Advisors
Realcomm Advisory Council Co-Chairs
John Fitzpatrick is a Managing Director and Global Chief Technology Officer of Blackstone Real Estate within the Technology and Innovations group. He is responsible for all aspects of technology across Blackstone Real Estate and our portfolio companies and also oversees the Blackstone Innovations investment program, which seeks to unlock value for our LPs and the firm by taking stakes in targeted, early stage, technology-based investment opportunities.
As SVP, CIO, Colin Joynt oversees the platform, implementation, and services team at BXP. He brings more than 20 years of IT experience, particularly in the application space, and most recently at NavigatorCRE, an industry leading asset management and reporting solution built on Microsoft technologies. Prior to NavigatorCRE, Colin held SVP of Information Technology roles at Retail Properties of America (RPAI) and Kite Realty Group.
Joseph Martino has responsibility for Primaris’ overall Information Technology strategy. He has over 20 years of experience in Information Technology, Digital Transformation and Technology Operations. Joseph was previously consulting on ERP and major Digital Transformation projects and prior to that, Global VP of Information Technology at a market leader in connected vehicle and sensor technology.
Realcomm Advisory Council Members
Warren Adair is responsible for leading the LMH Information Technology (IT) team in designing, developing, and implementing organizational information systems and software applications. Adair is Security+ and CISSP certified and brings over 25 years of experience, expertise, and leadership to this role.
Farooz Alikhan is Managing Director Technology of DivcCore and is responsible for all IT resources and initiatives. With his more than 17 years of experience, he helps define and execute the IT strategy in line with the overall business strategy.
Aaron Altscher is the VP, IT at Carr. Aaron leads IT innovation efforts and is the architect and developer for Carr’s Data Analytics, IoT, Machine Learning/AI, and Hospitality platforms. Aaron’s 2022 focus is on IT innovation around data automation and the return to work movement.
Gary Bailey serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Phillips Edison & Company (PECO), one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of grocery-anchored shopping centers. With over 25 years of experience in information technology and 18 years in commercial real estate at PECO, Gary leads the company’s strategic IT initiatives with a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and digital transformation. In his role, Gary oversees the development and implementation of cutting-edge IT solutions that drive business growth and efficiency. He is responsible for ensuring the security, scalability, and resilience of PECO’s technology infrastructure, while aligning IT strategy with the company’s long-term goals. Gary is recognized for his forward-thinking approach and commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration within the IT organization.
Jon Crosier started his career at the intersection of technology and business operations, always focused on driving measurable outcomes through data-informed decision making. Over the years, Jon has led cross-functional teams through large-scale transformations, built enterprise data platforms, and championed data governance frameworks. These experiences, combined with a passion for turning complexity into clarity, led to his current role as CTO at Kilroy Realty, a publicly traded REIT, where he is responsible for technology strategy, data architecture, and innovation enablement across the organization.
As Chief Knowledge Officer since May 2025, Sandeep Davé works to advance CBRE as a data-driven company that harnesses unmatched knowledge and insight to create value for the company’s people and clients and accelerate its growth. In this role, he oversees CBRE’s Digital & Technology, Strategy and Research teams, bringing together the company’s key technology, data, insight and thought leadership capabilities to work in alignment across the enterprise. Sandeep previously served as Chief Digital & Technology Officer, where he spearheaded initiatives that enhanced the company's data and technology capabilities, enabling seamless operations and service delivery across all business segments worldwide.
Sach Diwan is the Global Head of Data and Digital Products at LaSalle Technology. In this role, he oversees all strategic aspects of business technology and is responsible for driving innovation in global data and digital technology. Previously, Sach was a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Asset Servicing, where he held product leadership roles in investment data science and investment operations and led numerous global implementations for investment operations outsourcing and outsourced trading for the company's leading investment management clients.
Fred DuBois has over 35 years of experience in CRE industry accounting, systems, finance and consulting. He has been with First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FR) for 18 years where he is now Director of Business Systems Applications. FR is formed as a REIT and is known for excellent customer service, leasing, reporting and development systems. His past experience includes work for top companies like Ernst & Young, RealFoundations, Post Properties, and The Habitat Company. Fred is also a board member for the Oracle Real Estate User Group (OREUG).
Robert Entin is currently EVP and CIO for Vornado Realty Trust, one of the nation's largest real estate investment trusts. Robert had founded Integrated Business Systems, Inc. in 1979 combining technical engineering expertise with accounting and property management experience to provide turnkey technology solutions for the real estate industry.
