9th Annual Real Estate South Forum

Ken McDowell joined the Employees’ Retirement System of Texas (ERS) in February of 2013 and has approximately 32 years of experience in commercial and multifamily real estate, including acquisitions, asset management, and dispositions. As a Real Estate Portfolio Manager with ERS, his primary duties include private real estate commingled fund and co-investment selection and underwriting, and asset management. Prior to joining ERS, Mr. McDowell worked for various companies and organizations in the commercial banking and real estate industries. Most notably, he was a Senior Real Estate Portfolio Manager with the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), where he started the non-core private real estate portfolio program, and as a Senior Investment Analyst with the Ohio Public Employees’ Retirement System (OPERS), where he was responsible for acquisition and asset management services of directly held commercial and multifamily real estate investments. 

Abdur Nimeri is a highly respected leader in the financial services industry, known for his expertise in private and public market investments. With a career spanning over two decades, he has consistently delivered industry-leading standards of excellence and instilled a culture of innovation in his organizations. As the Chief Investment Officer at UMB Bank, Abdur propelled the success of multiple investment strategies and oversaw the management of over $16 billion in wealth management investment strategies. Prior to this, he held key positions at Northern Trust Corporation, where he provided direction for the design of quantitative global portfolios and executed above-market performance across various strategies. Abdur's extensive experience also includes senior roles at Fannie Mae and Kronos Investments.

Andrew is a Partner of the firm and a member of the Investment Committee and the Portfolio Management Team. He is a senior member of the corporate credit team, leading both trading and research, and he has covered Real Estate Investment Trusts for over 15 years. Andrew began his career in 2006 at the International Bank of Commerce First Equity, where he worked in mortgage accounting. He received both his MBA and B.A. degrees from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and member of the CFA Institute. Outside of work, Andrew is an active volunteer for The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research and a member of its Leadership Circle.

Catherine Ulozas is Drexel University's Chief Investment Officer, overseeing the university's $650 million endowment. With a background in bond trading and portfolio management, she leads the Investment Office and works with the Board of Trustees Investment Committee to manage the university's assets. Ulozas has been with Drexel since 2010 and is also involved in experiential learning, teaching a class at LeBow College and mentoring students in the student-run Dragon Fund.

Chris Ip is a seasoned investment professional with a diverse background in endowment, pension plan, family office, and outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) roles. Currently serving as the Chief Investment Officer at North Carolina State University, Chris brings over two years of experience in leading investment strategies and managing multi-asset portfolios. Prior to this, he held the position of Director of Treasury at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he showcased his expertise in operational excellence and treasury management. With a strong track record in alternative investments and asset allocation, Chris has also held key positions at TIAA, CalSTRS, and the University of Pennsylvania. His extensive experience in finance, accounting, and portfolio management makes him a valuable asset in the investment industry.

David is Bank Office President of Allegiance Bank. He has worked in the banking industry for the past 36 years. David’s areas of expertise include commercial, industrial and commercial real estate transactions. He also has extensive experience in bank mergers, acquisitions and de novos. David serves on the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees (appointed by Former Governor Rick Perry in October 2013 & reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott in October 2019), which governs $175 billion in assets and is the 5th largest public pension fund in the United States and 13th largest globally.

David Sabonghy joined Waterloo Capital as a Senior Wealth Advisor in November 2022. David is an industry veteran with 20 years of experience. He specializes in complex wealth management and transfer issues, including stock option planning, executive compensation, complex trust, estate planning, and charitable giving. Throughout his career, he has represented high-net-worth individuals and their families in a diverse range of financial services. A native of Texas, David graduated from Strake Jesuit in Houston and then to Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business with a focus on Economics. David is a board member of Medical Missions of Divine Mercy, a non-profit organization that serves those in need of medical attention in remote areas. In addition, he is a board member for God’s Garden, which aims to grow food organically for various food banks and help educate the local community on basic gardening for sustainability.

Ed Butowsky, managing partner of Chapwood Investments, LLC has the unique ability to recognize how current events affect investment portfolios. An internationally recognized expert in the investment wealth management and personal finance industry, he was featured in “Broke,” the critically acclaimed ESPN “30 for 30” documentary that chronicles professional athletes and their financial experiences, and in the most popular Sports Illustrated article ever: “How (and Why) Athletes Go Broke.” Celebrities and athletes count on Ed Butowsky to provide advice on everything from contract negotiations and agent disputes to family finances and how people with money can take steps to keep it. Ed Butowsky is a mentor to up-and-coming athletes and their parents, but it isn’t only public figures who seek his advice. Private individuals come to him in search of new strategies for their financial concerns. Ed is best known for his straight talk and his willingness to roll up his sleeves and find solutions to issues that others want no part of. His more than 29 years in the financial services industry began at Morgan Stanley, where he was a senior vice president in private wealth management. In his 18 years there, he was the firm’s top producer nationally as well as the first adviser to surpass $1 billion in assets under management. He was recognized as a member of both the Chairman’s Club and the Equity Club, distinctions reserved for only the top advisers at Morgan Stanley. In 2005, Ed launched Chapwood Investments, LLC, a private wealth management advisory firm that focuses on providing comprehensive financial counseling and investment advice to wealthy families and individuals. Under the management of Ed and his partner, Kim Sams, Chapwood Investments was awarded the 2015 Alternative Investment Award for Excellence in Investment Wealth Management – USA.

