Join industry leaders, innovators, and investors as we explore what’s next in housing, retail, capital markets, and real estate innovation. Each year, the ULI Utah Trends Conference delivers a timely, in-depth look at the state’s real estate landscape, alongside the nation’s most influential trends. Discover the trends shaping Utah’s future, and the forces converging to redefine our communities.
Whether you're a developer, investor, architect, planner, or simply passionate about the future of cities, this conference offers critical insights, strategic connections, and fresh perspectives to fuel your work and inspire new ideas.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Utah’s premier real estate event. Register now and stay ahead of the trends.
7:30-8:20 AM - REGISTRATION, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, & NETWORKING
8:20-8:30 AM - WELCOME
8:35-8:40 AM - TITLE SPONSOR KEYNOTE INTRODUCTION
8:40-9:25 AM - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - “THE WAY WE WILL LIVE NEXT”
9:25-10:05 AM - PANEL DISCUSSION
Utah has a long history of arts and culture. Its landscapes have inspired everyone from artists and architects to major motion picture directors. With major investments now reshaping Salt Lake City’s downtown, the state is at a pivotal moment to define how culture and creativity shape its future. This panel will explore how the creative economy fuels economic growth, elevates real estate projects, and strengthens community identity. From immersive technology to contemporary art, leaders will share how Utah can harness creativity to build places where people want to live, work, and connect.
10:05-10:25 AM - NETWORKING BREAK
10:25-10:35 AM - QUICK HIT
As development slows, now is the perfect time for cities to lay the groundwork for faster, smarter housing production ahead. This “Quick Hits” session highlights six proactive, low-cost actions local leaders can take today to unlock more housing tomorrow: from streamlining approvals and simplifying design standards to supporting infill and modular construction–and more. We’ll explore real-world examples of policy wins and celebrate a few of the best housing innovators from around the country and in Utah. Learn why this market moment is ripe for solutions and how your community can be ready when the next wave of development hits. Attendees will also get access to Ivory Innovations' newest resource to improve local housing affordability now!
10:35-11:15 AM - PANEL DISCUSSION
Utah retail is no longer just catching up - it’s elevating. From rooftop restaurants and rising rents to national brands entering and local chefs thriving, the retail market has momentum. The story now is how Utah leverages this rise to shape what’s next in dining, shopping, and placemaking.
11:15-11:20 AM - QUICK HIT
A five-fact pulse check on Salt Lake City’s multifamily market touching on supply, local fundamentals, investor sentiment, macroeconomic impacts, and what it all means for 2026 and beyond.
11:20-12:00 PM - PANEL DISCUSSION
This panel explores how to meaningfully engage community voices in ways that shape projects without placing undue strain on resources. Drawing on current case studies, including the Granary reimagination and the Sports, Entertainment, Culture & Convention District, panelists from development, municipal, community, and emerging support sectors will share their perspectives. Attendees will gain fresh insights into the pressures these groups face during generational redevelopment and leave with practical strategies for channeling the “positive stress” of growth into successful outcomes.
12:00-1:20 PM - NETWORKING LUNCH
1:20-2:00 PM - PANEL DISCUSSION
Join us for a dynamic discussion between private equity funds, investment sales/capital market advisors, and sponsors to unpack where we are in the investment cycle, what can motivate capital to be deployed, and where investors are finding the best risk-adjusted opportunities across the capital stack and product types.
2:00-2:15 PM - QUICK HIT
Utah is experiencing rapid growth in senior and veteran homelessness alongside an unprecedented shift: real estate professionals and business leaders increasingly want to be part of the solution. Carol Hollowell, CEO of Switchpoint, Utah's largest statewide homelessness services provider, will share emerging trends in attainable, community-focused housing and explore how the industry's desire to do good is creating new pathways forward. This is where housing meets purpose.
2:15-2:55 PM - PANEL DISCUSSION
Three emerging developers pitch their investment strategies in front of an audience and a panel of industry leaders. The panel will test the vision, challenge the numbers, and vote on whether they would invest. Come watch the action unfold and decide for yourself...would you invest?
