Tyler Cushman

Tyler Cushman is the senior development manager at RLCold, where he oversees cold storage projects from land acquisition through disposition. Since joining the company, he has been a key contributor, consistently delivering exceptional results and driving strategic growth. In his role, Cushman serves as the bridge between business development and real estate, aligning with tenants, securing prime sites, and coordinating across brokerage, construction and investment teams. His work ensures each project is executed seamlessly, advancing RLCold’s presence in high-demand markets nationwide.

View Full Agenda

Jake Finley

Jake Finley is the founder and CEO of Karis (est. 2014) and Karis Cold (est. 2019), and Karis Critical (est. 2023) leading one of the fastest-growing industrial real estate platforms in the U.S. He drives strategy, market expansion and pipeline development for a current portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion across more than 10 markets. Since inception, Karis has developed, acquired and sold more than $2.5 billion in industrial assets, specializing in mission-critical facilities such as cold storage and data centers. Through Karis Capital, Finley executed a landmark joint venture with private-equity real estate leader AEW, delivering one of the highest IRRs in AEW’s history upon its 2021 sale.

Before launching Karis, Finley built his career at the Chicago Board of Trade as a commodities broker, transitioned to selling industrial doors and dock equipment, and then became a leading real estate broker focused on logistics and supply-chain infrastructure. Today, he is recognized for his ability to pair deep market insight with bold, profitable execution.

View Full Agenda

Kieran Flanagan, LEED AP

Kieran D. Flanagan, Sr., brings over 30 years of leadership in commercial real estate development and construction. His expertise spans the full lifecycle of development – from due diligence and entitlements to design, permitting and full-scale construction. Known for successfully delivering complex, high-stakes projects across every asset class, Flanagan has been a driving force behind the growth and operational success of numerous companies in the industry. He now serves as principal at Saxum Real Estate, where he oversees development and construction for projects nationwide. He is recognized for his strategic oversight of field operations and project delivery teams, ensuring efficient execution and exceptional outcomes.

• 

View Full Agenda

Scott Guimond

Scott Guimond is a partner and vice president at Fisher Construction Group, with more than 17 years of experience delivering complex distribution (including ASRS), manufacturing, processing and retail facilities. Fisher is a true in-house design-build firm uniquely qualified to manage all aspects of planning, architecture, engineering (civil/structural/MEP), refrigeration integration, and construction under one roof – providing single-point accountability. Guimond helps developers convert program goals into cost-certain, speed-to-market projects through target-value design, early procurement, and constructability-led engineering that reduces change orders and risk. Backed by a deep network of subs, suppliers, and OEMs, he secures preferred terms and priority allocations while providing clear guidance from concept through commissioning; he also serves as Vice Chair of the Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA).

• 

View Full Agenda

Kate Lyle, NCARB

A licensed architect in the State of California, Kate Lyle, NCARB, has been involved in the industry since 2005, specializing in complex project types including cold storage, food processing and food distribution since 2011. At her previous company, Lyle coauthored the e-book "Best Practices in Cold Storage Facility Development" for NAIOP and has also assisted in planning NAIOP’s I.CON Cold conference for the past two years. She sits on the Controlled Environments Building Association (CEBA) Board of Directors, is part of CEBA’s Construction and Codes Committee, and involved in subcommittees focused on food safety and requirements for ventilation in refrigerated facilities.

• 

View Full Agenda

Aquiles Suarez

Aquiles Suarez is the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs for NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, where he oversees the association’s advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local level, and manages the association’s political action committee, NAIOP-PAC. Aquiles joined NAIOP in 2007 as the head of its government affairs office. Prior to joining NAIOP, he held a number of positions in the executive and legislative branches of government, serving on the White House Domestic Policy Council, senior counsel on the Financial Services Committee of the House of Representatives, and at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Aquiles received his law degree from Columbia University Law School, and his undergraduate degree in government from Georgetown University.

View Full Agenda

Cassie Wells

With over ten years in the industry, Cassie Wells used her experience as a corporate sales manager for a leading national audio-visual integrator to uncover her deep-seated passion for project and connection hunting. She gained invaluable insights into the essence of business while being immersed in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. She learned that true success in business isn't just about contracts and transactions; it's about fostering exceptional connections, nurturing authentic relationships, and maintaining deep respect for everyone you work with.

Driven by these insights and experiences, Cassie founded Modern Business Development (Modern BD) in 2022. Modern BD is not just a company; it's a solution to a gap she observed in the market. It caters to subcontractors who require expert business development services but may not be ready to make the financial leap for a full-time director of business development.

• 

View Full Agenda