8:15 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration & Networking Breakfast

9:00 AM – 9:25AM: Opening Fireside Chat

Speakers

 Jackie Soffer

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 

Turnberry

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Jackie Soffer

Chairman & CEO, Turnberry Associates

Jackie Soffer is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Turnberry, a dynamic real estate company that develops, owns, and programs large-scale hospitality, retail, residential, and commercial properties.
Turnberry’s portfolio includes the 533-room JW Marriott Nashville; Aventura Mall, which has more than 30 million visitors annually; and Destin Commons, a 500K+ square-foot open-air lifestyle center in Northwest Florida. In partnership with Terra Group, Turnberry is developing an 800-key hotel connected to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Soffer is also collaborating with LeFrak to develop SoLé Mia in North Miami, a 184-acre community of residential towers, retail, restaurants and 37-acres of open green spaces. The product of an innovative master-plan, SoLé Mia is also home to Laguna SoLé, a 7-acre swimmable Crystal Lagoon®; Reserve Padel, a 16-court club dedicated to the world’s premier racquet sport; restaurants including Pura Vida and Sesame Bakery & Café by Motek; a custom-designed children’s park, and the 363,000 sq. ft. University of Miami U Health Medical Center. Also in development is ONE Park Tower by Turnberry, a luxury, 33-story condominium at SoLé Mia. Turnberry recently announced it is developing The St. Regis Nashville and The Residences at the St. Regis Nashville in Tennessee. Other principal assets include Town Center Aventura, the Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Aventura Mall, and the Courtyard by Marriott Aventura Mall. Turnberry also owns and operates The Seagate, a hotel, golf club and beach club in Delray, Florida.

Soffer is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design; a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at the University of Miami; a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee at the University of Miami’s School of Architecture; a member of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee: and a member of Cornell University’s Center for Real Estate and Finance.

MODERATOR

Beth-Ann Krimsky

Partner

Greenspoon Marder

9:25 AM – 10:00 AM : Transformational Development Strategies & Financing Big Dollar Projects in an Uncertain Market

While 2025 was primed to be a year of stabilization and growth, tariffs and regulatory changes have brought on a new cloud of market uncertainty. The most adept and agile real estate players, however, are taking the long-view and finding timely opportunities to develop, invest in, and finance mega projects despite economic headwinds in the forecast. Experts will discuss why they have confidence to invest and finance big dollar projects in an uncertain market, and which projects and developments are attracting capital today.

Speakers

GIL dezer

President

Dezer Development

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Gil Dezer

President, Dezer Development

An accomplished businessman and humanitarian, Gil Dezer is a visionary real estate developer and one of the largest oceanfront property owners in South Florida. Dezer and his father, Michael Dezer, have made Dezer Development one of the most innovative and successful developers of iconic luxury and ultra-luxury residences in the world. Through the introduction of powerful brand
partnerships with some of the world’s leading luxury brands, Dezer has restructured the face and value of the South Florida residential real estate industry. One thing that sets Gil apart from other developers is that his care for buyers goes far beyond just the sale of property. Gil remains active with the condominium associations and engages with unit owners in every project he develops.

Dezer’s first branded luxury condominiums were the very successful Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences and Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach. Despite the downturn of South Florida’s residential real estate market at the time, Dezer managed two
remarkable achievements. Between 2009 and 2010, Dezer secured sufficient sales to pay-off Trump Royale’s $210 million construction
loan and the $265 million pay-off of Trump Tower II and Trump Tower III’s mortgage, a combined $475 million.

Following the success of Dezer’s six Trump branded buildings, Dezer announced a master licensing agreement with Germany-based
Porsche Design Group to bring the iconic brand to South Florida’s first automobile branded residences. The 60-story ultra-luxury
Porsche Design Tower with its one of a kind, revolutionary automobile elevator lift system – the Dezervator – allows owners to park
their vehicles in ‘sky garages’ directly next to their luxurious homes. The success of the Porsche Design Tower began when Dezer Development received a $214 million construction loan from Wells Fargo in September 2013, at the time marking the largest loan for a single construction project in the Southeast in the post-recession era.

Leveraging his track record of success with marquee lifestyle brands, Gil entered into an exclusive partnership with The Related Group
and Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio to launch the world-renowned fashion and furnishings designer, Giorgio Armani’s, first residential tower in the U.S. real estate market: Residences by Armani/Casa. Designed by globally acclaimed Argentine-born architect, César Pelli, the 56-story oceanfront tower features 308 luxurious residences and incomparable amenities spanning two floors, all exquisitely designed by Armani/Casa with rich textiles and custom furnishings.

Dezer Development then expanded into Miami’s booming Arts & Design district through another joint venture with The Related Group to launch Hyde Midtown Suites and Residences. Designed by Arquitectonica with interiors by award-winning designer, David Rockwell,the 31-story tower includes 60 hotel rooms, 410 residential condominiums, and an array of contemporary lifestyle offerings. Dezer is once again partnering with The Related Group to develop the Rosewood Residences Hillsboro Beach, an Intracoastal-to-ocean property in Hillsboro Beach. The developers again engaged Arquitectonica to design this elegant community on the last undeveloped beach front property in South Florida.

