Future of Alexandria

Austin Flajser is in charge of day-to-day operations of The Carr Companies with over 40 executive suite, hotel, commercial and retail assets under management in 8 markets across the country. These assets account for over $180M in annual operating revenue and over $200M of new projects currently in the development pipeline. Austin received his Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University, his Masters in Real Estate from Georgetown University and his Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University.

Stephanie is President & CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP). Appointed by the Board of Directors in April 2015, Stephanie has held leadership roles in the organization since 2005. In her position, Stephanie provides strategic and financial oversight to two hosted organizations: SBDC and Capitol Post. She also offers advice and information to the Alexandria City Council, Planning Commission and City Departments. Stephanie serves in various capacities on Boards, Commissions and Committees related to economic development, marketing and business throughout the Washington, DC region. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science in City & Regional Planning from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the UVA's Darden School of Business. As an Alexandrian, Stephanie’s favorite thing about the city is the diversity of new boutique fitness studios and restaurants opening up all around

Rick joined Weingarten in 2008 as Vice President/Senior Regional Director of New Development based out of Atlanta. In 2017, Rick was promoted to his current position as Senior Vice President/Acquisitions and Development for the Company’s Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions. Rick graduated cum laude from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Marketing. He is also a Georgia licensed Real Estate Broker. Amongst his other acquisition and development transactions, Rick was successful in negotiating and acquiring The Palms at Town & Country Shopping Center (the Company’s largest asset) in Miami, FL and Deerfield Mall in Deerfield Beach, FL. Rick is currently overseeing the Company’s two grocery anchored, mixed-use development projects in Alexandria and Arlington, VA.

Managing Partner and CEO Jim Simmons serves as head of Asland Capital Partners’ investment committee and runs the day-to-day operations of the firm. With more than two decades of real estate investment experience, Mr. Simmons focuses on sourcing and structuring transactions through his deep relationships across the public and private sectors. Mr. Simmons was most recently a partner at Ares Management, where he ran the $485 million Ares Domestic Emerging Markets Fund, and he was previously a partner at Apollo Real Estate Advisors. Prior to his private equity fund management career, Mr. Simmons was president and CEO of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation. He held previous roles at Bankers Trust and Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. Simmons holds a BS degree from Princeton University, an MS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Master of Management degree from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Scott started his foodservice career in high school with a NY-style hot dog cart on the streets of Coconut Grove, Florida. After college, he spent one year with Steve’s IceCreams before co-founding Austin-based Amy’s Ice Creams in 1984. In 1990 he joined Creative Management Group, which owned Big City Fish and Café Tu Tu Tango, a Nation’s Restaurant News “Hot Concepts” award-winner. From 1994-2000 Scott was a partner with the Austin Grills, an award-winning seven-unit chain based in Washington, DC. From 2000 to 2015 Scott served as Founder & CEO of Fishbowl, a venture-backed marketing and analytics company for the restaurant Industry. In 2016 Scott joined Café Tu TuTango alums David Clapp and Dave Nicholas to form Alexandria Restaurant Partners. Scott is a resident of Alexandria and serves on the boards of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Scott received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University with a major in Latin American Studies.

Bob joined Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh in 2015 and is an associate in the firm’s Land Use & Zoning practice group. His practice focuses on securing zoning and land use entitlements including rezonings, special exceptions, special use permits and development special use permits in Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, the City of Fairfax and the Town of Vienna. Prior to joining Walsh Colucci, Bob gained valuable experience representing condominium and homeowners associations throughout Northern Virginia. Bob graduated from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC after earning a Bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary. He and his family currently reside in Fairfax County.

Mike Proctor is the market president for the Arlington/Alexandria region of United Bank, a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc., a nearly $30 billion bank holding company. He is responsible for the management and operation of all United Bank offices in the Arlington/Alexandria areas, including client relationships and new business development. Proctor has financed the acquisition and construction of multiple commercial and residential real estate projects in and around the D.C. metro area. In addition, he has worked with various operating companies to provide working capital and term financing. He is a graduate of the RMA-ECU Commercial Lending School, past chairman of the United Bank Leadership Development Program and a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his role as market president, Proctor served as a commercial lender and a credit analyst with United Bank. He graduated with a degree in finance from West Virginia University.