POWER CONNECTIONS

Saber is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Wireless Vision. Wireless Vision is a family owned business established in 2004 and is T-Mobile’s largest branded partner in the country with over 450 locations in 30 states. He has more than 35 years of operating experience in multi-unit retail. His entrepreneurial drive has led him to start and invest several businesses, most of them retail oriented. Saber serves on multiple private boards and is an operating partner for Gauge Capital. Through Saber’s family office, Ammori Equity Partners recently has made a purchase in the Car wash business with the acquisition of 19 Zax Locations.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Northwood University and a Master’s Degree in Management from Walsh College.

Workforce: More than 4,000

Community Involvement: Saber is active in many community give back partnerships and finds his passion in mentoring and leadership programs.

Downtime: He enjoys spending time with his wife, Jeanine and their five boys.

Don Barnes III is the transformative president and “Chief Tire Guy” at Belle Tire, guiding the company to significant growth since joining in 2008. With over 15 years of experience, his expertise spans operations, finance, sales, marketing, and business development. Under his leadership, Belle Tire has expanded to over 180 locations across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, becoming Michigan’s largest tire dealer and ranking 9th in the nation. Don’s dynamic leadership style is marked by high energy and collaboration, resulting in teams that consistently deliver top-tier results. His strategic vision has not only propelled Belle Tire’s market expansion but also enhanced its suite of auto services. Holding an MBA and BBA in Marketing from Michigan State University, Don’s academic background complements his extensive professional achievements, making him a key figure in the automotive service industry’s landscape.

Richard Barr focuses his practice on environmental, economic development, real estate, and business law. He possesses significant knowledge regarding the redevelopment of contaminatedand obsolete sites by utilizing federal, state, and local incentives.

 Facilitates brownfield development in the presence of environmental roadblocks

 Structures complex brownfield plans, including multiple, layered state and local incentives

 Identifies and pursues tax abatements and other incentives for companies located in Detroit and other communities

 Facilitates site selection and incentives packages for multinational companies seeking Michigan headquarters locations

 Assists clients on development and zoning issues

 Participates in Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy stakeholder groups and outreach efforts

Sam Beznos oversees all management, asset management, development, construction and rehabilitation of existing apartment and retail portfolios throughout the country, as well as all new acquisitions and development opportunities for Beztak.  He specializes in land development, property rezoning and finance, strategic planning,  and risk evaluation.  He is experienced in financial modeling and valuation analysis, with a Master of Science in Real Estate with Distinction from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from University of Michigan.  Beznos is a licensed real estate broker in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Brian Calley is a collaborative leader who combines the skills from an accomplished private sector career with an extensive record of public service and a reputation for getting things done. He is passionate about making the world work better for all people and uses an inclusive problem-solving approach to make a difference. 

As President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Brian is able to put his passion for Michigan’s small businesses to work. He serves as a director of a publicly traded community bank, and as a Trustee of Oakland University. Additionally, he sits on various boards, including Special Olympics Michigan, Sparrow Health System, Disability Rights Michigan, and the Autism Alliance of Michigan.

Calley had the honor of serving as Michigan’s 63rd Lieutenant Governor from 2011-2018. Prior to that, Calley served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives, two terms as an Ionia County commissioner and worked for over a decade in community banking. He holds a BA from Michigan State University, an MBA from Grand Valley State University and an MPA from Harvard University. 

Calley is an avid runner, having completed more than a dozen full marathons and a capable piano player. He and his wife Julie live in Portland with their three children: Collin, Reagan and Karagan. 

Mary Culler is president of Ford Motor Company Fund, a role she assumed Jan. 1, 2020, overseeing the company’s philanthropic investments through community partnerships and programming in more than 40 countries. She is also the Chair for Ford’s Michigan Central Station project, overseeing the strategic direction of the historic train station redevelopment and other Ford properties in Corktown. 

Prior to these roles, Culler served as Bill Ford’s chief of staff for eight years. She was also the director of U.S. State and Local Government Relations where she managed Ford’s engagement with policymakers nationwide on a wide range of automotive and community issues. Her team also negotiated investment and job creation incentives in Ford plant states. 

Other positions at Ford included managing Ford’s North Central Region’s Government Relations Office in Chicago, Illinois, where she spearheaded the company’s Operation Better World community and dealer relations efforts. She also led Ford’s Global Public Policy office in Dearborn, Michigan, managing the development of key company policies and positions. 

Prior to joining Ford in 1999, Culler worked for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley as manager of the city’s Industrial Development Program. In that capacity, she worked with businesses on economic development and job creation initiatives. 

Culler also held several positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., including deputy director of the National Brownfields program where she launched the national program to remove regulatory barriers regarding the cleanup of abandoned industrial properties. She also worked in the U.S. Senate on energy and natural resource issues for the Chair of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee. 

Culler holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. She lives in Birmingham, Michigan, with her husband, Andy Norman, and their three children. 

Brandon Chesnutt serves as partner and vice president of digital strategy and development at Identity, a national public relations, marketing and creative agency based in Birmingham, MI. For nearly 20 years, he has counseled hundreds of organizations on how to capitalize on important brand moments, generate positive visibility and protect their reputations. Brandon has also led public relations and digital marketing programs on behalf of the largest companies, portfolios and destinations in real estate development, property management and investment, including Easton Town Center, Nationwide Realty Investors, Store Space Self Storage, ElmTree Funds and JLL.

Brandon is a frequent speaker and panelist at communications conferences around the country and has shared the stage with marketing leaders from VISA, Applebee’s, Nestle Purina, the
Washington Commanders, GoDaddy, IMAX, Lockheed Martin and many more. Most recently, he was a featured speaker at the inaugural PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference in Washington D.C. and at the first full-day crisis communications bootcamp hosted at PRSA ICON, the largest gathering of public relations professionals in the world.

Dick DeVos is a global business leader, public policy advocate, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader, spending his career working in a variety of executive and board positions at Amway, the Orlando Magic, and the Windquest Group, a Michigan-based, privately held investment management firm. Mr. DeVos is a leader in public policy, advocating for policy rooted in free-market capitalism, individual freedom, and opportunity. He was Michigan’s Republican candidate for governor in 2006. He has also served in a wide range of community leadership roles and initiatives, including as co-chair of Grand Action, helping lead Grand Rapids–area downtown revitalization. Additionally, he is a leader in the education freedom movement, has served on the Michigan State Board of Education, and is the founder and board president of the West Michigan Aviation Academy. He currently serves on the boards of AEI and the West Michigan Policy Forum.

Mike Duggan is the 75th mayor of the City of Detroit.  He has been in office since January 2014 and currently is serving his third four-year term, which will expire at the end of 2025. Born in Detroit, Duggan has spent his entire career working in the city to solve some of the most complex issues facing Detroiters, including crime, blight, transportation, health care and access to jobs.

When he was first elected, Detroit was in the midst of bankruptcy and could not deliver the most basic services due to broken processes and loss of tax base. It also was faced with more than 40,000 abandoned homes dragging down neighborhoods.  Under Mayor Duggan’s leadership so far, 35,000 of the vacant homes have been removed or renovated, City services are reliable, and the City’s strong financial stewardship has brought the City’s credit rating to within one notch of investment grade.  

In recent years, the Mayor’s success in landing major employers, such as Stellantis’ new Jeep assembly -plant, GM’s Factory Zero, Ford’s Michigan Central campus and a new 4-million-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center, helped drive down Detroit’s unemployment rate to its lowest level (4.8%) in recorded history.  Through Duggan’s workforce development program, Detroit At Work, and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, Detroiters now have access to $100 million in job readiness programs to help make them eligible for the abundant job opportunities in the city.

In his third term, Mayor Duggan has shifted the City’s focus from removing blight to creating beauty through more than 160 renovated parks, hundreds of City-sponsored public murals and the conversion of miles of largely abandoned railroad lines as part of the 26-mile recreational loop, the Joe Louis Greenway.  

Mayor Duggan married Dr. Sonia Hassan in 2021 and has four adult children.

Jill Ferrari has 27 years of experience in urban redevelopment.  Her background includes private real estate acquisition and development, legal practice, consulting, and community development. In 2019, Jill co-founded Renovare Development, a majority woman-owned commercial real estate development company focused on transformational projects that serve a deep community need, currently with over 100 million in the development pipeline. Renovare Development was named one of the “Top 20 Entrepreneurs Disrupting their Industry in 2023” by Disruptors Magazine. Jill is the current Chair of Mission Advancement for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Michigan District Council, where she co-founded the Women’s Leadership Initiative and the Young Leader Group. Jill was nominated for the DBusiness Commercial Real Estate Awards “Pioneer Award” in 2023. She was named a Crain’s Detroit “Notable Executive in Real Estate” in 2021, a GlobeST Magazine “Woman of Influence” in 2021, a 2017 “Woman of Distinction” by the Wayne State University Council on the Status of Women and a 2016 winner of the Melvin Simon Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation.  She is a founding board member of the Women’s Sustainable Development Initiative, supporting emerging women developers.

Terri serves as Senior Real Estate Advisor for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, leading site readiness efforts for the State of Michigan.  Terri brings more than 35 years of corporate, tribal and public sector commercial real estate experience to the MEDC, including 6 years as Real Estate Director for the State of Michigan, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, 10 years as Real Estate Director for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and VP of Development for Greektown Casino, and earlier work as a commercial appraiser.  Prior to joining the MEDC in 2021, Terri served for 8 years as COO and VP of Development for a boutique real estate firm specializing in private-public partnerships, where she led organizational development, marketing, public relations, proposal development, facilities and construction teams, and development projects.  Throughout her tenure she has served as expert witness for the State of Michigan on real estate transactions and presented before various legislative and governmental bodies.  Terri has received various awards and recognitions throughout her career, and In 2019, she was a named  “Notable Women in Real Estate” by Crains Detroit Business.

Charles E. Gleeson II 

President/CEO, 

C.E. Gleeson Constructors, Inc.

Charles E. Gleeson II is the President and CEO of C.E. Gleeson Constructors, Inc. Gleeson is a General Contractor, Construction Manager, and Design Build Contractor serving over 39 states. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan with offices in Austin, Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Lake Worth, Florida, C.E. Gleeson is continuously expanding. 

The Gleeson family began their legacy in the construction industry in 1924 when Clarence Gleeson, grandfather of Charles Gleeson II, founded the contracting company. Charles Gleeson II re-branded the company that is today, Gleeson Constructors, Inc.  From building over 162 LA Fitness Centers Nation-wide along with 45 million square feet of retail, to building over 5 million square feet of industrial big box space for companies like Magna Seating & BorgWarner, Gleeson has you covered across the board. 

Charles is an active member of ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and was a keynote speaker for Big Box Construction. Charles was also honored by Crain’s Detroit Business “Forty under Forty”. Aside from his professional role, Charles is a proud father of four, Charles III, Connor, Cameron, and Caroline. He also carries a great passion for giving back to the community. From Make-a-Wish Foundation, Rainbow Connection, Angel’s Place, Mott Children’s Hospital to sponsoring Lacrosse, Hockey, and Golf Teams, Charles has and will continue to make an impact on the community. 

Adam has 24 years of experience, closing more than $1.9 billion of

commercial real estate and corporate debt transactions. He manages

the origination of commercial and multifamily real estate

financing in Detroit and throughout the Great Lakes Region. He is a

seasoned deal team leader with an excellent track record working

with a wide range of lenders including HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie

Mac, Life Insurance Companies, and CMBS lenders. He has

extensive experience with all types of commercial real estate assets,

including multifamily, retail, industrial, office, self-storage, and hospitality.

Prior to joining Bellwether Enterprise, Gould served as associate

director of originations at Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. in

Southfield, MI and previously as vice president of Commercial Real

Estate for Equiventure Capital in New York City; at both firms he was

a deal team leader responsible for originating, underwriting, and

closing commercial real estate lending transactions. He has also

held senior leadership positions at firms in Chicago such as United

Financial, BMO Capital Markets, and CapitalSource.  

A family owned and operated company since 1973, Singh Development is a nationally ranked builder and developer that actively develops, builds, and manages real estate throughout Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia. Singh’s diverse portfolio includes residential apartments and townhomes, senior living communities branded under the Waltonwood name, single family homes and subdivisions, commercial real estate, and golf. The company continues to pride itself on its thoughtfully conceived developments, innovative design and planning, quality construction, hands-on management, and excellent customer service.

In the last 18 months, Singh has opened two Waltonwood Senior Living communities in Ashburn, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina, respectively. Locally, Singh is actively building a mix of single family homes and apartments in Novi, South Lyon, Canton, and Royal Oak. For the first time in over 13 years, the company has two new multifamily developments under construction in Michigan, Park West in Canton and The Griffin in Royal Oak. The future continues to look bright for Singh, with several other projects in the pipeline both in Michigan and out of state.

Scope of Service Experience:

Andrew (Andy) L. Gutman, President of Farbman Group

and related companies, oversees the myriad of Farbman

companies including those he created, its > 25,000,000 rsf

of commercial real estate and its 200 + employees. Andy

worked for much of his career in the arenas of Accounting,

Finance and Asset Management and previously held the

title of Chief Financial Officer. He has spent over 27 years

in commercial real estate working for international and

family owned, multi- generational commercial real estate

companies.

Background & Experience:

Andy has financed and overseen assets in excess of

billions of dollars and has been an active part of the

structuring of the ownership and financing of these assets.

With a focus on client service, customer satisfaction

and maximizing asset value, he derives pleasure from

problem solving and finding opportunities that provide

appreciated value, additional revenue and cost savings

for the organization and its client. Andy Gutman cares

about people, processes, community and is committed to

the corporate vision of operating with ethics and integrity

while cultivating a culture of inclusion, diversity and team

play.

Education:

Michigan State University, B.A. Accounting

Music and Books:

Andy is a song writer and an author. He has licensed

numerous songs for commercial use and is the proud

author of five (7) Children’s Books that include: Charlie the

Caterpillar, Pop Lullaby, Even, Charlie the Caterpillar: What

can I be Today, and Be Kind, Life Lessons from Brilliant

Detroit, and Fish Bowl. Four of these books are winners of

the prestigious Purple Dragonfly Book Awards. Andy is a

member of Children’s Book Council, the Society of Children’s

Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Children’s Literature

Association.

John Hindo serves as President of Boji Group. With more than several decades of experience as a private practice attorney with a concentration on real estate and commercial transactions, John applies his considerable knowledge and background toward representing clients in all facets of business and real estate including real estate development, leasing, drafting and negotiating buy-sell agreements, corporate formation and securing financing.

Also, a licensed real estate broker, John’s extensive legal expertise in private-public partnerships, as well as municipal and corporate transaction structures, provide an ideal fit for the mission of Boji Group to create a bridge between private and public entities to better achieve project goals and outcomes. Serving appointments to the Wayne County Building Authority Board of Directors, the Commerce Township Board of Trustees and Commerce Township Planning Commission has provided John with a unique perspective on the benefits and storied achievements that private-public partnerships in development can provide to a community. He specializes in highly complex transactions, effectively communicating and achieving client goals.

Outside of Boji Group, John is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Chaldean American Bar Association, Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, and Metropolitan Consolidated Association of Realtors.

John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Wayne State University in 2000 and was awarded a Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy Law School in 2003. He is admitted to practice in the State Courts of Michigan and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan.

Frank Jarbou, Principal and Partner at Ronnisch

Construction Group, boasts over two decades of

extensive experience as a highly esteemed commercial

real estate developer and property manager. His

expertise spans the acquisition, development,

management, and leasing of commercial properties.

Renowned for his innovative vision in new

development, redevelopment, and distressed projects,

Frank has cultivated unparalleled relationships with

brokers, tenants, general contractors, and civic

associations.

At Ronnisch, Frank contributes exceptional skills in real

estate development and a sharp business acumen. His

responsibilities encompass Business Development,

Marketing, and overall operations. Beyond his role at

Ronnisch, Frank remains actively engaged with various

businesses he owns and operates, many of which have

served as robust clients for Ronnisch over several years.

Frank brings a distinct and valuable perspective to our

operations, drawing from his rich experience in real

estate development. His comprehensive knowledge of

the development process proves instrumental in

guiding and assisting our clients with their construction

and development plans.

A forward-thinking leader, Frank injects energy into our

growth plans. His investments and extensive network of

relationships are pivotal in driving continued expansion.

As a key member of the Leadership Team, Frank stands

as a formidable asset to the success and progression of

Ronnisch Construction Group.

Kevin D. Johnson, the President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) since June 2018, leads the city’s inclusive economic development initiatives. Under his leadership, the DEGC focuses on job creation, capital investment, and small business growth, with access, inclusion, and financial growth for all Detroiters at its core. Johnson’s extensive economic development experience spans various states, including his recent role in bringing Stellantis’ $4.5 billion investment to Detroit. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Pre-Law from South Carolina State University and a Certified Economic Developer designation from the International Economic Development Council.

R.J. King is editor of DBusiness magazine, DBusiness Daily News, Hustle and Muscle, and Detroit 500, all of which cover companies in metro Detroit and Michigan that are expanding locally, nationally, and internationally. Mr. King is the author of six books — “Taboo;” “Grounds for Freedom: Saving Chernobyl,” a silver medal recipient of the Midwest Book Awards; “Detroit: Engine of America,” a gold medal recipient of the Midwest Book Awards; “8 Track: The First Mobile App;” “Passport to the Corner Office: The Starter’s Guide to Corporate Life;” and “Mystical.” He also own the publishing company, Written in Detroit. Since 2011, DBusiness magazine has been honored with more than 65 Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in the Editorial Excellence Awards from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers, including being named the top regional business magazine in the country. Prior to launching DBusiness in 2006, Mr. King was a business writer for The Detroit News for 16 years, where he wrote more than 4,000 articles covering economic development, automotive, aerospace, health care, technology, and more. Mr. King is a board member of Beyond Basics, Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Detroit Aircraft Corp., Detroit Spacecraft Corp., and ASX. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees for The Parade Co. and Detroit Sessions. He is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, and on the board of the DAC Executives Club and the DAC Car Club. Named a Knight of Woodward, he lives in the Boston-Edison Historic District and is a member of the University of Michigan Alumni Association. In 2014, Mr. King was inducted into the International Heritage Foundation’s Heritage Hall of Fame (youngest recipient).

Andrew Kuhn is the Founder and CEO of Sunrise Communities, a privately held multi-family real estate investment and management company that acquires and operates value-add multi-family apartment communities in the Great Lakes region. He has built a vertically integrated multi-family investment platform that acquires, redevelops, manages, and provides a safe place to live and sense of community for families across the region.

He is a licensed Broker in the state of Michigan with 18 years of experience and has been a principal in over 1,100+ units to date (150+ Houses & 1,000+ Apartment Units).  His experience spans a range of projects, from stick-built and modular ground-up construction to traditional and historic renovations. In the management space, Andrew has started to become known for his “turnaround” ability and strategy of managing assets using a specialized/centralized model and operating “for owners by owners”.

Andrew is also the current President of the Apartment Association of Michigan (AAM) advocating for the property rights of the multifamily industry in Michigan as well as serving as the current President of the Detroit Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and Co-Chairman of the EO XCentric Regional Conference. He is also a member of the Detroit Developer Roundtable, Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Front Row Dads.  

All of the above is just a sidenote to his true passion as a devoted family man, married to his wife Nicole for 11 years and a proud dad of 2 daughters. With what little time left, Andrew enjoys downhill skiing with his family, mountain biking and traveling.

Matthew B. Lester graduated from the University of Michigan in 1987 with a bachelor degree and in 1990 obtained a law degree from the University of Southern California.

In 1994, Mr. Lester established Princeton Enterprises, a privately held real estate investment company based in Southfield, Michigan that owns and operates an investment portfolio consisting of multifamily housing, storage, light industrial, and other commercial facilities located throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Mr. Lester and his various partners have acquired over 200 properties with an aggregate value of $1 billion.

