Don Allan
President & CEO
Stanley Black & Decker
Building Products Panel
Don Allan is President and Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Black & Decker, a worldwide leader in tools & outdoor markets, headquartered in the United States, with revenues of approximately $15.4 billion. He leads the Company’s approximately 48,500+ employees, who strive every day to deliver on its Purpose: For those who make the world.™ The Company’s iconic brands include DEWALT®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, BLACK+DECKER® and Cub Cadet®.
Prior to becoming CEO in 2022, Don served as President and Chief Financial Officer. In that role, he led the strategy and implementation of Stanley Black & Decker’s operating model, shared oversight of Global Operations and Supply Chain and oversaw multiple businesses and functions, including the Outdoor Products Group, Asia Tools, Finance and IT. Since becoming CEO, Don has been a champion of transformational portfolio simplification, including leading the divestitures of the Security and Oil & Gas businesses.
Don was appointed as an executive officer of the Company in 2006. He joined the Company in 1999 as Assistant Controller. He has been a senior leader with the Company as it’s grown from $3.7 billion in 2009 to approximately $15.4 billion today. During his tenure, Don has been instrumental in driving the Company’s growth and transformation strategy, including successfully navigating the great recession and the merger of The Stanley Works with Black & Decker in 2010.
Prior to joining the Company in 1999, Don held financial management positions with Loctite Corporation and spent nine years at Ernst & Young.
Don serves on the Board of Logitech International S.A. and is Lead Director at Andersen Corporation and a member of the Business Roundtable. He also serves as Board Chair of Regents for the University of Hartford and Board Member of Hartford Healthcare. Additionally, he serves on several non-profit boards including, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Boy Scouts Connecticut Rivers Council and AdvanceCT, Connecticut’s private non-profit economic development organization.
Don earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Hartford and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Allan is 60 years old and also a member of the Executive Committee.
President & CEO
Stanley Black & Decker
Building Products Panel
Don Allan is President and Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Black & Decker, a worldwide leader in tools & outdoor markets, headquartered in the United States, with revenues of approximately $15.4 billion. He leads the Company’s approximately 48,500+ employees, who strive every day to deliver on its Purpose: For those who make the world.™ The Company’s iconic brands include DEWALT®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, BLACK+DECKER® and Cub Cadet®.
Prior to becoming CEO in 2022, Don served as President and Chief Financial Officer. In that role, he led the strategy and implementation of Stanley Black & Decker’s operating model, shared oversight of Global Operations and Supply Chain and oversaw multiple businesses and functions, including the Outdoor Products Group, Asia Tools, Finance and IT. Since becoming CEO, Don has been a champion of transformational portfolio simplification, including leading the divestitures of the Security and Oil & Gas businesses.
Don was appointed as an executive officer of the Company in 2006. He joined the Company in 1999 as Assistant Controller. He has been a senior leader with the Company as it’s grown from $3.7 billion in 2009 to approximately $15.4 billion today. During his tenure, Don has been instrumental in driving the Company’s growth and transformation strategy, including successfully navigating the great recession and the merger of The Stanley Works with Black & Decker in 2010.
Prior to joining the Company in 1999, Don held financial management positions with Loctite Corporation and spent nine years at Ernst & Young.
Don serves on the Board of Logitech International S.A. and is Lead Director at Andersen Corporation and a member of the Business Roundtable. He also serves as Board Chair of Regents for the University of Hartford and Board Member of Hartford Healthcare. Additionally, he serves on several non-profit boards including, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Boy Scouts Connecticut Rivers Council and AdvanceCT, Connecticut’s private non-profit economic development organization.
Don earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Hartford and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Allan is 60 years old and also a member of the Executive Committee.
Dan Clifton
Partner and Head of Policy Research
Strategas Securities
Trump, Tariffs & Taxes: A Pathway To Cut Through The Uncertainty
Daniel Clifton is a Partner and Head of Policy Research for Strategas Securities. In this capacity, Mr. Clifton evaluates the financial market implications of policy and political developments. This includes analyzing tax, trade, infrastructure, healthcare, energy, defense and other policy initiatives to determine how public policy changes impact the economy and financial markets for institutional investors.
Daniel leads Strategas’ Washington policy research team, which is the #1 ranked Washington policy team on Wall Street, according to Institutional Investor (II). Dan and his team have been ranked as one of the top Washington policy teams in each of the past 16 years. Mr. Clifton is also a top ranked analyst in the category of Accounting and Tax Policy according to the same II report.
Mr. Clifton’s research on the interaction between policy, elections, and financial markets is widely cited in the media and Daniel is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business.
