ULI North Florida- 2026 Jacksonville Trends in Real Estate Conference

When

2026-01-21
2026-01-21T13:00:00 - 2026-01-21T18:00:00
America/New_York

Choose Your Calendar

    Where

    San Jose Country Club Will open in a new window 7529 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32217 United States

    Pricing

    Standard Pricing Until January 20 Members Non-Members
    All Types $120.00 $160.00
    Register Register Two or More

    ULI North Florida: 2026 Trends in Real Estate Conference

    Date: January 21, 2026
    Location: San Jose Country Club
    Time: 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM

    Join ULI North Florida for our signature Trends in Real Estate Conference, where industry leaders and experts share insights shaping the future of real estate – locally and nationally. This year's program features a dynamic lineup of local panelists as well as a national outlook from featured speaker Chuck DiRocco of PricewaterhouseCoopers, presenting the highly anticipated national forecast for 2026.

    Program Agenda
    12:30 PM - Check-In
    1:15 - 2:15 PM - Opening Session: Jay Parsons, Rental Housing Economist, Jay Parsons Research
    2:30 - 3:45 PM - Breakout Sessions

    • Building Smarter: Labor Shortages, Construction Costs & Innovation
      • Giselle Carson, U.S. Corporate Immigration Attorney & Global Talent Strategist, Marks Gray
      • Ryan Schmitt, CEO, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors
      • Lane Nelson, President, Abercrombie
      • Billy-Dale Tyson, Chief Operating Officer, Auld & White
      • Moderated by: Paul Bertozzi, Founder & CEO, Live Oak Contracting
    • Capital Markets
      • Marty Busekrus, Managing Director, Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation
      • Lauren Ervin, VP, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, SouthState Bank
      • Bill Sorenson, Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Capital Group
      • Moderated by: Brian Crooke, Vice President - Commercial Banking, SouthState Bank
    • Big Beautiful Bill: New Tax Law Changes
      • Cassie Brown, Partner, Coleman Talley
      • Eddie Rivera, Managing Director, SAX LLP
      • Daniel Roccanti, Director, James Moore & Co
      • Moderated by: Nicole Renner, Development Manager, Gateway Jax

    4:00 - 4:55 PM - Keynote: Chuck DiRocco, Director, Real Estate Research, PwC
    5:00 - 6:00 PM - Networking Happy Hour

    2026 Sponsorship Levels >>
    Please reach out to Jennifer Morrison – [email protected] to secure your sponsorship. 

     

    Thank You to Our Presenting Sponsors

         

     

    Session Sponsors

     

    Reception Sponsors

     

         

     

                 

     

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    Featured Speaker Sponsors

    Advanced Drainage Systems
    Aspect Real Estate Group
    Avant Construction Group
    CBRE
    Chance Partners
    Dream Finders Homes
    Gateway Jax
    Live Oak Contracting
    RISE Real Estate
    SouthState Bank
     

    San Jose Country Club 7529 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32217 United States

    view map Will open in a new window

    Speakers

    Keynote Speaker

    Jay Parsons

    Rental Housing Economist, Jay Parsons Research

    Rental housing economist, speaker and writer. Author and speaker on topics including rental housing investment and asset management strategy, rental housing policy issues, risk management and property management – covering apartments and single-family rentals. Cited in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times, The Economist, and The New York Times, among other outlets. Appeared on CNBC and BloombergTV. Commentaries have been published by Barron's, Pension Real Estate Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Apartment Association, American Banker and GlobeSt. Formerly Chief Economist at RealPage. Currently serving as Rental Housing Economist / Jay Parsons Research, Partner at WayMaker, Economic Advisor at JPI, Strategy Advisor at Madera Residential.

