On November 14, California’s most prominent multifamily leaders unite at the sixth annual Marcus & Millichap / IPA Multifamily Forum: Northern California. With over 50 speakers, experts and thought leaders delivering content and information in a diversity of formats including panels, keynote talks, interactive workshops and closed-door roundtable discussions, this is the most valuable event of the year.
Join us in November
This year’s conference features special keynote fireside chats with Related California CEO, Bill Witte, and Marcus & Millichap President & CEO, Hessam Nadji. From market intelligence & analysis to deal flow & best practices, this year’s content is practical and hard-hitting, directly from the most active and influential owners, operators, investors, developers and financiers.
Plus, don’t miss out on one of the most anticipated discussions of the year – the effort to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. The conference takes place one week after the vote on the ballot measure. The repercussions of either outcome will be a key focus.
Reasons to Attend
- Join the discussion on the verdict on the effort to repeal Costa-Hawkins
- Get creative ideas on raising equity capital, financing new deals and refinancing
- Learn where to look for high-return acquisition / investment opportunities today
- Find out where rents are headed as well as innovations from leading edge operators
- Share ideas and challenges in the closed-door, peer-to-peer roundtables*
* Exclusive / limited-access
Our Speakers
Speakers at the Marcus & Millichap/IPA Multifamily Forums are typically senior executives and company leaders who own, invest, and develop large portfolios of multifamily properties, as well as a curated selection of industry leaders from organizations that impact real estate today.
Keynote Speakers

Bill Witte
President
Related California

Robert Freed
President & CEO
SummerHill Housing Group
Featured Speakers

Michael Anthony
Principal
MNM Partners

Steve Buster
SVP Development
Grosvenor

Brian Chuck
Partner
Calvera Partners

Damon Conklin
Director of Government Affairs
Federation of California of Builders Exchanges

Charles Demmon
Partner
Demmon Partners

Jack Dickens
COO
LivCor

John D. Eudy
Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer – Development
Essex Property Trust

Chris Hagen
SVP Operations
MG Properties Group

Aaron Hancock
Managing Director
Raintree Partners

Nathan Hong
SVP Development – Northern California
Avalon Communities

Christopher J. Kober
Managing Director – Portfolio Operations
Pacific Urban Residential
Mark R. Kroll
Managing Director / Founder
Sares Regis Group of Northern California

Mark MacDonald
Principal
DM Development

Matt Matteson
Co-President & COO
JB Matteson

Edward McGovern
Managing Director, Capital Markets
Security Properties

Jonathan Scharfman
General Manager & Director – Development
Universal Paragon

Peter Wilson
President
PTLA Real Estate Group

Robin Zimbler
Founder
Freebird Development
Sandy S. Blair
Vice President and Regional Manager, San Francisco
Marx Okubo
Phuong T. Dang
Partner
Seiler
Mike D’Onofrio
Managing Director
Engineered Tax Services
James Hannah
Vice President, Client Energy Services
Bright Power

Stanford W. Jones
Executive Managing Director
IPA
Ken Lowney
Principal
Lowney Architecture

Billy Meyer
Managing Director, Real Estate Lending
Columbia Pacific Advisors

Alexa Mizrahi
Director, Loan Origination
Lone Oak Fund

David Mugmon
Partner
Seiler

Paul Niewiadomski
Partner
Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski

Kenneth Nilmeier
Principal and Director of Planning
MVE & Partners

Ed Padilla
EVP and Co-Chief Lending Officer, Head of Commercial Real Estate
Opus Bank

Phil Saglimbeni
Senior Managing Director, Investments
IPA
Charles Schoenau
Managing Director
Insurent

John Sebree
First Vice President/National Director, Multifamily
Marcus & Millichap

David Shillington
President
Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation

Steven J. Seligman
First Vice President/Regional Manager
Marcus & Millichap Palo Alto
Tod Spieker
President
Spieker Companies