Prior to joining Strategas, Mr. Clifton was Executive Director of the American Shareholders Association (ASA), a non-partisan, non-profit organization which analyzes public policy affecting shareholders. Daniel also worked on tax policy issues prior to the ASA and has been involved in every major tax policy change over the past twenty years. Prior to moving to Washington, Mr. Clifton served as a senior staff member in two gubernatorial administrations working on economic and fiscal policy issues.
Mr. Clifton received both his BA in Urban Planning and his MS in Public Policy from Rutgers University where he was a Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics and a Harold Martin Fellow for Public Policy.
Partner and Head of Policy Research
Strategas Securities
Trump, Tariffs & Taxes: A Pathway To Cut Through The Uncertainty
Daniel Clifton is a Partner and Head of Policy Research for Strategas Securities. In this capacity, Mr. Clifton evaluates the financial market implications of policy and political developments. This includes analyzing tax, trade, infrastructure, healthcare, energy, defense and other policy initiatives to determine how public policy changes impact the economy and financial markets for institutional investors.
Daniel leads Strategas’ Washington policy research team, which is the #1 ranked Washington policy team on Wall Street, according to Institutional Investor (II). Dan and his team have been ranked as one of the top Washington policy teams in each of the past 16 years. Mr. Clifton is also a top ranked analyst in the category of Accounting and Tax Policy according to the same II report.
Mr. Clifton’s research on the interaction between policy, elections, and financial markets is widely cited in the media and Daniel is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business.
Prior to joining Strategas, Mr. Clifton was Executive Director of the American Shareholders Association (ASA), a non-partisan, non-profit organization which analyzes public policy affecting shareholders. Daniel also worked on tax policy issues prior to the ASA and has been involved in every major tax policy change over the past twenty years. Prior to moving to Washington, Mr. Clifton served as a senior staff member in two gubernatorial administrations working on economic and fiscal policy issues.
Mr. Clifton received both his BA in Urban Planning and his MS in Public Policy from Rutgers University where he was a Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics and a Harold Martin Fellow for Public Policy.
Steve Eisman
The Real Eisman Playbook
Host
Walker Webcast
Steven Eisman is a highly respected financial professional with more than three decades of experience in investment management and financial analysis. He is best known for his pivotal role in predicting and profiting from the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, chronicled in Michael Lewis’s book The Big Short and its Oscar-winning film adaptation, where he was portrayed by Steve Carell. Eisman’s career is marked by a deep understanding of financial markets, risk management, and strategic investment, and he has become one of the most knowledgeable and respected analysts on Wall Street today. Eisman began his career as a senior financial services analyst at Oppenheimer & Co., where he was consistently ranked as an All-Star Analyst by both Institutional Investor and The Wall Street Journal. He later served as a partner and senior portfolio manager at FrontPoint Partners, where he achieved acclaim for identifying the risks in subprime mortgage securitizations and taking large short positions from 2006 to 2008. His foresight during this period not only earned significant returns for his investors but also solidified his reputation as a sharp and independent thinker in the financial world.
Following his success at FrontPoint, Eisman founded and managed Emrys Partners, a long/short equity fund focused on fundamental analysis. In 2014, he joined Neuberger Berman as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, leading the Eisman Group within the firm’s Private Asset Management division, where he manages portfolios for high-net-worth clients and continues to provide market insights and leadership.
Eisman holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he graduated with honors, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude. Over the years, he has become a recognized thought leader in financial markets, frequently invited to speak at global conferences and appear on major financial news outlets such as CNBC and Bloomberg TV, where he discusses investment strategies, economic policy, and market outlooks.
Currently, Steve Eisman is the host of The Real Eisman Playbook, a podcast where he shares his sharp analysis and no-nonsense approach to dissecting markets, the global economy, and investment trends shaping the future. The podcast features thoughtful commentary, candid conversations, and practical insights aimed at helping listeners better understand the complexities of the market and economy. Topics on the show range from the impact of U.S.-China tariffs and the evolution of the banking industry to credit spreads, reflections on the 2008 crisis, and the role of artificial intelligence in finance.
Throughout his distinguished career, Eisman has demonstrated exceptional skill in strategic investment management, risk assessment, and financial markets analysis. His leadership in portfolio management and expertise in the financial services sector have made him a trusted voice for both institutional and individual investors.
