Keynote Address

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  Steven Meiner

  In a historic runoff race on November 21, 2023, Steven Meiner was decisively elected Mayor of Miami Beach, with a clear margin of victory. His journey to the mayoral office was preceded by an extraordinary four-year tenure as Commissioner, during which he distinguished himself through bold and innovative initiatives focused on public safety and the overall quality of life for Miami Beach residents. Meiner’s accomplishments include spearheading legislative changes that significantly increased the successful prosecution rate of municipal misdemeanor arrests, emphasizing accountability for repeat offenders. He advocated for enhanced law and order measures, such as increased police visibility and legislative actions against street-level drug dealing and dangerous biker/bicyclist groups. His commitment to responsible development was evident in initiatives requiring a higher commission vote for building size increases. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Steven Meiner was instilled with a sense of duty to public service and community. His parents, Sheldon Meiner and Dorothy Weiss, served as role models, with his father dedicating nearly four decades to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and his mother contributing to public education as a teacher and guidance counselor. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Steven has dedicated the majority of his 26- year professional career as an attorney to public service, specifically combating fraud. Steven practiced law in New York City, handling high-profile cases for prestigious international law firms Dewey Ballantine and Mayer Brown. After moving to Miami Beach in 2007, he served as an enforcement attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He is now a senior management executive for The Farkas Group, Inc. Steven has been married to his wife Shanyn for 22 years, and they take pride in raising their two children, Matisyahu and Michal in Miami Beach. Academically, he earned his J.D. Cum Laude from Brooklyn Law School and graduated Summa Cum Laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Brooklyn College. Now as Mayor, Steven Meiner’s leadership promises to build upon this foundation, fostering transparency, accountability, and a profound commitment to enhancing public safety with a keen focus on Miami Beach residents.

  Miami Beach

  Mayor

  Steven Meiner

  Mayor

  Miami Beach

Retail Renaissance: The Future of Beachfront Commerce

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  Lyle Stern

  Lyle Stern is a Co-Founder of Vertical Real Estate a dominant retail leasing company based in Miami Beach, Florida. Prior to Vertical, Lyle was President of Koniver Stern Group for over 30 years. Known for his leading role in developing the upper moderate retail category in South Beach by way of recruitment of H&M, Brandy Melville, J Crew, Banana Republic, Ted Baker, Guess? Jeans, Limited Express, Oakley, Victoria’s Secret, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans and many more. Lyle has represented national restaurants & retailers such as sweetgreen, Daily Provisions, Salt & Straw, Starbucks Coffee Company, The Salty (formerly Salty Donut) along with restaurants Mr Chow, Shoto, Meat Market, Burtons and many others. He has also represented high-profile landlords and properties including MDM, SHVO Properties, Vornado, Rockpoint Group, Pontegadea, Monarch Alternative Capital, Crescent Heights, City of Miami Beach, Loews Miami Beach Hotel and L & L Capital. With his true focus being the national, regional and local representation of both retail tenants and Developers, Lyle has represented or recruited restaurants by Costas Spiliadis (Estiatorio Milos), Charles Khabouth (Byblos), Sant Ambroeus and Emeril Lagasse, in locating their restaurants to South Florida and elsewhere. He was instrumenral in bringing Carbone, Hasalon, Raos and Fogo De Chao to Miami Beach. Also, Chefs Daniel Boulud and Gordon Ramsey to downtown Miami. Lyle has been responsible for the leasing of varying types of retail developments in South Florida including: the Metropolitan Miami, which he anchored with Whole Foods, SilverSpot Theatre, Novikov, Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen and Daniel Boulud’s Boulud Sud as well as Regatta Harbour (Coconut Grove). Additionally, Lyle has been instrumental in recruiting both retail and fine dining to Downtown Miami/Brickell, Wynwood, Miami Design District, Coral Gables and Palm Beach. Lyle also focuses on commercial sales and has sold shopping centers and retail buildings throughout Southeast & central Florida. While working to develop the boutique market in Miami Beach, Lyle was succesful in recruiting Audemars Piguet to extablish their AP House in Sunset Harbour. A member of ICSC, Board of Governors of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and President of the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, Lyle has served on many community Boards and Organizations. He was chosen to co-chair the Miami Beach Mayor’s Re-Opening Advisory Task Force along with Emelio Estefan, as well as being recruited by the Mayor of Miami-Dade County to participate on the Mayors Task Force to create post coronavirus re-opening guidelines for the restaurant and retail industry in Miami-Dade County. Mr. Stern is a more than 30-year veteran of the real estate leasing profession. He lives in Miami Beach with his wife.

