The Future Of Deep Ellum

Don and Jocelyn Pinkard are co-owners of Hidden History DFW (HHDFW), an African American History tour company. Both are native Texans and were raised in Dallas. What once started as a simple means to honor family history, HHDFW Tours uncovers the forgotten sites of Dallas that were instrumental in developing one of the largest and most vibrant African American communities in the country. HHDFW has been in operation for three years and has provided tours for over one thousand people in the Dallas area. HHDFW provides tours for schools, family reunions, civic groups and others interested in the rich background of African American history in the Dallas area. In addition to providing tours HHDFW also produces African American themed documentary films. The Great Jack Yates, a documentary film has been selected in the 2020 National Black Film Festival. Retired from careers in corporate life and education respectfully, Don and Jocelyn have been married for 39 years and have two adult children and four grandchildren.

Mr. Kendrick is a Principal with LandDesign in Dallas and directs landscape architectural design opportunities across the state of Texas. He is responsible for design management, entitlements, and the preparation of construction documents for project types ranging from large-scale master planned communities to smaller mixed-use and retail developments. With nearly two decades of experience, Mr. Kendrick is intimately familiar with the issues and opportunities that shape a great development and is able to present a client with alternatives that focus a project’s vision and approach. Mr. Kendrick is a registered landscape architect in the states of Texas and North Carolina, a member of the Urban Land Institute (North Texas), and the American Society of Landscape Architects (Texas Chapter). In his free time, he enjoys running, being outdoors with his family, and attending RockPointe Church in Flower Mound, TX.

Born and raised in London, UK, Imran Sheikh co-founded and serves as the President & CEO of Milkshake Concepts and brings a wealth of industry experience from his previous professional and business endeavors. Imran graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London, with a BSc in Economics and Management and went on to work in finance and thereafter, as a management consultant. His career to date has spanned healthcare, fashion and hospitality in a variety of senior management roles and also as a partner. He moved to Dallas in 2013 as the Managing Partner of Aftershock London, a UK based women's apparel retailer. In 2015, he co-founded Milkshake Concepts which owns Stirr, Vidorra, Citizen - the soon to open Harper’s - and Serious Pizza, and is primed for accelerated growth in the next 24 months.

Ron Stelmarski, FAIA, is the design director for the Dallas studio of Perkins&Will. In 2022, he was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows for distinguished contributions to design, urban design, and preservation, and he is recognized nationally for work that enhances the public realm and galvanizes communities. Under Ron’s visionary leadership, the Dallas studio of Perkins&Will has earned over four dozen prestigious design awards and grown into the global firm’s largest studio. Trained under such legendary architects as Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid, Ron is a tireless advocate for design excellence. He believes that architecture is the connective tissue uniting people, place, and culture, and he approaches place-making with a deep understanding of cultural memory and historical context. Ron joined the Dallas studio in 2011, and since then, according to the Dallas Morning News, “nobody has done more to shape the city’s built environment this century.” Recent projects include The Pittman Hotel, The Epic Building 1 and 2, Baylor Scott & White Health Administrative Center, Lubbock City Hall, CoverMyMeds Headquarters, Singing Hills Recreation Center, and the Fair Park Master Plan Update.

As a third-generation builder, Greg Gordon has spent the last 25+ years continuing his family’s legacy in construction and real estate. The guiding passion through it all has been a passion for serving others. Whether it’s serving clients, subcontractors, employees, or his own family, Greg truly believes in the principle of servant leadership combined with the commitment to excellence. It’s with these in mind, that Greg founded Gordon Highlander in 2007. Under Greg’s leadership, Gordon Highlander has experienced tremendous growth becoming one of the top General Contractors in DFW. Recently the company was awarded the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Places to Work award, further reflecting Greg’s ongoing commitment to the people around him.

Born and raised in South East London, Adam has always been a ken sportsman; representing his high school in Soccer, Rugby and Cricket. He started his working life as a Police Constable in Central London and then moved on to becoming a “Mens Grooming Expert” (which led to him appearing on The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent & GQ). This career path bought Adam to Dallas, Texas where he met his wife and decided to settle down. In Texas, Adam chose to start over or “re-tool”, and pursued a Management Degree at SMU. Once his studies were complete, Adam moved into sales of HVAC where he touched many commercial construction projects. Adam loves the thrill of new challenges, and meeting new people and can't wait to start his career with Bisnow in Dallas.