The Real Eisman Playbook
Host
Walker Webcast
Steven Eisman is a highly respected financial professional with more than three decades of experience in investment management and financial analysis. He is best known for his pivotal role in predicting and profiting from the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, chronicled in Michael Lewis’s book The Big Short and its Oscar-winning film adaptation, where he was portrayed by Steve Carell. Eisman’s career is marked by a deep understanding of financial markets, risk management, and strategic investment, and he has become one of the most knowledgeable and respected analysts on Wall Street today. Eisman began his career as a senior financial services analyst at Oppenheimer & Co., where he was consistently ranked as an All-Star Analyst by both Institutional Investor and The Wall Street Journal. He later served as a partner and senior portfolio manager at FrontPoint Partners, where he achieved acclaim for identifying the risks in subprime mortgage securitizations and taking large short positions from 2006 to 2008. His foresight during this period not only earned significant returns for his investors but also solidified his reputation as a sharp and independent thinker in the financial world.
Following his success at FrontPoint, Eisman founded and managed Emrys Partners, a long/short equity fund focused on fundamental analysis. In 2014, he joined Neuberger Berman as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, leading the Eisman Group within the firm’s Private Asset Management division, where he manages portfolios for high-net-worth clients and continues to provide market insights and leadership.
Eisman holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he graduated with honors, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude. Over the years, he has become a recognized thought leader in financial markets, frequently invited to speak at global conferences and appear on major financial news outlets such as CNBC and Bloomberg TV, where he discusses investment strategies, economic policy, and market outlooks.
Currently, Steve Eisman is the host of The Real Eisman Playbook, a podcast where he shares his sharp analysis and no-nonsense approach to dissecting markets, the global economy, and investment trends shaping the future. The podcast features thoughtful commentary, candid conversations, and practical insights aimed at helping listeners better understand the complexities of the market and economy. Topics on the show range from the impact of U.S.-China tariffs and the evolution of the banking industry to credit spreads, reflections on the 2008 crisis, and the role of artificial intelligence in finance.
Throughout his distinguished career, Eisman has demonstrated exceptional skill in strategic investment management, risk assessment, and financial markets analysis. His leadership in portfolio management and expertise in the financial services sector have made him a trusted voice for both institutional and individual investors.
Andy Gnazzo
Senior Managing Director
Walker & Dunlop
Multifamily Rental Panel
Andrew Gnazzo, Senior Managing Director, is responsible for originating market rate and affordable multifamily loans, with a primary emphasis on the Northeast region of the United States. Mr. Gnazzo has been with Walker & Dunlop for 14 years, with production in excess of $7.0 billion, primarily through GSE, HUD, and life company executions.
Previously, Mr. Gnazzo served as managing director at CWCapital, LLC where he closed over 82 loans in 22 states with an aggregate loan volume of over $1.65 billion through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD executions. Previously, Mr. Gnazzo served as vice president at Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage, Inc., where he was directly involved in over $1.5 billion worth of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily transactions.
Mr. Gnazzo is a member of the Real Estate Finance Association of Greater Boston, Rental Housing Association of Massachusetts, National Multifamily Housing Council, was previously the co-chairman of the Freddie Mac Seller Servicer Advisory Board, and is currently serving on the Fannie Mae Production Advisory Board. Mr. Gnazzo received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Oregon.
Senior Managing Director
Walker & Dunlop
Multifamily Rental Panel
Andrew Gnazzo, Senior Managing Director, is responsible for originating market rate and affordable multifamily loans, with a primary emphasis on the Northeast region of the United States. Mr. Gnazzo has been with Walker & Dunlop for 14 years, with production in excess of $7.0 billion, primarily through GSE, HUD, and life company executions.
Previously, Mr. Gnazzo served as managing director at CWCapital, LLC where he closed over 82 loans in 22 states with an aggregate loan volume of over $1.65 billion through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD executions. Previously, Mr. Gnazzo served as vice president at Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage, Inc., where he was directly involved in over $1.5 billion worth of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily transactions.
Mr. Gnazzo is a member of the Real Estate Finance Association of Greater Boston, Rental Housing Association of Massachusetts, National Multifamily Housing Council, was previously the co-chairman of the Freddie Mac Seller Servicer Advisory Board, and is currently serving on the Fannie Mae Production Advisory Board. Mr. Gnazzo received a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Oregon.
James Hecht
CEO
OneTrust Home Loans
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Panel
CEO
OneTrust Home Loans
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Panel
David Howell
Owner & Principal Broker
McEnearney Realtors
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Panel
Before joining McEnearney as an owner in 1996, along with his wife, David was the owner and Principal Broker of his own real estate company for 12 years. David was the Executive Vice President and Managing Broker of McEnearney’s McLean office from 1996 - 2010, and was named Chief Information Officer in September 2010. In that role, he is responsible for the firm's technology, market research and information and public relations, writes its MarketWatch newsletter and writes an occasional real estate commentary column for the Washington Post. He is also Principal Broker for McEnearney in Maryland and Washington, DC, and is an Associate Broker in Virginia.
