Daymond John
Star of ABC's Shark Tank and CEO of The Shark Group, Founder/CEO of FUBU, Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship
An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales world-wide. Former President Barack Obama appointed Daymond John a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) to harness his energy, ideas, and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and abroad.
John is an award-winning entrepreneur and has received 100s of awards including the Brand Week Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was named #2 on LinkedIn’s Top 20 Voices, a list of the top influencers, who are using their voice to help us analyze today’s changing world of work, navigate our industries, and find balance. Most recently, Real Leaders Magazine named Daymond John one of the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World in 2022, a list of “real teachers people who speak from experience.” His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands have made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm The Shark Group offers advice on how to effectively communicate to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.
John is also the author of 5 best-selling books including his New York Times best-sellers, The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). In 2020, John released his fifth book, Powershift, which walks through his tried-and-true process of how to transform any situation, close any deal, and achieve any outcome. John's most recent book is his first for kids. Little Daymond Learns to Earn (March 2023) illustrates the process of starting a business and provides a glossary of financial literacy terms for kids 4-8 years old.
Finally, John is celebrating his 14th season on ABC TV’s critically acclaimed business reality show Shark Tank by renowned producer Mark Burnett, which has reinvigorated entrepreneurship around the world. Shark Tank has now gone on to win five Emmy® in the US and millions of weekly viewers world-wide tune into the show as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.
Jason Pantana
Coach, trainer and speaker for Tom Ferry International, and host of the popular seminar, Sales & Marketing Edge.
Jason Pantana is a coach, trainer and speaker for Tom Ferry International, the real estate industry’s leading coaching and training company, as well as host of the popular seminar, Sales & Marketing Edge. His dynamic sessions arm professionals with the tools they need to stay current, competitive and successful.
Formerly the education director for a leading national real estate franchise, Jason creates tailored sessions for a range of professionals. His areas of expertise include social media strategy, digital marketing and developing an eye for emerging business trends. He’s provided clear paths for companies, both large and small, to roll out powerful advertising campaigns through online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google.
His energetic style engages audiences — in individual, team and conference settings alike — while getting them ready to utilize the ever-changing marketing tools of today.
Beth Azor
Founder and CEO of Azor Advisory
Services, a Leading Commercial Real Estate Advisory and Investment Firm
Affectionately known as ‘The Canvassing Queen®, Beth Azor is the founder and CEO of Azor Advisory Services (AAS), a leading commercial real estate advisory and investment firm based in Weston, Florida.
As its principal, Beth currently owns and manages five shopping centers in Florida valued at over $110 million. She travels the U.S. consulting with, brokering deals for and training associates in the commercial real estate industry. A partial list of Beth’s clients includes Phillips Edison & Co., Brixmor Properties, The Shopping Center Group, Urban Edge Development, DLC Management Group and Bedrock.
Beth wrote two books detailing her experience in the real estate world and her secret sauce for success.
Don’t Say No for the Prospect was published in 2019 followed up by The Retail Leasing Playbook in 2020.
Beth also founded the Women’s Real Estate Investment Summit and co-founded the South Florida Independent Retailer Awards®, both held annually.
A graduate of FSU, Beth is a former Foundation Trustee and is past Chairwoman of the Board, and Founder of the FSU Real Estate Foundation. Beth is a past President of the Board of Directors of HOPE Outreach Center in Davie, Florida and co-founder of 100+ Women Who Care in South Florida.
Dr. Sam Chandan
Professor of Finance and Founding Director of the C. H. Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business, Founder of Chandan Economics
D. Sam Chandan, PhD MPH MSc FRSPH FRICS is Professor of Finance and Founding Director of the C. H. Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business; Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Chandan Economics; Economist Laureate of the Real Estate Lenders Association; Forbes contributor; and host of the Urban Lab. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), and a Contributing Member of the American Society for Microbiology.
Lukas Krause
Chief Executive Officer at SkyRun Vacation Rentals
Lukas Krause brings an eclectic set of experiences and a track record of building industry changing companies in a number of verticals. He has a passion for developing talent and empowering entrepreneurs to make their dreams possible.
He led the turnaround of Real Property Management, taking it from a floundering company on the brink of folding to the largest single family property management company in the nation. Real Property Management became the standard bearer for operational excellence and franchisee profitability under his leadership. After that, he took the reins of National Corporate Housing, elevating them from the 5th largest player in the space to the largest while facing a huge COVID headwind that completely disrupted business travel and the industry as a whole.
Since joining SkyRun Vacation Rentals two and half years ago, his team has more than doubled the number of locations without sacrificing their best in industry service.
In addition to running SkyRun, Lukas teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado, sits on several company and trade association boards, and tends to a very needy golden retriever amidst it all.
Lukas holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University and an Executive MBA from the University of Colorado. He lives in beautiful Park City, Utah with his remarkably talented wife Valerie and light of the room 1 year old daughter Rylan, where he tries his best to enjoy the outdoor fun and recreation that the mountains offer.
Lesley Deutch
Managing Directors Meeting
Managing Principal at John Burns Research and Consulting
Lesley Deutch is a Managing Principal based in Florida for John Burns Research and Consulting. She has more than 25 years of experience consulting with executives in the finance and real estate industries throughout North America. She works across a wide spectrum of industries including apartments, for-sale housing, high-rise development, urban projects, single-family rental, building products and commercial developments.
Previously, Lesley was Vice President in the Global Real Estate division of Deutsche Bank in New York, where she authored reports on real estate and economic conditions in the major U.S. metropolitan areas, and wrote due diligence reports for RREEF (owned by Deutsche Bank) acquisitions across the country. Lesley is an outspoken leader in the real estate industry and her expertise has led to numerous speaking engagements at national and local events on topics ranging from strategic repositioning, real estate forecasts, and demographic trends.
Currently, Lesley serves as a member of the Community Development Council (Green) for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) nationally, the Multifamily Development Council for ULI in Florida, and a is a member of the UF Real Estate. UM Real Estate and FSU Real Estate Boards. Ms. Deutch graduated in 1996 and holds a B.S. from the Wharton School and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Curt Arthur, SIOR
SVN Industrial Product Council Co-Chair; Advisory Board Chair; Managing Director, SVN | Commercial Advisors
Salem, OR
Curt Arthur, SIOR has been a commercial real estate professional for more than 30 years. Curt has advised on most of the largest office and industrial projects throughout the Mid-Valley during that time and has successfully closed more than $1 billion in real estate transactions.
He is a member of the Society of Office and Industrial Realtors (SIOR), the only such member in the area, and is a certified specialist in both office and industrial properties. He currently serves as the Product Council Chair for Industrial Properties after serving in a similar role for the Office Properties Council in 2020-21.
Tiffanie Robinson
Advisory Board Co-Chair; Managing Director, SVN | Second Story Real Estate Management
Chattanooga, TN
Tiffanie has a background in entrepreneurship, strategy and operations. She is a professional connector who strives to bring together businesses with properties, entrepreneurs with investors, and parents with their school board. She is a CEO, a founder, a visionary, a mother, a wife and a leader with a lifelong history in volunteer service. An entrepreneur at heart and in practice, Tiffanie has spent the last 13 years launching and building businesses resulting in the sale of two successful companies.
Michael Thanasouras
Managing Director, SVN | Chicago Commercial
Chicago, IL
Michael Thanasouras MBA, serves as a managing director for SVN | Chicago Commercial, where acts as CFO and COO. In addition Thanasouras specializes in investment sales throughout the greater Chicago, Illinois Metropolitan Area.
Prior to joining SVN, Thanasouras gained industry experience as an asset manager for Connaught Real Estate Finance, LLC, in Chicago, providing mezzanine financing for developers. Previously, he served as chief financial officer and director of operations for Conlon & Co. in Chicago. While there Thanasouras’ responsibilities included: acquisition analysis, disposition analysis, asset management, financial management, and operations management. Prior to joining Conlon & Co., Thanasouras was a top producing agent and one of the cornerstone members in the successful launch of the company that became SVN in Chicago, now SVN Chicago Commercial.
Before entering the real estate industry Thanasouras spent 14 years in the banking industry as an assistant vice president (AVP) of Small Business Commercial Lending for LaSalle Bank N.A. (now Bank of America). As AVP, Thanasouras oversaw commercial loan business development and underwriting for 15 different branches, gaining valuable experience working in consumer lending and trust.
Thanasouras earned a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Thanasouras is an accomplished runner, having completed five marathons. Outside of the office, Thanasouras spends his free time with his wife and two daughters, running, cycling or training for the next event.
Mark Van Ness
Founder, SVN International Corp.
John McDermott
Event MC
Senior Vice President & Director of Leader Support, SVN International Corp.
John McDermott serves as the Senior Vice President of SVN International Corporation. John is a member of the Executive Committee of the SVN Asset Recovery Team (SVNART), serves as its Southern California Regional Director, and is also a member of the SVNIC Advisory Board.
John also trains SVN Advisors nationwide. His commercial real estate experience includes the ownership and development of condominiums, mobile home parks, neighborhood anchored retail centers, recreational vehicle parks, and apartments with 45 years of real estate and finance experience.
Augie Schmidt
Moderator
SVN National Industrial Product Council Co-Chair; Senior Advisor, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler
Augie Schmidt is a Senior Advisor at SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate in Lakeland, Florida.
In 2022, Augie was ranked in the Top 20 out of 1,700+ Advisors Nationwide.
Augie specializes in industrial properties and tailoring custom strategic plans to advise his clients through the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of industrial commercial real estate. He formerly served as the firm’s Director of Research and oversaw a team of research analysts that evaluated commercial assets and determined their value to maximize clients returns.
Augie is a Southeastern University Alumni where he received his MBA and was also a founding member of the University’s football program. He was a three-year team captain, leading the team to win three conference championships in four years.
Augie lives in Lakeland with his wife Britney and three children AJ, Baylin, and Maverick. They are proud members of The King’s church. He is also a member associate of SIOR and a member of the National Association of Realtors®, The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.
Kevin Edwards
Moderator
President of Real Leaders, Host of the Real Leaders Podcast
Helen Calvin
Chief Growth Officer, Buildout
CRE Tech Panel
Helen Calvin likes oysters. She also likes building growth organizations in tech SaaS, a skill she's been honing over the last 15 years. Most recently, she's been flexing that muscle at Buildout, a leader in Commercial Real Estate technology and a company with the unapologetic belief that the future of CRE is technology enabled, but broker-led.
Helen has her MBA from Northwestern Kellogg, was a recipient of the 2016 Crain's Tech 50, is an advisor and consultant for technology companies and incubators, and desperately hopes her kids think she's cool.
Will Wedge
Director of Growth, Crexi
CRE Tech Panel
Will Wedge, East Coast Director of Growth, has been in the commercial real estate industry for 8+ years. Prior to joining Crexi, he worked as a retail leasing agent in Southern California. Originally hired as an Account Executive in Crexi’s Marina Del Rey HQ, Will now oversees 40+ people in the company’s Miami office. He leads strategic growth for Crexi’s East Coast operations, fostering relationships in markets such as New York, Boston, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and more. He also works closely with his team to strategize the growth of Crexi’s services in secondary and tertiary markets.
Brian Caldwell
Director of Strategic Accounts, Compstak
CRE Tech Panel
Brian grew up with a genuine curiosity for understanding people. As the Director of Strategic Accounts, Brian and his team are on the front lines delivering CompStak's mission to create transparency in commercial real estate data, which facilitates fairer and more efficient deal-making. Over his five years at CompStak, Brian is encouraged by the significant progression in our industry to leverage robust data sets and sophisticated technology that drive better outcomes. Hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, Brian holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan. GO BLUE!
Demetrios Louziotis
President & COO, RealNex
CRE Tech Panel
Demetrios brings 35 years of real estate and finance experience to his role of President & COO of RealNex. His experience includes asset management, business development, corporate real estate, education, lending, property management, research, risk management, strategy, structuring, technology, underwriting and valuation. Demetrios was the SVP of Global Real Estate Solutions Group at ARGUS Software, where he successfully lead the initiative that resulted in the first corporate instance of integration between market data and analytical solutions for commercial real estate. Prior to ARGUS he was a Director in the Real Estate Finance Group for Credit Suisse in Tokyo and the global head of price testing for real estate and private equity in New York.
Demetrios holds a B.S. in finance from the University of Connecticut and a M.S. in real estate from Penn State University. He has served as an adjunct faculty member in the real estate master's program at NYU, where he taught international real estate for ten years.
Brian Resendez
Managing Director, SVN | Bluestone
SVN Panel - Specialization & Shared Value
Brian Resendez, CCIM serves as a Senior Vice President with SVN | Bluestone in Portland, Oregon. He specializes in the sale of hospitality properties in the Pacific Northwest, United States by serving the needs of hotel owners. An accomplished real estate broker since 2004, Brian began his real estate career in finance and by assisting with the acquisition of investment single family and multi-family property sales. He then started working in hotel brokerage in 2007 and has since become one of the leading experts in the local community for hotel sales and acquisition. He has been involved in the Purchase and Sale of a number of hotel properties in Oregon and Washington including branded and non-branded assets. Brian holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree from the University of Houston Hilton College in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Lodging Administration. He also holds two Certifications from the Cornell Hotel School of Hotel Administration in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Development. Previously, Brian worked as a hospitality manager in Central America and the United States with Westin, Doubletree and several Ski and Golf Resorts. Brian also worked as a loan officer and brings strong knowledge of real estate finance to make transactions work in today’s difficult lending environment.
Dean Saunders
Managing Director, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler
SVN Panel - Specialization & Shared Value
Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM is Founder, Managing Director, & Senior Advisor at SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate in Lakeland, Florida.
Since 1985, Dean has specialized in Florida land and conservation easements. He served in the US Senate as Agricultural Liaison, Special Assistant, and Director of External Affairs to US Senator Lawton Chiles, then Governor Chiles (D-FL).
From 1992 to 1996 he served in the Florida House of Representatives. Combining a passion for supporting landowner property rights while also conserving natural land in Florida, Dean wrote the legislation to establish the Green Swamp Land Authority, the first state entity to purchase development rights (PDR) from landowners. The concept of state-owned conservation easements was truly revolutionary 30 years ago and has since rebranded to the purchase of conservation easements. The concept has become widely accepted and adopted by landowners. It has proven to be an effective tool to preserve land by local, state, and federal agencies.
He comes from an eighth-generation Florida agricultural family, earned a BSA from the University of Florida in Fruit Crops, Food and Resource Economics, and is a recognized Florida land and conservation easement authority.
In 1996, Dean formed the real estate brokerage firm, Saunders Real Estate, LLC, and was affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Commercial brand in early 2006. This affiliation brought a national and global presence to the firm.
In 2019, Saunders Real Estate affiliated with the SVN Shared Value Network®, a globally recognized commercial real estate brand united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues, and communities. The brokerage was also more fully integrated with its sister company, Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty, a comprehensive commercial real estate brokerage, to become SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate.
As an industry authority, Dean is published and quoted in a variety of respected journals, such as The Land Report, Florida Investor, Florida Trend, and Florida Forests. He produces a real estate Florida land conference based upon his innovative work through the Lay of the Land Market Report. The report is the only source for verified Florida land sales and values for specific land property types.
Karen Baston
Senior Advisor, SVN | Hokayem Company, Inc.
SVN Panel - Specialization & Shared Value
Karen Baston serves as an Associate Broker and senior advisor for SVN/Hokayem Commercial Real Estate, specializing in the sale and leasing of medical office and medical property in Northeast Georgia. She has earned the designation of Certified Office Specialist within SVN nationally.
Prior to joining SVN Baston served as a principal for kbMedical, LLC, a practice management and consulting company, providing management oversight and specific consulting services within the healthcare sector. The areas Baston focused on include: strategic planning, operations, business development, marketing, and start-up. Previously, Baston served as chief operating officer for a multispecialty medical practice in Gainesville, Georgia. Baston’s responsibilities included overseeing all clinical and ancillary department operations within the clinic. Prior to her position with the Clinic, she was affiliated with a national practice management company that provided emergency medicine and anesthesia services to hospitals. Baston’s role was in the areas of business development, mergers and acquisitions, and operations throughout the country. Her experience in many areas of business facilitated her involvement in several business roundtables for executives in the northeast Georgia area.
As a specialist in the industry’s healthcare sector, Baston is a registered nurse, and a former certified trauma nurse specialist. Additionally, Baston is a member of the CREW, Director on the Foundation Board of the Northeast Georgia Health System, Past President of North Hall Community Education Foundation, as well as other Board positions within the Community. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two children and husband, as well as playing golf, riding her two horses, fishing, and watching Georgia football.
