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Thanks to our Sponsor:

Game Changers: Building the Future of Sports and Hospitality

is a one-hour breakfast panel discussion featuring leaders from across the sports, hospitality, development, and design sectors. Discover how major venues, entertainment districts, and hospitality investments are driving growth throughout the region, and what it means for A/E/C professionals helping bring these ambitious projects to life.

Attend this event to make connections and learn what’s next for one of Arizona’s most entertaining markets. This conversation will provide valuable perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Arizona’s sports and hospitality landscape.

REGISTRATION

Prefer to register for this event offline?

No problem! Please call Kelsey Marks at (480) 313-4821 to pay with a credit card by phone or request an invoice for payment by check.

Refund policy: Refunds are offered without exception up to three days prior to the event. Within three days, we can switch the attendee’s name.

Unfortunately, refunds are not offered within 72 hours of the day of the live event.

SPEAKERS

Billy Hilliard

Regional Vice President, Business Development | The Sports Facilities Companies

Billy Hilliard brings over 15 years of leadership in sales and marketing to his role at The Sports Facilities Companies. With a strong background, including roles as Managing Director at AIM Sports Group and Sports Marketing Manager at Life Time, Inc., Billy excels at facilitating business growth and delivers outstanding customer service, making him a key player on our team as the Regional VP of Business Development. In his role, Billy leads the planning and execution of business strategies, expertly finding and using opportunities in new markets. He uses his deep knowledge of the industry to help cities build top-notch venues for sports, recreation, events, and fitness, support the health and economic vitality of communities throughout the country. Billy’s roots in sports run deep. From playing baseball in college to helping brands activate in stadiums and arenas around the globe, he has developed relationships at all levels of sports. In some of his most notable work, Billy helped launch the sports and athletic events divisions of Life Time, Inc. That included over 50 new indoor/outdoor venue developments, multiple programming additions, and event acquisitions across the US and Canada. Having a deep understanding of the sports landscape has allowed Billy to spearhead efforts and consult with national organizing bodies in supporting the growth of youth sports. His experience, from youth to professional sports, is crucial in helping clients achieve their vision and goals.

Jay Silverberg

Design Principal | Gensler

A nationally recognized architect, Jay has led the design of significant athletic, academic, civic, cultural, office, and research facilities throughout Arizona and the Southwest. Throughout his more than 30 years of experience, Jay has been widely recognized and honored by both clients and peers

Matt Slatus

President & General Manager | Los Angeles Dodgers/Chicago White Sox Spring Training

Matt Slatus is President & General Manager of Camelback Spring Training LLC, the joint-venture company owned by the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers that operates Camelback Ranch–Glendale. He assumed the role in August 2021. A native of Livingston, New Jersey, Slatus holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from New York University and a Master of Sport Administration from Ohio University. He began his professional sports career in 2003 as a minor league clubhouse manager with the Texas Rangers and has since held leadership roles across professional sports. His experience includes positions with Major League Baseball’s Office of the Commissioner, Mandalay Sports Entertainment, and Madison Square Garden. Reporting directly to Cal Ripken Jr., he also served as General Manager of Ripken Professional Baseball, overseeing Ripken Baseball’s professional sports properties. Prior to relocating to Arizona, Slatus was General Manager of The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the Spring Training home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, where he was responsible for venue operations, revenue generation, and public-sector partnerships.

Matt Avila (Moderator)

Arizona Sports Market Lead | Mortenson

Matt Avila is Sr. Project Development Manager and Sports Market lead for Mortenson’s Arizona business. His focus is not just centered on building exceptional sports facilities. Matt also supports Mortenson’s Sports customers’ businesses by analyzing market dynamics and identifying sustainable operational and community partnerships.

REGISTERED ATTENDEES

First NameLast NameTitleCompany
JDAllisonBenefits ConsultantThe Partners Group
MonicaAndersonOffice AdministratorBEX
MattAvilaArizona Sports Market LeadMortenson
DaveBanburyVP Business DevelopmentValor Pavement Solutions
TimBaronAssociate PrincipalHDR Architecture
KurtBeardemphlBusiness DevelopmentSunbelt Modular
ChrisBellProject ExecutiveClark Construction
DonBergDirector Business DevelopmentHoldsworth Construction
ElizabethBerryExecutive Managing Director of Development Plaza Companies
MorganBetancourtProject DirectorOkland Construction
Ray BilbyDirector of Strategic GrowthHaydon
BridgetBinsbacherExecutive DirectorCactus League Baseball Association
DarlaBorgesPreconstruction ManagerColoscapes Concrete
RockyBoydstonVP of PreconstructionRe-Create Companies.com
QuinnBracyProject CoordinatorDick Anderson Construction
DaveBreaultOperations ManagerOrion Concrete Construction
DavidCampbellDistrict ManagerPCL Construction
WayneCarnsCEOAmerican Wolf Construction
NancyCarrelsSalesInterior Solutions
SamCarterRental Account ManagerEmpire Southwest 
Adrian CarvajalVice President/Team LeaderDibble
BaileyChalmersAccount ManagerActalent
JennyCheap-OverallVP  BD and Strategic PartnershipsSunvek and AltaPeak Holdings
Chris ChristensenPresidentDQD Demolition 
David ClarkRental Sales ManagerEmpire Southwest
GavinCookeArchitectural Sales RespresentativeNorcon Industries
JeffCordellBusiness DevelopmentDPR Construction
RobCortazzoVP of OperationsAlcorn Construction
MayaCottongimEngineerWalter P Moore
Tricia Covert DirectorGH2 Architects 
BrandonCromerProject ManagerB & B Fence Co.
JessicaCutterArizona Sales ManagerQuikrete Ready-Mix (Arizona Materials)
AndrewDaughertyVP-Arizona Business OperationsMilwaukee Brewers
OscarDe las salas Gensler
BillDeiterVice PresidentAECOM Hunt
KevinDevlinPresident/CEOSGC Construction Specialties
MarshallDuncanSales ManagerSummit West Signs
TravisDunnProject ManagerDibble
SteveEccherArizona Market LeaderShort Elliott Hendrickson Inc
WayneEinbinderVPClayco
ErikElleStrategic Development Executive Landmark Aquatic
CurtisFergusonSalesNorcon
DesireeGalanBusiness DevelopmentSunbelt Modular
ChaseGibbsDirectorMortenson
AdamGillespieCOOAmerican Wolf Construction
AlexGino Gensler
DamianGlazeRegional ExecutiveKitchell
ThomasGriffisPresidentMartin, White & Griffis Structural Engineers, Inc.
ReginaGuzziSr. Business Development ManagerMortenson
AnnemarieHaenflerPrincipalACS SERVICES LLC
SarahHalversonBusiness Development ManagerMortenson
StephanieHandleyBusiness Development ManagerPCL Construction
ChrisHarperSouthwest Region Leader | PrincipalSchaefer
Ashley HatleyDirector of Business Development Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
JessicaHendricksBusiness Development Olsson
BillyHilliardRegional Vice PresidentSports Facilities Companies
Steve Hoover Operations Manager Greenscapes Landcare
AndreaHowardMarket ResearcherBEX
ErinIgono Gensler
MattIrvineAssociateCCBG Architects, Inc.
Chris JacksonVP of Business DevelopmentENFRA
RyanJamesOwner & FounderBig Water Mechanical LLC 
BriannaJohnsonMarket ResearcherBEX
TimJohnsonAssociateRider Levitt Bucknall
JeffKatenAssociateSäzän Group
KurtKindermannPrincipalMBJ
ToddKinneyProject ExecutiveOkland
HoldenKleinCommercial Insurance ConsultantThe Partners Group
JasonKleinhelterBusiness DevelopmentChasse Building Team
HeatherKniesCommercial A&D RepresentativeDal Tile
YvonneKoehlerPrincipalPK Associates
JeremyKotter Gensler
AustinLaMotteVice PresidentDQD Demolition 
GaryLaneProject MagagerB & B Fence Co
HannahLangbehnBusiness Development CoordinatorCuhaci Peterson
JaredLangenhuizenManaging DirectorSunny Day Sports
DallaceLeotaBusiness Relations HD Matthews
SteveLorenzoDirector of Business DevelopmentSOCOTEC