Jackie is a Vice President on the Real Assets Investment team where she is responsible for due diligence of primary, secondary and co-investment opportunities in real estate. Prior to joining Hamilton Lane in 2022, Jackie was an Assistant Director with Gibraltar Real Estate Capital, a subsidiary of Toll Brothers, where she was focused on underwriting real estate transactions. Jackie received a B.S. in History from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Mr. Heacox joined The Townsend Group in 2014 and is a Partner within Townsend’s portfolio management team with a primary focus on the firm’s direct real estate strategies . Mr. Heacox has helped lead investment strategy implementation and portfolio management for several open‐end and closed‐end real estate programs totaling approximately $3 billion of investor capital. Mr. Heacox’s primary responsibilities include investment sourcing and underwriting, as well as initiating portfolio recommendations to Townsend’s Investment Committee. He also helps oversee acquisition, disposition, financing, and major capital activities within the firm’s largest directly-managed property portfolio. Mr. Heacox helps lead currency hedging strategy across several of the firm’s global real estate programs and is actively involved in sourcing and underwriting real estate secondary interests and fund recapitalization opportunities. In addition to his investment-related responsibilities, Mr. Heacox also helps lead investor relations and distribution activity for Townsend’s fund management business.  

James is a Managing Director and leads the Real Estate Investments vertical for InLight. He is responsible for strategy, business development, transaction execution and portfolio management. He also serves on InLight’s Investment Committee and several privately held companies on behalf of InLight. Prior to joining InLight, James was a member of JLL’s Capital Markets team in Houston where he focused on procuring debt and equity on behalf of a national roster of clients. James attended Trinity University and graduated with honors from Texas State University with a B.A. in Communication Studies.

James lives in Houston with his wife and two children. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and pondering when his adult son may move back home.

Justin, a lifelong resident of San Antonio’s west side, has a proven track record in public service and policymaking with a focus on education, economic opportunity, and healthcare. Serving as a State Representative for House District 125 from 2012 to 2018, he played a key role on the House Appropriations Committee, securing funding and advocating for affordable higher education and accessible healthcare. Currently, as Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 2, Justin leverages his experience to improve quality of life and champion investment in local infrastructure and community development. He resides in San Antonio with his wife and three children. 

Kristin Dacey is Chief Investment Officer – Real Estate, Alternatives at Bulltick, which has a RIA and Broker Dealer. At Bulltick, she also acts as the fund manager of two real estate fund of funds primarily focused on the US market. Concurrently, she is the Chief Investment Officer for Emprenta, an impact investing group, and on the board for Convision 20/20, a social enterprise in Mexico. Previously, she spent 8 years in the private sector of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) contributing to over US$2.2 billion in alternatives investments. Kristin also worked for GE Capital for 7 years where she held progressing roles in credit, portfolio management, and account management participating in the structuring of over 70 real estate, equipment, cash flow and construction deals comprising over US$2 billion in volume. Kristin has a Masters from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, an MBA from Arizona State and BS and BA degrees from Virginia Tech. 

Kurt Vroman currently serves as the Chairman of the Firefighters Pension Plan Board of Trustees. As the head of the Board, Mr. Vroman presides over meetings, ensuring effective communication and collaboration among the five-member team. His leadership role involves guiding discussions, facilitating decision-making processes, and overseeing the fulfillment of the Board's duties and responsibilities. In addition to his responsibilities as Chairman, Kurt Vroman contributes to the Board's mandate, which includes interpreting and applying the provisions of the Pension Plan, addressing questions related to eligibility and participation, and certifying the amounts of retirement allowances and other benefits.

Linda Riley Mitchell, CPA is an accomplished senior executive with a diverse background in finance, technology, human resources, and strategy. Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and the Episcopal Health Foundation, she leads a team of professionals and oversees various departments, including financial management, human resources, and strategic planning. With her expertise in change initiatives, Linda has successfully restructured debt and improved the issuer credit rating of previous organizations. Prior to her role at the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, she held key positions at organizations such as the Chicago Housing Authority, Illinois State Board of Education, Wolters Kluwer Health, Tribune Company, Star Tribune, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and Baxter Healthcare Corporation. 

Mr. Stuckwisch joined ORG in 2021 and has 40 years of experience in real estate spanning, debt, equity, securities and valuation. He is responsible for conducting research, analyzing statistical data, and developing financial models for investment due diligence. In addition, he assists with evaluating real estate managers, separately managed accounts, performing asset level analytics and managing specific client research requests. Mr. Stuckwisch is a voting member of the ORG Investment Committee. Prior to joining ORG, Mr. Stuckwisch was a Portfolio Manager for Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (Retired), Administrative Officer for Chemical Mortgage Company and Commercial Appraiser for Don R. Scheidt & Co. He is a Senior Lecturer of Finance at The Ohio State University focused on real estate and real estate finance. Mr. Stuckwisch received his MBA from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration from Hanover College in Indiana.