Opening Remarks: Mayor Robinson’s Vision for Bellevue’s Growth

Addressing Infrastructure, Housing, Downtown Development, and Quality of Life

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  Lynne Robinson

  Mayor Lynne Robinson joined the City Council in 2014, and she has a long history of civic involvement. She is a champion for startups and small business, and has encouraged startup and equity crowdfunding workshops at City Hall. Her colleagues voted her deputy mayor in January 2018 and mayor in January 2020 and again in January 2022. Lynne also advocates for the environment, parks and open spaces, human services and affordable housing in Bellevue. She proposed a property tax exemption adopted by the council for multifamily complexes that include affordable housing. She represents the council on the King County Mental Illness and Drug Disability Advisory Committee, the King County Affordable Housing Committee and the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board. Before her election to the council, Lynne served on and chaired the Bellevue Network on Aging and the Parks & Community Services Board. A physical therapist with her own business, Lynne holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Regis University and a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. She also earned a bachelor's degree in community services from California State University Chico. In 2015 Governor Jay Inslee appointed Lynne to a three-year term on the state Board of Physical Therapy. Lynne developed an interest in computer science while in college, and she is on the Washington Technology Industry Association Cascadia Blockchain Council. Lynne and husband Dan Watson live downtown after moving from the Woodridge neighborhood, where they had resided since 1997. Their two children graduated from Bellevue public schools and are successful professionals.

  City of Bellevue

  Mayor

  Lynne Robinson

  Mayor

  City of Bellevue

Shaping the Future of Urban Real Estate Development in Bellevue

Exploring Innovations and Delivery Methods in Design, Construction, and Sustainability Driving Bellevue’s Growth

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  Stan Laegreid

  SVP of Design

  Kemper Development Company

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  Mary Fialko

  Real estate professional with a background in architecture, urban design, policy, project management, and finance. I care about making smart spaces- ones that combine sustainable and attractive design and a sense of surprise or delight. I have a passion for communities, and am dedicated to creating the types of places that allow cities and communities to thrive socially, economically, and health-wise.

  Skanska

  Director, Real Estate Development

  Mary Fialko

  Director, Real Estate Development

  Skanska

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  Torrey Davis

  Torrey is a versatile construction professional with extensive experience across commercial building types, including office, hospitality, and residential projects. With a career spanning skyscrapers, historic hotel renovations, and large residential developments, he brings confidence and creativity to every project. A University of Washington graduate, Torrey's first project was a 46-story high-rise, sparking a passion for shaping Puget Sound’s skyline.

  JTM Construction

  Project Executive

  Torrey Davis

  Project Executive

  JTM Construction

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  Aaron Laing

  Team Responsibility | Aaron is an Account Executive in our Commercial Department, serving a broad range of clients in the real estate, development, construction, restaurant, and hospitality industries. As an account executive, he leads a multifaceted team of talented, experienced colleagues who collaborate to tailor insurance programs to meet each client’s unique risk management needs. Background | Aaron joined Parker, Smith & Feek in 2022 after a 20-year career as a land use/real estate attorney, during which he served a broad client base of owners, developers, and property managers. His decades-long experience as a trusted advisor on all aspects of real property development, management, leasing, and litigation have provided him a unique and deep understanding of his clients’ challenges and needs. Aaron has extensive knowledge of real estate transactions, the development lifecycle, business considerations, litigation, and the risks associated with those activities. Experience & Approach | Relying on his experiences as an attorney, Aaron works to understand the nuances of his clients’ businesses in order to best guide them through their risk management efforts. He uses a proactive approach to risk control, claims management, underwriter negotiations, emphasizing mitigation of risks present in construction and development operations through risk assessment and clear contracts. Professional and Community Involvement | Aaron’s deeply held beliefs in serving others and teamwork led to his successful legal career and are the cornerstones of his approach to risk management. He also believes strongly in community involvement. He has served as board member and president of Bellevue United FC, and he volunteered on the City of Bellevue’s Planning Commission for over eight years. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and serves on the state committee as the private sector public-private partnership co-chair. Aaron is also a member of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Land Use, Sustainability & Housing (PLUSH) committee and the Building Industry Association of Washington’s (BIAW) Legal Committee. Aaron enjoys playing, coaching, and cheering for his kids in soccer.