Dezer currently has several other projects underway including the redevelopment of the Intracoastal Mall into Uptown Harbor, a
monumental mixed-use project. The 30-acre property will feature luxury condominiums spread out among five towers including condos, retail spaces, offices, town homes, a boutique hotel and more. Uptown Harbor will include a striking waterfront promenade offering an active harbor for recreational boats and waterfront dining and shopping.

The current crown jewel of Dezer’s projects is the Bentley Residences Miami. Designed in conjunction with Bentley Motors, the 62-
story building, with its diamond-quilted glass façade, was already awarded the South Florida Business Journal’s 2024 Structures Award.
Currently under construction in Sunny Isles Beach, the Bentley Residences will incorporate Dezervator car lifts delivering unit owners’ autos to three and four sky garages inside every unit. This luxury condominium will include amenities with five-star hospitality and service.

Dezer earned degrees in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami. He additionally holds a real estate license and is the past President and Chairman Emeritus of the Developers & Builders Alliance (DBA), one of the world’s largest development and construction organizations. Active in the community, Dezer is a staunch supporter of local organizations and holds several positions which include: one of the Founders of the Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation; a Young President of the Miami Heart Institute; member of the Florida Friends of Israeli Defense Forces (FFIDF); member of Project Cradle in Miami; host committee member of satellite art fair, Art Miami; member of WIZO Florida and the One Family Fund Organization.

Allie Eichner

President

Continuum Florida

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Allie Eichner

President, Continuum Company

Under the direction of her father, Ian Bruce Eichner, founder of The Continuum Company from New York, Alexandra is leading the company’s South Florida development portfolio. The firm has a successful track record of developing residential condos that are timeless and hold its value. To date, the firm has developed more than 14 million square feet totaling over $7 billion. Notable development achievements that were the first in their class include: First high-rise built in Brooklyn since landmarks height legislation was passed in 1965 (Montague Street, 1998); first urban timeshare in New York, with a new concept of being able to book stays one day at a time (The Manhattan Club, 1996); first and only beachfront gated community in South Beach (The Continuum, 2002); and the first development on the Las Vegas strip to employ an urban development model, maximizing a small 8.5-acre site to its full square footage potential of 6 ½ million square feet (Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino).In Florida alone, Continuum Company is currently developing approximately 1 million square feet of residential real estate, totaling over $600 million in sales. Alexandra is already taking on Florida as a real estate developer for their current projects. Holding the title, president of Continuum Company, she has successfully spearheaded large-scale projects and has been a key player in the revitalization of Bay Harbor Islands in Miami. She also stands to be a key player in the transformation and revitalization of North Bay Village – a residential neighborhood that is now ripe for transformation. Additionally, she has been part of the conversation on the influx of new residents to South Florida, primarily from New York and Chicago.

When Alexandra started at the company, she was an assistant project manager in New York. She had no formal experience in real estate development – other than what she learned from dinner conversations with her father. As an assistant PM, she had the opportunity to support/work directly with the most senior executives in the company – and, of course, with her father. She learned a lot, and very quickly. Soon after, Continuum Co acquired La Baia Bay Harbor. At the time, they hadn’t built anything in South Florida in 20 years, since the Continuum South Beach. Alexandra offered to be the boots on ground – running the La Baia project locally, with oversight from the New York team. She was promoted to Development Officer and started traveling to Florida on a regular basis. They opened an office, hired a few local employees and started looking to expand. After she successfully navigated a tricky site plan approval for La Baia and La Baia North, along with the recently acquired site in North Bay Village, Allexandra was promoted to President of South Florida.

Within the last 12 to 18 months, Alexandra has been promoted to President of Continuum Company’s Florida division as a result of overseeing the successful launch of 3 condo projects in South Florida. Within the first year of being President, Alexandra worked with public officials to enact a workforce housing law in the town of North Bay Village, something few developers in the private sector have ever accomplished. Additionally, within the last 18 months, Alexandra launched sales of Continuum’s first ground-up luxury condo development in South Florida in over 20 years. She did this in record time (less than 6 months) by delivering best-in-class floor plans with innovative amenities – such as the House Tesla program, all while navigating a complicated approval process for Continuum’s 2nd condo development in South Florida.

More specifically, in September 2023, Alexandra privately sponsored a workforce housing ordinance, as part of her bid to secure approvals for the Continuum Company’s 3rd residential development. This ordinance allows for developers to pay into a workforce housing fund for the benefit of existing condo residents who are struggling to afford their rising HOA fees. She worked on this law for the better part of a year, emboldened by yet another condo evacuation in this district, and was able to get it adopted the night before her wedding, after appearing before the Planning & Zoning Board and two Commission Hearings. This law not only represents a significant public benefit, as the lack of affordable housing is a national crisis, it also represents additional density for the project, which translates into a win-win for the public and private sector, not only for her project, but anyone else in this district.