    Giselle Carson

    U.S. Corporate Immigration Attorney & Global Talent Strategist, Marks Gray

    Giselle Carson is a recognized corporate immigration and compliance attorney. She partners with employers to help them hire and retain global talent and develop effective immigration strategies to remain competitive and compliant in a global economy. As a two-time immigrant, Mrs. Carson has experienced the challenges and joy of immigration. She was born in Cuba, escaped to Canada and later immigrated to the U.S. She now uses her personal and professional experience to help employers and foreign nationals save time, effort and stress by helping them navigate the complexities of immigration law with client-attentive efficiencies and strategic partnership. Her practice is focused on corporate immigration. Her work includes helping businesses and individuals obtain work visas, permanent residence status (“green card”) and naturalization. She also guides organizations on immigration compliance including Form I-9 and government audits. She is a published author and renowned speaker on immigration matters. In 2025, she published her second book The Corporate Immigration Advantage: How to Hire, Retain and Thrive with Global Talent in a Competitive World, described as a “timely blueprint for global talent strategy. This book offers valuable insights into navigating complex immigration laws and provides clear, actionable guidance on streamlining the work visa process. A must read if you are involved in hiring foreign nationals.” She is married to Jeff, a physical therapist. They are both accomplished Ironman Triathletes and Marathoners. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.

    Ryan Schmitt

    Founder & CEO, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc.

    100% Owner, Founder and President of PetticoatSchmitt Civil Contractors, Inc. Ryan has over three decades of experience in the civil contracting industry with the last thirty in senior management. A proven leader in the civil construction industry bringing a consistent history of corporate and association leadership, his areas of expertise include strategic planning, organizational design, process development and implementation, recruiting and staffing, motivating work force, safety design and implementation, estimating, project management, equipment acquisition and managerial accounting.

    Billy-Dale Tyson

    Chief Operating Officer, Auld & White Constructors, LLC

    Billy-Dale Tyson is responsible for managing construction operations and ensuring successful performance at both the project and company levels. A results-driven leader with extensive experience across commercial, public, and financial sectors, he brings exceptional organizational, communication, and project execution skills to every endeavor. Having previously led Auld & White Constructors’ Interiors Division and served as Vice President of Strategic Accounts, Billy-Dale has been instrumental in strengthening client partnerships and expanding the firm’s local presence. Billy-Dale is also deeply involved in his industry and community. He serves as Vice Chair of the University of North Florida’s Construction Management Advisory Board, sits on the Executive Board of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), and is an active member at Hendricks Avenue Baseball League, giving back to the community his family has called home for four generations.

    Moderator

    Paul Bertozzi

    Founder and CEO, Live Oak Contracting

    PRESIDENT & CEO Paul Bertozzi is the Founder and CEO of Live Oak Contracting, a multifamily general contractor based in downtown Jacksonville. He received a BA in Economics from Auburn University and immediately began his career in the construction industry. To-date, Paul is a licensed general contractor in nine states. Since founding Live Oak Contracting in 2014, Paul has grown their portfolio to include projects up and down the East Coast from Florida to Maine. Live Oak Contracting’s mission statement is a true reflection of Paul’s goals for not only his company, but for his employees as well; building long-term relationships based on integrity. Under Paul’s leadership, Live Oak has successfully managed projects in an array of industries, including Market Rate, Tax Credit, HUD Multifamily, Mixed Use, Industrial, and Commercial. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Paul has grown Live Oak Contracting exponentially over recent years. In 2015, the company reported $7.5 million in revenue, growing to $96 million in revenue by 2018 and to $189 million in 2020. Paul drove these results through his example and management and led Live Oak Contracting to be recognized as one of Jacksonville’s top 50 fastest-growing companies by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Paul’s management has elevated Live Oak Contracting to award-winning status. Categories of recognition include quality of work, commitment to employees, and overall growth rate. These awards include: 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 Fast 50 from the Jacksonville Business Journal 2019 finalist for Coolest Office Space with the Jacksonville Business Journal 2019, 2020, 2021 Best Places to Work with the Jacksonville Business Journal 2019, 2020, 2021 Top 10 Largest General Contractors by Revenue with the Jacksonville Business Journal Ranked 34th on Inc 500’s Fastest Growing Companies in the Country in 2018 2018’s #1 Fastest-Growing Contracting Company from

    Marty Busekrus

    Managing Director, Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation

    Fully integrated into the Florida commercial real estate industry as a Managing Director at Ciminelli Real Estate Services of Florida, Marty covers markets from Jacksonville down to South Florida and works with owners of commercial real estate to maximize asset values through effective operations.  He is a current board member of BOMA Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beaches, a SIOR, a member of NAIOP and is a active member of the Florida Industrial Product Council for ULI.  He is fluent in the language of Argus Enterprise, Capital Markets, Networking, Cash Flow Projections, Underwriting, Lease Analysis, and Excel Modeling.