David was President of the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS (NVAR) in 1995 and was named REALTOR® of The Year for NVAR in 1998, and is a member of NVAR’s Hall of Fame and is an Honorary Life Member. David was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) in 1994, served as that organization's Chairman 1996-1997 and 2011-2012, and was a member of their Executive Committee for the duration of its existence. David is a founding member of the Board of Directors of BrightMLS, the nation’s second largest MLS and has served on its Executive Committee from its creation, and is currently its Vice Chairman.
David has served on NVAR’s Professional Standards Committee for the last 28 years and served as its Chairman twice. He has been an RPAC Trustee, and a member of NVAR Strategic Planning and Nominating Committees numerous times. He was also a member of the Virginia REALTORS Board of Directors, their Strategic Planning Committee, their Presidential Advisory Group on Growth as well as their Insurance Advisory Task Force. He was named to the Virginia REALTORS Hall of Fame in 2021. He has been on the Board of a number of civic, charitable and business organizations, including the Eastern American Bank, the Mt. Vernon Community Children’s Theater, the Business in Education Board for Falls Church City Schools, the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, and served as the Fundraising Co-Chair for the Equestrian Center at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He was also co-author of a book about the 1976 presidential campaign of Gerald Ford.
David is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas with BA degrees in Economic, Managerial Studies and Political Science. He lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife of 46 years Margaret-Mary, and is the proud father of four children, four children-in-law and five grandchildren.
Owner & Principal Broker
McEnearney Realtors
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Panel
Before joining McEnearney as an owner in 1996, along with his wife, David was the owner and Principal Broker of his own real estate company for 12 years. David was the Executive Vice President and Managing Broker of McEnearney’s McLean office from 1996 - 2010, and was named Chief Information Officer in September 2010. In that role, he is responsible for the firm's technology, market research and information and public relations, writes its MarketWatch newsletter and writes an occasional real estate commentary column for the Washington Post. He is also Principal Broker for McEnearney in Maryland and Washington, DC, and is an Associate Broker in Virginia.
David was President of the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS (NVAR) in 1995 and was named REALTOR® of The Year for NVAR in 1998, and is a member of NVAR’s Hall of Fame and is an Honorary Life Member. David was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) in 1994, served as that organization's Chairman 1996-1997 and 2011-2012, and was a member of their Executive Committee for the duration of its existence. David is a founding member of the Board of Directors of BrightMLS, the nation’s second largest MLS and has served on its Executive Committee from its creation, and is currently its Vice Chairman.
David has served on NVAR’s Professional Standards Committee for the last 28 years and served as its Chairman twice. He has been an RPAC Trustee, and a member of NVAR Strategic Planning and Nominating Committees numerous times. He was also a member of the Virginia REALTORS Board of Directors, their Strategic Planning Committee, their Presidential Advisory Group on Growth as well as their Insurance Advisory Task Force. He was named to the Virginia REALTORS Hall of Fame in 2021. He has been on the Board of a number of civic, charitable and business organizations, including the Eastern American Bank, the Mt. Vernon Community Children’s Theater, the Business in Education Board for Falls Church City Schools, the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, and served as the Fundraising Co-Chair for the Equestrian Center at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He was also co-author of a book about the 1976 presidential campaign of Gerald Ford.
David is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas with BA degrees in Economic, Managerial Studies and Political Science. He lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife of 46 years Margaret-Mary, and is the proud father of four children, four children-in-law and five grandchildren.
Swarup Katuri
Managing Director
Brookfield Asset Management
Multifamily Rental Panel
Swarup Katuri is a Managing Partner in Brookfield’s Real Estate Group, responsible for business development and investment activities in the multifamily sector, and portfolio management of Brookfield’s investment in Forest City.
Prior to joining Brookfield in 2015, Mr. Katuri worked at Associated Estates Realty Corp (AEC), where he was a member of the senior management team that led the sale of AEC to Brookfield.
Mr. Katuri holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, where he graduated as a Fuqua Scholar, and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Case Western Reserve University.
Managing Director
Brookfield Asset Management
Multifamily Rental Panel
Swarup Katuri is a Managing Partner in Brookfield’s Real Estate Group, responsible for business development and investment activities in the multifamily sector, and portfolio management of Brookfield’s investment in Forest City.
Prior to joining Brookfield in 2015, Mr. Katuri worked at Associated Estates Realty Corp (AEC), where he was a member of the senior management team that led the sale of AEC to Brookfield.
Mr. Katuri holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, where he graduated as a Fuqua Scholar, and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Case Western Reserve University.