Currently, Alexandra oversees the development of approximately 1 million square feet of residential real estate in South Florida, which will total over $600 million in sales. Alexandra has been a key player in the revitalization of Bay Harbor Islands in Miami with Continuum Company’s La Baia condominiums. She also stands to be a key player in the transformation and revitalization of North Bay Village – a residential neighborhood that is now ripe for transformation. Additionally, she has been part of the conversation on the influx of new residents to South Florida, primarily from New York. Alexandra is new to industry, but she’s definitely shaking things up. Her colleagues have nothing but amazing things to say about her. She has her foot in the door of a 99% male-dominated industry and is quickly becoming one of the most well-respected female real estate developers in South Florida.

Dan Kaplan

Managing Partner

PMG

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Dan Kaplan

Managing Partner,PMG

Dan Kaplan serves as a managing partner at PMG. There, he is responsible for project underwriting and general execution of PMG’s business plans and corporate operations. He began his career with JP Morgan Investment Banking in the Real Estate Structured Finance Group. Dan then held a senior role with Alvarez and Marsal / Lehman Brothers Holdings, where he led the diligence and structuring for selling an $800M private real estate company to a large domestic pension. He then spent two years with the large asset development firm LCOR Inc. before joining PMG in 2013.

JAY PHILLIP PARKER

CEO of Brokerage, Florida Region and President Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Florida

Douglas Elliman

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Jay Philip Parker

CEO of Brokerage, Florida Region and President Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Florida, Douglas Elliman

Real estate industry leader and veteran, Jay Phillip Parker has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Brokerage for Douglas Elliman’s Florida region since 2013. He is also President of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Florida.

Responsible for the advancement of a leading provider of luxury real estate services across Florida, he has successfully grown Douglas Elliman’s presence in markets from
Miami to Jupiter to Palm Beach, St. Petersburg, Ponte Vedra, Naples and Sarasota with a total of 26 offices and more than 1,700 agents.

Jay has been a key figure in the growth of the brand, which is now represented in luxury
real estate markets in 58 countries and six continents through its partnership with London-based Knight Frank Residential.

A graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, Jay
completed the study abroad program in Tel Aviv, Israel while earning his bachelor’s degree. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in May of 1998. A member of the Florida Bar Association, Jay serves on the Board
of Governors for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, as President of theExecutive Board of Mt. Sinai Medical Center Foundation and a member of the Miami
Association of Realtors Leadership Board.

MODERATOR

Jose A. Rodriguez

Partner

RVMR Law

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Jose A. Rodriguez

Partner, RVMR Law

Jose A. Rodriguez has a diverse practice focusing on real estate and corporate matters. He has extensive
experience dealing with the needs of high net worth entrepreneurs and international clients. His primary focus
is representing many prominent South Florida real estate developers. He has dedicated himself to structuringncomplex business and real estate ventures, corporate matters, workouts, and coordinating and closing large real estate related financed transactions. Mr. Rodriguez has represented parties in a significant number of
luxury high rise condominium projects during the last 25 years. His practical, goal-oriented, and knowledgeable approach to business and real estate ventures, has added material value and assisted his clients in
accomplishing their unique objectives.

Mr. Rodriguez leads the firm’s real estate closing teams of attorneys, paralegals, and closers in commercial and
residential closings, with transaction values typically in excess of $700 million annually.

A graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Mr. Rodriguez received his J.D. degree with high honors in 1993
and his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Multinational Business from Florida State University in 1989. Mr.
Rodriguez is a member of The Florida Bar sections of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM:Inside the Deal: Case Studies & Insider Perspectives on Major investments & Financings

Today’s market has given way to a whole new level of deal complexity, demanding adeptness, creativity and experience to get transactions over the finish line. How does this market cycle compare to years past? How are market participants navigating high equity requirements amid price dislocation?Join top investors, developers and lenders as they go inside the largest deals to close in today’s complex market.

Speakers

Maria barry

Managing Director and Community Development Banking National Executive

Bank of America

Marko Kazanjian

Senior Managing Director

IPA Capital Markets

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Marko Kazanjian

Senior Managing Director, IPA Capital Markets

Marko Kazanjian is a leading capital markets professional with deep expertise in structuring and executing complex debt and equity financing solutions for both intuitional & private developers, owners, and operators across multifamily, industrial, retail, office, hospitality, single-tenant, and land assets. Over the course of his career, he has successfully arranged billions of dollars in financing, specializing in structured debt transactions that optimize capital structures for his clients.

Prior to joining IPA Capital Markets, Marko was a Managing Director at JLL and previously served as a Director at Meridian Capital, where he played a key role in originating and closing high-profile transactions nationwide. He has been an active leader in the real estate finance community, serving as a New York board member for both ICSC Next Gen and the Young Mortgage Bankers Association (YMBA). His professional achievements have been recognized by YMBA’s “Up and Comer” Award (2016) and Commercial Observer’s “Top Young Professional under 35” in Debt & Equity Financing (2019).

Jordan Kornberg 

Chief Investment Officer

Mast Capital

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Jordan Kornberg

Chief Investment Officer, Mast Capital

Mr. Kornberg serves as Chief Investment Officer for Mast Capital. In this capacity, he is responsible for identifying and evaluating investment transactions and collaborating with Mast’s functional groups on asset management, development, and disposition decisions.

