Future of Urbanism in Phoenix

Mayor Kate Gallego is the second elected female Mayor in Phoenix history and the youngest big city Mayor in the United States. She graduated from Harvard University and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Before being elected to Phoenix City Council, Mayor Gallego worked on Economic Development for local utility company, Salt River Project. Mayor Gallego has focused on three key policy areas during her time in office: diversifying the economy, strengthening infrastructure investment, and working to make Phoenix a leader in sustainability. Her record of proven results includes leading the campaign to pass Phoenix's citywide transportation plan through 2050, which was the largest local government commitment to transportation infrastructure in the country when it passed in 2015. She has led efforts on criminal justice reform and ensuring equal pay for equal work. Mayor Gallego is passionate about building a Phoenix that works for everyone and increasing the quality of life for all Phoenicians. Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States and is currently the fastest growing city in the country.

Brian Cassidy, AIA is the President of CCBG Architects, Inc. with studios in downtown Phoenix and San Diego. He has been involved in many adaptive reuse, and mixed-use high-density housing projects in greater Phoenix, including more than 12,000 new apartment units. This work includes a diverse body of warehouse renovations that are breathing new life into our city. Brian passionately advocates to build Phoenix into a world class city in which to live, work, worship and play. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, and is the Chair of the Phoenix Warehouse District Council, which promotes and brands the District in concert with a series of creative volunteers and businesses.

Winner of the William Lampkin Award for Career Excellence in Economic Development in 2013, Mr. Krietor has been integral to the maturation of Downtown Phoenix. During his 20 years of service to the City of Phoenix, Mr. Krietor held such high-ranking leadership positions as Community and Economic Development Director, Aviation Director, Deputy City Manager and Chief of Staff for Mayor Phil Gordon. Mr. Krietor’s career has given him a front-row seat for nearly every major development to impact Downtown Phoenix over the last two decades, including the construction of Metro Light Rail and Phoenix Sky Train, Phoenix Convention Center’s state-of-the-art facelift, the addition of the Phoenix Sheraton Downtown hotel, restoration of the historic Orpheum Theatre, and revitalization of the Roosevelt historic district. Mr. Krietor holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from Syracuse University.

Jeff Moloznik serves as Vice President of Development at RED Development, LLC. Most recently, he managed the development of CityScape Phoenix, RED Development’s $500 million, 2.5 million sq. ft. mixed-use, high-rise destination in Downtown Phoenix. Since project conception, Jeff led the development of CityScape Phoenix. With more than 40 retail tenants; a 242 room hotel; 600,000 square feet of class A commercial office space; a City of Phoenix Park; two parking garages; and 224 high rise residential apartments; CityScape Phoenix has created a place to call Downtown Phoenix. Currently, Jeff is overseeing the development of The Union Dallas. A similarly configured mixed-use, high-rise infill redevelopment project in Uptown Dallas and anchored by a 60,000 SF urban, full service Safeway grocery store. Jeff’s responsibilities include public and private financing, entitlements, tenant relations, design oversight, construction coordination, marketing, community outreach, and governmental relations. Additionally, Jeff is the Asset Manager of RED Development’s newly completed Kimpton Hotel Palomar at CityScape, Phoenix’s newest four-star boutique hotel. Prior to CityScape, Jeff lead the development of over one million square feet of open air RED Development retail centers in communities across the Midwest and Southwest. Committed to the local community, Jeff currently serves on the Board of Special Olympics Arizona, the American Heart Association, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, the Board of Genesis Academy Charter School in downtown Phoenix, the City of Phoenix Tourism and Hospitality Board, and the Phoenix Parks Foundation Board of Directors. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He resides in Phoenix, Ariz., with his wife, Molly.

As the Chief Clinical Officer at WebPT, I lead product vision, branding efforts, and company culture. After recognizing the need for a more sophisticated industry-specific EMR platform, I co-founded WebPT in 2008. Since then, I’ve guided the company through exponential growth, while garnering national recognition.

John Hamby is a Phoenix native and plans on calling Phoenix home for a lifetime. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Phoenix Community Alliance and Vice President of Downtown Phoenix Inc. After graduating from W.P. Carey’s School of Business at Arizona State University he spent 10+ years in the hotel/resort business and then went on to be a part of Silicon Valley Bank’s opening operations team in Tempe, AZ where he won the 2013 “Operations Rockstar of the Year” award. He joined Uber in early 2014 and launched Uber in multiple markets across the country, led driver operations for the Southwest, pioneered Uber’s women driver initiatives that led to a partnership with the United Nations, and created the framework for the company’s global community efforts. In 2018, John helped bring Anomalie, a custom wedding dress startup, from SF to AZ and then served as their General Manager before going to Oyo Hotels as their West Region Head. John enjoys his time working within the community with the St Vincent de Paul “Vinnies” board, is on the Honors College Advisory Council for GCU, was in Valley Leadership Class 40, was named “40 Under 40” from Phoenix Business Journal in 2018 and was appointed by Mayor Greg Stanton in 2016 to be the youngest commissioner of the Phoenix Human Relations Commission. John is also a proud Mentor at New Pathways for Youth.

As the regional director for SageGlass, Mahesh leads the sales and business development strategy for the Western and Central Regions of the United States.  With over 25 years of professional experience and an extensive background in energy-related technologies, Mahesh offers extensive expertise on energy efficiency and sustainability in the built environment. His profession certifications include Certified Energy Manager, Certified Demand Side Management Professional, Business Energy Professional and Six Sigma Black Belt. SageGlass, the global leader in smart window technology, helps create low-carbon buildings that enhance occupant wellness by delivering the world’s best dynamic glass.