Pike & Rose, Rose Village and More: A Northern Bethesda Major Projects Update

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  Harmar Thompson

  Mr. Thompson leads the Washington DC Region for LCOR as Executive Vice President and is responsible for sourcing and implementing new development and redevelopment opportunities. As a member of LCORs Executive Committee and Investment Committee he is also involved with the management and strategic vision for the company. He has more than 25 years of experience in the real estate industry directing acquisitions, development, and asset management activities along the East Coast. During that time, he structured joint ventures, arranged project financing, directed entitlements, assemblages and debt restructuring across a full range of property types. Prior to joining LCOR, Mr. Thompson served as Senior Vice President of Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group, an investment and development company, in Washington, DC.

  LCOR

  EVP & Principal

  Harmar Thompson

  EVP & Principal

  LCOR

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  Gary Cohen

  Gary oversees Management and Leasing performance of Willco’s portfolio. In addition, Gary is involved in special development projects. Gary brings 22 years of experience in many facets related to real estate development and investment. He has spent the last 15+ years running Willco Residential (www.willcoDC.com) developing more than $50,000,000 of Multi-Family condos and apartments throughout Washington, DC. Prior to Willco Residential, Gary worked at Axent Realty running the property management and leasing departments. Prior to joining Axent Realty, Gary worked for Newmark Companies in New York City as an Assistant Property Manager for over 1,000,000 SF of commercial space throughout the city. Gary has also been involved in charter schools in Washington, DC serving on the board of KIPP DC and Founding Board Chair of Inspired Teaching Public School. Gary received a BS degree from Syracuse University and a MA degree from Pace University.

  Willco

  Chairman

  Gary Cohen

  Chairman

  Willco

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  Andrew Friedson

  Councilmember

  Montgomery County Council

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  Jay Brinson

  Jay oversees the strategy and execution of all aspects of development for over two million square feet of real estate, which include some of our most notable assets in the D.C. Metropolitan region, such as Pike & Rose, a nationally recognized mixed-use project in North Bethesda, MD. Prior to joining the company in 2016, Jay was regional vice president for Brailsford & Dunlavey, where he managed the planning, design, and construction activities for over 40 projects comprising nearly one million square feet of vertical construction valued at over $275 million and the development of long-range capital improvement programs valued at over $8.5 billion. Previously, he held development positions with IBG Partners and Urban Development Associates. Jay holds an MA in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in Economic Development and Community Revitalization, and a BA in Biology from the University of Richmond.

  Federal Realty

  VP, Development

  Jay Brinson

  VP, Development

  Federal Realty

The New Live-Work-Play of MoCo: North Bethesda State of the Market

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  Peri Demestihas

  Peri is the Head of Real Estate Growth for North America for Industrious, and is responsible for negotiating partnership agreements across the US and Canada. Founded in 2012 and recognized as one of America’s 500 fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine, Industrious offers premium flexible workplaces at more than 200 locations in over 65 cities globally.

  Industrious

  Head of Real Estate Growth

  Peri Demestihas

  Head of Real Estate Growth

  Industrious

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  Jena Paulenich

  Jena Paulenich is a Sr. Director in Greystar’s Mid-Atlantic region, handling management operations in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. In her current role, she oversees property operations, development of new business and leading a team of regional property managers. Jena has over 15 years of experience managing portfolios, predevelopment, new construction lease ups, senior living, conventional, renovations, affordable housing and mixed-use projects, resulting in a wide range of knowledge on all aspects of property management. Her current role includes overseeing property operations as well as providing property performance analysis and recommendations to 3rd party owners. In 2019, Jena was awarded “MVP” for the Mid-Atlantic region of Greystar. Prior to joining Greystar, Jena was a Regional Vice President for Bainbridge Management overseeing their operations of conventional and lease up communities in the Mid-Atlantic and the Carolina’s. Prior to Bainbridge, she was the Regional Vice President for PRG Real Estate, overseeing a portfolio of over 12,000 units on the East Coast. Jena has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Radford University. She holds the Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor Certification with National Apartment Association, the Accredited Commercial Manager Certification® and the Certified Property Manager® with the Institute of Real Estate Management Additionally, Jena serviced on the Board of Directors for the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando, completed the Leadership Lyceum with the Triangle Apartment Association, the National Leadership Lyceum with the National Apartment Association and is active with ULI, AOBA, and CREW DC.

