NAIOP South Florida Executive Director Jules R. Morgan, Richard Florida, NAIOP South Florida Board of Directors President Heidi Davis Knapik of Gunster

NAIOP South Florida, a Commercial Real Estate Development Organization, recently presented its Signature Speaker Series featuring world-renowned urbanist, author and thought leader Richard Florida.

Legacy Bank of Florida Chairman and CEO Dennis Bedley, NAIOP South Florida Board of Directors Secretary Patty Bedley of Legacy Bank of Florida, FirstPointe Advisors Managing Partner Brian DePotter, NAIOP South Florida Board of Directors President-Elect Darcie Lunsford of Butters Construction & Development

The sold-out event brought together the leaders of South Florida’s commercial real estate and urban planning industries for a talk on the future of the region.

Neal Realty & Investments President Tim Neal, Duke Realty Senior Vice President Ed Mitchell, City National Bank Managing Senior Vice President Susan Imbrigiotta

“Our second annual Signature Speaker Series was a huge success thanks to Richard Florida, whose commentary on the changing urban landscape across South Florida and the nation proved insightful and engaging to our attendees,” said NAIOP South Florida Executive Director Jules R. Morgan. “We look forward to seeing what comes out of his partnership with Florida International University, where he is overseeing the FIU Creative City Initiative and the Miami Urban Future Initiative.”

NAIOP Corporate Vice President for Membership and Chapter Relations Diana Tucker, CBRE First Vice President Michael Silver

In addition to serving as a visiting fellow at FIU, Richard Florida serves as Director of Cities of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto and a distinguished fellow at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. He is an award-winning author of The Rise of the Creative Class and The New Urban Crisis, which detail the impact and scope of his “Creative Class” theory. Florida posits that changes in urbanization and shifts in society can be attributed to the Creative Class, a group of 40 million Americans, more than a third of the American workforce, whose work is educated, creative and innovative.

Richard Pierson, Sunbeam Properties & Development Vice President Maridee Bell and Leasing Associate Lauren Pace, Pierson Grant Public Relations CEO Maria Pierson

NAIOP South Florida’s annual Signature Speaker Series brings successful, knowledgeable and nationally acclaimed speakers to share insights with a diverse membership of real estate professionals and developers. Featuring speakers such as Richard Florida and Steve Forbes, the Signature Speaker Series elevates the conversation and caliber of the chapter’s programming.

NAIOP South Florida Board of Directors President-Elect Darcie Lunsford of Butters Construction & Development, NAIOP South Florida Board President Heidi Davis Knapik of Gunster, Richard Florida, City of Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steven Glassman

Event sponsors included Grover Corlew, Marcus & Millichap, Risk Strategies, Avison Young and Gunster.

Grover Corlew Principal Mark Corlew, Stigliano Commercial Real Estate President Reese Stigliano

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate. It provides strong advocacy, education and business opportunities by connecting members in a powerful North American network.

FirstPointe Advisors Managing Partner Brian DePotter, FirstPointe Advisors Analyst Jake Koppelman, NAIOP South Florida Marketing & Accounting Manager Alba Garcia