Program Details

Greg Fitzpatrick is the Business Development Leader for IoT and Integration at Cochrane Supply and Engineering, where he supports end users, consulting engineers and systems integrators in the area of IoT, Integration and Enterprise Software. With over 25 years in the Building Systems and Controls business, he helps clients match new technology for Smart Buildings through specification writing, technology presentations and design assistance. Greg is also Executive Director for the Real Estate Cyber Consortium (RECC) focused on promoting cyber security awareness for operational technology.

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.

Founder of Realcomm Conference Group, an education organization that produces Realcomm, IBcon and CoRE Tech, the world's leading conferences on technology, automated business solutions, intelligent buildings and energy efficiency for the commercial and corporate real estate industry. As CEO, Jim interacts with the largest companies globally pertaining to some of the most advanced and progressive next generation real estate projects under development.

Shawn Devroude is the co-founder and COO of MarisConnect, a global iSupplier and logistics provider serving the renewable energy, oil and gas, fiber, and data center sectors. He is a retired FBI Senior Executive, having served as Deputy Assistant Director for both the Cyber Operations and Counterintelligence Divisions. His work focused on protecting U.S. infrastructure and technology from foreign threats, particularly those from China. He also led the FBI’s Hybrid Threat Center, overseeing national security cyber operations. Before joining the FBI, Shawn was a state trial prosecutor with the Delaware Department of Justice.

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.

Thomas Jacobs is a dedicated Security Engineer at COPT Defense Properties. He has been with the company since 2014 serving as an IT Support Technician and Systems Administrator prior to his current role. With a strong focus on enhancing security measures and protecting critical infrastructure, Thomas has made significant contributions to the organization. His expertise includes implementing advanced security protocols, conducting thorough threat assessments, and developing robust security solutions to safeguard the company's assets.

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.

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.

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 77 properties totaling 16.2 million square feet of gross leasable area.

Sarabjit Singh leads Five Rivers IT in delivering industry leading Cybersecurity, Compliance and IT solutions. He brings over 22 years of leadership experience in the IT services industry spanning several verticals. With an engineering pedigree, Sarabjit brings together a unique combination of technology expertise and business acumen providing a 360-degree perspective to their clients. His focus at Five Rivers IT is helping their clients realize their strategic vision with practical solutions.

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.

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.

As the Vice President and General Manager of Autodesk Tandem, Bob Bray is leading Autodesk’s newest business initiative to transform the built asset lifecycle with Digital Twin technology and solutions. Bob has significant experience developing new products and markets, managing distributed development teams, running successful open-source projects, and evangelizing products and technology. In his 20+ year tenure at Autodesk, Bob held a number of key leadership roles in AEC product management, engineering management, software architecture, and software development.

Greg Fitzpatrick is the Business Development Leader for IoT and Integration at Cochrane Supply and Engineering, where he supports end users, consulting engineers and systems integrators in the area of IoT, Integration and Enterprise Software. With over 25 years in the Building Systems and Controls business, he helps clients match new technology for Smart Buildings through specification writing, technology presentations and design assistance. Greg is also Executive Director for the Real Estate Cyber Consortium (RECC) focused on promoting cyber security awareness for operational technology.

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.

Founder of Realcomm Conference Group, an education organization that produces Realcomm, IBcon and CoRE Tech, the world's leading conferences on technology, automated business solutions, intelligent buildings and energy efficiency for the commercial and corporate real estate industry. As CEO, Jim interacts with the largest companies globally pertaining to some of the most advanced and progressive next generation real estate projects under development.

Howard Berger has over 30 years of experience in technology and commercial/investment real estate. As Realcomm's SVP Programs, he manages its US and international conferences and CIO programs. Previously, he was with The Jamesan Group, which specialized in strategic technology consulting for the commercial real estate industry and prior to that, he was with TRW Real Estate Information Systems where he developed real estate information systems for the mortgage, appraisal and title insurance industries.

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.

Marc Petock is a pioneer in leading the Intelligent/Smart Buildings and M2M movements pushing the industry forward and has contributed to transforming and changing the Intelligent Buildings and M2M (now IoT) industries. As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Lynxspring, Marc leads corporate and product marketing, strategy, brand management, public relations and communications that support the company’s strategic and growth initiatives.

As Managing Partner, SVP of Strategy & Business Development, Lisa Woods is responsible for developing Realcomm's strategic relationships with the technology companies that participate in the company's conferences, seminars and CIO events. Prior to joining Realcomm, Lisa spent 10 years working with building owners and managers, providing technology solutions in telecommunications, access control and security.

Andy Schonberger is currently Vice President of Client Services at Intelligent Buildings helping clients with advisory, site assessments and managed services. He has 15 years’ experience in facilities management and technology, ranging from large industrial to commercial office where he has held engineering, project management, advisory and hands-on implementation roles for organizations including Earth Rangers, Cisco Systems and the Canada Green Buildings Council (where he was Past Chair of the Toronto Chapter).

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.

Andy Schonberger is currently Vice President of Client Services at Intelligent Buildings helping clients with advisory, site assessments and managed services. He has 15 years’ experience in facilities management and technology, ranging from large industrial to commercial office where he has held engineering, project management, advisory and hands-on implementation roles for organizations including Earth Rangers, Cisco Systems and the Canada Green Buildings Council (where he was Past Chair of the Toronto Chapter).

Dave Glazer is the principal of Glazer Design, a horizon scanning and futures research lab. He honed his data and trend analysis skills in the Canadian Federal Government, where his reports reached all levels of government, including the Prime Minister’s Office. Dave has also played a key role in bringing a number of high-tech and clean-tech ventures to market in Canada. He is a former VP of Data Strategy and Innovation for Kroll, and previously led emerging trends, innovation and IT/digital strategy research and advisory as part of the CIO practice at Info-Tech Research Group.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael Izzo is the firm’s Senior Vice President, Carbon Strategy responsible for leading Hines’ efforts to assess its carbon emissions and develop the strategy to set and achieve the firm’s science-based targets. He engages regularly with the firm’s global teams to provide strategic leadership and ensure continuity and the successful progression on the firm’s strategy and commitments and help lead the industry’s carbon emissions response.

Etrit Demaj is a co-founder of KODE Labs and a key contributor behind its vision and product roadmap. With over 15 years in the real estate industry, he developed a deep understanding of the untapped potential of data in the built environment. Recognizing the need for a smarter, more connected future, he co-founded KODE Labs alongside his brother, Edi Demaj, and friend, Gentrit Gojani. Together, they built a cloud-based, vendor-agnostic smart building operating system that transforms how buildings are managed. Under his leadership, KODE has accelerated the adoption of cloud computing and data engineering in real estate, enhancing the experiences of those who live, work, and interact with the spaces it powers. In recognition of his contributions, Etrit was honored with the Entrepreneur of The Year® 2023 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award.

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.

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.

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.

Joe Consolo is an industry principal with more than 20 years of business leadership experience. He has expertise in business development, operational excellence, sustainability and team leadership. Joe worked in multiple industries, including the energy, commercial, oil and gas, semiconductor, and medical fields. He started his career at Yardi in 2016 and has been instrumental in leading our growing energy business.

Kenny Seaton is the Director of Central Plant Operations and Strategic Energy Projects for California State University, Dominguez Hills. He manages a team responsible for heating, cooling, and maintaining approximately 1.5 million square feet, as well as overseeing Central Plant equipment. In July of 2024, they installed the largest heat pump project on the West Coast (630 tons). This system reduced the university's Central Plant gas usage by 95%. Kenny's efforts have helped reduce GHG emissions by over 70% since 2018.

Fred Gordy is a Smart Building industry expert and thought leader with 20 years of experience in secure control system development and implementation for Fortune 500 companies throughout the US and abroad. He is one of the first in the Smart Building industry to address the inherent risk that control system technology poses. He has authored and participated in over 100 articles on building control cybersecurity with industry magazines as well as the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Healthcare publications. In addition to publishing articles, for almost a decade he led control system cybersecurity workshops and has been a passionate speaker and teacher on the subject of building control cybersecurity.

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.

Derek is a values-centered entrepreneur who is passionate about the environment and making bold leaps in energy efficiency through system integration. He is a subject matter expert in building controls and intelligent DC Nanogrids, and contributes to industry working groups to promote efficient building technologies. As founder and CEO of LumenCache, he is leading the collaborative effort to globally change the standard for power distribution in buildings making them smart, safe, efficient, and resilient.

Ali Hoss is Triovest’s Chief Sustainability Officer responsible for advancing ESG performance and innovation for a portfolio of $12B of commercial properties. He has over 20 years of work experience in sustainability and energy management and is regarded as a strategic builder of unique products and services for design and implementation of energy conservation and GHG emission mitigation projects.

Jonathan Spooner brings a trove of experience in technology, innovation and marketing to the Stacks+Joules team. Having led innovation teams at Intersection (a division of Alphabet) and launching multiple high-tech businesses, he has a wide breadth of knowledge. His entrepreneurial passion has led him to plan, budget, oversee and lead all sizes of businesses across the span of his career.

Andy Schonberger is currently Vice President of Client Services at Intelligent Buildings helping clients with advisory, site assessments and managed services. He has 15 years’ experience in facilities management and technology, ranging from large industrial to commercial office where he has held engineering, project management, advisory and hands-on implementation roles for organizations including Earth Rangers, Cisco Systems and the Canada Green Buildings Council (where he was Past Chair of the Toronto Chapter).

Marc Petock is a pioneer in leading the Intelligent/Smart Buildings and M2M movements pushing the industry forward and has contributed to transforming and changing the Intelligent Buildings and M2M (now IoT) industries. As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Lynxspring, Marc leads corporate and product marketing, strategy, brand management, public relations and communications that support the company’s strategic and growth initiatives.

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.

As Managing Partner, SVP of Strategy & Business Development, Lisa Woods is responsible for developing Realcomm's strategic relationships with the technology companies that participate in the company's conferences, seminars and CIO events. Prior to joining Realcomm, Lisa spent 10 years working with building owners and managers, providing technology solutions in telecommunications, access control and security.

Founder of Realcomm Conference Group, an education organization that produces Realcomm, IBcon and CoRE Tech, the world's leading conferences on technology, automated business solutions, intelligent buildings and energy efficiency for the commercial and corporate real estate industry. As CEO, Jim interacts with the largest companies globally pertaining to some of the most advanced and progressive next generation real estate projects under development.

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.

Luis Suau is the Chief Business Officer at Sinclair Digital. With 40 years of overall IT experience; ,26 of them at Cisco, Luis previously worked as a Technical Leader in Cisco's IOT Business Unit and was a key member in developing Cisco's Digital Ceiling and Digital Building Solutions. Luis helped to engineer the highly innovative Marriott Sinclair Hotel which leverages the use of Lithium-Ion Energy Storage, Digital Electricity, POE and USB-C. After its completion in 2020, Luis left Cisco to pursue his passion of expanding the scope of Digital Building Systems with a goal of developing a Building as a DC Microgrid.

Bob Voss is a Distinguished Engineer in Panduit Corporate Research and Development, driving technological innovation. Focused on industrial and building automation, his expertise spans shepherding of groundbreaking technologies such as Single Pair Ethernet and Fault Managed Power. Bob plays a key role in setting global engineering standards in IEEE, TIA, NEMA, ODVA, and NFPA, as well as nurturing strategic technology partnerships. Bob is the chairman and one of the founders of the FMP Alliance.

Jim Baldwin is the founder and CEO of Domatic, a company that is revolutionizing how to build smarter, healthier buildings. With over 30 years of experience in software and hardware design and development, he has led and contributed to innovative projects at Apple, Microsoft, Intel, and several startups.

Bob Voss is a Distinguished Engineer in Panduit Corporate Research and Development, driving technological innovation. Focused on industrial and building automation, his expertise spans shepherding of groundbreaking technologies such as Single Pair Ethernet and Fault Managed Power. Bob plays a key role in setting global engineering standards in IEEE, TIA, NEMA, ODVA, and NFPA, as well as nurturing strategic technology partnerships. Bob is the chairman and one of the founders of the FMP Alliance.

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.

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.

Jim Baldwin is the founder and CEO of Domatic, a company that is revolutionizing how to build smarter, healthier buildings. With over 30 years of experience in software and hardware design and development, he has led and contributed to innovative projects at Apple, Microsoft, Intel, and several startups.

Derek is a values-centered entrepreneur who is passionate about the environment and making bold leaps in energy efficiency through system integration. He is a subject matter expert in building controls and intelligent DC Nanogrids, and contributes to industry working groups to promote efficient building technologies. As founder and CEO of LumenCache, he is leading the collaborative effort to globally change the standard for power distribution in buildings making them smart, safe, efficient, and resilient.

Jeff Beavers is Executive Director with National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). With more than 30 years in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, Jeff began his telecommunications career in the U.S. Air Force. He has served in various design and consulting roles in many types of industries, including the Department of Defense, municipal and federal government, K–12 and higher education, healthcare, sports and entertainment, data centers, and utilities (broadband, water, energy, wind and solar). Jeff is a Registered Communications Distribution Designer and has the OSP Designer credential. He is a recognized subject matter expert and past President of BICSI, a global professional association supporting the advancement of the ICT community.

Jim Baldwin is the founder and CEO of Domatic, a company that is revolutionizing how to build smarter, healthier buildings. With over 30 years of experience in software and hardware design and development, he has led and contributed to innovative projects at Apple, Microsoft, Intel, and several startups.

Akram Khalis (AK) serves as MHT’s CEO and Co-Founder of MHT's Inspextor smart building platform. As an entrepreneurial executive who currently holds three US technology patents, AK's background in technology, product, and general management allows him to bridge the gap between engineers and businesses to bring high quality solutions to market efficiently. Well regarded as an innovator and thought leader for his work developing PoE systems for lighting and smart building automation, AK has scaled and accelerated the growth of innovative technology for more than a decade.

Bob Voss is a Distinguished Engineer in Panduit Corporate Research and Development, driving technological innovation. Focused on industrial and building automation, his expertise spans shepherding of groundbreaking technologies such as Single Pair Ethernet and Fault Managed Power. Bob plays a key role in setting global engineering standards in IEEE, TIA, NEMA, ODVA, and NFPA, as well as nurturing strategic technology partnerships. Bob is the chairman and one of the founders of the FMP Alliance.

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.

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.

Simon Okunev oversee the strategy and execution of Tishman Speyer's Global Information Technology function. He has 25 years of experience building and leading teams, as well as developing and implementing innovative technologies and systems.

Jeannie Schneider is the SVP & CTO for Hines. She is responsible for all corporate and global real estate technologies, strategy, and standards. Jeannie has established a reputation as a versatile, strategic leader who has a very deep knowledge of real estate and how technology can transform the industry and Hines to create more value.

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.

Susan Gerock currently serves as SVP, Information Technology and CIO for Elme Communities, formerly known as WashREIT. She has over 25 years' experience in various technology roles spanning manufacturing, consulting, application service provider and commercial real estate organizations. Her specialties include ERP selection and implementation, project and change management, and cybersecurity. She is also a proponent of the use of social media and the overlapping relationship between technology and marketing.

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.

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.

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.

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 77 properties totaling 16.2 million square feet of gross leasable area.

Jeff Beavers is Executive Director with National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). With more than 30 years in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, Jeff began his telecommunications career in the U.S. Air Force. He has served in various design and consulting roles in many types of industries, including the Department of Defense, municipal and federal government, K–12 and higher education, healthcare, sports and entertainment, data centers, and utilities (broadband, water, energy, wind and solar). Jeff is a Registered Communications Distribution Designer and has the OSP Designer credential. He is a recognized subject matter expert and past President of BICSI, a global professional association supporting the advancement of the ICT community.

Akram Khalis (AK) serves as MHT’s CEO and Co-Founder of MHT's Inspextor smart building platform. As an entrepreneurial executive who currently holds three US technology patents, AK's background in technology, product, and general management allows him to bridge the gap between engineers and businesses to bring high quality solutions to market efficiently. Well regarded as an innovator and thought leader for his work developing PoE systems for lighting and smart building automation, AK has scaled and accelerated the growth of innovative technology for more than a decade.

Luis Suau is the Chief Business Officer at Sinclair Digital. With 40 years of overall IT experience; ,26 of them at Cisco, Luis previously worked as a Technical Leader in Cisco's IOT Business Unit and was a key member in developing Cisco's Digital Ceiling and Digital Building Solutions. Luis helped to engineer the highly innovative Marriott Sinclair Hotel which leverages the use of Lithium-Ion Energy Storage, Digital Electricity, POE and USB-C. After its completion in 2020, Luis left Cisco to pursue his passion of expanding the scope of Digital Building Systems with a goal of developing a Building as a DC Microgrid.

Ted Belville is a Lead Communications Engineer for Enterprise Technology at The Walt Disney Company. He started his Telecommunications career in 1975 when he joined the United States Air Force Communications Service (AFCS) later Command (AFCC). Since the USAF, Ted has held critical roles in Banking (South East Data Processing), Defense (Martin Marietta Data Systems), Manufacturing (Timeplex), and then again as a Defense Contractor at Grumman and Northrop. He is a BICSI/RCDD, has worked for The Walt Disney Company for 27 years and will have 50 years of experience in telecommunications this year.

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.

Akram Khalis (AK) serves as MHT’s CEO and Co-Founder of MHT's Inspextor smart building platform. As an entrepreneurial executive who currently holds three US technology patents, AK's background in technology, product, and general management allows him to bridge the gap between engineers and businesses to bring high quality solutions to market efficiently. Well regarded as an innovator and thought leader for his work developing PoE systems for lighting and smart building automation, AK has scaled and accelerated the growth of innovative technology for more than a decade.

Jim Baldwin is the founder and CEO of Domatic, a company that is revolutionizing how to build smarter, healthier buildings. With over 30 years of experience in software and hardware design and development, he has led and contributed to innovative projects at Apple, Microsoft, Intel, and several startups.

Howard Berger has over 30 years of experience in technology and commercial/investment real estate. As Realcomm's SVP Programs, he manages its US and international conferences and CIO programs. Previously, he was with The Jamesan Group, which specialized in strategic technology consulting for the commercial real estate industry and prior to that, he was with TRW Real Estate Information Systems where he developed real estate information systems for the mortgage, appraisal and title insurance industries.

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.

Jim Baldwin is the founder and CEO of Domatic, a company that is revolutionizing how to build smarter, healthier buildings. With over 30 years of experience in software and hardware design and development, he has led and contributed to innovative projects at Apple, Microsoft, Intel, and several startups.

With a career spanning over 12 years, Bart has built a reputation for utilizing innovative technology to fulfill the dreams of home builders and buyers. As the Corporate Sales Manager at LumenCache, he has spearheaded initiatives to make homes and buildings smart from the start. Bart also serves as the Outside Sales Manager for SunFarm Energy, Northwest Florida's Certified Tesla Solar Roof Installation partner. He is dedicated to fundamentally changing people’s relationship to energy, working hard to create a more affordable, intelligent, and sustainable built environment.

