercial policyholders on CGL, builder's risk, commercial property, business interruption, E&O, cyber, professional liability, D&O, pollution, fidelity and other claims. Representative Experience Drafted and negotiated construction, design, and development contracts for projects totaling billions of dollars. Represented public-private partnerships with respect to construction, design, and ancillary agreements relating to United States military housing privatizations across the country, including projects in California, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Nevada, Georgia and Missouri. Drafted form construction and design contract packages for owners, developers and contractors for use throughout the United States. Achieved partial summary judgment against AIG entity in connection with property insurance coverage dispute for multinational university arising from the 2010 earthquakes in Chile. Obtained a summary judgment ruling in a Student Financial Corp. bankruptcy legacy case for an additional insured/policyholder under a fidelity bond (financial institution bond) in connection with alleged Ponzi-scheme losses. Obtained a dismissal of first-filed insurance carrier declaratory judgment action, allowing an iconic brand company's $18 million flood loss claim to proceed against carrier in carrier's home forum of Tennessee. Deployed novel theory to defeat insurance carrier effort to align parties to create federal court jurisdiction, creating favorable new law in removal disputes with insurance carriers. Represented a telecommunications provider in successful prosecution of its claims against its E&O insurer confirming coverage for class action claims alleging cyber-related activities. Obtained significant recovery under a builders risk policy on behalf of a contractor for a delay claim arising out of a subcontractor's provision of defective materials. Procured multi-million dollar defense and indemnity recovery under "personal injury" CGL coverage relating to a discrimination suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of multiple claimants. Obtained recovery under an event cancellation policy for two class action suits brought as a result of logistical difficulties in connection with a client's presidential inauguration-related experiential student conference. Obtained full property loss and business interruption coverage, as well as defense and indemnity coverage for third-party suits, arising out of a catastrophic fire at a defense contractor's warehouse facility. Attained defense and indemnity coverage for an international construction company arising out of concrete plant emissions. Obtained defense and indemnity coverage under a professional liability policy for an engineering company faced with excess exposure. Recovered full pre-suit indemnity for a government contractor in a construction claim related to faulty subcontractor work. Protected a commercial developer's interests under a builders risk policy in connection with a faulty workmanship claim. Represented clients in various industries in structuring and negotiating the terms of their cyber insurance programs. Professional Highlights Member of the Insurance Recovery & Advisory practice, named by Law360 as a Practice Group of the Year in 2015 and 2016. Member of the ABA's Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, co-chair of its Construction Subcommittee and appointed vice-chair of the Committee's 2017 Annual CLE Seminar and Meeting. Authored "Builders Risk Insurance," New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition, Chapter 50 (updated 2016) and "Understanding Product Liability Insurance," New Appleman Insurance Law Practice Guide, Chapter 30B (2013). Presented "Mind the Gaps: Potential Gaps Between Cyber and Other Commercial Policies," at the ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation CLE Seminar, March 2016.

Austin Flajser is in charge of day-to-day operations of The Carr Companies with over 40 executive suite, hotel, commercial and retail assets under management in 8 markets across the country. These assets account for over $180M in annual operating revenue and over $200M of new projects currently in the development pipeline. Austin received his Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University, his Masters in Real Estate from Georgetown University and his Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University.

Michelle Beaman Chang joined HRP as a Vice President of Mixed-Use Development in 2021 where she is focused on the redevelopment of the former Potomac River Generating Station site in Alexandria, Virginia. Michelle is leading the transformation of this former coal-fired power plant into a vibrant mixed-use community of residential, office, retail, and cultural space that reflects the site’s rich history and prominent location along the Potomac. Her responsibilities span the full range of development activities including: entitlement approvals and community engagement; oversight of the design, engineering, and general contracting teams; managing project budgets, forecasts, and reporting; and branding, marketing, and lease-up. Michelle has over 15 years of development experience in the Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia markets with a specific expertise in housing at all income levels. Most recently at Akridge, Michelle managed Burnham Place, a 3M square-foot air rights development above the $10.7B Washington Union Station expansion project. Prior to Akridge, Michelle founded Imby Community, a hybrid digital/in-person platform to manage pre-development risk through the alignment of local sentiment to project goals. Michelle has held development roles at Vornado where she oversaw a $600M development portfolio of 1,500 multi-family units and at AHC and Catholic Charities where she created or preserved nearly 800 units of affordable and mixed-income housing units that leveraged national and state low-income housing and historic tax credits. Originally from the Mid-West, Michelle holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Missouri-Kanas City. She is a long-time, active member of the Urban Land Institute and currently sits on the Responsible Property Investment product council, local Urban Plan committee, and Washington Housing Council. Michelle is also a mentor for the Equitable Development Initiative of Capital Impact Partners.

Christina is the vice president of real estate for the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership. She regularly assists businesses with the real estate process of leasing and sales and works with investors, developers, and other clients on finding locations for future development. A veteran of the industry, Christina worked as a commercial broker with Grubb & Ellis, Jones Lang LaSalle, ING Clarion, and CarrAmerica, where she oversaw a portfolio that included noteworthy Alexandria projects. She is a member of NoVA NAIOP, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Urban Land Institute (ULI), and CREW, and serves on various committees helping businesses in the community meet their real estate needs. Christina graduated from Miami University of Ohio with her bachelor’s degree in psychology. As an Old Town Alexandria resident, she frequents Misha’s coffee shop.

As a Director in Investments and Asset Management for Stonebridge, Marvin Poole leads the firm’s underwriting and due diligence efforts for new investments and is involved in asset management, investor reporting, and disposition transactions for all existing investments. During his tenure with Stonebridge, he has been involved in investment activity exceeding $1 billion in real estate value. Mr. Poole reviews investment opportunities across a wide range of markets, including mixed-use, office, retail, residential, and industrial. Prior to joining Stonebridge, Mr. Poole worked at EDENS, a retail REIT, providing support to the firm’s capital markets, development, and investment activities. He also worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, formerly Banc of America Securities LLC, where he assisted in structuring investment-grade debt offerings totaling more than $2 billion for clients within the REIT, lodging, and homebuilding sectors. Mr. Poole earned his Bachelor of Science from Clemson University.

Bob joined the firm in 2015 and works in the firm’s Land Use & Zoning practice group. His practice focuses on securing zoning and land use entitlements including rezonings, special exceptions, special permits and development special use permits in Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, the City of Fairfax and the Town of Vienna. Prior to joining Walsh Colucci, Bob gained valuable experience representing condominium and homeowners associations throughout Northern Virginia. He and his family currently reside in Fairfax County.

Eric Morales is President of the Bethesda/Chevy Chase Market at United Bank, a nearly $30 billion regional bank serving eight states throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast as well as Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the management and operation of all United Bank offices in the Fairfax East area, as well as Bethesda/Chevy Chase, including fostering key client relationships and new business development. Morales has an expertise in commercial real estate lending, having financed the acquisition and construction of multiple commercial and residential real estate projects in and around the D.C. metro area. In addition, he has worked with various operating companies to provide working capital and term financing. He is active in United’s financial literacy initiatives, educating DC-area youth through the Bank’s Teach Children to Save program and volunteering at Junior Achievement Finance Park, and has served as a member of the Optimist Club of Arlington. Morales is also a member of the Executive Fellowship Program of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., and a member of the board of directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Prior to United, Morales served as a Financial Manager at TIER REIT, Inc., and as a senior associate at EY. He holds both a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.