  Vertical Real Estate

  Co-Founder

  Lyle Stern

  Co-Founder

  Vertical Real Estate

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  Stephen Bittel

  STEPHEN H. BITTEL is the Chairman and founder (1980) of Terranova Corporation, leading a team of professionals in the ownership and operation of a commercial real estate portfolio valued at nearly $1.0 billion; graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College, 1978; law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, 1982; founded Petroleum Realty Investment Partners in 1999; has chaired and/or served on the ICSC Open Air Centers Conference, ICSC Capital Marketplace Program and the ICSC Florida Conference. A Miami native, Bittel has been a member of the Florida Bar Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Young Presidents Organization (past Chair of the Miami Chapter and the YPO Real Estate Round Table, and past Co-Chair of the Miami Chapter of WPO); served as Director on the Boards of the Community Partnership for the Homeless, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Boards or four public companies; served as Trustee member for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Miami-Dade and Temple Beth Am; has written numerous articles on real estate matters and spoken at professional conferences throughout the United States and Europe; in 2005 was awarded the South Florida Business Journal “Ultimate CEO” award. Bittel is a Board member and a Vice Chairman of Development of the National Jewish Democratic Council; has led the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Washington Mission in 2009 and 2010; and is the National Finance Co-Chair of the Democratic National Committee and an At-Large member, serving on the Rules and Bylaws Committee. Bittel currently serves on the Board of Teach for America Miami (TFA).

  Terranova Corporation

  Chairman & Founder

  Stephen Bittel

  Chairman & Founder

  Terranova Corporation

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  Anabel Llopis

  Anabel Llopis is a dynamic executive with over 30 years of experience spanning diverse sectors, including commercial real estate, marketing, events, publishing, sales, and digital media. Serving as the Executive Director (ED) at Lincoln Road Business Improvement District (BID) since 2022, she leads all facets of the organization's management, strategic planning, and cultural programming, reporting directly to the Board of Directors. Anabel's extensive responsibilities encompass financial management, strategic planning, tenant relations, communications, social and digital media, cultural programming, board relations, compliance, and liaison with city administration and elected officials. Under Anabel's leadership, Lincoln Road BID has seen remarkable achievements, including the successful execution of four large-scale art installations, numerous cultural and community events, and a significant increase in digital footprint and media coverage. Her advocacy efforts resulted in substantial support from the City of Miami Beach, including funding and additional upgrades to the district's infrastructure. With a proven track record of success, Anabel has held pivotal roles in renowned companies such as Centennial Real Estate and Turnberry. At Centennial, she served as the Regional Marketing Director, spearheading corporate projects, overseeing corporate projects and marketing efforts at local and regional commercial properties. Notably, her tenure at Turnberry’s premier commercial property, Aventura Mall, saw her elevate asset value through innovative marketing strategies, including custom publications, events, business development, international marketing and the opening of two successful expansion projects. Anabel's career highlights also include impactful roles at Gumberg Asset and MTV Latin America, where she excelled in rebranding and repositioning initiatives, multicultural marketing, and international events. Her achievements have been recognized with several ICSC Maxi Awards for Marketing Excellence. Anabel is a licensed Real Estate Agent and holds certifications in Digital Marketing from Cornell and Marketing from ICSC at Michigan State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from Florida International University. With her versatile skill set, strategic acumen, and unwavering passion for innovation, Anabel Llopis continues to drive growth and success in the realms of business and marketing, making significant contributions in every endeavor she undertakes.

  Lincoln Road Business Improvement District

  Executive Director

  Anabel Llopis

  Executive Director

  Lincoln Road Business Improvement District

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  Joseph Magazine

  Joe resides in the West Avenue neighborhood along with three generations of his family, including both of his parents, Donna and Joe Sr, and his six-year-old daughter Capri. Capri attends South Pointe Elementary School, where Joe is the Vice President of the PTA. Joe also proudly served on the Planning Board prior to being elected to the City Commission. From an early age, Joe saw firsthand the importance of community and helping those in need, watching his mother wake up at 4:30 a.m. every single day as a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with degrees in Finance and Business Law, Joe began in the Investment Banking / Capital Markets analyst program at Merrill Lynch. Joe then spent nearly a decade working at Deutsche Bank in the Municipal Capital Markets group, working with hundreds of local cities and municipalities across the country, where he developed a love and expertise for local government. Joe is currently Vice President at a privately held, African American owned investment bank, Loop Capital, that provides capital solutions for corporate, governmental and institutional entities across the globe. Joe also has a younger sister, Jenna, residing in New York City and working in investment banking, where she is active in many initiatives looking to enhance the representation of women working on Wall Street.