Akram Khalis (AK) serves as MHT’s CEO and Co-Founder of MHT's Inspextor smart building platform. As an entrepreneurial executive who currently holds three US technology patents, AK's background in technology, product, and general management allows him to bridge the gap between engineers and businesses to bring high quality solutions to market efficiently. Well regarded as an innovator and thought leader for his work developing PoE systems for lighting and smart building automation, AK has scaled and accelerated the growth of innovative technology for more than a decade.

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.

Founder of Realcomm Conference Group, an education organization that produces Realcomm, IBcon and CoRE Tech, the world's leading conferences on technology, automated business solutions, intelligent buildings and energy efficiency for the commercial and corporate real estate industry. As CEO, Jim interacts with the largest companies globally pertaining to some of the most advanced and progressive next generation real estate projects under development.

Founder of Realcomm Conference Group, an education organization that produces Realcomm, IBcon and CoRE Tech, the world's leading conferences on technology, automated business solutions, intelligent buildings and energy efficiency for the commercial and corporate real estate industry. As CEO, Jim interacts with the largest companies globally pertaining to some of the most advanced and progressive next generation real estate projects under development.

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.

David Franklin is a real estate technology and IT guru as well as a seasoned sales professional with extensive entrepreneurial experience. He was the CTO for two property management companies and the CTO and co-founder of a software company that provided an online communication platform for residential property managers. David was also the founder and CEO of Availeron Consulting, an IT services firm specializing in supporting property management companies. His greatest skill in life is explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical people in an approachable, interesting and understandable way.

Kapil Lahoti serves as Chief Digital Technology Officer for CBRE's Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) business. In this capacity, Kapil and his team are responsible for developing digital strategies and delivering technology solutions to meet the needs of CBRE’s GWS business which includes Facilities Management, Project Management and Management Consulting. Kapil has more than 20 years of experience driving business value through transformative technology initiatives.

Don Bleaney, Chief Product Officer at PremiseHQ, leads the company’s product strategy and innovative AI-driven initiatives. With a robust background in commercial real estate, coupled with over 17 years of consulting expertise with premier real estate firms, Don is a leader in process automation and strategic enhancements. His profound industry insights fuel PremiseHQ’s mission to pioneer advanced, AI-enabled solutions that optimize operations and boost efficiency in the real estate industry. Under Don’s leadership, PremiseHQ empowers organizations to leverage AI for not only achieving sustainable growth but also securing a significant competitive edge in the market.

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.

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.

Goutham Vulpala is currently AVP, Enterprise Applications at Phillips Edison & Company. In his current role, Goutham manages a team responsible of enterprise application architecture, development, and data analytics. Previously, he was with Citibank where he was the application development group manager responsible for ATM application development and customer survey data analytics. Goutham also was with Cincinnati Bell where he held various senior positions in IT.

Goutham Vulpala is currently AVP, Enterprise Applications at Phillips Edison & Company. In his current role, Goutham manages a team responsible of enterprise application architecture, development, and data analytics. Previously, he was with Citibank where he was the application development group manager responsible for ATM application development and customer survey data analytics. Goutham also was with Cincinnati Bell where he held various senior positions in IT.

As Webinars and Program Manager at Realcomm, Sarah Bemporad is responsible for conducting real estate tech webinars and managing the educational content for online seminars and conferences. Previously, Sarah managed investor and corporate relations at Paramount Group, a fully-integrated REIT headquartered in New York.

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.

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.

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.

Founder of Realcomm Conference Group, an education organization that produces Realcomm, IBcon and CoRE Tech, the world's leading conferences on technology, automated business solutions, intelligent buildings and energy efficiency for the commercial and corporate real estate industry. As CEO, Jim interacts with the largest companies globally pertaining to some of the most advanced and progressive next generation real estate projects under development.