Talia Fine is the SVP, Technology, responsible for the strategy and oversight of technology at Tanger. Prior to joining Tanger, Talia worked at Brookfield in both the office and retail sectors. She has over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry.
James Florian is the SVP, CIO of Related Companies, a privately owned real estate firm with a portfolio of over $60 billion in real estate assets owned or under development that is made up of best-in-class mixed-use, residential, retail, office and affordable properties. Prior to becoming CIO, James was the CISO at Related Companies. He has over 20 years of experience in helping businesses navigate the digital landscape, optimize infrastructure technology, and secure company assets.
Amanda Gibb has over 17 years’ experience in the commercial real estate space, leading technology teams for the past 10 years at Westfield, Starwood Retail, JLL, and now Bedrock in Detroit, MI. At Bedrock, Amanda works to deploy a fit-for-purpose application tech stack for the vertically integrated real estate company, including M&A, property management, leasing, development, construction, marketing, HR, legal, and accounting, across all asset types and classes. As CTIO she leads multiple technology teams, including Infrastructure, Applications, Building Controls, Data & Analytics, and Help Desk, working closely with the CTO and Innovation teams. The teams focus on projects that improve operational efficiency, cost savings, tenant experience, innovation, and data quality/insights.
Edward M. Hinchey Jr. joined Fisher Brothers in 2021 as Senior Director of Technology, a role in which he provides direction on strategic solutions and leadership to address current and emerging challenges and capitalize on technological opportunities. Fisher Brothers is an owner, developer and financer with a robust portfolio across the United States. Fisher Brothers currently owns and operates 7.5 million SF of commercial, over 1 million SF residential and 200,000 SF of experiential retail assets in New York City, Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando. Lionheart, an asset management affiliate of Fisher Brothers, operates in 11 cities.
Sandy Jacolow is the SVP, CTO at Empire State Realty Trust. He oversees technology innovation supporting Property Management, ESG, and PropTech activities. He also runs ESRT’s IT and OT Cybersecurity programs working closely with the Information Technology and Compliance teams to monitor and mitigate risk associated with today’s cyber threats. He also serves as Chairperson of the REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) Cybersecurity committee.
Prabin Kanel is the Chief Information & Digital Officer at Beacon Communities LLC, where he oversees information systems strategy with a focus on innovation, digital transformation, data governance, cybersecurity, and telecommunications. Prior to joining Beacon, he served as a consultant to a digital biotech firm, shaping strategies for digital transformation and information security. He was also Chief Technology Officer at Framework Homeownership, where he led the development of digital homeownership tools and managed infrastructure, enterprise applications, cybersecurity, and business intelligence.
As Group Technology Director, Kevin is responsible for maximizing the value of technology investments in Grosvenor. With over 20 years’ experience in technology, the last 17 of which have been in the property industry, he is passionate about how technology can be used to improve sustainability in the built environment, enhance the customer’s experience, and drive business performance. Since joining Grosvenor in 2014, Kevin has spent time in both London and Hong Kong, where he headed up the IT and Digital programme and development functions.
Ken Kurz brings over 20 years of leadership and operational experience in cybersecurity, network technologies, information systems, risk mitigation and remediation, and technical project management to COPT. Supporting COPT as CIO since 2016, he has prior experience as the CISO for the University of Delaware, CISO for the University of Oklahoma, and CIO for the US Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation. He has also held various technical and leadership positions within the Department of Defense.
Cecilia Li has more than 20 years of experience as a proven technology strategist and business transformation expert. She is currently the SVP, CIO of Urban Edge Properties, a REIT that focused on management, acquiring, development and redevelopment of retail real estate in urban communities. Urban Edge owns 73 properties totaling 17.2 million square feet of gross leasable area.
As the VP, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity & Integrations, Marcel Marra is responsible for developing and executing the overall cybersecurity strategy for the organization, as well as overseeing the full lifecycle of planning, designing, and sustaining the company's enterprise technology solutions. With over 20 years of experience in the IT field, Marcel has worked across a variety of industries, giving him a deep understanding of the unique technology and security challenges faced by different sectors. This expertise enables him to drive business innovation while keeping organizations secure, a passion that fuels his work.
Simon Okunev is Hines' Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Technology. He leads the firm’s global IT strategy, driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and future-proofing technology platforms to support the firm’s next phase of growth. With over 25 years of experience in enterprise technology and digital transformation, Simon most recently served as CIO at Tishman Speyer, where he led the development of smart building systems, IoT platforms, and AI-driven operational efficiencies.
In his role as leader of Information Technology at Thompson Thrift, Don Oldham provides advisory, orchestration and integration services to advance the cause of innovation in obtaining business value from technology. He and his team are tasked with discovering new technology opportunities, reducing the cost of doing business, adding efficiency to business processes and providing secure, customer focused access to technology. They improve efficiencies through the development and implementation of innovative technologies. Don has over 24 years of technology experience within the real estate sector finding, implementing or developing new solutions to solve business problems.
Clint Osteen is Sr. Director of IT and is responsible for directing Granite’s information services and telecommunications across the portfolio. Prior to joining Granite, Clint spent 10 years in consulting, providing commercial real estate companies technology and business improvement services.
Chris Panto is a technology executive with over 30 years’ experience in helping customers navigate the world of IT. In his current role at MetroNational, Chris is responsible for providing leadership in the areas of cybersecurity, innovation, technology infrastructure, and corporate governance. MetroNational is a privately held real estate investment, development, and management firm with a portfolio that includes over 10 million square feet of commercial, retail, restaurant, multifamily, healthcare, and hospitality assets.
Mili Popat is a Senior Director at Tishman Speyer overseeing the firm’s global application and data strategy. She manages strategic projects and partnerships to advance innovation through the evaluation and adoption of new technologies as well as the strategic roadmap and support of existing technology. Her specialties include ERP selection and implementation, business process transformation, project and change management. Mili brings consulting and client centric approaches to deliver technology solutions that aim to make a positive impact and enhance the employee and customer experience.
Jeremy Poteet is the EVP of Technology at JBG SMITH where he leads a team of business minded technologists responsible for technology and innovation based transformative initiatives. He has over 20 years in real estate technology across many asset types in the real estate space and is passionate about the adoption of technology and leading others in solving complex process, technology, reporting, and organizational challenges.
Alireza Pourhashemi is the VP of the Project Management Office and is accountable for the successful delivery of enterprise projects. He aligns initiatives with organizational goals and ensures projects contribute to the overall business objectives. He provides leadership to the PMO team and adopts a culture of collaboration, empowerment, and accountability.
Soheil Pourhashemi is currently EVP, Business Technology and is responsible for establishing and executing the commercial real estate IT strategy, vision and roadmap for the office sector. He has a keen focus on data and analytics, automation, IoT and partnering with the business in executing new innovations across the portfolio. Brookfield Properties develops and operates more than 650 properties and 325 million square feet of high-quality, sustainability-focused real estate assets around the globe. It provides integrated services across all property investment strategies of Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager with over $600 billion in AUM.
As VP of Information Technology at Woolbright Development, Luis Ramos is responsible for the corporate technology strategy, which includes the IT infrastructure and enterprise application platforms. Additionally, he is also responsible for implementing technology solutions toward the company’s existing business processes and helping create new efficiencies throughout the company's business model. Since his arrival in 2004, his team has been responsible for the constant development of various industry-focused proprietary software applications and tools. These award-winning technologies have fundamentally changed the way commercial real estate has been done at Woolbright.
Ryan Rodriguez is VP, IT Services at Piedmont Realty Trust, leading technology strategy, cybersecurity, and operational support. Ryan brings deep experience across infrastructure, cybersecurity applications, and client-facing IT services, with a strong focus on reliability, scalability, and business alignment.
Mario Romero is a dedicated technology leader with over 17 years of experience implementing enterprise-wide solutions. Having spent more than 10 years in the REIT sector, specifically in Commercial, Senior Housing and Residential real estate, he has a deep understanding of how to align technology with business strategy. Mario is passionate about breaking the silos between business units and IT. He leverages his expertise in AI and Data to translate complex business requirements into high-impact solutions that drive real results.
Kim Scharf has held various technology positions during her thirty-year career. She is the Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer at Curbline Properties Corp., a position she assumed in October of 2024. Before this, Kim was Senior Vice President of Information Systems at SITE Centers Corp., and Vice President of IT Enterprise Services for DDR Corp.
Bill Sechen is Managing Director at Harrison Street and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Bill leads initiatives focused on the technology, data, process and information security needs as well as leading initiatives for M&A activities.
Justin Segal is an operations executive and entrepreneur specializing in real estate investment and management, startups, and technology. He is the founder of Stemmons Enterprise, a universal operations platform that allows companies to operate with pervasive data and unparalleled agility. He often speaks on topics involving enterprise data, analytics, and user experience.
Helane Stein is EVP, CIO of Brixmor responsible for the overall technology vision, strategy, systems and infrastructure that support business operations. She leads the implementation of transformational solutions that drive organizational efficiency, increase productivity, enhance collaboration and deliver results. Brixmor owns and operates a high-quality, national portfolio of open-air shopping centers. Its 632 retail centers comprise of approximately 64 million square feet of prime retail space in established trade areas.
Yael Urman is Silverstein’s Chief Information Officer and oversees the company’s technology initiatives and strategy. Its Technology Group transforms creative ideas into customer products and services that do not exist anywhere else. The team partners with startups and entrepreneurs from its own Silvertech Ventures to experiment and leverage new technologies while supporting young companies. The Technology Group uses its diverse background, working alongside industry leaders, to translate ideas into practical functions. Yael has previously held various leadership roles in Energy, IT services, Biotech and Pharma.
Brandon Van Orden is SVP & CIO for Cousins Properties Incorporated based in Atlanta. He is responsible for Cousins technical vision and all aspects of the Information Technology organization including people, strategy, development and operations. Prior to joining Cousins in 2016, Brandon was VP of Global Applications for Novelis and prior to that he was with GE Energy for 12 years where he held a number of IT leadership roles increasing in responsibility after he graduated from the GE Information Technology Leadership Program in 2003.
Travis Vokey is SVP, Technology & Innovation of Allied Properties REIT, an owner-operator of distinctive urban workspaces in Canada’s major cities. In this role he is responsible for the strategy and delivery of technology investment and innovative solutions. With a diverse industry background from the Canadian Forces to BlackBerry and more, he brings a user-centric perspective to challenge the status quo and deliver real results across the organization.
Marguerite Westbrook is VP, Technology at EDENS, a nationally leading retail real estate owner, operator and developer. She oversees creating value for the company by improving user productivity through collaboration and data analytics, as well as automation and integration of EDENS’ systems. She is responsible for providing solutions, direction and leadership to align the technology strategy with the company's goals and objectives.
Jim Whalen serves as SVP and CIO/CTO responsible for the direction and implementation of technology and applications at Boston Properties, a fully integrated real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners and developers of Class-A office properties in the United States. Over a 27-year IT career, Jim has supported real estate operations ranging from residential, construction, public housing, commercial office and retail.
Scott Zimmerman has been CenterPoint’s CIO for over 20 years and isresponsible for directing their IT department and aligning its information technology platform with the company’s business strategy. Scott is also responsible for business processes initiatives and corporate marketing activities.
IBCon Advisory Council Co-Chairs
Lawrence Melton is CEO and President of The Building People, founded in 2013 after 30+ years of industry and federal executive leadership. Under his direction, the company earned Inc. 5000 recognition for eight consecutive years, grew to 400+ employees, and delivered $400M+ in services by integrating technology, buildings, and people to modernize the built environment. He previously led the White House Complex starting on 9/11 and, as GSA PBS Assistant Commissioner, oversaw 9,500 facilities (350M+ SF) and launched its first smart buildings program.
Terry Wood is SVP of National Facilities Design and Construction at Kaiser Permanente. He is accountable for a $16 billion capital program that plans, designs, and builds new hospitals and medical office buildings and maintains the mission readiness of Kaiser Permanente’s 100 million-square-foot real estate portfolio including more than 1,100 facilities. Terry oversees Kaiser Permanente’s pathbreaking renewable energy and decarbonization efforts. These focus on reducing energy intensity and pursuing green power opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Before joining Kaiser Permanente in 2015, he led HPs Corporate Real Estate Globally.
IBCon Advisory Council Members
Joseph Aamidor is an experienced product leader and expert in smart buildings, real estate technology and facility operations. He provides product and market strategy guidance to building owners/operators, established building management firms, technology providers, investors, and early-stage innovators. Previously, he served as Director of Product at Lucid Design Group and was a product manager at Johnson Controls.
Stuart is an award-winning digital innovation and transformation leader recognized for strategic leadership. As the founder of Bay Tech Advisors, Stuart is an advisor to various PropTech startups and VCs and he provides Digital and Technology advice to firms across the real estate, private equity, and investment management industries. Stuart is currently on the board of the US Proptech Council and was previously an Innovation & Technology leader at CBRE, where he led their technology and smart buildings work at Google.
Farukh Aslam is the Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Digital (SD) a low voltage design and consulting company developing Digital DC-Microgrid Buildings. In 2019, Aslam successfully developed the Sinclair Marriott Autograph Hotel which is widely considered the most diverse PoE and DC Microgrid project in North America. From the completion of the Sinclair Hotel, Aslam created SD to bring expertise of the sustainability and cost benefits of a DC building infrastructure to the marketplace. Since its inception SD has been involved in several design build projects and continues to evolve DC infrastructure in buildings.
Ruairi is a respected high-performance building design expert. His aim is to elevate the built environment and restore order to the climate for future generations. He specializes in commissioning services for new and existing buildings, building energy assessments, high performance building design, energy modeling/advanced building simulation, and measurement and verification consulting.
Ajoy Bhattacharya is a Senior Technology Strategist working within Microsoft’s AEC sub vertical. In his role he works with CIOs and other executives to strategize on their IT and Innovation plans. He also serves as an Industry Executive for the AEC space. Prior to joining Microsoft Ajoy was a senior leader in IT and Innovation roles at Suffolk Construction, one of largest privately held General Contractors and a leader in the Construction industry. His passion lies in disrupting the construction industry and some of his works has led to innovative solutions for this industry that were created on Microsoft’s platforms.
Patrick Biesty serves as the Director of Engineering & Building Performance at Sterling Bay. With over 20 years of extensive experience in building engineering and management, Patrick oversees all aspects of the firm's engineering efforts across its entire portfolio, including the management of over 80 field engineering professionals. Patrick also oversees MEP due diligence during acquisitions and dispositions, building performance and sustainability, and OSHA compliance and safety.
David Blanch is a dynamic leader with a 20-year track record in building technology data and software development. As CEO of Bitpool, an Australian startup revolutionizing building technology, David brings his expertise to drive innovative solutions in the prop-tech space. At Bitpool, his passion for harnessing data and dedication to removing the complexity of integrating and owning on-premise systems with emerging tech has led to the development of AI-driven data assistants, empowering clients to make data-informed, sustainable decisions in property management. A mentor and industry thought leader, David inspires the next generation of building tech and software development professionals, ensuring a vibrant future for the prop-tech world.
Clayton Broemsen is VP of IT Infrastructure for Cousins Properties, a REIT based in Atlanta, GA. He is responsible for all aspects of Cousins’ IT Infrastructure as it applies to the Corporate Office and Property Infrastructure including Networks, End User Devices, Security, Data Centers and Disaster Recovery.
Joe Brown is responsible for enhancing technology, innovation, resiliency and sustainability, driving value across KingSett's real estate portfolio of over $16 billion of assets under management. He began his career consulting on energy projects and building commissioning and has spent the last 15 years in building technology and operations through various roles.
Adam Burstow leads AWS business development for the construction and real estate industries in EMEA. He was previously with KPMG Consulting’s real estate and construction team, providing technology services and based in London and New York. This led to chief information and digital officer roles in the real estate industry, most recently as Group Digital & IT Director for Grosvenor Group. An urbanist and technologist, he advocates the improvement of cities and places through technology and is Co-Chair of the ULI UK Innovation Product Council.
Charles Buscarino is a recognized leader in the design and implementation of integrated smart building systems. He founded The Clarient Group (TCG) in 2002 and under his leadership, TCG has developed innovative solutions for more than 100 clients and 55 million square feet of properties, including many well-known signature projects.
Scott Cochrane is President and CEO of Cochrane Supply & Engineering, overseeing six branches throughout three states and one in Canada. He is an advisory council member for multiple industry manufacturers such as Honeywell, Johnson Controls, and Tridium.
Ben Cooper is a seasoned expert in commercial real estate technology, currently serving as the Director of Property Technology at BGO. With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, Ben has consistently driven innovation and efficiency within the property technology sector. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in advancing the integration of cutting-edge technologies, ensuring enhanced operational performance and improved client experiences. Ben holds a proven track record of success in managing large-scale technology projects and fostering strong industry partnerships. His insights and expertise make him a valuable contributor to the future of property technology.
Emmanuel Daniel is CEO & Founder of ALOSANAR. He is a visionary expert in workplace technology and human experience design focusing on Workplace Strategy, Sustainability, Smart Buildings, Cities & Campuses. He is known for his contributions to creating harmonious and efficient work environments across the world. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of technology and human behavior, Emmanuel has shaped the landscape of modern workplaces through his innovative strategies and empathetic approach to design.
Ujjaini is a Senior Technical Program Manager on the Digital Buildings team at Google, focusing on cyber security and networking for IoT/OT technology within Real Estate and Workplace Services (REWS). She has over seven years of deep experience in digital buildings and technical program delivery at scale, emphasizing both strategic vision and tactical execution. Before Google, Ujjaini was the Associate Director of Smart Building Innovations at Merck for nearly six years. In this global role, she led the end-to-end strategy, development, and deployment of digital transformation programs aimed at enhancing employee experience and improving building operations. Ujjaini holds an M.S. in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Edi Demaj is one of the Co-Founders of KODE Labs and is a key contributor to the vision and roadmap for the company. He is responsible for helping bridge the gap between technology, product and other areas within the company. Prior to KODE Labs, he was the Co-Founder of Rocket Fiber, top three fastest internet providers in America and a Managed Services provider.
Brett Fisher is a Senior Director of Product Management for Workplace Service Delivery, ServiceNow’s facilities management and integrated workplace solution. He leads the development and product roadmap for the corporate real estate components of the solution. Brett has more than a decade of experience leveraging technology to enable the Corporate Real Estate function. He has led real estate technology strategy engagements, including technology system selection and modernization programs. Brett is a frequent speaker on the future of corporate real estate technology and a published thought leader who writes and comments on the evolution of real estate technology.
Robert Fitzgerald is the Regional Technology Director for JLL Technologies. In this role, Robert helps clients shape their digital transformation strategy. He and his team provide advisory and consulting expertise to clients to help identify, select, implement, and sustain workplace technologies, bringing fit for purpose solutions that deliver targeted business outcomes supporting workplace experience, portfolio optimization, operational efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction. Prior to his current role, Robert held several leadership roles with Nokia Workplace Resources helping transform their portfolio, organization and digital landscape globally.
Jonathan (JP) Flaherty is the Director of Sustainability at Tishman Speyer, one of the leading owners, developers, operators and fund managers of first-class real estate worldwide. In this role, he manages sustainability certificates, investor communications, worldwide performance tracking, and technological innovation implementation.
Luis is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Aspen Venues, an advisory firm acting exclusively as Owner’s representatives for the planning, design, procurement and administration of complex telecom infrastructure for Commercial Real Estate and Professional and Collegiate sports clients. Luis has over 25 years’ experience leading business and technical organizations in the delivery of complex, secure solutions in the financial services and telecommunications industries.
Arv Gupta is an Operating Executive with extensive General Management background in Retail /Consumer Products and Services, known for building and transforming organizations to drive significant sales growth and value. Accomplished in leading business units within multiple consumer industry sectors, including iconic consumer brands, driving "turnaround" performance, by gaining organizational commitment for revitalized business directions. Arv is currently the Senior Vice President of Operations Services, at Cadillac Fairview Corporation, with a mandate to drive national operational efficiency and effectiveness, while maintaining a standard of excellence in client experience across all properties.
As a key member of Stanford University’s Sustainability and Energy Management (SEM) team, Gerry Hamilton oversees the department’s long-term energy use planning; designs, implements, and directs assessment and outreach for sustainability programs; oversees business systems and analytics initiatives; and steers academic integration to aid program implementation.
Russ Holton leads the Building Management System design, integration, project management, commissioning, retro commissioning, functional testing, service and support for the Bedrock Detroit and the Bedrock Cleveland Real Estate Portfolio. The portfolio currently has 55 commercial and residential sites approaching 15 million square feet of integrated properties.
Ali Hoss is the Head of Sustainability & Asset Optimization, Canada at Colliers, where he leads the enterprise-wide strategy, operational transformation, and sustainable investment planning for a commercial real estate portfolio spanning 100 million square feet across Canada. He collaborates closely with some of Canada’s largest pension plans and institutional investors to develop and implement strategies that align financial objectives with sustainability priorities, driving value creation, asset resilience, and risk mitigation. Ali is a Forbes magazine contributor, certified energy manager, author, speaker, and university guest lecturer in engineering and sustainability.
Victor Iaccino is Vice President, Operations at CT REIT where he oversees the property management and operations teams. Victor has over 15 years experience in the commercial real estate industry. Prior to joining CT REIT in 2016, he held a number of roles at Canadian Tire Real Estate Ltd within their development and operation groups.
Karen Jalon is Cadillac Fairview's Vice President of Sustainability, Energy & Smart Technology and is responsible for the company’s award-winning approach to sustainability, climate, and energy management as well as its smart building technologies strategy and execution. Karen is an industry-leading pioneer in establishing Green Building standards and sits on many of the guiding committees that set the sustainability standards to which the global real estate industry adheres.
Tom Karounos, Global Head of Building & Hospitality Technology, leads strategic technology implementation and operational support for Tishman Speyer’s global real estate portfolio. With 25+ years of IT experience, including seven at Tishman Speyer, he brings extensive technical expertise and leadership across diverse enterprise environments. A key member of Tishman Speyer’s IT Leadership Team, Tom collaborates closely with the firm’s venture capital, construction, engineering, and property operations teams to drive innovation and efficiency.
Jeremy Kopstein joined Uber in May 2017, bringing 15 years of experience within CRE Technology. With these skills and previous experiences, he is working to build a state-of-the-art Workplace & Real Estate Application Platform for Uber. Jeremy is currently responsible for the development and maintenance of Uber's Application Platform for the Workplace & Real Estate Team which includes Lease Administration, Transaction Management, Facility Management, Project Management, Smart Building, and Data Strategy. In this role, he focuses on the strategy, leadership, and delivery of the tools needed to optimize Uber's real estate portfolio and meet reporting requirements.
Skilled in communicating technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences alike, Brad Kults helps clients navigate the ever-changing technology landscape to select flexible, scalable solutions that adapt to present and future needs. Brad believes buildings should respond to the occupants, and that technology must seamlessly enable productivity without being a focal point. With a background in low voltage systems, he brings a unique perspective to strategizing intelligent buildings solutions. Brad is the founder the Building Intelligence Group (BIG), a non-profit association providing networking and education for intelligent building owners, operators, and professionals across all industries and at a local level.
Sabine is a seasoned leader in strategic product management, currently serving as Senior Director of Product Management at Acuity Intelligent Spaces, where she drives the development and execution of Atrius DataLab’s product strategy. With over a decade at Google pioneering cutting-edge technology for workspace optimization, cybersecurity, sustainability, and operational excellence, she has a proven track record of advancing digital transformation in the built environment. A recognized industry leader, Sabine is committed to revolutionizing real estate through automation, AI, open-source collaboration, and standardized protocols, enabling fully integrated intelligent spaces that are safer, smarter, and greener.
Thano Lambrinos has over 15 years’ experience in the construction and building technologies space, and leverages digital transformation learnings across vertical markets to drive innovation and change in commercial real estate. At QuadReal, Thano works to deploy advanced technologies that redefine the way buildings are designed, built, managed, and how the occupants experience their environments. As Senior Vice President, he leads the Digital Buildings, Customer Experience & Innovation teams, and is focused on the development and execution of the digital strategy across a global real estate portfolio.
James McHale is CEO & Founder of Memoori, an independent analyst company based in Stockholm providing market research, business intelligence and advice on Smart Building technologies.
Scott Mitton is a collaborative 30-year IT veteran that has worked with clients globally to execute their business goals with the purposeful use of technology. Scott transitioned into the construction industry 10 years ago to apply his IT knowledge and experience to the build space. He collaborates with executives and operations teams to ensure the technology is leveraged in such a manner to not only meet business and financial goals but to operate more efficiently while creating a unique and progressive user experience. His work truly supports the most important asset: the people who work or live in them.
Trent Morano is currently SVP at Power Designs. With more 20 years in the construction industry, he is a highly accomplished Fortune 500 executive leader with exceptional vision, strategy and sales acumen complemented by proven results in business transformation models. With his unique background in construction, electrical, mechanical, and IT, Trent brings forward financial models to executives that impact the bottom line.
Devon Newton is a highly respected real estate professional with over two decades of experience in property management, currently serving as Vice President at Stiles. Her career spans successful operations in South Florida with an expanding strategic focus in the Carolinas. Devon now spearheads new business development in South Florida and the Carolinas and is responsible for building key customer relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and maintaining a thorough knowledge of current market conditions. Her dynamic creativity and strategic planning provide innovative solutions and services to existing clients and new business prospects.
Marc Petock, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Lynxspring since 2012, leads corporate strategy, product vision, and brand development, including JENEsys Edge®, Onyxx®, and E2E™. Previously VP of Global Marketing at Tridium, he helped position Niagara as the industry’s open platform for smart buildings, growing its adoption from 18K to 475K instances. A recognized industry leader, Marc is an advocate for open standards, semantic tagging, data modeling, and OT cybersecurity. He is a frequent speaker, published author, and recipient of multiple industry awards. Marc also advises Realcomm and co-founded Project Haystack, where he serves on the Board.
Kevin Powell is VP, Technology responsible for overall IT strategy, corporate technology and cyber security for United Properties. In this role, Kevin is responsible for understanding the details of the company’s business operations and partnering with executive leadership to enhance the company’s competitive advantage through operational efficiencies.
With 35 years of experience, Kay is a recognized expert on workplace design and strategy issues. She is an award-winning designer who has worked with several Fortune 500 companies to optimize their global real estate portfolios and create innovative work environments. She is director of HOK’s WorkPlace team, a practice that supports organizations undertaking multiple projects in various locations, and a member of HOK’s Board of Directors.
Brian Schwartz has over 20 years’ experience in information technology and is currently responsible for end user computing, cybersecurity and privacy at Macerich. Brian’s responsibilities include supporting the cyber efforts through property-based technology as well as corporate based infrastructure. Brian is passionate about leveraging technology to create value and enhance customer experience.
Having spent most of his career within the Distech Controls organization with 15 years of experience in the industry, Ryan Sen most recently served as Director of Sales where he was in charge of the sales channel for the entire Canada. He has previously held a multitude of management roles within the organization. Ryan has also performed Business Development for the Distech Controls Energy Services division and briefly supported the Canadian Market in a Regional Sales Management role.
Nate joined Stream Realty Partners in 2009 as Operations Manager for the downtown Austin portfolio and is currently a Regional Director of Building Operations. Nate has twenty years of experience in commercial building maintenance and management in all types of building uses including office and industrial; included in this are semi-conductor production facilities, clean rooms, condo buildings, etc.
Mike Smith is a real estate technology expert with more than 15 years of experience focused on technology, operations, infrastructure, innovation and energy-saving solutions for the real estate industry. He launched WhiteSpace in 2015 to provide a single source of building technology solutions for the real estate market.
Nicholas Stello is the SVP, Digital Infrastructure for New-York based Vornado Realty Trust. His responsibilities include leading the company's IT initiatives as they relate to in-building cellular, networking, cyber security and smart building connectivity. Vornado’s unique assets have enabled Nick to both differentiate and increase the value of its properties by structuring innovative agreements with national cellular carriers and other related technology providers.
Nada Sutic is the Vice President, Sustainability, Innovation and National Programs at Epic Investment Services. In this role, Nada is responsible for strategy and implementation of sustainability, digital building transformation and numerous operational programs with a focus on implementation through building operations and performance across the company’s diverse portfolio. With 15+ years of experience in commercial real estate, focused on sustainability, operational excellence and property management, Nada leads with a drive for successful implementation and critical measurement.
As the Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Sr. Smart Building Consultant with DB Engineering, Kyle Tooke drives strategy and execution of complex technology, engineering, and data initiatives with DB Engineering’s new and existing clients. Kyle has over 10 years of experience working in the digital infrastructure and smart building technology space.
Brian Turner, CEO of Buildings IOT, is leading the disruption of how mart building systems are viewed, maintained, and reported. For more than two decades, he has worked with some of the world’s largest property owners and facility managers in developing lasting strategies for complex integrations and enabled solutions to the problems found, fuels his passion for making smart buildings as they should be to show the world what they can be.
Donny Walker leads Newcomb Boyd's Intelligent Building Systems group. He has over 20 years of engineering, project management, and partner-in-charge responsibilities in communications, security and integrated building automation systems. His experience includes aviation facilities, health care buildings, judicial facilities, advanced technology developments, military installations, data centers, mixed-use developments, performing arts facilities and college campuses. With prowess designing technologically sophisticated campuses, his background encompasses over 150 projects specializing in an integrated design with network-enabled systems.
Charles Whiteley is VP, Global Digital Leader, Digital Strategy & AI Execution Lead, with 15+ years of experience driving digital and business transformation for Fortune 100 companies across industries. He defines global digital strategy for AECOM’s B+P (Buildings and Places) business line and advises on smart cities, digital twins, smart campuses, sustainability, and large-scale urban initiatives. Charles also leads AI strategy and digital adoption, collaborating with global leaders to implement and scale transformative technologies, drive AI initiatives, and establish key vendor partnerships to accelerate enterprise-wide innovation.
Jay Wratten is the Executive Digital Lead at WSP in the U.S. and the global smart places lead for WSP. Jay’s appointment is aligned with WSP’s global initiative to accelerate their shift to delivering digital-first solutions across its own and client's businesses. In his Digital lead role, he is responsible for ensuring that WSP in the U.S. establishes a clear digital strategy supported by a robust digital leadership structure, demonstrates excellence in applying digital tools to project delivery, and continues to strengthen revenue and margin through our digital offerings. Additionally, Jay ensures the company is aligned globally to drive their digital strategy forward by sharing digital expertise and best practice between regions.
Leon founded Bueno in 2013, with a vision of using technology and his engineering expertise to improve building energy performance. His vision has seen rapid growth and success. Prior to Bueno, Leon worked as an Energy Efficiency Consultant in the Australian commercial property sector and was involved in the development of the world’s first legislated Building Performance Standard (NABERS).


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