NFDA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021
October 19 – 21, 2021 
National Press Club, 529 14th St NW
Floor 13 - Washington, DC


AGENDA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021  

5:00 - 8:00PM                 Pre-Conference Reception (Nicks Riverside Grill - outside patio)
                                         (DIFFERENT LOCATION FROM 2019!)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021  

8:00 – 8:45AM

Registration & Breakfast  

8:45 – 9:00AM       

Welcome – NFDA Executive Chair Greg Margetich, President, The Margetich Group

9:00 – 10:00AM  

GSA PBS Commissioner – Nina Albert
Meet the new PBS Commissioner and hear insights and thoughts for her new agenda. 

10:00 – 11:30AM    

GSA Staff Panel – Moderated by NFDA Conference Committee Chair Marcy Owens Test, Senior Vice President, CBRE FLAG 

Hear about the hot topics on GSA’s Agenda.  

  • John Thomas, Acting Assistant Commissioner GSA 
  • Gina DiTommaso, Lease Project Management and Tools Division, Office of Leasing, PBS 
  • Justin Hawes, Director, Lease Policy & Innovation Division, Office of Leasing, PBS 

 

 

11:30 – 11:35AM 


11:35  – 11:45AM 

 

NFDA Membership Chair Fran Cowan, Vice President, NGP Group

Annual Diamond Sponsor Recognition – NFDA Executive Chair Greg Margetich, President, The Margetich Group

11:45 - 12:15PM  

 

LUNCH

12:15 - 1:30PM  

 

Capital Constraints for Federal Ownership – Moderated by Dan Mathews, Head of Federal Sales, WeWork

Is Federal ownership less expensive than leasing? Hear how GSA manages its ongoing capital liability in its owned portfolio, the future of Federal funding, and possible solutions for positive cash flow. 

  • Elliot Doomes, Professional Staff at U.S. House of Representatives - Appropriations - Financial Services and General Government 
  • James King, Managing Consultant, Guidehouse 
  • David Winstead, Attorney at Law, Ballard Spahr 

1:30 – 1:45PM

 

BREAK/EXHIBIT HALL OPEN

1:45 – 2:30PM

 

GSA Success Stories Panel – Moderated by Robert C. MacKichan, Jr., Partner, Holland and Knight

Hear first-hand how to make your deal a success story with insights shared by Lessors and brokers who have a positive track record managing GSA projects. 

  • Joseph Brennan, Senior Managing Director, JLL 
  • Scott Johnston, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield 
  • Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., Managing Partner, Paolino Properties
  • Michael Waldrop, CEO, Blue Cord Design & Construction, LLC. | Property Management, LLC | Real Estate & Development Company, LLC
2:30 – 2:45PM     Break/Exhibit Hall Open 

2:45 – 3:30PM   

 

Post Lease Award – Design, Price and Construction – Moderated by Brian Calis, Vice President, JLL  

Promises and Perils. You won the lease award but now what? Architects and General Contractors share their experiences with post-lease award services. 

  • Kevin Clark, Vice President, EE Reed Construction (formerly with Davis Construction)
  • Chris Hogeboom, Project ExecutiveHITT Construction 
  • Joseph Siewers, Architect, Gensler
  • Nita Tuvesson, Interior Designer, HOK
3:30 – 3: 45PM    

BREAK/EXHIBIT HALL OPEN

3:45 – 4:30PM      

Federal Agency Perspective – Moderated by Norman Dong, Managing Director, FD Stonewater

Real estate leads from Federal tenant agencies will share perspective on how mission and operational requirements continue to evolve and inform agency real estate portfolio strategy.   

  • Tom Chaleki, Chief Readiness and Support Officer, Department of Homeland Security
  • Tara Lawson, Director, Real Property Management, Department of State 
  • Michael Saunders, Director, Real Estate, Logistics, and Operations, Department of Health and Human Services 
4:30 – 5:00PM                  General Meeting & Election/Re-Election of Directors


Thursday, October 21, 2021

8:00 – 9:00AM                                 BREAKFAST/EXHIBIT HALL OPEN
9:00 - 9:30AM    

Acting, Associate Executive Director, Office of Real Property, Department of Veterans Affairs – Mitch Ortiz
Highlights of VA’s current activities will be presented.

 9:30 - 10:15AM  

VA Leasing and Construction – Moderated by Mark Ritchie, Principal, Gantry, Inc.

What are the current topics impacting today’s VA leased construction projects?  Hear about how the VA is working with industry to manage and streamline the development process.

  • Zeb Fox, DBA, Associate Executive Director, Office of Facilities Acquisition
  • Mitch Ortiz, Acting, Associate Executive Director, Office of Real Property, Dept. of Veterans Affairs

 10:15 - 10:30AM

  BREAK/EXHIBIT HALL OPEN

10:30 - 11:30AM    

 

Asset Management During the Lease Term 

 

 

Best practices for Asset Management, Lease Administration, and Managing Operating Costs  Moderated by Kelly Young, Senior Development Manager, Russell Construction & Development

  • Dionnie Bolar, President/CEO, Property Enterprises, Inc.
  • J. Todd Willett, CPM, Managing Director Government Solutions Group, Colliers

11:30 – 12:00PM 

 

GAO’s Current and Emerging Federal Real Estate Issues–  Keith Cunningham, Assistant Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues at the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) 

 12:00 – 12:15PM

 

Final Comments & Adjourn – NFDA Vice Chair Ronald Kendall, Executive Vice President, Easterly Government Properties

*Please note: All sessions will take place in the Ballroom. This agenda is subject to change.

 

Please read the guidelines that are required by the National Press Club during your visit.

  • Visitors are required to wear a mask or face covering in all indoor spaces, except when actively consuming food or drink
  • Visitors will be asked to provide proof of vaccination (a digital copy will work) or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within the last 72 hours.
  • There will be a temperature check at the door.
 

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