Kris Mikkelsen
Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Capital Markets
Walker & Dunlop
Multifamily Rental Panel
Kris Mikkelsen is an executive vice president and co-head of Capital Markets at Walker & Dunlop, based in Atlanta, Georgia. In his role, Mr. Mikkelsen is responsible for overseeing the capital markets business and growing the national platform transacting with and on behalf of the industries most sophisticated investors. Mr. Mikkelsen has formally led the investment sales team from 2020-2025, and the group transacted on over $55B of volume with over 500 clients in that time.
Prior to Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Mikkelsen was a managing director at Engler Financial Group, a boutique multifamily investment sales firm.
Mr. Mikkelsen earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a two-time All-American member and Captain of the men’s golf team. Outside of the company, Mr. Mikkelsen previously served as the founding chairman of the National Multi Housing Council’s Emerging Leader Committee and is currently a member of the Multifamily Gold Council for the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Mr. Mikkelsen is also an active member of the Buckhead Church in Atlanta, GA and active with Atlanta Union Mission and City of Refuge, two groups focused on serving the at risk in the Atlanta area.
Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Capital Markets
Walker & Dunlop
Multifamily Rental Panel
Kris Mikkelsen is an executive vice president and co-head of Capital Markets at Walker & Dunlop, based in Atlanta, Georgia. In his role, Mr. Mikkelsen is responsible for overseeing the capital markets business and growing the national platform transacting with and on behalf of the industries most sophisticated investors. Mr. Mikkelsen has formally led the investment sales team from 2020-2025, and the group transacted on over $55B of volume with over 500 clients in that time.
Prior to Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Mikkelsen was a managing director at Engler Financial Group, a boutique multifamily investment sales firm.
Mr. Mikkelsen earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a two-time All-American member and Captain of the men’s golf team. Outside of the company, Mr. Mikkelsen previously served as the founding chairman of the National Multi Housing Council’s Emerging Leader Committee and is currently a member of the Multifamily Gold Council for the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Mr. Mikkelsen is also an active member of the Buckhead Church in Atlanta, GA and active with Atlanta Union Mission and City of Refuge, two groups focused on serving the at risk in the Atlanta area.
Sheryl Palmer
Chairman and CEO
Taylor Morrison
Homebuilding Panel
Sheryl Palmer is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Morrison, a leading national homebuilder and developer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since 2007, Ms. Palmer has overseen a highly experienced leadership team in several key national homebuilding markets. With more than 30 years of cross-functional building experience, including leadership in land acquisition, sales and marketing, development and operations management, Ms. Palmer has led Taylor Morrison into the top ranks of America’s largest public homebuilders, following the company’s IPO in 2013.
Under Ms. Palmer’s leadership, Taylor Morrison has been successful in creating trustworthy relationships with both internal and external customers, as evidenced by the Company holding the title of America’s Most Trusted® Home Builder for 10 consecutive years by Lifestory Research and recognized by Forbes as one of the Most Trusted and Best Companies in America in 2025. The Company also made Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies list in 2024 and was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Company to Work For.
With Ms. Palmer’s dedication to community, Taylor Morrison has made a profound impact across the country through its involvement with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and by building places of sanctuary for patients undergoing treatment at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Ms. Palmer’s passions extend beyond homebuilding and enter the many realms of leadership and diversity; supporting veterans and solving for homelessness. In fact, she was named Builder’s Hearthstone Humanitarian in 2021. Currently, she serves as Chairman of the Building Talent Foundation, an organization that partners with homebuilders to address the vast trade labor shortage. She also served as the Chairman of the National Board of Directors of HomeAid America from 2019 to 2021, is on the Board of Directors of Offerpad, and is an Executive Committee Member of the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) Policy Advisory Board at Harvard University.
Chairman and CEO
Taylor Morrison
Homebuilding Panel
Sheryl Palmer is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Morrison, a leading national homebuilder and developer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since 2007, Ms. Palmer has overseen a highly experienced leadership team in several key national homebuilding markets. With more than 30 years of cross-functional building experience, including leadership in land acquisition, sales and marketing, development and operations management, Ms. Palmer has led Taylor Morrison into the top ranks of America’s largest public homebuilders, following the company’s IPO in 2013.
Under Ms. Palmer’s leadership, Taylor Morrison has been successful in creating trustworthy relationships with both internal and external customers, as evidenced by the Company holding the title of America’s Most Trusted® Home Builder for 10 consecutive years by Lifestory Research and recognized by Forbes as one of the Most Trusted and Best Companies in America in 2025. The Company also made Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies list in 2024 and was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Company to Work For.