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2:55-3:00 PM - CLOSING REMARKS
3:00-4:30 PM - NETWORKING RECEPTION
TITLE SPONSOR
MAJOR SPONSORS
VIP EVENT SPONSORS
TABLE SPONSORS
EDITORIAL SPONSOR
PODCAST/VIDEO PRODUCTION SPONSOR
HALF TABLE SPONSORS
PARTNER SPONSORS
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE
The Trends Conference attracts over 550 influential figures from business, government, and the community, spanning both private and public sectors. Showcase your commitment to ULI Utah's real estate community and position your organization as a leader in the industry by becoming a sponsor.
Whether you opt for a top-level sponsorship or choose to reserve a VIP table, our range of sponsorship packages offers exceptional benefits. Enjoy complimentary registrations to the conference and prominent brand recognition with all sponsorship levels. By sponsoring the Trends Conference, you are not just supporting an event; you are investing in the future of real estate in Utah.
Ready to elevate your brand and impact? For inquiries or to discuss a customized sponsorship package, please contact Kristen Cordova at [email protected].
Join us in shaping the future of real estate in Utah. We look forward to partnering with you as a valued sponsor at the 2025 Trends Conference!
Daniel Salmon has spent 13 years advocating for and providing reuse options within commercial, industrial and C&D waste streams. After completing an MPA in Sustainability Policy, Daniel founded Miscellaneous Materials in order to bring broad material reclamation & repurposing to the Salt Lake area. His company accepts “hard luck” materials through salvage, donation, consignment, and purchase. In 2013, Daniel also established and elevated The ReUse People of America’s (TRP) vision in Utah. TRP is a non-profit that encourages building deconstruction and reuse over demolition, thereby creating tax breaks for donors and saves up to 70% of a structure’s materials. In 2015 he founded Smart Demolition: Utah’s first certified deconstruction contractor. Through 2022 Smart completed over 100 deconstruction & donation projects along the Wasatch Range. Daniel’s passion is uncovering and developing cross-platform solutions that rescue durable, useful materials from the least highlighted waste streams thereby creating economic growth and resources for Utah communities.
Tom is a true son of Salt Lake City. He was raised in the Central 9th neighborhood by a single mother of four who moved here to be closer to the religion that took her in as a Texas teenager. To shield her family from the influence of the “big city,” Tom’s mom chose to homeschool - urban farm and all - in the middle of downtown. His upbringing was very unique, but shaped him powerfully.
Decades later, Tom is raising his own family downtown, and he absolutely loves it.
Tom currently serves as President of the American Towers residential community and until recently, as the Chair of the Downtown Community Council. Advocating for residents in the urban core has been at the heart of his public service and he wants to continue that in whatever capacity he can.
By day, Tom is the founder and principal of a healthcare policy advisory firm headquartered here in Salt Lake City. For more than 15 years, he’s worked with healthcare institutions and governments to understand and pursue opportunities for health reform.
The experience he brings from working across all levels of government strengthens his resolve to fight for local control and protect democratic voice.
Amy combines her background in public sector land use and community planning with a passion for housing solutions as Director of Policy Innovation at Ivory Innovations, where she leads strategies to strengthen state and local housing ecosystems. A thought leader in missing middle housing, Amy previously helped launch Vermont's Homes for All Toolkit and worked at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies researching missing middle policy reform for Massachusetts. She holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Master in Real Estate from Harvard University. When she's not thinking about housing, you can find her training for triathlons, exploring mountain trails, or practicing Italian.
Founding Partner, President & CEO,
Ascend Hospitality Group
Elaina Morris is a dynamic entrepreneur and the co-founder, president, and CEO of Ascend Hospitality Group (AHG), a premier, female-led restaurant management company based in the Northwest. Under her visionary leadership, AHG has evolved into a vibrant portfolio of fine-dining and casual concepts, employing over 350 team members across Washington, Oregon, and Utah. The company continues to expand into new markets, bringing its innovative dining experiences to a broader audience, with plans to enter additional metropolitan areas and high-growth regions in the coming years.
Elaina leads with a deep commitment to community and a philosophy rooted in investing in both people and place. She champions service excellence, professional growth, and exceptional guest experiences. Her entrepreneurial journey includes the successful launch of several regional ventures, including the innovative WiggleWorks Kids.
A dedicated civic leader, Elaina serves on the boards of the Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, and Rainier Athletes. She is also an active member of the Board of Governors for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, and a member of YPO Seattle.
Her leadership and impact have earned her accolades such as Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2021 Women of Influence and 425 Magazine’s 2023 Women to Watch.
As a biracial woman who rose from humble beginnings, Elaina is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, women in leadership, and BIPOC representation in business. She is driven by a lifelong mission to amplify underrepresented voices and inspire the next generation of changemakers.
Greg Lindsay is a non-resident senior fellow of MIT’s Future Urban Collectives Lab, Arizona State University’s Threatcasting Lab, and the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. He was the founding chief communications officer of AlphaGeo and remains a senior advisor. Most recently, he was a 2022-2023 urban tech fellow at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, where he explored the implications of AI and augmented reality at urban scale.
He has advised firms such as Intel, Samsung, IKEA, Starbucks, Audi, Hyundai, Tishman Speyer, British Land, André Balazs Properties, Aldar, Emaar, and Expo 2020, along with numerous G20 government entities. Previously, he was urbanist-in-residence at BMW MINI’s urban tech accelerator, URBAN-X, as well as director of applied research at NewCities and founding director of strategy at its mobility-focused offshoot, CoMotion.
Greg is also a two-time Jeopardy! champion (and the only human to go undefeated against IBM’s Watson).
Ms. Schultz joined PCCP in April 2019. Ms. Schultz serves as the Co-Fund Manager for the Firm’s commingled value add debt series of vehicles, and oversees PCCP’s debt portfolio as Co-Head of Debt Investment Management. Additionally, Ms. Schultz serves as Fund Manager for select debt separately managed accounts. Ms. Schultz is also responsible for debt and equity originations in Northern California, Utah, and the Midwest. Prior to joining PCCP, Ms. Schultz worked in Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate Group in Chicago and San Francisco. In her role at Wells Fargo, Ms. Schultz underwrote, originated and managed commercial real estate loans for a number of real estate investors and developers located across the country. Since beginning her career, Ms. Schultz has been involved in debt and equity investments in the apartment, industrial, office, retail, and single-family for-rent sectors. Ms. Schultz earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin‐Madison and is an active member of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association.
Chris C. Byers is the Co-President and the Chief Revenue Officer of Elevated Property Company, LLC. In this role, Chris leads the leasing efforts of the portfolio and is responsible for tenant relations. In addition, with her two other founding partners, she is involved in all aspects of the company, with an emphasis on acquisitions, and development. Prior to founding Elevated, Chris was at CenterCal Properties, LLC for 13 years where she led the leasing efforts of the entire portfolio as its Senior Vice President of Leasing. In this role Chris played a critical role in leasing the portfolio to over 95% leased, and was involved in the development of 6 new, ground up mixed-use projects from inception to opening by creating the initial merchandising plans through lease up. These developments quickly have become the premier destinations in their respective markets and have changed the way each market trades. Before joining CenterCal Properties, LLC, Chris spent most of her career on the retailer side of the business representing national retailers and creating growth strategies for many of the top retailers in the United States. She has been in the industry for over 30 years and brings an interesting viewpoint to the creation of the projects in the portfolio. Chris has worked for notable companies such as Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, JP Realty and more. Chris is a Utah native and attended the University of Utah.
Chris has been a member of ICSC for over 30 years and lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, Mark Norseth. She is a proud mother to two great children, Jake and Lexie, and bonus stepson, Travis. Chris spends her free time doing yoga, playing golf, and loves to travel with her family.
Executive Director,
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
Laura Allred Hurtado has been the Executive Director of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) since 2018. As a director, curator, and writer, her practice explores issues of gender, belief, identity, and the local. She has curated exhibitions in New York City and throughout Utah, most recently a retrospective of the Guerrilla Girls (2020) as well as a collaborative exhibition with For Freedoms artist collective (2022). Laura has a bachelor's degree in Art History and Curatorial Studies and a master's in Art History and Visual Studies. Prior to being hired as Executive Director at UMOCA, she was an instructor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Utah, Curator of
Education at Salt Lake Art Center, and Global Acquisitions Curator at the Church History Museum.
Carol Hollowell is the founder and CEO of Switchpoint, guiding its growth across Utah with
a focus on practical solutions that move people from crisis to stability. Her turning point
began in 2013 after meeting Ray, a wheelchair user who had been homeless for five years
because he lost his ID. Helping Ray get identification and housing clarified the model she
would build at Switchpoint: remove barriers, add opportunity, and design services that
treat people with dignity.
Under Carol's leadership, Switchpoint blends emergency services with social enterprises
and deeply affordable housing. The approach has been recognized with major honors
including EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in Utah for Social Impact (2020), the Kem C. Gardner
Policy Institute's Informed Decision Maker of the Year (2023), and the Lane Beattie Utah
Community Builder Award (2024). In 2025, Utah Business named her to its Most Influential
Women list. Switchpoint itself received the Governor's Spirit of Service Award in 2023.
Carol is a TEDx St. George speaker and the author of Get Going: Solve Homelessness
Today published in 2024. She studied at Oregon State University and began her career in
business development before directing that skill set toward community impact.
Matteo Sogne hails from Modena, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region — a place renowned for balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a proud culinary heritage. His grandmother, Romana, was a gifted cook and taught him to make tortellini from scratch; his grandfather, Franco, remains actively involved in producing the balsamic vinegar used today at Matteo. Growing up, these family traditions shaped not only his palate but his sense of purpose.
He came to the U.S. on a swimming scholarship and earned a mathematics degree — a combination he describes as life training: the rigor of logic alongside the passion of food. After spending years learning the ropes around Utah’s food scene, he opened Matteo Ristorante Italiano in late 2023 with his family. He positioned his concept as “food for the soul,” infusing the menu with recipes refined over generations while selecting 50 candidate versions per dish until only the best survived.
Rapid growth pushed Matteo to relocate. In November 2024, the restaurant relaunched in downtown Salt Lake City. The move introduced enhancements like soundproof ceilings, three private dining rooms, and complimentary valet parking. Matteo and his team saw it not just as an expansion, but as a chance to better serve the downtown theater, sports, and convention crowd, as well as Utah’s civic, business, and tech communities.
Today, Matteo is lauded as a rising force in Salt Lake’s dining scene. In 2025, Salt Lake Magazine named Matteo their “Best Restaurant,” noting how Sogne walks the fine line between intimate, familial warmth, and elevated fine dining. He and his team remain deeply involved: Chef Damiano Carlotto leads the kitchen, while Matteo continues to curate wine selections, recommend pairings, and guide customer experience. His family remains integral — Matteo’s mother continues baking the restaurant’s bread and desserts; his staff often includes longtime collaborators.
Matteo Sogne brings a voice shaped by traditions, entrepreneurship, culinary excellence, and adaptive retail thinking in the hospitality space. He understands both the local dynamics of Salt Lake City and how food-driven destination concepts play in urban retail ecosystems.
Chase Lindsey is a founding partner of ACCL Capital Partners overseeing the firm’s investment management and capital markets functions. Chase brings more than a decade of commercial real estate investment experience spanning multiple asset classes with a primary focus on asset management, capital markets, compliance, and investor relations. Before ACCL, Chase was a Vice President for a California-based affordable housing investment firm where he was responsible for operational oversight of the company’s real estate portfolio. Prior to this, Chase was a Senior Asset Manager for a Provo, Utah-based development firm where he led the company’s team of analysts and was the asset manager responsible for the firm’s first and largest fund comprising $500 million in hospitality, multifamily, and student housing assets. Prior to this, Chase was an Associate for a Dallas-based investment firm where he was responsible for asset management of a nationwide self-storage development portfolio. This firm successfully exited its self-storage portfolio generating a 52% IRR net to LPs over a 7-year investment period. Chase was born and raised in Utah and enjoys hiking, camping, and hunting with his dog—a fully trained Hungarian Vizsla. Chase also regularly volunteers as a mentor to the Masters of Business Creation and Entrepreneurship students at the University of Utah. Chase graduated from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business with a degree in Business Finance.
Virginia Pearce has been the Film Commissioner for the state of Utah since 2014, after spending time at both Sundance Institute and Spy Hop Youth Media. Under her leadership, the Utah Film Commission has brought network television series and numerous award-winning projects to the state, creating over $750 million of new spending in the state. Virginia has a passion for the many iconic locations in Utah and for nurturing new voices and has created a number of programs in the entertainment industry, including a low-budget incentive, workplace harassment policies, a workforce development program, and a new rural initiative.
Dana Ware is an emerging technology specialist and the Chief Creative Officer for ARound recognized for pioneering immersive experiences that transform how people interact with physical spaces. She has led large-scale AR and VR activations for major brands, sports leagues, and entertainment venues, bridging design and technology to reimagine community engagement and storytelling. Dana serves as Chair of the Women in Games + IGDA SIG, is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy, and advises the Game Developers Conference’s Future Realities Summit. A nominee for the Women Tech Council, she is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology, helping shape the future of how cities, venues, and developers use immersive experiences to connect people and places in meaningful ways.
Brandon is a Salt Lake City native with over 20 years of national entrepreneurial and institutional investment experience. After garnering institutional experience and relationships at top consulting and private equity investment firms in Boston, San Francisco, and Dallas, Brandon relocated back to Utah to focus on bringing new and exciting projects to the state he is proud to call home.
Prior to founding Blaser Ventures (as BCG Holdings) in 2018, Brandon was a partner at Dallas-based real estate private equity fund, Thackeray Partners. He oversaw and directed investment strategy and asset management decisions across Thackeray’s ~$4.3B of multi-family, industrial, retail, and office assets under management as a member of its investment committee and partner in the firm. As primary lead on Thackeray’s industrial investment and development platform, Brandon oversaw acquisitions, development, and asset management of Thackeray’s 16 million square foot portfolio and directly sourced over $400 million in industrial assets.
Brandon is a graduate of Brigham Young University and received an M.B.A. with Honors from Harvard Business School. He actively serves in civic and community efforts; is a guest lecturer at BYU in their Finance and Real Estate program; serves on the Investment Committee for Whitman-Peterson’s industrial investment platform; and is active in the Urban Land Institute where he serves as Vice Chairman of the Urban Land Institute’s National Small Scale Development Council leadership team.
Brandon and his wife, Liz, and 6 kids are glad to be “back home.”
Michael King is Senior Director of Investment Sales at Cushman & Wakefield and co-leads Utah’stop-producing investment sales team alongside his partners Kip Paul and JT Redd, covering all asset types. Michael has executed more than$1.6 billion in closed transactions across multifamily, office, industrial, retail, and development land. Michael’s background includes leading Cushman & Wakefield’s Utah Research Department, managing brokerage operations, and property management. He is widely recognized for his strength in asset positioning and disposition strategy, complex financial analysis, and the ability to problem-solve Utah’s most challenging transactions. Michael has become a catalyst in reshaping Utah’s investment landscape, a trusted voice for institutional and national equity, and a bridge connecting outside capital with local opportunity. His credibility with investors and reputation for driving results ensure his clients gain access to the most competitive buyer pools and achieve outcomes that set the market.
Andy Moffitt is a senior commercial real estate specialist and partner at Mountain West Commercial Real Estate. Over the course of his 15-year real estate career, Andy has closed over 400 lease, sale, owner/user, and investment sale transactions with a combined value just under $500,000,000.
Andy is frequently recognized for his efforts as a top producing broker at Mountain West Commercial. Year to year, Andy is consistent, he transacts and represents some of the most noteworthy deals, Tenants, and Landlords in the market, in addition to private client sales.
In 2020, Andy made history when representing Five Below. Andy was instrumental in helping Five Below open 9 new locations throughout Utah with 5 stores opening on the same day. Something no other broker in Utah had done in a single year.
Over the past 6 years, Andy has been the lead Landlord representative for Vestar with the redevelopment of The Gateway in Salt Lake City. He has successfully negotiated over 350,000 sf of executed leases consisting of Life Science and Biotech, Office, and Retail tenants. On the list, is Salt Lake’s premier Biotech Company, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Utah’s first food hall, HallPass, and Utah’s premier sports-themed entertainment and dining venue called Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club.
2020 and 2021 brought unique challenges to the commercial real estate market that provided opportunities for Andy to demonstrate market leadership and guidance with a tremendous number of closings. Andy worked with Charlotte, North Carolina-based Asana Partners to enter and acquire over 631,494 sf of legacy assets throughout the Salt Lake City market. Some of those properties include a mixed-use retail and office property called Pierpont Avenue, the iconic adaptive reuse office property, the Ford Building. A mixed-use retail and office building called Plaza 7-21, and the premier East Bench neighborhood retail center, Foothill Village. All of these acquisitions are notable on their own but combined it tells a very powerful story of Andy’s ability to assist clients with their strategic goals.
Andy is a sought-after speaker for seminars and industry events, having served as a panelist speaker for the NAIOP Symposium on two different occasions. He enjoys participating in panels and consulting with his network of associates on matters of real estate, business, and investing. Andy has been a high school girls’ golf coach, a 2-time state high school soccer champion, and spent two years volunteering in Lima, Peru. Andy dedicates himself to youth coaching, charitable pursuits, playing golf, boating in the summers, and skiing in the winters. He loves to travel but his favorite hobby is spending time making memories with his wife and three daughters.
Tanner Webster entered real estate immediately after earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Utah. Starting as a broker, he managed the acquisition and disposition of a wide variety of assets, including single family homes, self-storage, apartments, subdivisions, and industrial assets, with total transactions exceeding $50M. While these experiences gave Tanner a solid grasp of the fundamentals he shifted from transactional business to the more strategic aspects of development and investment management. To build his own investing track record, Tanner began flipping homes, gaining experience in construction management and financial modeling. He transitioned his focus to larger assets for syndications and joint ventures. To date, the portfolio includes 20,000 sq ft of retail assets, 40,000 sq ft of industrial- both for sale and for rent, 28 apartments, an office building, and 50,000 sq ft of self storage.
Keith Padien is an Executive Managing Director on Cushman & Wakefield’s Equity, Debt & Structure platform, leading the Institutional Debt Placement Team in Northern California, the Mountain West and Hawaii. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Keith spent 6 years at Eastdil Secured focused on Debt Placement in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest.
Keith’s experience includes 8 years as a lender originating and closing commercial real estate loans at Cantor Fitzgerald and Credit Suisse, in addition to being directly responsible for financing transactions totaling more than $30 billion dollars. Keith is responsible for the structuring and placement of commercial mortgages and has extensive knowledge working throughout various parts of the capital stack, including first mortgages, B- notes, mezzanine financings, and preferred equity.
Kyle Seminara is a Managing Director and member of the Senior Leadership Team at AEW. He is Head of Origination for AEW’s debt platform and responsible for equity investments in the Mountain West. Before joining AEW, Kyle was with CenterSquare Investment Management, where he acquired and managed real estate investments on behalf of the firm’s value-added strategies and separate account clients. Kyle is a CFA® charterholder and a graduate of Claremont McKenna College (B.A.)
Phil Brierley is a Vice President with CBRE’s National Office Properties Sales Group, covering the Utah market. Mr. Brierley and his team advise clients on all facets of real estate capital markets, with a focus on institutional office & industrial investment sales.
Mr. Brierley began his brokerage career in Chicago, moving to Salt Lake City in 2014, and spent 5 years running the JLL Capital Markets platform before moving to CBRE.
Prior to brokerage, Mr. Brierley worked at Morgan Stanley Capital International with some of the largest private and public real estate funds in the world, including RREEF, BlackRock and Cadillac Fairview.
Originally from South Africa, Mr. Brierley holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rhodes University, and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the University of Utah.
When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife Aimee and son Finn, and his 2 malamutes, Yoshi and Sashi, trail running in the Wasatch Mountains.
A retail, hospitality and placemaking veteran with over 25 years of experience, Jess is a trusted leader with a proven track record of achievement across a full spectrum of real estate platform types. Known across the country for her breadth of industry relationships, her execution across complex lease transactions, and her unwavering passion for relationship-building, she has executed on the some of the country’s most notable retail projects with a transaction history that features a preeminent collection of both high-profile national concepts and innovative upstarts a like. After a twenty-year career at EDENS, she took on the rollout of national real estate strategy for Sam Fox of Fox Restaurant Concepts as well as Fox’s personal management company, Author and Edit. She founded BOND in 2022 with the vision of creating a boutique retail and development group committed to principal-minded advisory, service excellence and industry-leading insight. With BOND, she is committed to being a thought partner to owners and principals by providing advisory service to top national landlords/developers and a select roster of premier hospitality leaders. In addition to her work at BOND, she sits on the board of Bartaco–an LCatterton-owned brand, as well as on the advisory board of Colada Shop, a best-in-class Cuban-style café in Washington DC. Outside of her professional life, Jess can be found spending time with her husband and two daughters, traveling, trying new restaurants, and rooting for her New York Mets.
Eva Lopez Chavez is the eldest daughter in a working-class Mexican immigrant family. She was raised to respect her elders, always lend a helping hand, and above all else, la familia es siempre primero: Family is always first.
Elected to serve in 2024, Eva is the first Mexican-American elected to the Salt Lake City Council. Born in Salt Lake City and raised in Southern Idaho, she is a proud daughter of the Rocky Mountain West, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and serves as a local consultant to businesses and organizations. Eva attended the University of Utah and studied political science from 2015-2018. Throughout her career, Eva has been actively involved in grassroots organizing and community engagement efforts, with a focus on social justice for marginalized communities.
Eva has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities in the City, such as civil enforcement, community engagement, public process and more. In her former role, she worked as a Mayor’s Office Liaison and outreach specialist helping connect communities to the intersections where policy is created.
As Council Member, her decisions revolve around these three core principles: inclusivity, sustainability, and community. She firmly believes that Salt Lake City thrives when every voice is heard, and every resident feels valued. Eva aims to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in decision-making processes and that all community members have equal access to resources and opportunities.
Eva is committed to building partnerships and fostering transparent and accountable governance, fighting for policies that prioritize the well-being of District 4, ensuring residents are heard and protecting their interests. Together, with the support of the community, Eva aims to connect communities and include every Salt Laker in the public process.
Director, Real Estate Private Equity,
Angelo Gordon
Scott Glassberg joined Angelo Gordon’s real estate group in 2012 and oversees the firm’s activities in the Midwest and Mountain regions, as well as in the self-storage and manufactured housing sectors nationally. Prior to joining Angelo Gordon, Scott worked for PwC where he focused on real estate valuation, acquisition underwriting and securitization due diligence. Scott received his B.S. in Corporate Finance & Accounting and M.S. in Accounting from Bentley University and is on the Generation Harvest board for City Harvest.
Jeff is the Managing Partner of Vesta Realty Partners where he is responsible for the overall strategy, investment activity and management of the firm. Prior to founding Vesta in 2020, Jeff was a Senior Vice President, Head of Acquisitions and Investment Committee member for Silverstein Properties, an owner/developer headquartered in New York City with holdings exceeding 20 million square feet globally. In this role, he completed over $10 billion of real estate acquisitions, development, and loan originations throughout the United States, Europe, and China. Jeff was actively involved in all areas of the firm’s investment, capital markets and new development activities. Prior to joining Silverstein in 2010, Jeff was an Analyst in the Portfolio Management Group of ING Clarion Capital – a $5 billion AUM real estate credit fund. Jeff holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Syracuse University. He is a member of ULI’s Global Exchange Council, the Pension Real Estate Association, and a Board Member of the James D. Kuhn Real Estate Center at Syracuse University.
Councilwoman,
Salt Lake City Corporation/Council Office
Victoria Petro’s journey to public service is rooted in her deep love for Salt Lake City’s Westside and her commitment to creating a brighter future. First appointed to the Salt Lake City Council in November 2021, she quickly earned the trust of District 1 voters, who elected her to a full four-year term starting Jan. 3, 2022. Her colleagues recognized her leadership abilities, electing her as Council Vice Chair in 2023 and Council Chair in 2024. Victoria also represents the city on the Utah Inland Port Authority Board and Salt Lake City Airport Board, advocating for equitable, community-centered development.
Victoria earned a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from East Carolina University, a master’s in musicology from Brandeis University, a master’s in international studies from North Carolina State University and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. Her career has spanned nonprofit leadership and consulting, with a focus on creating actionable strategies to improve inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility across various settings. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
She served on Salt Lake City’s Historic Landmark Commission and on the boards of Utahns for Culture and the Utah Cultural Alliance and the International Alliance for Women in Music. Her contributions to the community were recognized in 2019 when she received the Salt Lake City Deedee Corradini Emerging Leader Award and in 2024 when she received Utah Women Run’s Martha Hughes Cannon Award for Outstanding Impact in Local Government. When Victoria’s not working on Council priorities, she enjoys spending time with her 4 kids and contributing to the artistic and cultural vibrancy of the Westside.