Erik Spring
Director of Sales
Wave Broadband

Kelvin Tetz
National Practice Leader, Real Estate
Moss Adams
Jim Wiegandt
Commercial Real Estate Banking
Banc of California
Featured Participants
- Jim Alexander, Equity Residential
- Luis Belmonte, Seven Hills Properties
- Sandy Blair, Marx Okubo
- Ken Busch, Sares Regis Group of Northern California
- Chris Carnazzo, Loka Properties
- Greg Christopher, Carmel Partners
- Brian Chuck, Calvera Partners
- Ziv Cohen, Resmark
- Kyle Cortopassi, MYND
- Joan Cress, Veritas Investments
- Paul N. Dubrasich, Cox, Castle & Nicholson
- Steven Eggert, Anton Development
- Paul “Chip” Erickson, Jr., Sansome Pacific
- Brad Griggs, Blake Griggs Properties
- Brendan Hayes, Fairfield Residential
- Jim Howard, Carmel Partners
- Stanford W. Jones, IPA
- Vince Lee, Shea Properties
- Alvaro Leiva, SummerHill Apartment Communities
- Matt Maher, Wave Broadband
- Randall Miller, RAD Urban
- David Mugmon, Seiler
- Katie O’Brien, Build Inc
- Brian Pianca, Wood Partners
- Sce Pike, IOTAS
- Peter Solar, Alliance
- Debbie Tedsen, FPI Management
- Kelvin Tetz, Moss Adams
- Jackie Todesco, AvalonBay
- Eliott Trencher, Kilroy Realty
- Jason Vargas, East Bay Asian Local Development Corp.
- Heather Wallace, Sares Regis Group
Agenda
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Breakfast & Networking
8:45 AM – 8:55 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Presented by:
- Steven J. Seligman, First Vice President/Regional Manager, Marcus & Millichap, Palo Alto
8:55 AM – 9:30 AM
Multifamily State of the Market: National vs Bay Area Markets
John Sebree will present the current state of the market, comparing and contrasting trends across Northern California with key investment markets across the country. In addition, to hard-hitting statistics, John will reveal the results of the proprietary multifamily owner survey that will show you what your peers are thinking with regard to their planned investment and divestment activity in the coming year.
Presented by:
- John Sebree, FVP & National Director, Multifamily, Marcus & Millichap
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Morning Keynote
Keynote:
- Hessam Nadji, President & CEO, Marcus & Millichap
Interviewed by:
- John Sebree, FVP & National Director, Multifamily, Marcus & Millichap
10:05 AM – 10:50 AM (TRACK A)
Peaks & Valleys: Viewpoints from Multifamily Leaders
It has been a good ride for a long time. Northern California has been host to one of the strongest housing markets in recent history. Demand for housing surpasses most markets and rental prices are only now showing signs of slowing down. Yet, rent control measures and the complicated political climate are just a few of the factors that make it also one of the most challenging markets to work within. While some changes have been beneficial, there could be a lot at stake should Costa-Hawkins be repealed. How are some of the most multifamily players navigating all the forces at work, and how are they planning for what’s to come?
- Looking outside: the economic outlook and expected impact upon apartment demand
- Hold your breath: creative strategies in a rent controlled pressure cooker
- The big squeeze: examining opportunities to add density without disrupting
- NIMBY: navigating political and community resistance to new developments
- Thinking ahead: strategizing and acquisitions in advance of the next cycle
Moderated by:
- Phuong Dang, Partner, Seiler
Panelists:
- Mark Kroll, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Sares-Regis Northern California
- Matt Matteson, Co-President, COO, JB Matteson
- Kenneth Nilmeier, Principal and Director of Planning, MVE + Partners
- Jonathan Scharfman, General Manager & Director – Development, Universal Paragon
- Tod Spieker, President, Spieker Companies
10:50 AM – 11:20 AM
Networking Break
Hosted by:
11:20 AM – 12:05 PM (TRACK A)
Hide and Seek: Mastering the Equity / Debt Financing Game
While many equity investors have large sums still to deploy and although multifamily continues to present opportunities, significant uncertainty is causing many investors to hold back from deals. Further, bank financing has become increasingly tight with higher interest rates and more risk-averse underwriting. Where can one find willing investors and lenders and what types of deals are they financing?
- Viewpoints: perspectives from active equity capital partners
- Changing states: how terms, rates, leverage and recourse are changing
- Choose me: which sources make sense based on deal type and size
- Overseas: with China’s pullback, how foreign capital demand for deals is changing
- Keeping pace: Understanding how to take advantage of PACE financing
Moderated by:
- David Shillington, President, Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation
Panelists:
