• Date: May 14th from 5:00-8:00 PM
• Location: The Junior League of Austin
• Drinks and heavy appetizers will be provided
• 5-5:45 pm – VIP Pre-Event Meet & Greet for Developers and Sponsors (Invite Only)
• 5:30 - 6 - General Admission Registration & Networking
• 6 – 7:30 pm – Main Event
• 7:30 – 8 pm – Open Networking

• Ben White, President/CEO | Taylor EDC
• Brooke Harlander, Regional Partner | St. John Properties
• Corbin Graham, Managing Partner | Graham Development
• Darlene Guynes, Sr. Director of Client Operations | Austin Regional Clinic
• Eric Perardi, President & Founder | Perardi Development **Developer taking Eric's spot is Robert Wall with Verdot Capital**
• Felipe Castillo, Partner | PlaceMKR
• Jay Lamy, Managing Principal | Aquila
• Jeremy Striffler, Senior Real Estate Officer | The University of Texas at Austin
• Jesse Lunsford, Owner/Broker | Rainey Ventures
• Jon Lueders, Vice President | Holt Lunsford
• May Vlaming, Senior Vice President | JLL
• Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino, City Manager/ Interim Executive Director of Bastrop EDC | City of Bastrop
• Tim Dowling, Co-Founder | Hive Capital Partners 

Ben White, President/CEO | Taylor EDC - Taylor, Texas

Ben White is President and CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation in Taylor, Texas. With more than 25 years of experience in economic development, he has led major initiatives resulting in over $1.5 billion in capital investment and thousands of jobs across Central Texas. He currently serves as President of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership and has been recognized as a Top 50 Economic Developer in North America by Consultant Connect. He was also named one of the Austin Business Journal’s Power Players in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Prior to his role in Taylor, White held leadership positions in Cedar Park and Round Rock, where he played a key role in attracting major projects, including the $1 billion Apple Inc. campus in Williamson County.

Brooke Harlander, Regional Partner | St. John Properties 

Brooke Harlander is Regional Partner for St. John Properties, Inc. in Austin, Texas, where she leads operations, market strategy, and growth initiatives for the firm’s Central Texas portfolio. Since joining St. John Properties in 2016, she has played a key role in expanding the company’s presence in the Greater Austin area, overseeing site acquisition, development planning, leasing, and asset management for Flex R&D, office, retail, and mixed-use projects. Brooke is also active in industry leadership and advocacy. She serves as President-Elect of NAIOP Austin and chairs the organization’s Public Policy Committee, guiding engagement on legislative issues affecting the commercial real estate industry. She has been recognized for her industry impact, including Bisnow’s Women Leading Real Estate award and being named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record. 

Corbin Graham, Managing Partner | Graham Development

Corbin Graham is Managing Partner at Graham Development and a real estate investor focused on creating high-quality projects that enhance communities. With a background in Silicon Valley real estate capital markets and lending, he brings a strong understanding of the industry to his work. Inspired by sustainable urban planning in Copenhagen, Corbin applies a long-term, community-focused approach to development. His work includes the 7900 S. Congress project, transforming brownfield sites into a vibrant mixed-use community with affordable housing, expanded parkland, and improved trail access in South Austin.

Darlene Guynes, Sr. Director of Client Operations | Austin Regional Clinic

Experienced Director of Operations with a demonstrated history of working in the medical practice industry. Currently directing growth, construction projects and opening two to three outpatient clinics per year while simultaneously overseeing a region of clinics. Skilled in Project Management, Strategic Planning for Growth, Process Improvement, Leadership and Customer Service in Primary and Specialty Care. Strong healthcare services professional with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Health/Health Care Administration/Management from University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Master's of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Robert Wall, Managing Partner | Verdot Capital 

Robert Wall, Managing Partner at Verdot Capital, brings over sixteen years of industry experience in multifamily, senior living and build-to-rent. Robert has been the lead developer of over 1 million sq. ft. of ground-up senior living development, and has been involved in another 1,500 units of multifamily and residential ground-up and rehab projects in Minnesota, Texas, California, Oregon, and Ohio. 
As well as a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, Robert holds a law degree from Tulane Law School and an MBA from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business.

Felipe Castillo, Partner | PlaceMKR 

Accomplished Real Estate Development Strategist, Architect, and U.S. Army Combat Veteran with extensive experience leading multi-billion-dollar mixed-use real estate development projects. Real estate expertise from capital market placement, market feasibility, land & lease negotiations, acquisition/disposition, financial projections, design, construction, and throughout development completion. Properties which include multifamily + build-for-rent, retail, hospitality, high-rise mixed-use, office, and industrial. Skilled zoning and entitlement correspondent with government officials, planning staff, city councils, and citizen groups. Personally oversaw 30+ rezones across 28 municipalities. As a multifaceted real estate executive, he brings a versatile background that enables him to understand real estate from multiple points of view.

