Josh Brown is the Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. PSRC works to support a thriving central Puget Sound region through planning for growth, transportation, and economic development. PSRC provides more than $250 million annually to fund transportation projects and serves as a resource for regional data on transportation, the economy, population, and housing. Following a historic period of rapid growth and strong economic gains, the central Puget Sound region is now facing public health and economic challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic. In complex and changing times, PSRC helps bring leaders together to work on solutions to these shared regional challenges. Josh meets regularly with elected leadership and gives presentations to groups around the region to share information on regional data, funding and planning efforts. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Josh was elected to two terms as Kitsap County Commissioner. While Commissioner, he was active in regional issues and served as PSRC President for two years. Before serving as Kitsap County Commissioner, he worked as a commercial real estate broker. Josh attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree focused on city and regional planning. Raised in the Puget Sound region, Josh is the son of a Puget Sound Naval Shipyard worker and graduated from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo.

Murphy McCullough is Executive Vice President and Regional Manager of Commercial Development at Skanska USA Commercial Development, Inc. and brings with him 26 years of experience in real estate development. Murphy oversees all development activities in the market from land acquisition through divestment. Most recently, he leads the 2+U project in downtown Seattle, Skanska’s largest development investment to date. Since joining Skanska in 2011 as the Vice President of Development, Murphy helped deliver Skanska’s first development projects in the Greater Seattle region, including Stone34 the Brooks Sports headquarters in Fremont and Seattle’s first living building pilot program participant, Alley111 apartments in downtown Bellevue, Skanska’s first multi-family development in the U.S.; and 400 Fairview Tommy Bahama’s headquarters including the Market Hall in South Lake Union. Prior to joining Skanska, he worked on some of Seattle’s large-scale developments, including Fourth & Madison and Harbor Steps. Murphy currently is an active member of the Downtown Seattle Association, which focuses on championing a healthy, vibrant urban core and previously was the appointed Chair of the City of Seattle’s Downtown Design Review Board.

Alan Hart is a founding principal of VIA, creating communities that are more walkable, livable, sustainable, and better connected, for more than 35 years. Alan’s career has covered a broad spectrum of mixed-use, transit, and urban planning projects. A strong advocate for clarity and integrity in the design process, his expertise includes the creation of high-quality urban environments from transit systems to urban development. His particular skills include finding opportunities for design innovation in unlikely places. Alan consistently serves as a champion for architectural and urban design of infrastructure as an integral part of a community vision. In a leadership role, he works closely with multi-disciplined teams to develop innovative methods of delivery, including design-build, that not only put value on design but also implement it. VIA’s numerous pioneering projects reflect this standard of excellence.

Brian Surratt is President and CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, the region’s leading global marketing, economic development, and international trade and investment organization. Previously, he was Executive Director of LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Puget Sound, one of the country’s largest community development organizations, and recently launched the Housing Equity Accelerator with Amazon to support emerging developers of color in the region. Prior to that role, Brian was a Vice President at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, one of the largest developers of life science and technology campuses in the nation’s leading urban innovation centers. Before joining Alexandria, Brian was the Director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development where he successfully negotiated the agreement to redevelop Climate Pledge Arena, a new $1.2 billion music and professional sports venue at the Seattle Center and was the City’s policy lead for Seattle’s historic efforts as the first major city in the United States to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Brian has been recognized by the German Marshall Memorial and the White House Fellowship programs, as well as Seattle Met Magazine as one of “The 15 People Who Should Really Run Seattle” and Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40”. Brian is currently a board member of FareStart, Seattle Colleges District, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, the Seattle Center Foundation, Downtown Emergency Services Center, and Downtown Seattle Association. He received his BA in Philosophy from the University of Tulsa and his MPA from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Brian is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Ryan Thomas helps clients navigate complex statutory and regulatory schemes in order to obtain and defend the approvals and agreements necessary to complete their projects. Ryan’s practice blends land use, project development, and energy law. He has experience in administrative law, and both state and federal court. Ryan’s land use practice focuses on all aspects of project development, including setting and implementing the strategy for project entitlement, navigating public-private partnerships, obtaining variances, complying with environmental laws and processes, addressing historical and cultural resources, and providing due diligence review. He works with the private sector and with school districts; he regularly negotiates agreements with local municipalities. His energy practice centers on the complex regulatory framework for energy companies. Ryan leverages his local and federal government experience to support strategic, efficient and successful project development. He has experience advising companies with regulatory issues before the state public utility commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Outside of his law practice, Ryan served on the board of Days for Girls International, a nonprofit organization that provides reusable feminine hygiene products and education to women in developing countries. During law school, Ryan volunteered at the Innocence Project Northwest, served as an extern to the Justice Charles K. Wiggins of the Washington Supreme Court, and clerked for the Federal Public Defender.

