Senior Associate, Cushman & Wakefield

Pearson is a senior associate at Cushman & Wakefield. Pearson works out of the company’s Woodland Hills office, representing entities throughout the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys. She serves corporate clients in a variety of fields and asset types. She works with her clients to lower occupancy costs, finding and negotiating leases and renewing existing leases. Pearson is responsible for all the business development efforts for the Woodland Hills office of Cushman & Wakefield including sponsorships, events and networking activities. Pearson is also a member of ACG 101 Corridor and The Exchange networking organization. She is the co-chair of the Child and Family Guidance Center Development Committee.

Principal, Managing Partner, GCX

O’Connor is a principal and managing partner at Toluca Lake-based GCX, a licensed general contractor which he co-founded in 2018 along with Jarred Walker. Since the company’s inception, it has grown to include more than 40 full-time professionals and four offices, with additional locations in San Diego, Orange County and the Bay Area. O’Connor’s introduction to the industry came when he worked as a laborer on the Central Arizona Project in the summer of 1985. O’Connor spent 22 years as a superintendent, becoming vice president at Howard Building Corp., one of Los Angeles’ largest tenant improvement contractors. He is a strong advocate for incorporating technology into construction practices to be competitive.

Senior Vice President, Kidder Mathews

Silverstein is a senior vice president with Kidder Mathews. As an office leasing and sales expert with over four decades of experience, primarily in the San Fernando Valley, Silverstein provides clients with comprehensive, in-depth market intelligence to support marketing and negotiating strategies. Some of his most recent notable deals include the sale of a 48,000-square-foot office building in Woodland Hills and a 31,000-square-foot lease in West Hills. Prior to joining Kidder Mathews in 2023, Silverstein was with Lee & Associates for more than 20 years, garnering over $1 billion in transactions.

Vice Chairman, CBRE

Robinson, a vice chairman at CBRE, has more than 35 years of real estate experience. He specializes in industrial leasing and sales, private client investment sales and land development transactions. During his career, he has successfully facilitated over 116 million square feet of sale and lease transactions totaling over $6 billion. Some of Robinson’s clients include Pool Corp, Link Logistics, Prologis, Barefoot Dreams Inc., BIMBO Bakeries USA and Ferguson Enterprises. He serves as a board member of CBRE’s Industrial and Logistics executive committee. Robinson is based in Glendale. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California State University, Northridge.

President, Chief Financial Officer, Westcord Commercial Real Estate

Principe is the president and chief financial officer of Westcord Commercial Real Estate Services, a privately held commercial real estate firm based in Westlake Village. A 38-year veteran and top producer specializing in both office and industrial properties for Westcord, Principe has recorded over 5,000 sales and lease transactions totaling over 10 million square feet and $6 billion. Principe founded Westcord Commercial Real Estate Services in 1969. Principe is also the founder and co-managing partner of T.R. Funding LLC and principal of Principe Capital, which has developed and rehabilitated over 50 properties. He is involved with various organizations such as the California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks, and Optimist Club of the Conejo Valley.

President, Chief Executive, NewMark Merrill Cos. Inc.

Sigal is the chief executive and president of Calabasas-based NewMark Merrill Cos., a developer and owner of shopping centers he founded in 1997. NewMark Merrill currently owns and/or manages 95 shopping centers in three states, representing a collective value of over $2.5 billion. Sigal is also chair of BrightStreet Ventures, a company he co-founded to provide more opportunities to his tenants and other owners of shopping centers. Sigal serves on the board of the Camp Bob Waldorf foundation and as board president of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles.

President, Chief Executive, Delphi Business Properties

Puffer has been president and chief executive of Delphi Business Properties Inc., an independently operated real estate brokerage firm specializing in industrial properties throughout San Fernando, Santa Clarita Valley and Ventura County, since acquiring the company in January 2018. In his more than 20 years at Delphi, Puffer has amassed nearly $1 billion in sales. Puffer is president of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors Greater Los Angeles Chapter, which is currently one of the largest chapters of SIOR in the world. Puffer is also the past president of the American Industrial Real Estate Association, a nonprofit company that provides purchase and lease contracts that are used nationwide. He attended UCLA.

Principal, Managing Partner, GCX

Walker is a principal and managing partner at Toluca Lake-based GCX, a licensed general contractor serving Southern California. He co-founded the firm, which specializes in commercial construction, in 2018 with Greg O’Connor. It has grown to include more than 40 full-time employees across four offices. Walker got his start at The Irvine Co., working as a construction coordinator, before working his way up to higher positions at Clune Construction, Unispace and Howard Building Corp. Walker is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Chief Executive, Public Storage

Russell is the chief executive of Public Storage, a Glendale-based provider of personal, rentable storage units. The company operates more than 2,900 facilities across the U.S., serving nearly 2 million customers. Public Storage also has locations in Europe. Last year, the company boasted annual revenue of $4.52 billion, an 8% increase year over year. Before his role as chief executive, Russell served as president of the company. He is also on the board of trustees. Russell was previously affiliated with PS Business Parks Inc., serving as its president and chief executive since 2002.

Chair, Chief Executive, LTC Properties Inc.

Simpson is the chair and chief executive of LTC Properties Inc., a position she’s held since May 2020. LTC Properties is a real estate investment trust company specializing in senior housing properties. The company is based in Westlake Village, and its portfolio is comprised of approximately 50% senior housing and 50% skilled nursing properties. Simpson was chief executive and president of LTC Properties since March 2007, and was appointed chair of the board in August 2013. She began her career in public accounting and has over 25 years in health care-related business.