With Ms. Palmer’s dedication to community, Taylor Morrison has made a profound impact across the country through its involvement with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and by building places of sanctuary for patients undergoing treatment at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Ms. Palmer’s passions extend beyond homebuilding and enter the many realms of leadership and diversity; supporting veterans and solving for homelessness. In fact, she was named Builder’s Hearthstone Humanitarian in 2021. Currently, she serves as Chairman of the Building Talent Foundation, an organization that partners with homebuilders to address the vast trade labor shortage. She also served as the Chairman of the National Board of Directors of HomeAid America from 2019 to 2021, is on the Board of Directors of Offerpad, and is an Executive Committee Member of the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) Policy Advisory Board at Harvard University.
Heidi Petz
Chair, President & CEO
Sherwin-Williams
Building Products Panel
Heidi G. Petz is Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Sherwin-Williams Company, a $23.05 billion global leader in the paint and coatings industry. She has served as Chief Executive Officer since January 2024 and President since March 2022.
Ms. Petz joined Sherwin-Williams with the acquisition of The Valspar Corporation in 2017. Since joining the Company, she has held positions of increasing responsibility including President of the Consumer Brands Group, President of The Americas Group and, most recently, President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Sherwin-Williams and Valspar, Ms. Petz held various leadership roles with Newell Rubbermaid, Target Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Ms. Petz is a director of Ulta Beauty, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors of the University Hospitals Health System. She is also a member of the Policy Advisory Board of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Ms. Petz holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Leadership from the University of Richmond, and a master’s of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland.
Chair, President & CEO
Sherwin-Williams
Building Products Panel
Heidi G. Petz is Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Sherwin-Williams Company, a $23.05 billion global leader in the paint and coatings industry. She has served as Chief Executive Officer since January 2024 and President since March 2022.
Ms. Petz joined Sherwin-Williams with the acquisition of The Valspar Corporation in 2017. Since joining the Company, she has held positions of increasing responsibility including President of the Consumer Brands Group, President of The Americas Group and, most recently, President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Sherwin-Williams and Valspar, Ms. Petz held various leadership roles with Newell Rubbermaid, Target Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Ms. Petz is a director of Ulta Beauty, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors of the University Hospitals Health System. She is also a member of the Policy Advisory Board of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
Ms. Petz holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Leadership from the University of Richmond, and a master’s of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland.
Tamir Poleg
CEO
The Real Brokerage
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Panel
Tamir Poleg is the Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Real, a role he’s held since 2014. Prior to launching Real, Tamir was the Founder and CEO of Optimum RE Investments, an investment firm focused on multi-family real estate and technology ventures. Earlier in his career, he held a number of leadership roles in organizations that spanned the real estate and technology sectors across multiple continents. He holds a BA in economics from The College of Management Academic Studies.
CEO
The Real Brokerage
Mortgage and Real Estate Services Panel
Tamir Poleg is the Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Real, a role he’s held since 2014. Prior to launching Real, Tamir was the Founder and CEO of Optimum RE Investments, an investment firm focused on multi-family real estate and technology ventures. Earlier in his career, he held a number of leadership roles in organizations that spanned the real estate and technology sectors across multiple continents. He holds a BA in economics from The College of Management Academic Studies.
Sudha Reddy
Haven Realty Capital
Managing Principal
Single-Family Rental Panel
Haven Realty Capital
Managing Principal
Single-Family Rental Panel
Dana Sprong
SVP of Acquisitions and Dispositions
VineBrook Homes
Single-Family Rental Panel
SVP of Acquisitions and Dispositions
VineBrook Homes
Single-Family Rental Panel
Willy Walker
CEO
Walker & Dunlop
Walker Webcast
Willy Walker is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walker & Dunlop. Under Mr. Walker’s leadership, Walker & Dunlop has grown from a small, family-owned business to become one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. Walker & Dunlop is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and in its first ten years as a public company has seen its shares appreciate over 800%. The firm was also #17 on Fortune’s 2017 list of “Fastest Growing Public Companies” and has been named a Best Workplace for eight of the last eleven years by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Mr. Walker received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011 and was named “Financier of the Year” in 2017 and 2020 by Commercial Property Executive. Mr. Walker received his master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University. Mr. Walker serves on the board of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation. He formerly served on the boards of St. Albans School, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Children's National Medical Center. Mr. Walker is also a member of the Real Estate Roundtable. Mr. Walker is an avid runner, skier, and cyclist, and has run the Boston Marathon in 2:36.
CEO
Walker & Dunlop
Walker Webcast
Willy Walker is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walker & Dunlop. Under Mr. Walker’s leadership, Walker & Dunlop has grown from a small, family-owned business to become one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. Walker & Dunlop is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and in its first ten years as a public company has seen its shares appreciate over 800%. The firm was also #17 on Fortune’s 2017 list of “Fastest Growing Public Companies” and has been named a Best Workplace for eight of the last eleven years by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Mr. Walker received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011 and was named “Financier of the Year” in 2017 and 2020 by Commercial Property Executive. Mr. Walker received his master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University. Mr. Walker serves on the board of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation. He formerly served on the boards of St. Albans School, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Children's National Medical Center. Mr. Walker is also a member of the Real Estate Roundtable. Mr. Walker is an avid runner, skier, and cyclist, and has run the Boston Marathon in 2:36.
Tim Yaggi
CEO
Pella
Building Products Panel
Tim Yaggi is the CEO of Pella Corporation and a member of Pella’s Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Pella in 2016, Tim served as Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO of Tempur Sealy International, Inc. from February 2013 to March 2016. From 2008 to 2012, Tim served as Group President of the North America Builder Group at Masco Corporation where he oversaw a portfolio of seven independent companies with 15,000 employees. From 1994 to 2008, Tim was employed at Whirlpool Corporation, most recently as Executive Vice President, North America. Tim was also employed by Norelco (Philips) from 1988 to 1993.
Tim received his degree in psychology from Princeton University and an M.B.A. degree with emphasis in marketing from Michigan State University.
He is on the Board of Directors of Serta Simmons Bedding and serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Additionally, he is on the policy advisory board of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and is a member of the Iowa Business Council.
CEO
Pella
Building Products Panel
Tim Yaggi is the CEO of Pella Corporation and a member of Pella’s Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Pella in 2016, Tim served as Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO of Tempur Sealy International, Inc. from February 2013 to March 2016. From 2008 to 2012, Tim served as Group President of the North America Builder Group at Masco Corporation where he oversaw a portfolio of seven independent companies with 15,000 employees. From 1994 to 2008, Tim was employed at Whirlpool Corporation, most recently as Executive Vice President, North America. Tim was also employed by Norelco (Philips) from 1988 to 1993.
Tim received his degree in psychology from Princeton University and an M.B.A. degree with emphasis in marketing from Michigan State University.
He is on the Board of Directors of Serta Simmons Bedding and serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Additionally, he is on the policy advisory board of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and is a member of the Iowa Business Council.
Doug Yearley
CEO
Toll Brothers
Homebuilding Panel
Doug Yearley joined Toll Brothers in 1990 and has held various management positions over the past 30+ years. He initially specialized in land acquisitions and project management, learning the home building business from the ground up. He then helped oversee the Company’s substantial growth through new market expansion and builder acquisitions. He has been an officer of the Company since 1994, holding the position of Vice President from January 1994 until January 2002, Senior Vice President from January 2002 until November 2005, and Regional President from November 2005 until November 2009, when he managed home building operations in nine markets throughout the country, oversaw the creation of the Toll Brothers City Living division, and managed the Marketing department. In November 2009, Doug was promoted to Executive Vice President, and then to Chief Executive Officer in June 2010, at which time he also became a member of the Board of Directors. In October 2018, Doug was elected to succeed Toll Brothers founder Bob Toll as Chairman of the Board.
In 2024, Doug was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron’s magazine in recognition of his strategic leadership that has positioned the Company for continued success.
Doug received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Applied Economics and Business Management and a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers Law School.
CEO
Toll Brothers
Homebuilding Panel
Doug Yearley joined Toll Brothers in 1990 and has held various management positions over the past 30+ years. He initially specialized in land acquisitions and project management, learning the home building business from the ground up. He then helped oversee the Company’s substantial growth through new market expansion and builder acquisitions. He has been an officer of the Company since 1994, holding the position of Vice President from January 1994 until January 2002, Senior Vice President from January 2002 until November 2005, and Regional President from November 2005 until November 2009, when he managed home building operations in nine markets throughout the country, oversaw the creation of the Toll Brothers City Living division, and managed the Marketing department. In November 2009, Doug was promoted to Executive Vice President, and then to Chief Executive Officer in June 2010, at which time he also became a member of the Board of Directors. In October 2018, Doug was elected to succeed Toll Brothers founder Bob Toll as Chairman of the Board.
In 2024, Doug was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron’s magazine in recognition of his strategic leadership that has positioned the Company for continued success.
Doug received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Applied Economics and Business Management and a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers Law School.
Matt Zaist
President & CEO
The New Home Company
Homebuilding Panel
Matt joined New Home Co. as President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2021. In his position, Matt oversees the operations of NEW HOME both at the corporate level, and at its divisions located throughout the western United States. He is responsible for creating and implementing the strategic direction of the company, land acquisition and overall management of homebuilding operations. Prior to leading NEW HOME, Matt held several executive positions at William Lyon Homes. He was promoted to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer in March of 2016, and then in August of 2016, he was appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to serve as a member of the Board and served in that capacity until William Lyon Homes was acquired in 2020.