Kelley Lovshin serves as Vice President, Seattle Region, having previously worked in the New York Region. Prior to joining BXP in 2017, she served as Vice President of Development and Construction for Stellar. Over her almost 20-year career in real estate, she has been responsible for more than six and a half million square feet of new development and renovation projects in commercial, residential and life sciences. Ms. Lovshin co-chairs the ULI NEXT committee for Seattle, is an active member of NAIOP and is on the Advisory Board for the Runstad Department of Real Estate at University of Washington. She received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia and she holds a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.

As Vice President Capital Markets West Region, Christa is responsible for capitalizing all Ryan-owned and developed projects in the West Region by managing various aspects of the funding process from inception to final disposition. Together with Ryan senior leadership, Christa is also involved in overall investment strategy and is the lead contact for the capital relationships in the region including institutional and private equity partners and interim and permanent lenders. Prior to joining Ryan, Christa was Chief Operating Officer for Talon Private Capital. Talon is a privately-held real estate investment firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington focused on the acquisition, disposition and investment management of primarily office projects. As COO, Christa was responsible for leading all debt sourcing and equity relationships in addition to developing corporate strategy, financial budgeting and planning, and all company operations. Before joining Talon, Christa was Chief Financial Officer at Kemper Development Company, a family-owned real estate company located in downtown Bellevue, WA. KDC privately owns and operates more than 6 million square feet including 1.7 million square feet of retail housing over 300 stores/restaurants; 1.7 million square feet of Class A office in three towers; 1,300 luxury hotel rooms including the four-star Westin, Hyatt, and W Bellevue; and 360 exclusive residences. While at KDC she closed over $1.3 Billion in construction, interim, and permanent debt transactions and negotiated ownership transfers, property acquisitions/sales and was responsible for the leadership of the company’s accounting, finance and IT departments. Prior to joining Kemper Development in 2012, Christa was with Key Bank Real Estate Capital where she most recently held the title of SVP and Regional Executive. In this role, she was responsible for the leadership of a team of bankers that covered the Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas markets and provided interim, construction and permanent financing to private commercial real estate companies owning portfolios of $50 million to over $1 Billion in assets. Christa serves on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue and is on the Board and serves as Secretary of the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce. She held past positions on various Boards, most notably the Executive Committee and Treasurer of the Bellevue Downtown Association and President of the Bellevue Police Foundation. She is also a member of the Urban Land Institute and its Urban Mixed-Used Bronze Council and the CREW Network.

Erik is a creative leader who became an architect to pursue his lifelong interests in both art and science. He leads the design process with a thoughtful approach to the creation of holistically conceived and innovative buildings that positively transform their context, enhance human experience, and create lasting value. Erik views architecture as an art with the potential to make a profound impact on people’s lives through the creation of well-conceived buildings, cities, and environments. He strives to improve the built environment through a meaningful fusion of form and function in each project. Erik’s clients enjoy his thoughtful creative approach and collaborative, engaging thought leadership. His work has received numerous awards for design quality.

Tim has been with GLY since 2004 and has a hand in a variety of market sectors, but plays a key role in the firm’s residential and mixed-use projects. With experience in a wide range of project types, he adapts quickly to evolving trends and changing needs. On each project, Tim facilitates unique and team-oriented solutions to challenges that support the success of the entire team—owner, architect, tenant, and neighborhood, making him a trusted and respected Principal and Senior Project Manager whose industry relationships continue well beyond project completion. Tim’s skills and collaborative approach serve him well as a father of two daughters.

Patrick Bannon has been president of the Bellevue Downtown Association, a membership organization of business and civic leaders who champion a strong economic and cultural heart for Bellevue and the Eastside, since 2013. He was the communications and public affairs manager there for seven years before moving into his current role. Patrick and the BDA team support members with advocacy, marketing and major community events, and strategic programs to help the Downtown area thrive. Prior to the BDA, Patrick was an account executive for the Seattle and Los Angeles offices of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. He also worked for a year in Hokkaido, Japan as an English teacher for junior high students. Patrick serves on the board of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and he is a past chair and board member for Leadership Eastside. He graduated from Pepperdine University, where he also met his wife, Sunni. They are Eastside residents with two fast-growing kids and a yellow Lab.

Mary is a real estate professional with a background in architecture, urban design, policy, project management, and finance. She cares about making smart spaces- ones that combine sustainable and attractive design with ease of access, and a sense of surprise or delight- qualities that keep people returning over and over. Mary has a passion for communities, and am dedicated to creating the types of places that allow cities and communities to thrive socially, economically, and health-wise.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz leads Washington state’s wildfire fighting force and manages nearly 6 million acres of public lands – from coastal waters and aquatic reserves, to working forests and farms, commercial developments, and unparalleled recreation areas. Commissioner Franz is committed to ensuring our public lands are healthy and productive, both today and for future generations. She has led efforts to protect our communities and environment from the impacts of a changing climate, increased development, and wildfire. Franz has also prioritized supporting local communities, both urban and rural. The lands she manages sustainably generate hundreds of millions of dollars for schools and public services, like libraries and hospitals. And she has allocated millions of dollars to spark economic opportunities in struggling rural communities. She knows that our working lands – and the communities that depend on them for family-wage jobs – are integral to our success as a state, and she is investing in their success. Since taking office in 2017, Franz has: • Secured a historic $500 million investment from the state Legislature to prevent and fight wildfires, fund forest restoration, and build community resilience. This bipartisan legislation – supported by a wide-ranging coalition of firefighters, fire chiefs, tribes, environmentalists, and public health advocates – passed unanimously. • Developed a 20-year Forest Health Strategic Plan to restore wildfire resilience in our forests. This plan will make more than 1 million acres of forest healthier and more resistant to wildfires – at a scale and pace that is unprecedented. Already, DNR has conducted forest restoration work on hundreds of thousands of acres to increase forest and watershed resilience. • Developed the agency’s first-ever Plan for Climate Resilience, which lays out a course of action to combat the threat of climate change. Commissioner Franz works with a coalition of science, policy, and business leaders to recommend and implement climate resilience in Washington state. • Worked with the Legislature protect nearly 40,000 additional acres of state lands, including the preservation of Blanchard Mountain, adding them to the 800,000 acres of DNR lands already managed for conservation. • Ordered the shutdown and removal of a salmon farm in Port Angeles following the unauthorized release of hundreds of thousands of non-native Atlantic salmon. She was also a central part of the successful effort to halt federal plans for offshore drilling near the Olympic Peninsula. • Introduced a sweeping proposal to “Keep Washington Evergreen” by protecting 1 million acres of forest from deforestation and replanting 1 million acres of forest by 2040. Under Commissioner Franz’s leadership, DNR has built a robust clean-energy program to help combat the climate crisis and create clean energy jobs. For the first time in Washington state history, the agency has leased state trust lands for solar power projects. Franz has also expanded DNR’s wind power program, with wind turbines on state trust lands that can generate 200 megawatts of power, which raise millions to build public schools and universities. Franz is a third-generation farmer and small forest landowner, and has three boys who she raised on a farm. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a juris doctor from Northeastern University Law School.

As the UDP’s Built Environment Community Relations Manager, Katy is responsible for engaging, convening, and educating public and private partners, community residents, and business owners on the major development initiatives taking place in the district. Katy has extensive experience in the intersection of environmental and urban policy and equitable community development. Previously, she was a program manager with the national non-profit EcoDistricts, where she managed capacity building and training programs to help communities and municipalities implement sustainable and equitable neighborhood projects. Katy has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, with a specialization in Environmental Policy.

As a Senior Planner, Stephen Antupit brings to the Urban Design Studio deep passion and diverse expertise to support equity, resilience, and livability. His portfolio includes urban design and planning accomplishments at the Comprehensive Plan policy level, crafting Land Use Code provisions, launching and leading Station Area Planning and large-scale mixed-income redevelopment programs, and crafting and implementing award-winning master plan visions. Stephen equally enjoys challenges at detailed, site and streetscape scales as well as complex initiatives of citywide and regional impact. In all, Stephen embraces a commitment to inclusive stakeholder engagement, creative partnerships, and strategic fun with a purpose. He has served as city and public agency staff, as a design team consultant, and as an engaged professional on behalf of Northwest communities large and small for three decades. He considers his marriage and two grown children to be his greatest source of pride and joy. Stephen holds a Master of Urban Design in Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Renewable Energy Policy from The Colorado College.

Don Blakeney joined the UDP in 2021, bringing with him fifteen years of local economic development and non-profit experience. Prior to the UDP, Don led advocacy and economic development for the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) and was also the Executive Director of the business improvement area in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Prior to returning to Seattle, Don worked for the Times Square Alliance—a business improvement district in Manhattan’s theatre district. Don earned masters degrees in both Public Administration and Urban Planning from Columbia University and has been actively involved in the Seattle community over the past decade. He co-founded Seattle’s first storefront arts program–Storefronts Seattle–and has served on a variety of boards including Historic South Downtown, Cornish College of the Arts, the Cal Anderson Park Alliance, Friends of the Benson Trolleys. Today, Don lives on Capitol Hill with his wife Erin.

Emil King is Assistant Director in the City of Bellevue’s Community Development Department. His leads a team of professional planners focused on securing Bellevue’s future as a livable, inspiring, vibrant, and equitable community. Emil has been with Bellevue since 2000, and views his role in light rail planning and developing mixed-use urban neighborhoods in the BelRed Subarea and Downtown Bellevue as especially satisfying. Emil is a certified planner and active member of the American Planning Association. He holds a master’s in urban planning from the University of Washington and economics degree from the University of Hawaii. When not at work Emil loves to go cycling and trail running.