  IMA Financial Group

  Producer

  Aaron Laing

  Producer

  IMA Financial Group

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  David Rubenstein

  David Rubenstein is a real estate attorney, problem solver and strategist. He brings a deep understanding of land development and a knack for navigating difficult relationships and intricate regulatory landscapes, making him a trusted advisor to institutional clients and mom-and-pop developers alike. David helps clients shape their approaches to development, with expertise covering the full spectrum of real estate transactions, from acquisitions and dispositions to development agreements to CC&Rs and more. David’s clients appreciate his results-driven, actionable advice in a fast-paced environment and his unique ability to find consensus among disparate stakeholders.

  K&L Gates

  Counsel

  Moderator

  David Rubenstein

  Counsel

  K&L Gates

Building Thriving Communities

Creating High-Performing Properties That Enhance Tenant Experience, Community Engagement, and Long-Term Value in Bellevue’s Growing Market

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  Kevin Wallace

  Kevin Wallace oversees all development and acquisition activity for the company. He is also responsible for all legal matters for the company’s three divisions: Brokerage, Property and Asset Management and Investment/Development. Wallace Properties builds sustainable, transit-oriented mixed-use development projects in urban centers throughout the Puget Sound region. Kevin and his team have developed several award-winning projects including Citizen, a LEED Silver, 107-unit project in the Pike/Pine Triangle of the Capitol Hill neighborhood; 507 Northgate and 525 Northgate which together contain 428 apartment units and 80,000 square feet of retail space; The Eddy, 130 units with 14,500 SF of retail leased to Bartell Drug in the Green Lake neighborhood; and most recently Prism, 134 units with 4 live/work lofts in Northgate. Kevin began his career as a Real Estate Attorney at K&L Gates in 1997, moving to Foster Pepper in 2001.

  Wallace Properties

  President

  Kevin Wallace

  President

  Wallace Properties

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  Steve Kramer

  KGIP’s co-founder, Steve Kramer, has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate. Facilitating the needs of his clients in each phase of the investment life cycle, Steve focuses on establishing and maintaining relationships with institutional and private investment partners, providing them with his expertise in real estate acquisitions, development, finance, management, and disposition. Steve has been directly involved in over $1.5 billion in real estate transactions utilizing his keen negotiating skills to execute his clients’ asset objectives. He is also involved in identifying and sourcing new real estate acquisition opportunities, as well as structuring joint venture partnerships for development projects. Prior to founding KGIP, Steve served as the West Coast Senior Regional Manager for Principal Financial Group. Here, he was responsible for acquisition, disposition, development and asset management of a portfolio including 10 million square feet of commercial real estate. He relocated to Seattle in 1993, spending eight years as Director of Investment Services with Martin Smith Real Estate Services.

  KG Investment Properties

  Principal and Co-Founder

  Steve Kramer

  Principal and Co-Founder

  KG Investment Properties

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  Mon Wig

  Over 30 years ago, Mon began to build Wig Properties out of his home, and developed his own software to manage every property developed. Mr. Wig's philosophy is to focus on one development project at a time, hold onto his properties after development, stay local, and manage every property in-house to ensure it receives maximum attention and care. Mr. Wig received a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from North Carolina State under a full salary fellowship from Corning.

  Wig Properties

  Founder

  Mon Wig

  Founder

  Wig Properties

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  Doug Demers

  Doug Demers is a Principal and Office Director at HKS Seattle. He believes in strategically connecting clients' objectives with design thinking to improve outcomes. Business strategy, return on investment and positive user experiences underpin all of Doug's projects and he gives back as an advisory board member of the UW College of Built Environment's Runstad Department of Real Estate.

  HKS

  Principal, Office Director

  Doug Demers

  Principal, Office Director

  HKS

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  Holly Golden

  Holly uses her deep land use experience to deliver clients solutions to complex urban land development and permitting issues. Serving as counsel on some of the region's most significant real estate development projects, Holly works with residential, commercial, life science, and non-profit clients. She takes pride in providing proactive and creative guidance, from advising companies during initial due diligence and feasibility through project entitlements and appeals. Clients benefit from Holly's long-running involvement with local jurisdictions, boards, and commissions. Her experience navigating complex regulatory systems and appearing in court informs her unique ability to develop and execute successful strategies that help her clients avoid obstacles and achieve their development goals. Holly is a frequent speaker on the region's important land use topics, including affordable housing, permitting strategies, and public-private partnerships

  Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson

  Attorney

  Moderator

  Holly Golden

  Attorney

  Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson