Program Speakers

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.

Aaron Altscher is the Director of Technology Initiatives at Carr Properties. 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.

Vijay Anand, VP for AI & Data at MRI, leads the creation of top-tier AI-based real estate software, leveraging over 20 years of experience in product development at the Big 4. Harnessing AI, ML, data, and analytics, he builds insightful solutions that address customer problems, all while pioneering in product strategy and delivering cloud-based global solutions.

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.

Marlena Badway has fifteen years of experience in commercial real estate focused on strategy and business transformation. Marlena has deep real estate domain expertise, having worked with global Real Estate Owners and Investment Managers operating portfolios across all asset sectors and several geographic markets, including the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.

As the SVP & CIO at Phillips Edison & Company (PECO), Gary Bailey oversees the IT application development and both the enterprise application development and infrastructure teams. He leads with operational excellence and innovation, delivering IT solutions that support the company's vision and goals. PECO is one of the nation's largest owners and operators of grocery-anchored shopping centers. Gary has been with PECO for 18 years, and has 24 years of IT experience, including 8 years as a Lead Network Engineer in an IT consultant role.

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.

Chris Barbier is a Senior Director at Yardi responsible for solutions related to the investment side of real estate as well as Yardi’s independent consultant program. He has over 30 years of experience working within the real estate industry mainly on the investment side as an accountant, director of technology, consultant and providing technology solutions. Chris collaborates with clients and teams within Yardi to provide a suite of products focused on Investment Management, from interacting with investors, accounting for complex structures, calculating performance and providing full transparency investor to asset operations.

Porter Bellew is SVP, CIO for Federal Realty Investment Trust. He is responsible for the Trust’s information and technology strategy, services, operations, and team. Porter has over 35 years of experience in real estate across all product types.

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.

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.

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 Cardenas serves as Managing Director and the Chief Technology Officer for Bridge Investment Group. Over his career, Scott has worked globally implementing enterprise solutions to drive innovation, business efficiency and standardization. Prior to Bridge, Scott worked as the Chief Information Officer for the City and County of Denver. He oversaw the implementation of a new ERP platform, which served over 13K employees and 23 lines of business. In addition, Denver also implemented a new CRM platform that interfaced with over 700K residents, which improved overall communication and engagement.

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.

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.

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.

Michael Coyne oversees operations strategy and initiatives at AvalonBay Communities, the nation’s largest multifamily REIT. He and his team help drive innovation across AvalonBay’s operating model – including leasing, maintenance, and resident experience – by incorporating new digital products, capabilities, and ways of working.

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.

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.

Etrit Demaj, Co-Founder of KODE Labs, leads the company’s operations, with responsibility for businesses in North America and Europe. He also oversees the company’s ongoing expansion efforts into emerging markets. Before KODE Labs, Etrit helped run operations and sales with other companies in the industry.

Drew DePriest is a Director of Real Estate Operations Technology at McKesson. Prior to joining McKesson, Drew worked as a Facilities Management Technology for a large technology client at CBRE, where he previously led Digital Solutions globally for the firm's workplace experience platform, Host. Prior to CBRE, Drew headed the global Collaboration Services team at Aon, led business development at workplace technology startup Comfy (acquired by Siemens), and spent 12 years operations and business development at building automation firm Automated Logic.

Traci Doane joined JLL in 2016 as the President of Technology Solutions and is responsible for defining strategic direction, overall financial operations and business development performance. She has more than 26 years’ experience in workplace management services and technology solutions for CRE and FM.

Michael Dugent is the Global IoT Director at Nozomi Networks, a leading provider of OT and IoT visibility and cybersecurity. In his current role, Michael focuses on enabling digital transformation through secure IoT implementations, helping organizations adopt connected technologies without compromising safety or security. With over a decade of experience in industrial control system (ICS) cybersecurity, Michael has developed a well-rounded expertise in securing critical infrastructure environments. His career spans pivotal roles at prominent organizations such as Industrial Defender and Lockheed Martin, where he honed his skills in critical infrastructure protection and the integration of IT and OT cybersecurity strategies.