- Edward McGovern, Managing Director, Capital Markets, Security Properties
- Billy Meyer, Managing Director, Real Estate Lending, Columbia Pacific Advisors
- Alexa Mizrahi, Director, Loan Origination, Lone Oak Fund
- Ed Padilla, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Lending Officer, Head of Commercial Real Estate, Opus Bank
- Robert Younkin, Principal, PGIM Real Estate Finance
11:20 AM – 12:05 PM (TRACK B)
Value-Add OS: Downloading the Latest Update on Apartment Upgrades
With so many barriers to new development, acquiring and upgrading existing assets is often the most sure-fire way to deploy capital, control risk and generate sufficient returns within a pre-set timeline. However, the value-add playbook has many coffee-stained pages, and not all strategies make sense for all properties. With rents softening, the ROI on some upgrades may no longer make sense for your business plan. What are the ways that savvy operators are re-tooling their properties, and where geographically are you likely to find new opportunities?
- Undercover: the key to finding (off-market) deals in a sellers’ market
- Bang for the buck: which amenities make sense for specific demographics / price points
- Beyond 415 and 650: where smart pioneers are finding new opportunities
- Curb appeal: cost-efficient design alterations with big ROI results
- Holding period: managing investors expectations on returns and exit timing
Presented by:
- Steven J. Seligman, First Vice President/Regional Manager, Marcus & Millichap, Palo Alto
Panelists:
- Michael Anthony, Principal, MNM Partners
- Charles Demmon, Partner, Demmon Partners
- Aaron Hancock, Managing Director, Raintree Partners
- Jim Wiegandt, Commercial Real Estate Banking, Banc of California
- Peter Wilson, President, PTLA Real Estate Group
12:10 PM – 12:55 PM (TRACK A)
The Cost of Doing Business: Development & Construction Across Northern California
Not all entrepreneurs in Northern California are in tech. New development and construction requires equal parts vision and courage. But getting a project off the ground in this region is more like a marathon rather than a sprint, and raising acquisition and construction financing is only half the battle. From identifying sites at the right price to entitlements, from selecting the right branding, design and unit mix to addressing political and community resistance, knowing what to do requires more than a crystal ball. How are developers keeping their heads on straight with the challenges they are faced with while building projects that deliver necessary returns?
- Who’s knockin’: Opportunities in affordable housing for market rate developers
- Like a pro: Managing high materials and labor costs in light of new tariffs and immigration policy
- Squeeze control: how to take advantage of incentives to gain increased density
- All for one: working with the local politicians and community leaders to gain support
- Into the future: how self-driving cars, drones, e-commerce, work-from-home and other trends are changing today’s designs for tomorrow’s needs
Moderated by:
- Phil Saglimbeni, Senior Managing Director, Investments, IPA
Panelists:
- Steve Buster, SVP, Development, Grovesnor
- Nathan Hong, SVP – Development, AvalonBay
- Ken Lowney, President & CEO, Lowney Architecture
- Mark MacDonald, Principal, DM Development
- Robin Zimbler, Founder, Free Bird Development
12:10 PM – 12:55 PM (TRACK B)
More with Less: Innovations & Technology Trends for Apartment Owners & Managers
With rental rates beginning to stagnate, smart operators are anticipating the change in the cycle, shifting to a more competitive stance to attract and retain tenants. While concessions increase for lease ups of new properties, existing properties are also in need of incentives to win over new tenants, as well as key features and amenities to retain tenants. Also, to keep the steady growth in returns, sharp managers are finding innovative ways to generate ancillary income and continue to drive down costs, without sacrificing tenant experience. How do you navigate these waters with so many options to choose from?
- High-end living: what services and amenities the highest paying tenants require
- Keeping it lean: which technologies drive efficiency without impairing tenant satisfaction
- Automation: what can be automated and where a personal touch is best
- Social game: best practices for managing reputation in a Google+ and Instagram world
- Less is more: hiring and keeping the best operations managers for tomorrow’s skill set
Moderated by:
- Paul Niewiadomski, Partner, Lubin Olson
Panelists:
- Jack Dickens, COO, LivCor
- Chris Hagen, SVP Operations, MG Properties Group
- James Hannah, VP – Client Energy Services, Bright Power
- Christopher J. Kober, Managing Director – Portfolio Operations, Pacific Urban Residential
- Charles Schoenau, Managing Director, Insurent
12:55 PM – 1:45 PM
Networking Lunch
1:05 PM – 1:35 PM (LUNCH WORKSHOP)
New Trump Administration Updates: Opportunity Zones, Energy & Specialty Tax Incentives
The presentation is designed to provide New Trump Administration Updates to Federal, State and Local Energy & Specialty Tax Incentives and provide clarity to the design, qualification and certification process to maximize results and cost savings on Purchases, Renovations, Improvements and New Construction projects. During this presentation, you will be able to understand how to capture and best utilize Cost Segregation, Energy Tax Credits (like 179D for commercial buildings and 45L tax credits for residential and multi-family projects) on a local and national scale.
Presented by:
- Michael D’Onofrio, Managing Director, Engineered Tax Services
1:40 PM – 2:10 PM
Afternoon Fireside Keynote Chat
Keynote:
- Bill Witte, Chairman & CEO, Related California
Interviewed by:
- Robert Freed, President & CEO, SummerHill Housing Group
2:10 PM – 2:40 PM
The Verdict is In: What’s Next Following the Vote to Repeal Costa-Hawkins
Moderated by:
- John Sebree, FVP & National Director, Multifamily, Marcus & Millichap
Panelists:
- Damon Conklin, Director of Government Affairs, Federation of California of Builders Exchanges
- John D. Eudy, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer – Development, Essex Property Trust
- Stanford W. Jones, Executive Managing Director, IPA
2:40 PM – 2:45 PM
Concluding Remarks
Presented by:
- Steven J. Seligman, First Vice President/Regional Manager, Marcus & Millichap, Palo Alto
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Post-Conference Reception
NEW for 2018
Roundtable Discussions
Space is limited, contact us to see if you qualify.
11:20 AM – 12:50 PM
Ground-Up Development: A Closed-Door Roundtable
Getting projects off the ground has never been easy in this region. This closed-door session brings together California’s active multifamily developers and builders to discuss shared challenges in apartment and condo development today, with the goal of exploring ideas and solutions to those challenges.
Participants include:
-
- Jim Alexander, Equity Residential
- Sandy Blair, Marx|Okubo Associates
- Ken Busch, Sares Regis Group of Northern California
- Greg Christopher, Carmel Partners
- Ziv Cohen, Resmark
- Paul Dubrasich, Cox, Castle & Nicholson
- Steven Eggert, Anton Development
- Paul “Chip” Erickson, Jr., Sansome Pacific
- Brad Griggs, Blake Griggs Properties
- Brendan Hayes, Fairfield Residential
- Stanford W. Jones, IPA
- Vince Lee, Shea Properties
- Randy Miller, RAD Urban
- David Mugmon, Seiler
- Katie O’Brien, Build Inc.
- Brian Pianca, Wood Partners
- Peter Solar, Alliance
- Eliott Trencher, Kilroy Realty
- Jason Vargas, East Bay Asian Local Development Corp
11:20 AM – 12:50 PM
Operational Excellence: A Closed-Door Roundtable
This closed-door session brings together California’s apartment managers to discuss shared challenges in multifamily management today, with the goal of exploring ideas and solutions to those challenges.
Participants include:
-
- Luis Belmonte, Seven Hills Properties
- Chris Carnazzo, Loka Properties
- Brian Chuck, Calvera Partners
- Kyle Cortopassi, MYND
- Joan Cress, Veritas Investments
- Jim Howard, Carmel Partners
- Alvaro Leiva, SummerHill Apartment Communities
- Matt Maher, Wave Broadband
- Sce Pike, IOTAS
- Debbie Tedsen, FPI Management
- Kelvin Tetz, Moss Adams
- Jackie Todesco, AvalonBay Communities
- Heather Wallace, Sares Regis Group
*These curated sessions are comprised of select leaders who share the same challenges. Sessions are limited to a maximum of 30 participants and are completely off-the-record with no media or audience. The goal is to share challenges and solutions together to advance the industry. Chaired by an industry veteran, each session will be tasked with addressing a short list of specific challenges. Please contact Claudia Gutwirth at claudia@greenpearlevents.com for further information.
Attending Companies (partial list)
- 29th Street Capital
- ABC Jewelry Imports
- Acacia Capital Corp
- Aggarwal
- Alliance Residential
- Altus Equity Group
- Anton Development
- Architecture Design Collaborative
- Archway Fund
- Ares Management
- Ascend Investments
- AvalonBay
- Avesta Development Group
- Ballast
- Banc of California
- Barbara Epis
- Beckett Capital
- BKF Engineers
- Blake Griggs Properties
- Bolour Associates
- Braddock & Logan
- Bridge Partners
- BridgeCore Capital, Inc.
- Bright Power
- Brown Construction
- Bryan Epis
- Build Inc
- Burlingame Shores Investments
- California Building News
- Calvera Partners
- Canyon Partners Real Estate
- Capitial Valley Investments
- Carmel Partners
- Casco Properties
- Charge Partners
- Charles Hill Investments
- Chicago Title
- City of Redwood City
- Civic Financial
- Columbia Pacific Advisors
- Commercial Coverage Insurance Agency
- Commercial Energy
- Cox Castle & Nicholson
- Cresleigh Homes
- Davlyn Investments
- Demmon Partners
- DeNardi Homes
- DM Development
- Dutra Enterprises
- East Bay Asian Local Development Corp
- Ecobalance Solutions
- Enduravest
- Engineered Tax Services
- Equity Residential
- Essel Environmental
- Essex Property Trust
- Fairfield Residential
- Federation of California Builders Exchanges
- First Republic Bank
- FivePoint
- Fore Property Company
- FORMA Development Design Management
- FPI Management
- Freebird Development
- Gaetani Real Estate
- Gerson Bakar & Asscociates
- Grosvenor
- Half Dome Capital
- Hanover Finanical
- Happy Tree
- Highland Villas Associates
- Horizon Investment Group
- IEC
- Insurent
- Interstate Equities
- IOTAS
- IPA
- JB Matteson
- JCM Partners
- JETT Landscape Architecture + Design
- Johnstone Moyer
- Kastle Systems
- Katerra
- Kennedy Wilson Multifamily
- Kilroy Realty
- Land and Houses USA
- LivCor
- Logical Buildings
- Loka Properties
- Lone Oak Fund
- Lowney Architecture
- Lubin Olson
- Luther Burbank Savings
- Madison Park Financial Corporation
- Mann Properties
- Marcus & Millichap
- Marx Okubo
- Marymount Management Corporation
- MG Properties
- Millenium Flats
- Mitsui Fudosan America
- MJD Capital Partners
- ML Santos Commercial RE
- MMC
- MNM Partners
- Mogavero Architects
- Moss Adams
- Mosser Capital Management
- MVE & Partners
- Nearon Enterprises
- New Cities Investment Partners
- Oakmont Properties
- Opus Bank
- Pacific Orient Imports
- Pacific Rim Financial Corporation
- Pacific Urban Residential
- Padis Gems
- PartnerESI
- PGIM
- Pippin Property Group
- Postcard Properties
- Presidio Bank
- Private Investor
- Private Mortgage Fund
- Priya Living
- Prometheus Real Estate Group
- PSM Sales & Management
- PTLA Real Estate Group
- RAD Urban
- Raintree Partners
- Real Estate Transformation Group
- Reddy Investors
- Related California
- Related Companies
- Reliant Group Management
- Rently Keyless
- Resmark
- Ridge Capital Investors
- Sansome Pacific
- Sares Regis Group
- Security Properties
- Seiler
- Seven Hills Properties
- Shea Properties
- Spatz Development
- Spieker Companies
- Spirit Living Group
- Sridhar Equities
- Starcity
- Sterling Heatley
- Stewart Title Guaranty Company
- Stockbridge
- SummerHill Apartment Communities
- TDC Pacific Properties
- The Core Companies
- Trinity Properties
- Trion Properties
- Tzadik Management
- UBS Realty Investors
- Universal Paragon
- Valiance Capital
- Veritas
- VMWP Architecture/Urban Design
- Walden Development
- WAVE
- Wave Broadband
- Webco Group
- Western SMC Enterprise
- Whiting Ventures
- Winn Residential
- Wood Partners
Get Involved!
Speaking Inquiries:
Amanda Powers
(305) 206-2194
apowers@greenpearlevents.com
Registration:
Claudia Gutwirth
(646) 862-6125
claudia@greenpearlevents.com
Sponsorship & Exhibiting:
Amber Collins
(646) 783-3940
amber@greenpearlevents.com
Conference Chairs
Sponsors of the Marcus & Millichap / IPA Multifamily Forum: Northern California are typically industry vendors and service providers looking to secure new business from medium to large sized multifamily and/or office portfolio operators.
Founded in 1971, Marcus & Millichap is a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm focusing exclusively on investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services, with more than 1,700 investment professionals in offices throughout the United States and Canada. The firm has perfected a powerful property marketing system that integrates broker specialization by property type and market area; comprehensive investment research; a long-standing culture of information sharing; relationships with the largest pool of qualified investors; and state-of-the-art technology matching buyers and sellers. In 2016, the firm closed 8,995 transactions with a sales volume of approximately $42.3 billion.
Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) is a unique platform created to support the needs of institutional and sophisticated private investors. IPA is centered around a select national network of institutionally qualified brokerage professionals and supported by a robust technology platform and highly regarded research. IPA’s unique combination of real estate investment expertise, industry-leading technology, superior support services and acclaimed research will offer customized solutions for the acquisition and disposition of institutional multifamily properties and portfolios.
Venue Details
Marcus & Millichap / IPA Multifamily Forum:
Northern California
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Venue:
Crowne Plaza Foster City
1221 Chess Dr.
Foster City, CA 94404
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Conference Organizer

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