08/31/2026
What an interesting panel!
I really enjoyed attending Confluence at Ponce City Market, organized by Contractors, Closers & Connections (CCC)
Each speaker brought something different to the conversation. Kenneth Lankford shared his experience in industrial real estate, while James Reid talked about building a vertically integrated CRE company focused on acquiring, developing, constructing, and operating self-storage and flex-space properties. Cesar Contreras has built a portfolio of more than 1,300 multifamily units, and Kris Bennett has completed more than $130 million in self-storage transactions.
Krut Patel works across several areas, including development, hospitality, and emerging technologies. Raven Thompson, MRED, MBA has helped secure more than $200 million in financing for affordable housing, and Marc A. Hershberg brought his experience in real estate investment and capital.
Different backgrounds, different areas of CRE but one thing I noticed they all have in common is that they think outside the box.
What I appreciated the most was how openly they shared what they have learned. That knowledge didn’t come easily. It came after years of challenges, risks, mistakes, and probably many sleepless nights!
CRE is not an easy industry, so I truly admire successful people who are willing to share not only the good parts, but also the lessons they learned along the way.
Thank you, CCC and Christopher Maier, MBA, for creating a space where we could learn, connect, and grow together.
Commercial Group
City of Milton, Georgia
Mark Farmer
Networking