  Commissioner

  City of Miami Beach

  Joseph Magazine

  City of Miami Beach

  Commissioner

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  Eric Williams

  Mr. Williams is a Senior Director in the Miami office of JLL with more than 15 years of experience in commercial real estate Investthe Miami Investment Advisory Group, he is primarily focused on the sale of retail assets located throughout the State of Florida career, Mr. Williams has been involved in the sale and recapitalization of more than $6.0 billion of commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Williams joined the firm in October 2015. Prior to JLL, he worked in the Capital Markets Group of Cushman & Wakefield, wherAdvisory of retail properties throughout the Southeast

  JLL Capital Markets

  Sr. Director

  Moderator

  Eric Williams

  Sr. Director

  JLL Capital Markets

Development Dynamics: The Future Of Building Miami's Beaches

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  Eduardo Otaola

  Managing Principal

  Constellation Group

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  Kane Sarhan

  CoFounder, CCO

  The Well

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  Peter Kanavos

  Peter Kanavos is partner at Flag Luxury Group, part of the ownership group of The Ritz-Carlton South Beach. Through innovative financing, strategic partnerships and distinctive architectural execution, Flag Luxury remains at the cutting edge of today's real estate industry. Notable recent projects include The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach; The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove and Residences; The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Spa Jupiter; The Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach; The Wyndham Orlando I-Drive Resort; I Shops Retail Orlando; I-Drive 360 Orlando entertainment and retail complex; the Harmon Retail Center on the Las Vegas Strip; and The Ritz-Carlton Shops South Beach. Flag Luxury currently has over $1 Billion of new projects in its pipeline in New York City, Miami and San Francisco. He studied political science at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. As a partner at Flag Luxury Group, Peter Kanavos was instrumental in obtaining approvals to bring the Ritz-Carlton to Miami Beach in 2003. On behalf of the Ritz-Carlton ownership families, the Kanavos, Ben Josefs and Lionstones, he is also spearheading efforts to obtain the long-sought approval of Miami Beach’s Historic Preservation Board to redevelop and rebrand The Sagamore under the Ritz-Carlton flag, and add a residential component that will honor the legacy and vision of famed architect Morris Lapidus.

  Sobe Sky Development and Flag Luxury Group

  Partner

  Peter Kanavos

  Partner

  Sobe Sky Development and Flag Luxury Group

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  Tom Thrasher

  As General Manager of Suffolk’s East Coast of Florida Region, Tom is responsible for overseeing project teams from the earliest preconstruction efforts through project closeout and beyond. His leadership and operational skills are critical to providing effective guidance for the project team. Tom has over 30 years of industry experience. Prior to his new role at Suffolk, he was Senior Vice President of Florida at a Top 10 US General Contractor according to ENR Top 400, overseeing the Florida Business Unit. Previously, Tom worked on building the Mitsubishi North American Headquarters which is land-leased from the Georgia Port Authority. With a diverse array of projects across Florida, including the Fidelity Information Services (FIS) Headquarters in Jacksonville, Venice Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, Tom brings a substantial wealth of knowledge to his role at Suffolk. A Purdue University graduate, Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management. He is currently based in South Florida, where he resides with his wife and children.

  Suffolk

  General Manager

  Tom Thrasher

  General Manager

  Suffolk

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  Albert Slap

  As the President of Coastal Risk Consulting, LLC, I lead a geospatial modeling, data analytics, and risk assessment technology company with advisory services. With over 20 years of experience as an environmental lawyer and law professor, I have a strong background in environmental litigation, regulation, and policy. I have taught at University of Cincinnati and Florida International University Colleges of Law, and I hold a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania. My mission is to help individuals, businesses, and governments accelerate resilience to floods, natural hazards, and climate change impacts. Coastal Risk provides cloud-based, risk assessments for any property or building in the US and globally, as well as flood risk damage and economic loss estimates. I have also been involved in various conservation initiatives, such as The Nature Conservancy's Colorado River Project and the Caribbean Advisory Council. In 2014, I received the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas "Defender of the Everglades Award" for my legal work to stop pollution and protect public health.

  Coastal Risk Consulting, LLC

  President & Co-Founder

  Moderator

  Albert Slap

  President & Co-Founder

  Coastal Risk Consulting, LLC