Jeff Ewing directs 5Q’s Security Operations and Architecture Services. Throughout the first portion of his 25+ career, Jeff provided management consulting and technology advisory services to C-Level and IT Leadership across all real estate verticals. As a trusted consultant, he has executed projects for clients around cloud transformation services, process automation, infrastructure design and data governance. Since obtaining a CISSP in 2012, Jeff has been instrumental in cyber security solutions such as secure cloud applications development, maturity assessments and remediation, awareness training programs and the development of cyber security policies and procedures.

Brett Fisher is the Senior Director of Product Management for Workplace Service Delivery, and is tasked with defining and executing on the roadmap for the platform. Previously, he was a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting, with responsibilities in leading the IWMS practice. Brett has a decade of experience in leveraging technology to enable the Corporate Real Estate (CRE) function. He has led real estate technology strategy engagements, inclusive of technology system selection and modernization programs. He has relationships with real estate leaders, orchestrated the relationships with a variety of technology partners, and is a published thought leader, commenting on the future 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.

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.

Patrick Ghilani is the Chief Executive Officer of MRI Software, he has spearheaded productivity and client experience improvements while leading all client operations, including Professional Services, Client Support, and SaaS hosting. Patrick has led corporate growth initiatives targeting both geographic and innovative product expansion. With over 20 years of experience in the enterprise application arena, he has successfully managed both the strategy and operations of sizeable technology product and services organizations, serving multiple global industries, including over 10 years in the Commercial and Multi-Family Real Estate verticals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jack Harnett is a Vice President at Brookfield Asset Management, where he leads Brookfield Real Estate's Business Analytics team. Jack holds a leadership position within Brookfield's AI Value Creation Office and has successfully implemented Generative AI solutions that have enhanced efficiencies across Investments, Finance, and Operations.

In his role as EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at NTrust, Mike Harrison oversees the company’s strategic initiatives, leveraging his expertise to enhance NTrust’s cutting-edge solutions for the real estate industry. His passion for financial operations, data, and the real estate industry aligns seamlessly with NTrust’s mission to empower clients with advanced tools and data insights. Mike has over 30 years in the real estate industry. He excels in strategic planning, financial operations, business transformation, and technology, with a proven track record of driving innovation and bottom-line success.

Jason Heymann is a strategic marketing leader with a diverse background spanning entertainment, brand strategy, and commercial real estate marketing. Looking to return to his familial roots in commercial real estate, Jason transitioned into shopping center marketing leadership, bringing his expertise in storytelling, audience engagement, and omnichannel strategy to the industry. As Senior Director of Marketing at CBL Properties, he leads national marketing strategy for 50+ shopping centers, spearheading AI-driven digital innovation, strategic brand partnerships, and high-impact campaigns that drive measurable business growth.

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.

Brett Hitt is Co-Chairman of HITT Contracting, one of the nation's largest general contractors with annual revenue exceeding $8.6B. As a third-generation owner of the 87-year-old business, Brett's leadership philosophy emphasizes the critical role disruption and innovation play in driving meaningful industry transformation. Known for his bold strategic vision, Brett has advanced the company through commitments in sustainability, technology, and construction materials and methodology. The firm is deeply committed to developing the next generation of builders, evidenced by their investments in organizations and institutions that advance careers in construction. In 2024, HITT announced the founding of the National Institute for Smart Construction, in partnership with Virginia Tech.

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 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.

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.

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.

Arjun Kaicker is an Architect and Workplace Consultant with over 20 years experience specialising in innovative workplace design and technology, business and user needs evaluation and most recently, AI driven workplace optimisation. As Co-Head of Workplace Strategies at Zaha Hadid Architects and previously as Head of Workplace Consulting at Foster + Partners, he has worked on over 200 office projects in over 50 countries, including headquarters for Apple, Bloomberg, Comcast and HSBC.