Jay Lamy, Managing Principal | Aquila 

Jay is a member of AQUILA’s seven-person Management Committee and a leader of the firm’s tenant representation team. Based in Austin, Texas, he leverages his background in investment banking and venture capital to advise clients on lease acquisitions and dispositions, as well as asset purchase and sale transactions. His work on some of Austin’s most high-profile deals has earned recognition from the Austin Business Journal and other industry organizations. In 2007, Jay left the institutional world with several partners to co-found AQUILA Commercial, envisioning a firm where creativity is encouraged, hard work is rewarded, and collaboration replaces silos. Known for his strong faith, dedication to family, and philanthropic spirit — along with his self-described “Yoda-esque and ass-kicking ways” — Jay brings both wisdom and energy to his work and community. On Saturdays he can be found cheering on the Rice Owls, and on Sundays singing in the choir at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

Jeremy Striffler, Senior Real Estate Officer | The University of Texas at Austin 

Jeremy is a Senior Real Estate Officer at The University of Texas at Austin. As a member of the Campus Real Estate Office, he is responsible for real estate transactions involving the University’s property holdings. Previously, Jeremy served as the Director of Real Estate for the Austin Independent School District and worked in Occupier Services at Cushman & Wakefield. He has a B.A. in English from Colgate University, a M.B.A from the Rome campus of St. John’s University, and over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. Jeremy specializes in partnering with educational institutions, religious groups and nonprofit organizations to help them maximize the value of their real estate assets. 

Jesse Lunsford, Owner/Broker | Rainey Ventures   

Jesse Lunsford is a longtime leader in Austin’s commercial real estate market. Over the past 25 years, he has built a successful career in brokerage and investment, developing a deep understanding of the city’s CRE landscape while delivering strong returns for investors. He played a transformative role in the emergence of the Rainey Street District in downtown Austin and has brokered numerous high-impact transactions across the region. Jesse is also known for his creative approach to development and adaptive reuse. One of his most notable projects involved relocating an 1889 historic home from downtown Austin to East Austin, where it became Lustre Pearl East — a project that reflects his focus on creative redevelopment, district building, and long-term value creation. Today, Jesse brings this experience to Rainey Ventures, where he partners with investors on commercial property opportunities in Austin.

Jon Lueders, VP | Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments (HLCI)   

Jon Lueders joined Holt Lunsford Commercial in 2021 and serves as Vice President of Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments (HLCI), where he sources and executes industrial development projects across major Texas markets. He leads projects from concept through completion, including site identification, negotiation, due diligence, entitlements, design, and construction.
Throughout his career, Jon has overseen more than $1.3 billion in industrial development totaling over 11 million square feet across the Houston, Austin, and Dallas–Fort Worth markets. His sourcing efforts have helped HLCI rank as the Dallas Business Journal’s 4th largest developer in North Texas from 2023 through 2025. Prior to joining HLCI, Jon worked with Link Logistics, a Blackstone affiliate, and Colony Industrial, focusing on acquisitions and development across multiple U.S. markets. He began his career at Deloitte in the Investment Management Assurance practice. Jon holds a BBA in Accounting and a Master of Science in Finance from Texas A&M University and is active in NAIOP North Texas and the NAIOP Developing Leaders National Forum.

May Vlaming, Senior Vice President |  JLL

May Vlaming brings over 25 years of construction and real estate expertise to her role as Senior Vice President at JLL. Based in Austin after starting her career in Los Angeles, she manages complex commercial projects for many confidential clients across technology, manufacturing, and corporate sectors, including notable brands like Yeti and Q2. Her collaborative approach and creative problem-solving earned her the National One JLL Project Development Services Award for 2025. Working closely with JLL Brokerage teams and external real estate executives, May delivers exceptional ROI and tangible results for sophisticated development challenges. May’s has an unconventional entry into the industry through a construction apprenticeship, learning the business from the ground up through mentorship and hands-on experience. This foundation gives her a unique perspective that combines technical construction knowledge with strategic real estate acumen. May has been happily married for 24 years and is the proud Mom of two great kids.

Sylvia Carrillo, ICMA-CM, CPM | City Manager, City of Bastrop, TX

A public servant at heart, she has spent more than 19 years in local government leadership. She began her career in 2003 as a graduate intern with the City of Corpus Christi, where she served for a decade and ultimately became Assistant Director for Development Services during a period of record-breaking growth, issuing more than 20,000 building and development permits annually. Her experience across both the public and private sectors provides a strong understanding of local government operations and the needs of the business community. In 2013, she was appointed City Manager of Aransas Pass and later returned to Corpus Christi as Assistant City Manager until 2019. From 2019 to October 2022, she served as City Administrator in Sunset Valley. In October 2022, she was appointed City Manager of Bastrop, Texas. Since joining Bastrop, she has worked with City Council and staff to modernize infrastructure, responsibly manage growth, and enhance quality of life. Under her leadership, the city eliminated a permit backlog, launched a multi-million-dollar street maintenance program funded by voter-approved sales tax redistribution, expanded wastewater treatment capacity, and secured federal funding to rehabilitate older facilities. Her administration has also advanced projects such as the Sendero mixed-use development and the proposed Bastrop West project while investing in parks, tourism through Discover Bastrop, and historic preservation efforts including the German Casino restoration.

Tim Dowling, Developer & Broker | Hive Capital Partners

I’m a hyper-local real estate developer and broker with 20+ years in real estate and a true geographic specialist, focused exclusively within a 12-mile radius of my home in the Buda / South Austin corridor. I’ve lived inside this market for more than 30 years. I know the dirt, the traffic patterns, the politics, and the people. This isn’t an abstract market to me, it’s where I live.