MannyLoydenBenefits ConsultantThe Partners Group
CleteLuartesVPOrion Concrete Construction
AlexandraMaggiSr. Business Development ManagerRafael Construction, Inc.
KelseyMarksEvents and Marketing CoordinatorBEX
BillMatthewsPresidentHD Matthews
HaroldMatthewsBusiness Relations HD Matthews
NikkiMatthewsBusiness DevelopmentFleming West, LLC
SusanMcCantsRegional ManagerISEC Inc
BenMeadowsProject ManagerSunvek and AltaPeak Holdings
BobMilanoPrincipalLloyd Sports + Engineering
AJMontalvoBusiness Development CoordinatorDP Electric
RebekahMorrisPresident & FounderBEX
RolandMurphyManaging EditorBEX
AmandaMurrayMarket ResearcherBEX
ManiNagaiahSenior Project EngineerLangan Engineering
AlyceNealAccount ExecutiveVeregy
MickeyNelsonBusiness DevelopmentISEC, Incorporated
SuzanneNelsonBusiness DevelopmentCoreslab Structures
ShaunNorthupDirectorSalt River Fields
CJNussbaumSales ExecutiveFSEC
DarrinOrndorffPresidentDFDG Architecture
LyaParrishDATABEX ManagerBEX
Jacob PhillipsGraphic DesignerBEX
MarkPhillipsPrincipalCCBG Architects, Inc.
AlexPizzimentiSales ExecutiveFSEC
JohnPodojilProject ExecutiveMortenson
JimQuinnBDMDiversified Roofing 
BobbyRaetherGeneral ManagerBEX
JohnReddingCorporate Account ManagerCaterpillar Inc.
KayRimbeyBD ManagerRummel Construction, Inc. 
CarmenRonanDirector of Business DevelopmentHill International
BryanSaltManaging DirectorWalter P Moore
ChrisScherzerManaging PartnerSol Athletic Center
CodySchmidtOperations Manager SDB 
MichaelSchneiderBusiness Unit ManagerNETSIAN Technologies Group
JadenSchneiderMarket ResearcherBEX
GabeSennettSales RepresentativeArcosa Aggregates
Nicole SheaSolutions SpecialistH2I Group
SethShenfeldBusiness DevelopmentAECOM Hunt
JaySilverbergDesign PrincipalGensler
JoshSinacolaOwner/OperatorTop Gun Building, LLC
MattSlatusPresident & General ManagerLos Angeles Dodgers/Chicago White Sox Spring Training
CoriSmithExecutive Vice PresidentAECOM Hunt
ShaloiSmith Business Development Greenscapes Landcare 
EricSoeDirectorSEG
Courtney Spencer Director of Business Development Evolve Automation
AshleySpiegelAccount Manager Actalent 
GregSt. ClairPresidentArizona Corporate Builders, LLC
RaeginaSteeleSales AssociateBEX
Jason StejskalPreconstruction DirectorHaydon
MikeStockleyBusiness Development Landmark Aquatic 
SueSylvesterBusiness DevelopmentGlobal Roofing Group
AngelaTalbotVPJE Dunn
ZachThompsonArea ManagerGranite Construction
Jeffery TrimbleProject ManagerVeterans Communication Services, INC.
JulietaUriarteSr. Marketing CoordinatorMortenson
JosephVallejoRegional Sales Executive GrayWolf 
AshtonVavraBusiness Development EngineerMortenson
Kimberly VerdaglioDirector of Business DevelopmentFenagh Engineering
KeithWalentinyPreconstruction ManagerKovach
CraigWardSenior Account ExecutiveABcom LLC
JamieWenckBusiness Development ManagerDaltile
RichardWhitmanBusiness Development Manger BrightView Landscape Development, Inc
MikeWolfePreCon DirectorKT Fabrication
ArthurYoungFounderEvolve Automation
Jon ZbukaBusiness DevelopmentENFRA
JamesZimmermanCommercial Insurance ConsultantThe Partners Group

Last Updated: 8/10/2026

VENUE

ASU SkySong Building 3, Synergy Conference Rooms I & II

1365 N Scottsdale Rd; Scottsdale, AZ 85257

PROGRAM

8:30 – 9 AM: Check-in, Breakfast & Networking
 
9 – 10 AM: Presentation
 
10 – 10:30 AM: Networking

CONTACT FOR EVENT INQUIRIES

Kelsey Marks

Events & Marketing Coordinator
(480) 313-4821 | kmarks@azbex.com

COMP TICKETS AVAILABLE

Are you a Full-Time Student, Public Agency Employee or a Private Real Estate Developer who wants to learn about this topic?

We have reserved a small block of complimentary tickets for persons who qualify.

Reach out to Kelsey Marks to verify eligibility and availability by email at kmarks@azbex.com or (480) 313-4821. Restrictions apply.