Mr. Kornberg is a seasoned real estate professional with over $4 billion of single asset and portfolio transaction experience. Prior to joining Mast, Mr. Kornberg was a Managing Director at Northwood Investors, a privately held global real estate investment firm, where he was responsible for evaluating real estate equity and debt investment opportunities. During his approximately 10 years at Northwood, he executed acquisitions, obtained financing, oversaw capital projects, and improved operating performance across the firm’s hospitality portfolio. Prior to Northwood, Mr. Kornberg worked in the Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging and Leisure Investment Banking group at Deutsche Bank and focused on corporate advisory assignments, capital markets transactions, and mergers and acquisitions primarily within the hospitality and gaming sectors.

Mr. Kornberg is an active member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Investment Roundtable. Mr. Kornberg received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, from Duke University.

Michael Payton

Director

ACORE CAPITAL

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Michael Payton

Director, ACORE CAPITAL

Michael Payton is a Director for ACORE CAPITAL in the Miami office, responsible for sourcing, originating, structuring, underwriting and closing commercial real estate financing opportunities.

Prior to joining ACORE CAPITAL, Mr. Payton was an Associate at a boutique management consulting firm in Toronto where he focused on corporate restructurings and investment strategies. Before that, Mr. Payton was an Investment Banking Analyst at TD Securities on a team responsible for providing M&A advisory and capital raising
services for North American pension funds and private equity firms.

Mr. Payton holds a M.B.A. degree from the UCLA Anderson School of Business and a H.B.A. degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western
Ontario in Canada.

MODERATOR

David Flaxer 

Capital Markets + Investor Relations

MG Developer Miami

10:30 AM – 10:45AM : Networking Break

10:45 AM – 11:10 AM : Fireside Chat

Speakers

Miki Naftali

Chairman & CEO 

 Naftali Group

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Miki Naftali

Chairman and CEO, Naftali Group

Miki Naftali is the Chairman and CEO of Naftali Group, a globally recognized real estate development firm. With over 35 years of experience and a portfolio exceeding $15 billion and 31 million square feet across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, he is known for redefining luxury development through visionary projects. In New York City alone, he has developed 25 luxury condominium buildings and led the iconic $450 million transformation of The Plaza Hotel into a world-class mixed-use destination. Currently, he’s focused on South Florida with over $1.1 billion in developments underway, including projects like JEM Private Residences Miami and Viceroy Residences Fort Lauderdale. Frequently ranked among the most influential figures in real estate, Mr. Naftali is a prominent speaker and guest lecturer at institutions such as Yale, Columbia Business School, and USC.

MODERATOR

Bernadette Brennan

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker | Executive Director 

 SERHANT.

11:10 AM – 11:45 AM: Follow the Capital: Business-Friendly Miami Emerges as a Strategic Investment Capital

With a high concentration of private equity firms, and business flourishing across key industries, Miami has quickly emerged as a strategic investment capital and hub for private equity activity. Hear how Miami has built up such a strong ecosystem and high concentration of private equity firms, what’s driving acquisition activity, who the major players are, and where they’re sourcing deals.

Speakers

Jefferson Brackin

Acquisitions Analyst

GFO Investments

Daniel lebensohn

Co-CEO & Founder

BH3 Management

Justin oates

Managing Director

Kawa Capital Management

Erik Rutter

Managing Partner

Oak Row Equities

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Erik Rutter

Managing Partner, Oak Row Equities

Erik Rutter serves as the managing partner of Oak Row Equities, a vertically integrated private equity and real estate development company with more than $3.9B of development underway across four million square feet of Class-AAA real estate. He has over 15 years’ experience in real estate ownership, development, capital raising, finance and asset management. Mr. Rutter has been involved in over $5B of real estate transactions, acquisitions, special situations, and financings. Prior to founding ORE, Mr. Rutter worked at Tishman Speyer, where he worked in the NY acquisitions, the Brazil portfolio management, and the NY asset management groups. Notably, he oversaw the redevelopment efforts at Rockefeller Center. Beyond his professional commitments, Mr. Rutter currently serves as the Chairman and Founder of the NextGen board of Next Autism. Mr. Rutter also sits on the Wynwood Design Review Committee (WDRC), which ensures that new developments in Wynwood are compatible with the cultural and architectural character of the Wynwood Arts District. Mr. Rutter is a graduate of Georgetown University, holding a B.A. degree in English and History.

MODERATOR

Zachary Darrow

Chairman

DarrowEverett LLP

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM : Strategies for Sustaining South Florida’s Population Growth: How Strategic Partnerships are Addressing Affordability, Education & Infrastructure Needs

With a high concentration of private equity firms, and business flourishing across key industries, Miami has quickly emerged as a strategic investment capital and hub for private equity activity. Hear how Miami has built up such a strong ecosystem and high concentration of private equity firms, what’s driving acquisition activity, who the major players are, and where they’re sourcing deals.

