Meet the Featured Presenters
More presenters will be added soon.
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David AuldExecutive Chairman, D.R. Horton
Mr. Auld is Executive Chairman of D.R. Horton, a position he has held since May 2024. Previously, Mr. Auld was Executive Vice Chair from October 2023 to May 2024. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of D.R. Horton from October 2014 to October 2023. Mr. Auld was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2013 until October 2014. He was East Region President from 2005 to 2013. He joined D.R. Horton in 1988 as Division President of the Company’s Orlando division. Prior to 1988, he worked for Texas American Bank and General Dynamics. Mr. Auld received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Tech University in 1978.
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Debra Cafaro
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ventas Inc.
Debra A. Cafaro is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Ventas, Inc., an S&P 500 company and leading real estate investment trust operating at the intersection of healthcare and real estate. Ventas owns approximately 1400 properties, serving a large and growing aging population.
A recognized industry leader, Cafaro set and oversaw the execution of a long-term strategy that drove Ventas’s market capitalization to $28 billion in 2019, from $200 million since her leadership began in 1999. The Company’s compound annual total shareholder return (TSR) has approximated 18 percent for the 24 years ended December 31, 2023.
Widely acclaimed for her strategic vision and enduring business success, Cafaro has received multiple professional recognitions. Cafaro has been twice named one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (Forbes Magazine), a list of global political, media, entertainment and business leaders; a Top 100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World for six consecutive years (Harvard Business Review); and the top female executive in the commercial real estate industry (National Real Estate Investor). She has also been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare six times (Modern Healthcare); highlighted in The 70 Elite real estate executives who shaped the industry for the past 70 years (Real Estate Forum); and selected multiple times to the Top 25 Women in Healthcare (Modern Healthcare) and the All-America Executive Team (Institutional Investor). Cafaro was named a Top 50 Woman in World Business (Financial Times), one of the Bankable 21 CEOs in Jim Cramer’s book Get Rich Carefully and one of nine Game-Changers in commercial real estate since 2000 (GlobeSt.com). To honor her contributions, she has received the Order of Lincoln, Illinois’ highest honor for professional achievement and public service, the Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership from Women Corporate Directors, the only global membership organization of women corporate directors, and the Industry Leadership Award from Nareit.
In addition to her work at Ventas, Cafaro is broadly engaged across business, public policy, academic, sports and non-profit sectors. Cafaro is a past Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable, a public policy organization that brings together leaders of the nation’s top real estate firms on key national policy issues; Nareit, the worldwide voice for listed real estate companies; and the Economic Club of Chicago. She serves on the Boards of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), The University of Chicago and the Civic Committee and Commercial Club of Chicago. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Harvard Kennedy School Taubman Center for State and Local Government and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the Business Council. Cafaro is an owner of the MLB Baltimore Orioles,the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins and the NWSL Chicago Red Stars.
Cafaro is deeply committed to creating opportunities through education and established the Cafaro Scholars program at the University of Chicago Law School. The program provides full scholarships to students with outstanding potential whose parents did not attend college. More than 20 students, many of them diverse, have been recipients of Cafaro scholarships.
Before joining Ventas, Cafaro was President of an NYSE-listed apartment company, a practicing lawyer and a U.S. Court of Appeals judicial clerk. She received her J.D. cum laude from the University of Chicago Law School, where she was named its 2011 Distinguished Alumna, and her B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame. She is married and has two children.
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Salumeh (Sal) Companieh
Chief Digital and Information Officer, Cushman & Wakefield
Salumeh (Sal) Companieh serves as the Chief Digital and Information Officer at Cushman & Wakefield, where she plays a pivotal role in reshaping the organization’s digital and data trajectory. In her role, Sal is responsible for leveraging technology to transform Cushman & Wakefield into a data-driven organization that provides unparalleled service to both real estate investors and tenants.
Sal is at the forefront of embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to revolutionize the real estate industry. Under her leadership, Cushman & Wakefield uses an aggregation of the best market data intersected with proprietary data sets to help clients solve their most complex real estate opportunities. These advancements have positioned the business to focus on digital enablement and market differentiating insights at their fingertips, further extending Cushman & Wakefield’s leadership in the market.
Sal is a vocal change advocate and thought leader, dedicated to diversity and inclusion. She is a results-driven transformational innovator with over 20 years of experience in delivering global, multi-discipline, enterprise-scale and sustainable solutions. An authentic people leader, Sal has a proven track record of creating and fostering diverse, high-performing cross-functional teams across the globe, enabling organizations to thrive through digital innovation while elevating data maturity.
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John CrossmanPresident, CrossMarc Services
John Crossman is one of the most well-known and respected real estate minds in the country. John is the founder and president of CrossMarc Services, where he and his team provide real estate investment, advisory, and brokerage services. In 2022, CrossMarc Services purchased three properties totaling over $50 million in value. In 2023, CrossMarc Services began a redevelopment of Publix Anchored and announced the development of a high street project in Winter Park. The company has now completed over $70,000,000 in acquisitions and has over $100,000,000 of active real estate developments. The company also represents 40 corporations for tenant rep services.
John works closely with Dr. Josh Harris on real estate advisory services, where they are known for the implementation of innovation in navigating real estate projects, real estate deals, and real estate careers in need of change. Advisory clients include Publix, The Villages, ULI, and several family offices. John has held numerous leadership positions with ICSC, NAIOP, and ULI. Multiple CrossMarc Services team members currently hold positions and are actively involved.
Over his career, John has completed over $1,000,000,000 in retail investment sales across the US and has built and overseen a 300-shopping center third-party retail portfolio. John is an active speaker and writer on a national scale, and he has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, Associated Press, Shopping Centers Today, Shopping Center Business, The Business Journals, and CBS News. John has also been named one of Florida Trend’s Top 500 Most Influential Business Leaders.
John is passionate about diversity and education, and he serves as a Board of Trustee member for both Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University. He previously served as a Trustee at Valencia College and was a 12-time appointee to the US Military Academy Appointment Board. Alongside his passion for diversity, John is also passionate about mental health awareness and the development of young professionals and college students, which led to the development of Crossman Career Builders. As a part of his goal to have an impact in the workplace on challenging topics like race, mental health, and education, he hosts two podcasts: The Crossman Conversation and The Crossman Conversation: CEO Edition. The CEO Edition is sponsored by CrossMarc Services. He also actively supports various suicide prevention efforts through personal efforts, as well as efforts through both CrossMarc Services and Crossman Career Builders. Crossman Career Builders has 11 scholarships at seven universities, including the first-ever real estate endowed scholarships at Florida A&M University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Jackson State University. He is the author of the award-winning book, Career Killers, Career Builders.
John earned his Bachelor of Science in Real Estate from Florida State University and was named an Honorary Alumnus by the University of Florida. In 2013, he was inducted into the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame and was the youngest member ever inducted.
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Andrea DrasitesSenior Managing Director, Blackstone
Andrea Drasites is a Senior Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at Blackstone. She is involved in the asset management and oversight of Blackstone’s retail, gaming, digital infrastructure, and tradeshow investments in the US including ShopCore, Edens, QTS, Phoenix Towers and International Market Centers.
Prior to joining Blackstone, Ms. Drasites was responsible for asset management, acquisitions, and dispositions at Equity One, Inc., She began her real estate career at Woolbright Development. Ms. Drasites received a BA in International Business from Rollins College and an MBA from the University of Florida with honors. Ms. Drasites is active in the Blackstone Diversity & Inclusion and Task Force and is a member of the University of Florida’s Real Estate Advisory Board, as well as the International Council of Shopping Centers Board of Trustees and Executive Board. She is a founding member and sits on the Board of Core Giving.
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Mark LampingPresident, Jacksonville Jaguars
Mark Lamping was named president of the Jacksonville Jaguars on February 13, 2012. Now in his 31st year as an executive in professional sports, Lamping became the Jaguars’ first president since the end of the 1996 season, and currently serves on the NFL Stadium Security and Fan Behavior Committee.
Lamping’s career highlights include 13 years as a marketing executive with Anheuser-Busch, 14 seasons as president of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals and four years as CEO of New Meadowlands Stadium Company, where he oversaw the construction and operation of MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL. The Giants’ 2012 Super Bowl victory enabled Lamping to become one of the few sports executives to have received both a Super Bowl ring and World Series Championship ring. Lamping earned his World Series ring as president of the St. Louis Cardinals following their 2006 championship season.
As president of the Jaguars, Lamping oversees all team business operations in addition to managing other initiatives driven by team owner Shad Khan. Examples of Lamping’s business impact include the team’s vast investment in London and the United Kingdom, the creation of Bold Events and 1st DownTown Jacksonville, and the highly anticipated Jacksonville Shipyards development that will feature a Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville, a modernized public marina, a six-story office building, a restored Met Park and much more that will create hundreds of new jobs, generate vital tourism revenue and spark additional opportunities for emerging local businesses. Lamping is also representing the Jaguars in working with the City of Jacksonville on the proposed Stadium of the Future that will serve the team, Downtown Jacksonville and the entire North Florida region for generations to come.
Under Lamping’s direction and in partnership with the city, the Jaguars opened the Miller Electric Center in 2023 to serve as the new cutting-edge home for all Jaguars football operations. Lamping has also overseen many major fan-friendly enhancements to EverBank Stadium, including the installation of the world’s largest video boards in 2014, a comprehensive renovations of Stadium Club areas, the construction of the 5,500-seat Daily’s Place amphitheater and numerous other amenities that have helped to transform and keep the stadium relevant for today’s sports and entertainment fan.
In 2013, Lamping was named as a non-executive board member of Fulham Football Club in London, Khan’s Premier League club.
Lamping previously served as president and CEO of the New Meadowlands Stadium Company, LLC, beginning in 2008. The New Meadowlands Stadium Company was the joint venture formed between the New York Giants and the New York Jets to develop the $1.6 billion stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Lamping was responsible for managing the construction, sales, marketing and operation of MetLife Stadium, which opened in April 2010. In addition to numerous awards, in both 2010 and 2011, Billboard magazine named MetLife Stadium as the highest grossing stadium in North America. Lamping also helped lead the successful bid to host the 2014 Super Bowl, which was the first Super Bowl played in an open-air stadium in a cold weather city.
Lamping was the president of the St. Louis Cardinals for 14 years, from September 1, 1994, until March 31, 2008. In addition to the club’s 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005 Central Division titles and 2004 National League Championship, the Cardinals earned their 10th World Championship in 2006. In 1999 and again in 2003, the Cardinals were honored by United Sports Fans of America as Major League Baseball’s Fan Friendly Team for their superior efforts to make a day at the ballpark more affordable and enjoyable. In addition to managing the club’s business and facility operations, Lamping led the Cardinals’ new ballpark initiative, and on April 10, 2006, the Cardinals officially dedicated the new ballpark, Busch Stadium. The perfect ending to the
inaugural season at new Busch Stadium came in October with the Cardinals winning their 10th World Championship.
From 1989 to 1994 Lamping served as Anheuser-Busch’s group director of sports marketing. In that position, he managed all domestic and international sports marketing activities for Anheuser-Busch’s beer brands, including sponsorship agreements with the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and all major professional sports, including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association. Lamping also oversaw Bud Sports Productions, Anheuser-Busch’s television and radio sports production company.
Lamping joined Anheuser-Busch in 1981 in the company’s Corporate Planning Executive Development Program. He then served in a variety of positions including district sales manager in Southern Illinois and Central Iowa, senior brand manager for new products and director of sales operations before being named group director of sports marketing in 1989.
Lamping currently serves on the boards of directors of the American Cancer Society CEOs Against Cancer, Jacksonville Civic Council, JAXUSA Policy Council, and Special Olympics Florida Advisory Council. In 2015, Lamping was honored as Community Champion by the North Florida Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and received Community Connections’ Florence N. Davis Award for Community Achievement. In addition, in 2017 Lamping was inducted into the First Coast Business Hall of Fame and received the Living and Giving Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2021, Lamping was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his career accomplishments as a sport and marketing executive. And in 2022 he received the distinguished American Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
While in St. Louis, Lamping was involved in a variety of charitable organizations, including board of directors, Habitat for Humanity and St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund; chairperson of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Golf Classic in 1997, 1998, and 1999; chairman of the St. Louis Archdiocese Catholic Charities 2000 and 2001 Christmas Appeal and he also served as a chairperson for Pope John Paul’s 1999 visit to St. Louis.
In 1998, Lamping was also honored in St. Louis as Man of the Year by the local chapter of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Resources and received the James O’Flynn Award from St. Patrick’s Center in recognition of his work to help the homeless in the St. Louis area. In addition, Lamping was the recipient of the Catholic Youth Council 2000 Community Achievement Award and the 2001 Marianist Youth Medal. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of St. Louis honored Lamping with its 2001 Legacy Award. In 2006 Lamping was presented the Gateway Leadership Award from the International Leadership Network. Lamping has been inducted into the Vianney High School Hall of Fame and was named 2000 Alumnus of the Year for outstanding achievement by Rockhurst University.
A St. Louis native, Lamping holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, and a master’s degree in business administration from Saint Louis University. Mark and his wife Cheryl have three children, Brian, Lauren, and Timothy, and eight grandchildren.
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Ray QuartararoHead of Global Planning, Design & Construction Global Real Estate, JPMorgan Chase & Co
Raymond Quartararo is the Head of Global Planning, Design & Construction within Global Real Estate at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and is responsible for the firm’s global capital project execution. In this capacity, he oversees a global team responsible for executing retail, corporate and mission critical projects valued at $3B annually. Overseeing more than 600 professionals, the team delivers new buildings and campuses across the globe.
Quartararo oversees JPMC’s global design business, responsible for developing the firm’s workplace strategy and design standards. The team has launched innovative designs for retail branches, lounges, client conference centers and specialty spaces. Integrating multiple design technologies and intelligent solutions, nearly 30,000 seats are upgraded each year. Quartararo has overseen projects throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Quartararo was a Vice Chairman and International Director at Jones Lang LaSalle. In that role, he managed the firm’s sales strategy and business development efforts in the New York Tri-state region. He also served as the president of Jones Lang LaSalle’s regional Project and Development Services group, one of New York’s leading project management and development resources. In that capacity, he oversaw a team of almost 300 project management professionals responsible for more than 10 million square feet of project management assignments valued at $4 billion in construction spend. Mr. Quartararo was directly involved in such iconic projects as the construction of Bank of America’s new New York headquarters at One Bryant Park, the renovations of the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden, and projects including Time Warner’s headquarters at Columbus Circle and Ernst & Young’s headquarters at 5 Times Square.
Mr. Quartararo was the founder and president of Quartararo & Associates, Inc., New York’s leading independent project and development management firm. He is a graduate of New York University Stern School of Business and Tufts University and resides in Rye, NY with his wife Lynn and their two sons. He takes an active role in a number of industry and philanthropic organizations including the James Lenox House, serves on the Board of the New York Building Congress, and Chair Emeritus of the Greater New York Councils of Boy Scouts.
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William “Woody” RayburnVice President of Real Estate Assets, Publix
Mr. Rayburn is responsible for overseeing acquisition, and redevelopment of Publix-controlled retail real estate along with the leasing, management and maintenance of all of Publix’s company-controlled real estate. Mr. Rayburn also oversees all of Publix’s Lease Administration and Compliance functions. The R/E Assets team also provides guidance and direction regarding new developments to be added to the R/E portfolio.
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Jean Twenge
Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University
Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, is the author of more than 190 scientific publications and seven books, including Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future and iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.
Dr. Twenge frequently gives talks and seminars on generational differences based on a dataset of 39 million people. Her audiences have included college faculty and staff, high school teachers, parents, military personnel, camp directors, and corporate executives. Her research has been covered in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, and The Washington Post, and she has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Fox and Friends, NBC Nightly News, Real Time with Bill Maher, and National Public Radio.
She holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She publishes her latest analyses and updates on the Generation Tech substack.
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