Matt has extensive capital markets and M&A experience including the acquisition of five private homebuilding platforms and the sale of William Lyon Homes to Taylor Morrison Home Corporation in February of 2020 creating the nation’s fifth largest homebuilder. Most recently Matt served as an advisor to Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of The New Home Company. Matt currently serves on the Board of Trustees for American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) a leading Single Family Rental REIT, where he serves as a member of the Audit Committee and Human Capital and Compensation Committee.
He previously served as a member of the Executive Committee for the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. Matt holds a B.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
President & CEO
The New Home Company
Homebuilding Panel
Matt joined New Home Co. as President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2021. In his position, Matt oversees the operations of NEW HOME both at the corporate level, and at its divisions located throughout the western United States. He is responsible for creating and implementing the strategic direction of the company, land acquisition and overall management of homebuilding operations. Prior to leading NEW HOME, Matt held several executive positions at William Lyon Homes. He was promoted to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer in March of 2016, and then in August of 2016, he was appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to serve as a member of the Board and served in that capacity until William Lyon Homes was acquired in 2020.
Matt has extensive capital markets and M&A experience including the acquisition of five private homebuilding platforms and the sale of William Lyon Homes to Taylor Morrison Home Corporation in February of 2020 creating the nation’s fifth largest homebuilder. Most recently Matt served as an advisor to Apollo Global Management in its acquisition of The New Home Company. Matt currently serves on the Board of Trustees for American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) a leading Single Family Rental REIT, where he serves as a member of the Audit Committee and Human Capital and Compensation Committee.
He previously served as a member of the Executive Committee for the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. Matt holds a B.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
Ivy Zelman
EVP
Zelman
Zelman State of The Housing Market
Ivy Zelman is the executive vice president of Zelman, based in Ohio. Ms. Zelman has over 30 years of experience covering housing and housing-related industries. In 2007, Ms. Zelman co-founded Zelman, which provides analyses across all aspects of the housing spectrum. Ms. Zelman's concept for the firm remains firmly rooted in the ability to perform thematic research overlaid with proprietary surveys to produce unparalleled differentiated value-added research.
Ms. Zelman has been widely known and respected for her bold thinking and accurate assessments where others failed, helping industry players avoid costly mistakes and capture game-changing opportunities. In 2005, she called the top of the housing market, and in 2012, she called the bottom of the housing market, thus reinforcing her dominant reputation within the industry.
Ms. Zelman earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from George Mason University. She has earned numerous institutional awards, Institutional Investors - America Research Team rankings placed Ms. Zelman and her team with eleven 1st place rankings, and Hanley Wood, a leading real estate media firm, ranked her as 14th of the Top 50 most influential persons in housing. Additionally, Ms. Zelman has been included in Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance for the past four years. Lastly, she has been inducted into the California Homebuilding Foundation's Hall of Fame. Outside the company, Ms. Zelman is an adjunct professor of finance at Case Western University and mentors high school and college students.
Ms. Zelman released her memoir: Gimme Shelter: Hard Calls + Soft Skills From A Wall Street Trailblazer, in September 2021.
EVP
Zelman
Zelman State of The Housing Market
Ivy Zelman is the executive vice president of Zelman, based in Ohio. Ms. Zelman has over 30 years of experience covering housing and housing-related industries. In 2007, Ms. Zelman co-founded Zelman, which provides analyses across all aspects of the housing spectrum. Ms. Zelman's concept for the firm remains firmly rooted in the ability to perform thematic research overlaid with proprietary surveys to produce unparalleled differentiated value-added research.
Ms. Zelman has been widely known and respected for her bold thinking and accurate assessments where others failed, helping industry players avoid costly mistakes and capture game-changing opportunities. In 2005, she called the top of the housing market, and in 2012, she called the bottom of the housing market, thus reinforcing her dominant reputation within the industry.
Ms. Zelman earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from George Mason University. She has earned numerous institutional awards, Institutional Investors - America Research Team rankings placed Ms. Zelman and her team with eleven 1st place rankings, and Hanley Wood, a leading real estate media firm, ranked her as 14th of the Top 50 most influential persons in housing. Additionally, Ms. Zelman has been included in Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance for the past four years. Lastly, she has been inducted into the California Homebuilding Foundation's Hall of Fame. Outside the company, Ms. Zelman is an adjunct professor of finance at Case Western University and mentors high school and college students.
Ms. Zelman released her memoir: Gimme Shelter: Hard Calls + Soft Skills From A Wall Street Trailblazer, in September 2021.