Catherine Sloss Jones is President and CEO of Sloss Real Estate Company, a multidisciplinary firm in Birmingham, Alabama founded by her grandfather in 1920. Her focus is on urban redevelopment/revitalization and the renewal of the community by renovating historic buildings, constructing new buildings that honor their surroundings and by providing planning services throughout the region. Significant projects include Pepper Place, a designated entertainment district, and Park Place, Birmingham’s first HOPE VI neighborhood. A recognized civic leader, Jones serves on many boards and chairs the Alabama Chapter of the Urban Land Institute. As a Loeb Fellow, she honed her expertise in sound design principles and green building, studying innovative models for mixed income/mixed-use healthy communities. She has received numerous awards including, Birmingham Businesswoman of the Year. In 2017 she was named to the Alabama Academy of Honor, Alabama’s highest award. In 2022 she became a Momentum – Woman of Impact Honoree and gained accolades for her leadership and achievement in the lighting of Sloss Furnaces – Flip the Switch.

Andrew J. Nelson is a real estate economist and author at Nelson Economics, focusing on property market dynamics and demographic analysis, as well as research methods and modeling. Andrew is the lead writer for the Urban Land Institute’s annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate publication and a contributing writer for Propmodo and Seeking Alpha. Prior to founding Nelson Economics, he served as Chief U.S. Economist for Colliers International, where he led the national research team. Previously he managed the U.S. Research & Strategy team at Deutsche Asset Management (RREEF), among other leadership positions.

Jodie W. McLean is Chief Executive Officer of EDENS, one of the nation’s leading private owners, operators and developers of retail real estate. With a tenure of more than 25 years, she has established herself as a key player in EDENS’ growth and expansion to its current marketplace leadership, capitalized by blue chip investors and assets valued at $6.5 billion. McLean is responsible for EDENS’ strategy to move the portfolio to major urban centers, creating a portfolio of assets that are the center of community life. She was named Chief Investment Officer in 1997, President in 2002 and CEO in 2015. Overall, she has been responsible for the development, redevelopment, acquisition and disposition of more than $15 billion in retail assets. McLean passionately believes that retail should evolve beyond a shopping experience, and advocates for connectivity to the communities surrounding the company’s retail centers. To ensure this, each EDENS development is crafted to serve as an authentic gathering place, including a unique merchandising mix and welcoming design elements, fostering a sense of engagement with its neighbors. McLean is Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. She also serves as Trustee and Executive Board Member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ISCS) and Trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). She serves on the boards of The Real Estate Round Table, Wofford College, the Economic Club of DC and Milhaus, in addition to other institutions and charities. McLean is a member of the Liberty Fellowship (Aspen Institute), Class of 2009. A native of Chicago, IL, Jodie McLean holds a B.S. in Finance and Management from the Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, and a degree from South Carolina Honors College.

Gavin Thomas is Vice President of Development for Hendricks Commercial Properties and is responsible for coordinating and managing the current developments for the company throughout the United States, including the company’s signature $300+ million, 12-acre adaptive reuse Bottleworks in downtown Indianapolis. With extensive mixed-use and hospitality experience his focus is creating design driven places that enhance the quality of life in the local community. Previously, he served as the Director of Development for Kite Realty Group where he worked on a range of projects from ground-up construction, expansions, and densification of retail into mixed-use properties. Gavin received his BA from the University of Florida and his MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. About Hendricks Commercial Properties Based in Beloit, Wisconsin, Hendricks Commercial Properties (“Hendricks”) is a privately owned real estate development and management company with investments throughout the United States. Hendricks is a vertically integrated organization with professionals committed to excellence in design, development, construction, leasing, and property management. The company is known for its net leased industrial portfolio as well as its high quality, design driven mixed use properties in select markets. The company also has a growing hospitality portfolio including several award-winning boutique hotels, restaurants, and lifestyle concepts.