Speakers

Miles Alexander III

Principal & Managing Partner

Alexander Goshen

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Miles Alexander III

Principal & Managing Partner, Alexander Goshen

Miles Alexander is an award-winning developer principal and managing partner of Alexander Goshen, a real estate investment firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta. Recognized among the Top 100 Emerging Developers in 2019, Miles specializes in large-scale acquisitions and redevelopment projects, with a focus on stressed assets, value-add opportunities, and multifamily housing. His journey began while serving in the U.S. Army at Ft. Lewis, Washington, where he started investing in foreclosed homes—laying the foundation for what would become a mission-driven career in real estate.

In 2014, he founded Alexander Goshen to deliver comprehensive development and investment services under one roof. Today, the company has expanded into senior living and hospitality, with a growing focus on affordable and workforce housing. Miles leads a young, diverse team of experts and approaches every project with a commitment to revitalizing communities and increasing access to quality housing.

A licensed commercial contractor and hands-on investor, Miles is passionate about sustainable development and deploying innovative technologies to improve housing outcomes. His firm continues to prioritize long-term impact, economic inclusion, and scalable solutions to meet today’s housing challenges.

Pablo Barreiro

Chairman

Fortec

salim chraibi

CEO

Bluenest Development

Rebecca Fishman Lipsey

President & Chief Executive Officer

The Miami Foundation

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Rebecca Fishman Lipsey

President & CEO, The Miami Foundation

Social innovator and former education policymaker Rebecca Fishman Lipsey is the President and CEO of The Miami Foundation, which serves as a home base for generosity and community impact for Greater Miami. The Foundation has invested over $772 million toward strengthening Miami since inception, and works to mobilize everyone who lives, works, and plays in Miami to get involved and give back meaningfully here.

Since her appointment in 2020, Rebecca has grown the Foundation’s assets by more than 50%, which she credits to the power of collaboration and a joyful team. Rebecca has infused a commitment to equity and collective impact into every initiative at the Foundation, and she’s currently focused on building a physical home base for nonprofit strength and community solutions.

Prior to leading The Miami Foundation, Rebecca founded Radical Partners, an incubator for social-impact ventures. She began her career as a public school teacher, inspired by her grandparents’ experiences as refugees years ago. Starting in 2013, Rebecca served a 4-year term on the Florida Board of Education, overseeing educational policy impacting 3 million children from kindergarten through college, which she credits with teaching her quite how hard it is to lead system-level change, and why it is worth doing.

Rebecca’s commitment to improving Miami has earned her numerous awards and accolades including the South Florida Business Journal 2024 South Florida “Ultimate CEO” award, Miami-Dade County’s “In the Company of Women Mayor’s Pioneer Award”, Mosaic Miami’s “Silver Medallion”, Florida Trend’s “Florida 500”, “Best Non-Profit Executive” by The International Stevie Award for Women in Business, “Best Role Model” by Miami Today, and “20 Under 40″ by The Miami Herald. But if you ask Rebecca, her most important accomplishment is raising two young boys who are actually nice people.

Rebecca holds a masters degree from Bank Street College of Education, and she was valedictorian of her University of Pennsylvania undergraduate class. When she’s not building a stronger Miami, you can find her banging on the piano, walking ‘round the neighborhood with her husband of 21 years, and playing Uno with her boys.

MODERATOR

Whitney COOMBS

Partner

CohnReznick Advisory LLC

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Whitney Coombs

Partner, CohnReznick Advisory LLC

Whitney is a Certified Public Accountant with 18 years of experience in public accounting as a tax advisor and specializes in providing comprehensive tax compliance and consulting services. Her diverse tax background includes expertise in complex partnerships, consolidated corporations,international taxation, and individuals.

Whitney possesses extensive experience in serving clients across the real estate, hospitality, and financial services
industries. She specializes in catering to the unique needs of closely held businesses and high-net-worth individuals,providing tailored solutions to meet their sophisticated needs. Whitney is also a member of the firm’s Commercial Real Estate practice.

Whitney is also a member of the firm’s Commercial Real Estate practice.

1:00 PM – 1:35 PM : Asset Class Strength: How Office & Mixed-Use are Supporting Miami’s Booming Retail, Hospitality & Residential Sectors

Famous for its best-in-class residential, multifamily, hotel and retail developments, South Florida is often overlooked for its strength in other asset classes. Dynamic mixed-use developments and new, modern office properties are not only fueling Miami’s talent pipeline, they’re attracting new residents and visitors to propel Miami’s residential and commercial markets. This session will highlight how the real estate community is delivering vibrant neighborhoods offering everything you need in a short radius.

Speakers

Tere Blanca

Founder, Chairman, & CEO

Blanca CRE

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Tere Blanca

Founder, Chairman & CEO, Blanca Commercial Real Estate

Tere Blanca is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Inc., the leading independently owned commercial real estate services firm in Florida. She founded the firm in 2009 after identifying a need in the marketplace for a local advisory and
brokerage firm built on a culture of giving clients a highly personalized approach to service. With Tere’s vision, progressive leadership and foundation of passion, care and commitment to excellence, teams are purpose built and strategies are customized to fit each clients’ diverse
needs allowing the firm to achieve successful outcomes and setting new market standards.

Blanca Commercial Real Estate now has a dynamic team of more than 45 top professionals that embrace a culture of collaboration and caring for each other, the firm’s clients and the community. It is recognized as one of the top commercial real estate brokerage services companies in Florida, ranked by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the top ten firms in South Florida, maintaining more than 32% market share of all office lease transactions executed in Class A and B office space in Miami; the firm’s home base. Expanding across South Florida, the firm now has 3 offices across the region and has grown its services to include property management, tenant engagement services and development consulting.

Throughout her 35-year career, Tere has participated and led many significant lease transactions and new development projects from land acquisition to the master planning, design, construction, marketing, lease-up, and sale of office and mixed-use assets. Clients of the firm include Nuveen Real Estate, Allianz, Hines, Agave Holdings, Lincoln Property Company, Blackstone, TA Realty, Federal Realty, Shorenstein, Stiles, Related Group, AIMCO, and the law firms of Akerman LLP, and White & Case, LLP; Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami Herald Media Company; WeWork; Coastal Construction, Quirch Foods, Inc.; Insigneo; Inktel, DASI, Neutralogistics, Mexican Consulate and the University of Miami, to name a few.

Prior to launching Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Tere served for five years as Senior Managing Director for Cushman & Wakefield of Florida, Inc., where she led the firm’s South Florida region, achieving significant revenue growth and increased profitability. Tere also held the position of senior vice president at Codina Realty Services, Inc. ONCOR International where she was consistently among the top producers during her 14-year tenure.

Tere holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in international marketing and finance and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami and is fluent in English and Spanish. She is the proud mother of two daughters and resides with her husband in Coral Gables.

Michael Comras

Principal 

The Comras Company

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Michael Comras

Principal, The Comras Company

Michael Comras is a visionary in South Florida’s commercial and retail real estate market, known for developing and representing some of the region’s most iconic destinations and attracting a transformative caliber of tenants.

Since founding Comras Company in 1992, he has led high-impact leasing, development, and repositioning strategies across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, playing a central role in shaping key neighborhoods including Lincoln Road, Wynwood, Downtown Miami, the Design District, Coconut Grove, Las Olas Boulevard and Downtown Boca Raton. The firm also serves as the exclusive leasing representative for national brands in South Florida, including Sephora and Lucky Strike.

On Lincoln Road, Comras has executed record-breaking deals that helped redefine the famed retail corridor. He assembled and sold a block of properties anchored by Apple, Nike, Gap, and Capital One for $370 million, still among the highest retail transactions in Miami-Dade history. More recently, his firm facilitated the $17.3 million sale of the retail condo at 100 Lincoln Road to Alo Yoga, bringing the buzzy Beverly Hills brand to a marquee Miami Beach corner.

Comras has built a strong track record for identifying undervalued, underperforming assets and transforming them into high-performing, culture-driving destinations. His firm’s investment strategy focuses on premier, retail-driven properties with strong fundamentals, creating lasting value through curated tenant mixes, design-forward repositioning, and strategic advisory work. This includes partnerships and advisory roles with institutions such as Apollo Global Management and LoanCore Capital.

Comras Company has played a central role in the resurgence of CocoWalk as co-developer and leasing lead. The firm also redeveloped a site across the street as The Canopy Offices, a boutique office project with a tenant roster that reflects Miami’s growing financial and investment sectors.

Recently, the Comras Company team completed the leasing of 250,000 square feet of retail space at Miami WorldCenter, reshaping Downtown Miami with a mix of nationally recognized brands, including Apple, Sephora, Lucky Strike, and the Museum of Ice Cream, among others.

Comras serves on the University of Miami Real Estate Advisory Board he is an active member of the Lincoln Road and Coconut Grove BIDs and ICSC. His philanthropic efforts include support for Mount Sinai Medical Center, Women of Tomorrow, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the Bass Museum.

Amit Khurana

Founding Partner

Sumaida + Khurana

NITIN MOTWANI

Managing Partner

Merrimac Ventures/Miami Worldcenter Associates

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Nitin Motwani

Managing Partner, Merrimac Ventures/Miami Worldcenter Associates

In his role with Merrimac Ventures, a real estate investment and development firm
that has been based in South Florida for more than 30 years, Mr. Motwani is involved
in all aspects of acquisitions,development, and capital markets for the firm’s mixed- use projects as well as its hotel, office, retail, and residential assets on a national scale.Merrimac’s current $3.7 billion portfolio of development projects includes the
Waldorf Astoria Residences Pompano Beach, the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences
Telluride, The Crosby Miami Worldcenter, 600 Miami Worldcenter, the Riverside Wharf Dream Miami Hotel, and the upcoming redevelopment of Miami’s Watson
Island.

In his role with Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest urban developments in the country, Mr. Motwani has
overseen the development of the newly completed $6 billion, 27-acre mixed-use destination in the heart of Downtown Miami since 2006. In his role, Mr. Motwani has led every facet of the project, including land
acquisition, zoning and entitlements, financing (public and private), joint ventures and development.

Mr. Motwani also serves on the Investment Committee and advisory board for Driftwood Development Partners, LP, in addition to advisory boards for Driftwood Lending Partners, LP and DHM Holdings, LP. Driftwood Capital’s portfolio includes approximately 70 hotels, over 13,000 rooms and employs over 5,000 people.

Early in his career, Mr. Motwani was an equity derivatives trader at Goldman Sachs in New York. He returned to
his hometown of South Florida in 2005. Shortly thereafter, he was involved in the creation of Encore Capital Management, a private equity fund that focused on opportunistic real estate investments and development in
growth markets across the U.S. As Managing Director, Mr. Motwani helped grow Encore’s committed equity to
over $1 billion.

An active member of the greater South Florida business community, Mr. Motwani is on the board of the
University of Miami’s Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program and previously served as Board Chair.
He also currently serves on the boards of The Miami Foundation and Partnership for Miami and is a member of
the Young Presidents’ Organization’s (YPO) Miami Chapter and Global Chapter, the Urban Land Institute (ULI),the International Council of Shopping Center (ICSC), and of City Year’s Red Jacket Society. Additionally, he is actively involved in the R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Broward College. Previously, he served on the board of the Miami Downtown Development Authority for fifteen years where he was the co-chair of the enterprise committee. He was also Co-Chair for One Community One Goal, Miami Dade County’s long term strategic plan for economic development.

Mr. Motwani has been recognized as part of the Power 100 by Commercial Observer; an Ultimate CEO by the
South Florida Business Journal; one of South Florida’s “20 Emerging Leaders Under 40” by The Miami Herald;
“Young Leader of the Year” by the Urban Land Institute; a Power Leader in Commercial Real Estate by the South
Florida Business Journal; and the recipient of the 2023 Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Award for Outstanding Young Leader.

Mr. Motwani earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Duke University and holds a Master of
Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. He lives in Miami with his wife and three sons.

Aracibo Quintana

Executive Vice President

RIPCO REAL ESTATE

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Aracibo Quintana

EVP, RIPCO Real Estate

Aracibo Quintana joined RIPCO’s Miami office in May 2024 as Executive Vice President. With
over 25 years of retail real estate experience specializing in world class retail strategies both domestically and internationally, and as a Co-Founder of ACRE Commercial Real Estate, Aracibo is known as a global leader in the industry. Around the globe and throughout his career, he has executed on many innovative and notable retail projects and over 1,000transactions in 4 continents. Prior to ACRE, he has held the following positions: Director of Americas Real Estate at Apple, leading their retail real estate strategy across the U.S., Canada and Latin America and Nike as a
Senior Director of Real Estate & Construction, leading a team of over 30 people across Latin
America, Australia, Southeast Asia, South Korea, India and South Africa.

Before Apple and Nike, he spent his 10+ years with Jones Lang Lasalle’s Corporate Solutions
team, working on behalf of industry leading brands including Starbucks, T-Mobile, adidas, PNC
Bank, HSBC and Lululemon.

On a local level, Aracibo has also developed retail expansion strategies in South Florida across
all sectors from daily needs retail, malls and high street flagship locations. By example, he and the ACRE team have supported the market launch of the following concepts: Lucid Motors,
Tacombi, The Henry (Fox Restaurant Concepts), Forward, Nike Live, Nike Rise and assisted with
the relocation of Barry’s Headquarters from Los Angeles to Wynwood.

Originally a South Florida native, he has lived and worked this market throughout all steps in his career. His intimate knowledge of the marketplace coupled with global deal making capability provide clients a depth of expertise that is truly unique to the entire industry. Aracibo is a Florida licensed real estate sales associate and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

MODERATOR

MAX GROSS

Editor in Chief

Commercial Observer

1:35 PM – 2:05 PM : Elevating Miami’s Global Profile: What’s Attracting Foreign & Domestic Investments

Between its strategic location, diverse economy, booming real estate market and vibrant culture, Miami has earned its badge as an important gateway to the Americas. Serving as a financial hub that’s supported by international trade and thriving tourism, cultural and technology industries, Miami has a solid economic foundation to satisfy investor interest. But how is the market navigating tariffs and uncertainty surrounding a trade war? How will Miami’s dependence on international trade and foreign investments withstand this new turbulence? Experts will discuss what’s attracting foreign and domestic investments in Miami and across South Florida, as well as their forecast for what we can expect as we head into 2026.

Speakers

Matthew Baron

Presdient & Founder

Baron Property Group

Sebastian Lüdke

 CEO & Founder

 ALP.X Group

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Sebastian A. Lüdke

Founder & CEO, ALP.X Group

Sebastian A. Lüdke is the Founder and CEO of ALP.X Group, bringing nearly a decade of experience across real estate, infrastructure, investment banking, and private equity. He is also a co- developer of The Cloud One Hotel & Residences Wynwood, the first project to introduce
sophisticated condominium living with á-la-carte hotel services to Miami’s art district.

Before founding ALP.X, he worked as an investment professional at Partners Group, a private markets investment manager based in Switzerland. Prior to that, he was a Consultant with the Principal Investors & Private Equity (PIPE) Task Force at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Munich, and before that, an Analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions department at UBS Investment Bank in London.

Sebastian holds an MPA from Columbia University in New York City and the London School of
Economics, and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Studies from Cass Business School in London. He is an
Alumnus of the "Begabtenförderung" of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation.