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.

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.

Wayne Kim is a seasoned tech entrepreneur with 20+ years experience in leading digital infrastructure and cloud services ventures. As founder and CEO of Andorix, SirtNet and KIGA Labs, Wayne has pioneered Backup and Disaster Recovery as a Service, Media & Entertainment Collaboration platforms, and Intelligent/Smart Building Platforms across North America. He has also been instrumental in securing $80+ million in funding for Andorix and continues to drive innovation in the smart building industry.

Willie Kopp is the Head of NAM Enterprise Campus Edge Business for CNS Cloud and Network Services at Nokia. With over 15 years of experience in sales leadership, Willie has made significant contributions to the networking and wireless sectors. His career began at Cisco Systems, where he developed cutting-edge sports and entertainment solutions and most recently led the Americas Industrial IoT Sales. As a visionary leader, Willie has held key roles, including Director of Sales, IoT Americas, and CTO of Cisco Sports and Entertainment Solutions.

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.

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.

Todd Landry is a trailblazing technology strategist and wireless pioneer with decades of experience at the forefront of wireless infrastructure, enterprise architecture, and technology innovation. A visionary leader, Todd has built and launched game-changing product and service portfolios that have transformed the IT and communications landscape. Renowned for his ability to turn bold ideas into reality, he has a proven track record of driving breakthrough strategies, delivering cutting-edge solutions, and shaping the future of wireless connectivity.

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.

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.

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.

Mike Maxfield is SVP of Application Portfolio Management and PMO at Brookfield Properties, where he leads digital strategy and enterprise project management across North America. He focuses on optimizing systems, streamlining workflows, and aligning technology with business goals to drive efficiency and data-driven decision-making. Prior to joining Brookfield in 2012, he led product initiatives as a Senior Business Analyst for a global pension and benefits provider. Mike also serves as Chairman of the Board for OSCRE International and actively contributes to industry advisory groups focused on innovation and data standards.

Rob Murchison has over 20 years experience in strategy consulting, sales and design of technology to real estate developers and commercial businesses with expertise in networking, and software and data base applications. He is currently a Principal and Co-Founder of Intelligent Buildings, LLC, founded in 2004 to help customers manage risk, enhance occupant wellbeing, and improve performance.

Josh Neutel is a 3rd year PhD candidate at Stanford studying Energy Science & Engineering. He has received his master’s from Stanford in Environmental Engineering, and a bachelor’s from the University of Southern California (USC) in Chemical Engineering. He is interested in the cross section of sustainability, data science, and innovation, and appreciates hands-on work with real-life applications. At Stanford, Josh collaborates with building operators to help make buildings on campus more energy efficient and flexible with a data-driven approach.

Jacob Nicosia is an intelligent building industry consultant for smart and connected real estate. He brings experience to his role at Michael Baker International by delivering results and business value across a wide spectrum of industries in both private and public sectors.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gaël Pirlot is Vice President at Inglett & Stubbs, an ENR Top 50 electrical contractor specializing in Data Centers, Healthcare, Commercial, Military, and Modular Construction. Over his career, Gaël has led complex projects spanning data centers, professional sports stadiums, and remote power generation facilities. His early involvement in hyperscale development revealed the disruptive potential of modular construction, not just in speed and scalability but in reshaping delivery models across industries. That insight led him to spearhead the launch of Inglett & Stubbs Modular, a strategic initiative focused on advancing offsite construction and redefining how electrical infrastructure is built.

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.

As Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Ashly leads PeakMade’s corporate marketing and property-level sales strategies. She oversees the Digital/Web Marketing, Customer Experience, Communications, Creative Marketing, Sales Strategy, and Hands-on Services teams to ensure a cohesive, innovative approach that drives brand success. A PeakMade veteran of 14 years, she began her career on-site in Huntsville, TX. Ashly is also dedicated to creating an inclusive, empowering workplace. She chairs Peak Link, the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, and is a founding member of The W Collective, a networking forum supporting women in student housing.