Tony Yousif
Managing Director, SVN | Vanguard/SVN | Elevate/SVN | SLA
SVN Panel - Specialization & Shared Value
Tony Yousif joined SVN back in 2008 and currently serves as Managing Director and principal of SVN Senior Living Advisors. Tony also serves as Director of National Accounts for SVN Vanguard specializing in the management and sale of investment properties and acts as single point of contact for several institutions. Tony is also the Managing Director and principal in SVN Elevate, a commercial property management firm that manages assets nationwide.
Tony continues to work with receivers, banks, private equity firms, and servicers, assisting with the valuation and strategy from pre-foreclosure through post foreclosure and eventual disposition. He works with JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, KeyBank, Principal, Midland/PNC, Rialto, Trimont, Goldman Sachs, Fannie Mae and several others, acting as a national single point of contact for SVN. Tony is a member of several professional and community-based organizations including the Chair for the CREFC Special Assets Forum, the real estate committee for the SD Foundation, ULI, ICSC and others.
Cody Doran
SVN | Chicago Commercial
SVN Advisor Panel
Cody Doran serves as a real estate advisor for SVN | Chicago Commercial, specializing in affordable housing. His strong financial and accounting background enables him to thoroughly analyze property data and thus ascertain each investment will meet his clients needs and desires. He has become a recognized leader in the affordable housing industry by providing Owners and Equity Investors of Section 8 & Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credit property valuations and transactional assistance.
Prior to joining SVN, Cody served as CFO for a local company assisting the principals in multimillion-dollar real estate acquisitions across the United States.
Doran is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois and Iowa and received his BS in Accounting from Illinois State University.
Kelly Fitzgerald
SVN | Second Story Real Estate Management
SVN Advisor Panel
Kelly Fitzgerald is VP of Commercial brokerage for SVN Second Story Real Estate Management. She has completed multiple transactions on a variety of retail and office projects for both landlords and tenants, ranging from local to institutional, across the South. A background in construction and architecture lends an in-depth understanding of complex projects from start to finish, allowing her to quickly bring smart strategies that benefit all parties.
Sheev Patel
Advisor, SVN | Wood Properties
SVN Advisor Panel
Sheev Patel was born into the commercial real estate world, specifically in the hotel sector. He was raised in Lake City, a small East Tennessee town in Anderson County, where his family owned and operated an independent motel for 17 years. He began at SVN | Wood Properties as an intern but was quickly promoted to Associate Advisor, all while pursuing a degree in Retail Consumer Science at The University of Tennessee. Given his upbringing in the hospitality industry, Sheev specializes in hotels and other investment property types.
His abilities and strong work ethic have earned him a spot on several assignments that have led to lease signings and sale closings. Through his work, he hopes to impact the community in positive ways and bring developments that will benefit all. When he is not working, his hobbies include watching UT sports and playing golf. He is also involved in the University of Tennessee Real Estate Club, where he serves as Vice President of Operations.
Sheev’s affiliation to the nationwide SVN Hospitality team will better serve his hotel clients acquisition and disposition.
Wesley Cox
SVN | Miller Commercial Real Estate
SVN Advisor Panel
Wesley Cox, CCIM serves as a Senior Advisor for SVN-Miller Commercial Real Estate with 20 years of experience. Since joining SVN Wesley and his team have been consistently in the top 1% of SVN International out of 1600+ advisors. Wesley and his team specialize in the sale and leasing of investment property, industrial, retail, office, land, and development projects on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware and have helped secure over 800 real estate transactions totaling over $800 million.
Wesley has been voted the Eastern Shore’s “Best Commercial Realtor” four consecutive years in a row in 2019-2022. In 2014 Wesley was awarded the Young Alumni Achievement Award from Salisbury University awarded to an Alum who has experienced a high level of achievement. Deeply committed to giving back, Wesley received the SVN National Humanitarian Award at the SVN national conference, followed by the Maryland Association of Realtor’s Community Service Award, and the Coastal Association Community Service Award. Wesley has also received the National Association of Realtor’s “Commercial Award” multiple times given to top commercial brokers around the country. In addition, Wesley has been awarded the Rotarian of the Year.
Wesley has been involved in over 3,500,000 SF of industrial transactions representing national and international companies as well as extensive real experience working with many national retailers including WaWa, AT&T, T-Mobile, Krispy Kreme, Royal Farms, Dollar Tree, Auto Zone, Harbor Freight Tools, Uno Chicago Grill, Hampton Inn, and more. In addition, Wesley has been involved in the sale and development of well over 1,000 acres totaling over 4,000 units.
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