  Greystar

  Senior Director

  Jena Paulenich

  Senior Director

  Greystar

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  Ike Grigoropoulos

  Founder of Cava Mezze Restaurant & Consulting Group, Cava Group Inc, Julii and Melina In 2006 childhood friends Ike Grigoropoulos, Ted Xenohristos and Dimitri Moshovitis began construction on their dream restaurant that celebrated their Family, Friendship and Culture. In November 2006 Cava Mezze was the culmination of that dream. Cava Mezze Restaurant Group serves a modern take on traditional Mediterranean recipes, operating full- service restaurants, fast-casual restaurants, and a dips and spreads distribution company. With the acquisition of Zoë’s Kitchen, Cava Group Inc now owns and operates over 300 Mediterranean Restaurants, making it the largest Mediterranean Restaurant Group in the Country and the popular dips and spreads are distributed to all Wholefoods Markets in the US. Cava Mezze Restaurant Group has recently expanded their full-service restaurant portfolio to include the very popular restaurant, located in Pike & Rose, Julii. In the early Fall the Group plans to open Melina, which will also be located in Pike & Rose neighborhood. Ike Grigoropoulos is currently the CEO of CMRG, Inc. which owns and operates 6 full-service restaurant locations and provides financial and operational consulting to restaurant groupsin the DMV. Ike is a board observer for Cava Group Inc and continues to work with his partners and CEO Brett Schulman as the group converts the Zoë’s Kitchen brand to Cava. CMRG Inc has won numerous awards during Ike Grigoropoulos tenure as CEO of the full-service brand including but not limited to 2010 Washingtonian Magazines Restauranteurs of the Year, 2015 EY Entrepreneurs of the Year for Consumer Products and Services, Mid Atlantic and multiple restaurants listed in Washingtonian Top 100 Restaurants.

  Cava

  Co-Founder

  Ike Grigoropoulos

  Co-Founder

  Cava

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  Aakash Thakkar

  Aakash Thakkar joined EYA in 2004 as a Development Executive and now is a Executive Vice President for Acquisition and Development with EYA. His responsibilities include overall project stewardship, new deal sourcing and acquisition, site selection, and project development through the design and governmental and community approval process. Mr. Thakkar is a member of and guest speaker for the Urban Land Institute and the District of Columbia Building Industry Association. He is a member of the Smart Growth Recognition Award Jury, the Riverdale Park Mixed-Use Town Center Committee, and of the Hyattsville CDC Board. He was a member of the Obama for American Mid-Atlantic Finance Committee and a co-founder (along with his wife) of the Thakkar/Giallourakis Scholarship Fund for St. John's College High School. Mr. Thakkar has a BS in Accounting and Political Science from LaSalle University and holds both an MBA and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. Mr. Thakkar is a native Washingtonian.

  EYA

  Chief Acquisitions Officer

  Aakash Thakkar

  Chief Acquisitions Officer

  EYA

Opening Keynote

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  Marc Elrich

  Marc Elrich was elected as Montgomery County Executive on Nov. 6, 2018. He had previously served three terms (12 years) on the Montgomery County Council as an at-large member, being first elected in 2006. He served as a Councilmember on the Takoma Park City Council from 1987-2006. For 17 years, he was a teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park. As a County Councilmember, he was the chief sponsor of several landmark pieces of legislation and programs. He led the successful effort to increase the Montgomery County minimum wage in coordination with surrounding jurisdictions to $11.50 an hour and subsequent legislation that will eventually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. He was the first elected official to propose building a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system throughout the County to address Montgomery's transportation and environmental problems. Ground was broken in Fall 2018 for the first BRT line, which will run along Route 29. Throughout his political career, he has been a champion of improving tenants' rights and for making developers pay for a greater share of the infrastructure cost to build schools and transportation solutions. He was a leader in the fight to preserve Ten Mile Creek in the Clarksburg area by limiting the proposed development that would have threatened the health of Montgomery County's last best stream which flows into the County's backup water reservoir.

  Montgomery County

  County Executive

  Keynote

  Marc Elrich

  County Executive

  Montgomery County

Opening Remarks

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  Steve Barczy

  As a market president for United Bank, Steve is responsible for the management and operation of all bank offices in the Suburban Maryland area, including client relationships and new business development. Prior to this role, Steve was a commercial lender with United for 13 years, working with international, national and local real estate developers who focus on multifamily development, retail, office, residential homebuilding and industrial properties. He also serves on the board for the Catholic Charities Golf Classic and is involved in the corporate work study program with Don Bosco Cristo Rey high school, which allows students to apply classroom learning to the workplace.

  United Bank

  Market President

  Opening Remarks

  Steve Barczy

  Market President

  United Bank