Melissa Ziweslin

Senior Managing Director

Corcoran Sunshine Group

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Melissa Ziweslin

Senior Managing Director, Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group

An accomplished and trusted strategic advisor with over twenty years of experience in New York
City and South Florida, Melissa Ziweslin has overseen more than $11 billion of new development
sales.

Melissa’s approach is rooted in establishing trusting advisory relationships with clients, their
organizations, and their vendors, with the goal of streamlining processes, easing critical decision-
making, and achieving success as a cohesive team. Leveraging direct experience working directly
for clients, Melissa listens carefully to developers’ goals and never stops looking for opportunities
to improve the perception and marketability of her portfolio. She demonstrates an intuitive understanding of what is required for a property to flourish, and an ability to finesse sales and marketing processes to capture market share and to bring a client’s vision to life – frequently breaking records for pricing and velocity in the process, even amidst the most challenging markets. Her portfolio includes market-making success stories such as One High Line, Waterline Square, 30 Park Place Four Seasons Private Residences, and the Rushmore.

Empowered by her work with notable development partners including Silverstein Properties, GID
Development Group, Extell Development Group, The Carlyle Group, ADIA, Hines Interests, Witkoff,
and Related Companies, Melissa is leading Corcoran Sunshine’s growth efforts in South Florida.

MODERATOR

Andrew wachtfogel

Co-Founder, Managing Principal

Redeavor

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Andrew Wachtfogel

Co-Founder, Managing Principal, Readeavor

Andrew Wachtfogel, Co-Founder, Managing Principal at Redeavor, has over 20 years of real estate experience and a reputation as one of the foremost experts in residential development planning, financial feasibility, and execution. His unique expertise is built on the range of roles he’s held across the industry including construction management, real estate development, national research, sales, and new development consulting.

Andrew began his career in project management with a top privately held commercial construction company in Los Angeles. He then served as Development Manager for a pioneering firm in mixed-used development, followed by a position as Head of New Construction Research for a national, publicly traded real estate data company. He later held executive and ownership positions at New York’s top new development consultancies. His diverse career has provided him with in-depth experience and unique expertise across all stages of real estate development, from site selection to construction to sales—from coast to coast and internationally.

Andrew has played a key role in the pre-development planning and sales management of high-profile residential projects with sellout values exceeding $25 billion in New York, South Florida, Los Angeles, and abroad. Over the last ten years, his work has included branded residential developments domestically and internationally, working with heritage hospitality brands and established companies venturing into residential development for the first time.

Andrew holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy Analysis from New York University.

2:05 PM – 2:35 PM : Keynote Session

Speakers

Grant Cardone

 CEO & Founder

Cardone Capital

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Sebastian A. Lüdke

Founder & CEO, ALP.X Group

Sebastian A. Lüdke is the Founder and CEO of ALP.X Group, bringing nearly a decade of experience across real estate, infrastructure, investment banking, and private equity. He is also a co- developer of The Cloud One Hotel & Residences Wynwood, the first project to introduce
sophisticated condominium living with á-la-carte hotel services to Miami’s art district.

Before founding ALP.X, he worked as an investment professional at Partners Group, a private markets investment manager based in Switzerland. Prior to that, he was a Consultant with the Principal Investors & Private Equity (PIPE) Task Force at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Munich, and before that, an Analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions department at UBS Investment Bank in London.

Sebastian holds an MPA from Columbia University in New York City and the London School of
Economics, and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Studies from Cass Business School in London. He is an
Alumnus of the "Begabtenförderung" of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation.

ADI CHUGH

CEO & Founder

TYKO Capital

R. Donahue Peebles, Jr.

Chairman & CEO

The Peebles Corporation

MODERATOR

HORATIO W. JONES IV

Managing Director- Multifamily
Capital

Wells Fargo

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Melissa Ziweslin

Senior Managing Director, Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group

An accomplished and trusted strategic advisor with over twenty years of experience in New York
City and South Florida, Melissa Ziweslin has overseen more than $11 billion of new development
sales.

Melissa’s approach is rooted in establishing trusting advisory relationships with clients, their
organizations, and their vendors, with the goal of streamlining processes, easing critical decision-
making, and achieving success as a cohesive team. Leveraging direct experience working directly
for clients, Melissa listens carefully to developers’ goals and never stops looking for opportunities
to improve the perception and marketability of her portfolio. She demonstrates an intuitive understanding of what is required for a property to flourish, and an ability to finesse sales and marketing processes to capture market share and to bring a client’s vision to life – frequently breaking records for pricing and velocity in the process, even amidst the most challenging markets. Her portfolio includes market-making success stories such as One High Line, Waterline Square, 30 Park Place Four Seasons Private Residences, and the Rushmore.

Empowered by her work with notable development partners including Silverstein Properties, GID
Development Group, Extell Development Group, The Carlyle Group, ADIA, Hines Interests, Witkoff,
and Related Companies, Melissa is leading Corcoran Sunshine’s growth efforts in South Florida.

2:35- 3:30 PM: Closing Networking Reception