Princeton employs nearly 800 people and has expertise in real estate acquisitions, development, property management, construction, and maintenance. As chief executive officer, Mr. Lester oversees the company and is responsible for the management of each property. He is involved in the daily responsibilities of property management and employs an experienced and talented staff responsible for executing the strategic vision of the company.

Corey Levin focuses his practice in the areas of economic and real estate development incentives, business incentives and credits and sustainability/clean energy tax credits. He advises clients on a range of incentives and government funding programs, with a concentration in brownfield redevelopment and property tax incentives. His background in law, tax and urban planning enables Corey to successfully navigate complex processes to obtain incentives, develop strategies to facilitate development projects and create equitable partnerships for his clients.

His experience includes providing economic development advisory services to clients related to downtown development, infrastructure and other projects contemplating complex financing structures and tax initiatives. He also advises clients on technical aspects of federal programs including Opportunity Zones and New Markets Tax Credits. He has managed projects across sectors and industries through real estate due diligence, site selection, incentives pursuits and compliance, M&A diligence, incentive agreement negotiations and economic impact modeling.

Dannis Mitchell is a commercial real estate and construction executive with more than 20 years of experience in business strategy, marketing and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As Sr. Director of Client & Community Engagement, Dannis supports Barton Malow in securing new business, while also overseeing a national team of supplier diversity, workforce inclusion and community outreach professionals. Her expertise in commercial acquisitions, joint ventures and development allows her to work with clients across 9 states on multi-billion-dollar projects.

Dannis is a University of Michigan graduate and licensed commercial real estate advisor. She has received numerous recognitions including Crain’s Detroit 40 under 40 and Notable Women in Construction, Architecture and Design. She has also been recognized by the Michigan Chronicle and received the Detroit Free Press Dave Bing Shining Light Award. Additionally, Dannis has completed the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program(YALP) and Cinnaire WE Build Real Estate Development Program.

Akram Namou is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Namou Hotel Group. Namou Hotel Group owns, operates, and manages a portfolio of hotels that span across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. His expertise and strategic vision has grown the company from one hotel to being the largest private company in the Midwest. Namou was born in Iraq and he studied there as well as in England. He came to Detroit, MI in 1980 and began his career in accounting as a Certified Public Accountant and is still the principal of Elite CPA Group, PLLC. in Madison Heights, which was established in1984. He purchased his first hotel in 1992 and currently has relationships with many brands including Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Wyndham among many others. He has been listed in DBusiness Detroit Magazine as one of the most powerful leaders for the past five years, among many other accolades. Namou has always emphasized the importance of faith, family, and education and lives his life according to prioritizing these and instilling them in his own family. Three of his four children are actively involved in the company. In his free time he like to travel with his wife, Azhar and spend time with his four children, Chanelle, Shawn, Darron (Dina) and Desiree and especially with his two grandchildren, Daniel and Isaac.

Lowell Salesin is the Co- Chair of the Real Estate department and a member of the Board of Directors. He represents some of the industry’s leading REITs and private developers in their respective market sectors. Lowell has more than 27 years of experience representing retail, office, multi-family, manufactured housing, hospitality, parking, self-storage, and senior housing developers and operators in acquisitions, financing, construction, development, leasing, and loan workout transactions related to properties spanning across the United States. Lowell has extensive experience in representing private equity investors in real estate joint venture and fund formations
and in equity and debt investments and regularly representing both borrowers and lenders in all types of financing transactions, including CMBS and agency loan transactions. His representations include portfolio acquisitions, joint ventures, property-level secured financing, multiple property credit facilities, corporate level unsecured financings, private placements, and loan workouts.

David W. Schostak, Chief Executive Officer of Schostak Brothers, is a 1978 graduate of the University of Michigan and a 1982 graduate of Wayne State University Law School.

David has over forty years’ experience in all aspects of real estate development and finance.  He has been responsible for over $1 billion of development, re-development, financing and re-financing of the Company’s portfolio properties.  As Chief Executive Officer of the Company, David directly oversees the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President of Schostak Development Company and the Managing Director of the Schostak Family Office.