    Bill Sorenson

    Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Capital Group, Inc.

    Bill is the CEO of Heritage Capital Group, Inc., a Jacksonville based investment banking and financial advisory firm serving middle-market and emerging growth companies in the U.S. and abroad. Bill leads a team of 23 registered representatives supporting sale, acquisition, capital raises, and strategic consulting assignments for clients. Bill is also the President and owner of Business Valuation, Inc., a sister company to Heritage Capital and a full-service valuation company supporting clients in multiple industries to support transactions, buy/sell agreements, financial reporting, tax filing, estate planning, and litigation. Prior to being named CEO in 2024, he led both sell-side and buy-side assignments for clients seeking to sell or grow their businesses and has completed hundreds of valuations of operating companies.    A member of the Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2015, Bill is active in his community, having served as the president of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville and currently serving on the Governing Body of the ATHENA PowerLink Program for the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center. He earned a BBA from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Purdue University and is a certified valuation analyst. Bill holds Series 79, 63, and 24 licenses and is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida.

    Cassie Brown

    Partner, Coleman Talley LLP

    Cassie Brown is a Partner at Coleman Talley LLP, where her practice focuses on representing developers and owners in the closing of affordable housing transactions utilizing federal and state financing programs, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), as well as a range of conventional and subsidized financing sources. Beyond her legal practice, Cassie is an active leader in Florida’s affordable housing community. She is a founding member, Board Director, and Secretary of the Florida Women’s Affordable Housing Network (WAHN), where she works to advance collaboration, education, and practical solutions to expand access to affordable housing across the state.

    Eddie Rivera

    Managing Director, Sax LLP

    Eddie Rivera is a Tax Partner at Sax LLP and has practiced in various accounting, tax, and finance areas for more than 20 years. Eddie earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from William Paterson University and a Master of Science in Taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Eddie is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of New Jersey. Eddie has a diverse technical background having spent four years working for his father providing bookkeeping and tax services to small businesses and five years delivering accounting and auditing services to some of the largest privately owned real estate and construction enterprises in the Tri-state area. Since completing graduate school, Eddie has focused his time on mastering the tax law, specifically as it relates to the private equity, real estate and construction industries. Immediately prior to joining Sax, Eddie was a Tax Partner at a Top-25 public accounting firm. Eddie also previously served as Vice President of Accounting and Taxation of the Kushner Companies, a large, diversified real estate investment firm. The diverse experience and knowledge Eddie gained during his career helps him to better understand his clients' needs and deliver targeted and efficient business and tax advice. Eddie is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA), the North Florida Chapter of Urban Land Institute (NFULI), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Eddie frequently moderates and speaks on panels focused on various topics in the areas of taxation, real estate, and construction. Most recently, Eddie has spoken on 1031/like kind exchanges, Opportunity Zones, and tax planning for construction contractors.

    Daniel Roccanti

    Director, James Moore & Co., CPAs and Consultants

    Daniel Roccanti is a tax director and real estate industry with public accounting firm James Moore & Co., advising real estate businesses and investors on planning and transaction strategy. He hosts the Real Estate Industry Update, a video series focused on helping professionals stay current on key market trends and legislative developments.

    Moderator

    Nicole Renner

    Development Manager, Gateway Jax

    Nicole provides expert guidance and oversight for Gateway Jax’s development pipeline. She brings 15+ years of experience in the development and construction industry, spanning from single-lot development, single-family homes, education, mixed-use, and residential, to infill and large-scale master planning. Working from New York City to the Front Range of Colorado, she brings a unique perspective gained from different regions of the U.S. Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in infrastructure planning, both from New Jersey Institute of Technology.