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.

Jay Richard-Yu, VP of Tech & Innovation at Jamestown, is a visionary leader dedicated to infusing the “wow” factor into Jamestown’s premier mixed-use properties and vibrant communities. With an unrelenting passion for the intersection of creativity, technology, and discovery, Jay champions elevating digital marketing, pioneering proptech solutions, and avant-garde innovation to craft unforgettable experiences that both delight and inspire. He drives innovation at Jamestown, ensuring its assets remain at the forefront of commercial real estate technology. From immersive LED screens and interactive kiosks to EV operations and advanced AV/IT solutions, Jay's initiatives enhance experiences, boost NOI, and improve efficiency. He continuously pushes technology’s boundaries to elevate guest and tenant engagement.

Nick Romito is the CEO and co-founder of VTS, commercial real estate's leading leasing, marketing, and asset management platform. Under Nick’s leadership, the proptech unicorn just launched VTS Market, the CRE industry’s first integrated online marketing platform that enables landlords & their agency teams to market and lease their available space remotely for the first time. VTS manages more than 12 billion square feet of office, retail and industrial assets across 35 countries by more than 700 landlords and brokerage firms which includes CBRE, Blackstone, LaSalle Investment Management, Hines, Boston Properties & JLL.

In his role, Neil Ross leads the development and delivery of product and technology strategy across Walmart’s corporate real estate portfolio. He leads a wide variety of initiatives including smart buildings and campus, workplace experience, mobile engagement, portfolio sustainability, and more. Neil, his team of SMEs, and their partners define device, platform, and data strategies required to enable and deliver value to Walmart and support its corporate objectives.

L.D. Salmanson has extensive experience founding, advising, and investing in leading private technology companies. Prior to founding Cherre, he served as Executive Director of Oppenheimer’s Private Shares Group, after Oppenheimer acquired GreenCrest Capital, a firm he co-founded to enable pre-IPO transactions in some of the largest private technology companies in the world, including Facebook, Twitter and Uber.

Brian Schwartz has over 20 years’ experience in information technology and is currently responsible for infrastructure, end user computing, cybersecurity and privacy at Macerich as Vice President of Infrastructure. Brian’s responsibilities include both PropTech infrastructure as well as more traditional IT infrastructure to support the entire enterprise. Brian is passionate about leveraging technology to create value and enhance customer experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mike Sroka is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dealpath, the real estate industry’s leading deal management platform. Prior to Dealpath, Mike spent over a decade growing venture-backed software companies, including Fanhood (acq. by FOX), Zynga, and OneSeason (acq. by Cantor Fitzgerald). He started his career at Hudson Advisors, managing agent for the Lone Star Funds.

Helane Stein is SVP, 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.

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.

Rob Teel is responsible for product development, support and implementations of Yardi's Commercial Property Management and Investment Management suites. Rob joined Yardi Systems in 2003, and he has nearly 20 years of property and financial systems implementation experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Andrew Weakland is the Director of Systems Development for W. P. Carey, a net-lease REIT focused on providing long-term sale-leaseback and build-to-suit solutions for companies in the U.S. and Northern and Western Europe. Andrew specializes in bringing emerging technologies into the real estate space to drive competitive advantage while maintaining the cohesiveness of the overall enterprise technology footprint.

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.

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.

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.

With 18 years of experience in deregulated energy markets and sustainability, Seth Zuskin is an industry veteran committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions (and creative funding). Having worked across various sectors, he possesses deep expertise in energy procurement, project funding, and carbon reduction strategies. Seth has successfully helped businesses navigate the complexities of deregulation while optimizing energy usage and costs. Passionate about environmental impact, he integrates sustainable practices into energy management strategies, driving both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. With a track record of delivering results, Seth continues to lead initiatives that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.