The family portfolio includes shopping centers, office buildings, industrial buildings, land development, and mixed-use developments and over time has included over 100 properties in 25 states. The companion family company, Team Schostak Family Restaurants, has approximately 152 restaurants made up of Applebee’s, Wendy’s, Olga’s and MOD Pizza, all in the State of Michigan.

David is a member of the Michigan Bar Association and a licensed Real Estate Broker. He is also a member of the Investment Committee for Invest Detroit. Previously he has served on the Board of Directors of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Governors of the United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit, Trustee of Beaumont Hospital, and Kids Kicking Cancer.

Bobby Schostak is CEO of MadDog Venture Capital & General Partner/Fund Manager of MadDog Venture Capital Fund I, a developer & funder of cloud-based solutions that are disruptive to the industries they serve. They raised & invested $28M in 11 companies. 

In 2008 Bobby served for 7 years in Republican political leadership in Michigan, including as Chairman & Finance Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. In 2015, he founded the Templar Baker Group (TBG) which provides political and campaign consulting to businesses across the country.

Appointed to Oakland University Board of Trustees in 2015 by Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder. Bobby is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

He serves on the Board of Advisors of Boji Group, Belle Tire, C.S. Mott Children’s Hosp. & The Urban Land Institute of Michigan.

He is a member of Schostak Family Enterprises Advisory Board. The company recently celebrated its 100th year in business.

Andrew Stein joined The Children’s Foundation as President & CEO in January 2023.  The Foundation actively supports and encourages innovative ideas, programs, and research aimed at improving the physical and mental health of children. By providing funding, resources, and expertise, they empower individuals and organizations to develop and implement solutions that address the evolving needs of children and the community. Andrew was drawn to this role because of the unique platform The Foundation offers to create a community where all children have equitable opportunities to lead healthy lives in his home state of Michigan. 

Kids have been at the center of everything Andrew has done professionally.  For 14 years, he was a part of City Year, serving in a variety of leadership positions.  Beginning as an AmeriCorps Member working full-time in Washington, DC Public Schools, Andrew eventually became the Executive Director of City Year Detroit, where he more than doubled the size of the organization, increasing the number of students served every day from 2,500 to 7,000.  

Andrew is an alumnus of Detroit Country Day School, Michigan State University, and Georgetown Law School. He lives in Detroit with his wife and three children. He is active in the community, serving as treasurer of New Detroit, a board member of the Sherwood Forest Association, and numerous other coalitions and committees focused on children, education, and workforce development.  He was the recipient of the Detroit Young Professionals Vanguard award and Leadership Detroit Class XXXVIII.

Raji Uppal is Vice President/Principal of DTN Management Co. as well as Chief Executive Officer of DTN Asset Management & Development, LLC and Stellar Broadband, DTN affiliates. Raji also serves on the board of directors of DTN Management Co. and oversees company acquisitions, asset management and IT functions. He is an IREM Certified Property Manager which enables DTN to be an IREM Accredited Management Organization. Before joining DTN, Raji was a project manager focusing on business development for Hughes Communications in El Segundo CA, where he assisted in the creation of businesses such as DirecTV and XM radio. Using the skills learned at Hughes, Raji founded Stellar Broadband, a fiber-optic based internet and cable television business. Raji is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and El Camino College of Los Angeles with an Associate’s Degree in Real Estate. He also is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Michigan.

Name: Mark Winter
Title: President & Founding Partner
Company Name: Identity

Mark Winter is president and founding partner of Identity, a nationally recognized public relations, marketing and creative agency based in Birmingham with additional offices in Tampa and Chicago.

As one of the country’s leading real estate PR firms, Identity has played a critical role in the development and management of more than 500 million square feet of commercial, residential, retail and mixed-use real estate nationally.

Mark’s leadership, passion and commitment have served as an engine in driving Identity’s success. His inherent gift of cultivating and maintaining meaningful professional relationships has driven the firm’s long-standing client loyalty, as well as its ongoing invitations to work with some of the best leaders and companies in the country.

He is currently serves as an executive board member and the development chair for the The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) and a board member and marketing chair for the Detroit chapter of the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG).