Welcome Students!

Through its Ambassadors program, ICSC has arranged for a roster of industry leaders who are available to mentor student attendees at the ICSC Florida Conference.  Mentoring conversations will be hosted at the University Square area, on the trade show floor.  Look for overhead signage to locate University Square.  Mentor biographies, which include appointment times to meet, follow.  Appointments are available on a drop-in basis and need not be scheduled prior to the conference.  However, please do bring a copy of your resume to the mentor meetings.  Questions?  Contact Madison Gross, Director, ICSC Ambassadors Program at mgross@icsc.org or at 646-728-3461.

Alton R. (Tony) Brown, III, CCIM, CRX, CSM, CLS, CDP

Alton R. (Tony) Brown, III, CCIM, CRX, CSM, CLS, CDP is President of The Pelican Group, Inc., a privately-owned, Mobile, AL-based developer and manager of shopping centers. Mr. Brown’s day-today responsibilities include oversight of all development, financing, leasing and management functions of The Pelican Group. Mr. Brown also serves as Vice President and Secretary of Shanri Holdings Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shanri Investment, Ltd. (Victoria, British Columbia) and is responsible for all asset management functions relating to Shanri’s US portfolio. Prior to forming The Pelican Group, Mr. Brown was Vice President of Herman Maisel and Company, Inc., also of Mobile, where his principal responsibility was the financing and development of office buildings and shopping centers. 

Mr. Brown has served as ICSC’s State Government Relations Committee Chairman (AL/MS), State Director for Alabama and Mississippi, Southern Division Government Relations Chairman and Southern Division Alliance Co-Chair. Mr. Brown has also served program chairmanships for the Gulf South Idea Exchange and the Gulf South Alliance Program. For over 25 years Mr. Brown has served as a member of the national Environmental Sub-Committee, including task forces focusing on Wetlands, Toxic Wastes and Land Rights. During this time he served as Chairman of the Land Rights Task Force from 1995- 2000 and Chairman of the Environmental Sub-Committee from 2001-2007. Mr. Brown has also served as a member of the national Alliance Program Task Force and the national Government Relations Committee. As a part of ICSC’s education programs, He taught “Finance for Non-Financial Professionals” for six years, the Executive Learning Series in 2006 and 2008 and for six years at The University of Shopping Centers in the School of Economic Development at Wharton –The University of Pennsylvania, where he served as the Associate Dean in 2004 and Dean of the School of Economic Development in 2005. Mr. Brown received ICSC’s “Trustees Distinguished Service Award” in  2000. Mr. Brown has served on the CLS (Certified Leasing Specialist) national exam writing committee. During his chairmanship of the Environmental sub-committee, Mr. Brown served as a Member of the Environmental Committee of the Real Estate Roundtable and represented ICSC as a Member of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s “Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on All Appropriate Inquiry” for Section 223 of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (PL 107-118). He is an ICSC Ambassador. Mr. Brown holds a B.A.e from The University of South Alabama (USA), a Master of Arts degree from The University of South Alabama Graduate School, where he currently serves as a member of The Mitchell College of Business (USA) Real Estate & Economic Development Advisory Board. Mr. Brown also serves on the Investment and Finance Committees of the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation Board. 

Available Monday, August 28, 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Available Tuesday, August 29, 9:00 - 10:00 am

Andrew Carlson, CRX, CSM, CLS

Andrew Carlson, CRX, CSM, CLS represents national and regional retailers in their expansion in Florida and Puerto Rico for JLL.  He oversees agency leasing and tenant representation efforts in Central and South Florida, as well as Puerto Rico.  In addition, Andy manages the retail brokerage team in the Tampa office.  Andy has over 25 years of experience in the shopping center industry including positions in Property Management, Development and Construction, Mall management, Asset Management, Landlord Leasing and Tenant Representation. 

Since beginning his career in 1986, Andy has completed retail transactions in excess of 5,000,000 square feet with various retailers including anchors, Jr. boxes, small shop and lifestyle tenants. He has been employed by national, regional and local companies such as Forest City Enterprises, Jim Morris and Associates, Inc. and the Sembler Company of St Petersburg, FL. With the Sembler Company, Andy leased over 3,000,000 square feet of power, strip, mixed use and lifestyle shopping centers in Florida and Puerto Rico.  In February of 2013, Andy formed The Retail Advisors and represents several top retail clients as well as providing consulting services to Landlords in Florida and Puerto Rico. 

Andy has attended the ICSC School of Professional Development and has earned the ICSC Certified Retail Property Executive, Certified Shopping Center Manager and Certified Leasing Specialist designations. He has served as the Chairman for the West Florida ICSC Idea Exchange and as the senior advisor for the ICSC Next Generation Program in Tampa, FL. 

Andy currently serves on the ICSC Certified Leasing Specialist test review and certification board, The Caribbean Conference Committee and has spoken and participated at several ICSC sponsored events. Andy holds Real Estate Broker’s Licenses in Florida and Puerto Rico. Andy is an ICSC Ambassador.

Available Tuesday, August 29, 8:00 - 9:00 am

Donn Carr

Donn Carr is the Principal Partner of the Carr Management Group. He is an internationally recognized authority of the training and business development industries.  His frank, common sense, in-your-face focus on global leadership and management issues, business and team development, as well as executive coaching has made him a much sought after Keynote Speaker and consultant. 

With over 40 years of experience in his field, his focus continues to be on improving customer service globally; developing leaders, and helping businesses survive in today’s volatile market. His seminar series spans all the America’s, Europe, and the Caribbean. He is an accomplished writer and contributing columnist for several major publications whose articles take on business, leadership, and customer service issues around the globe while inspiring personal growth. His coaching and leadership background encompasses a wide array of senior-level managerial positions with some of the world’s largest and most influential organizations, including Dale Carnegie. Mr. Carr is a member of the Forbes Coaching Council; an invitational only group comprised of the who’s who of professional leaders and coaches.

Key accreditations include:  Member Forbes Coaching Council; Master Trainer AMA Management Trainer; Master Trainer Dale Carnegie Master Trainer Body Language; Adjunct Professor University of Texas; National Speaker’s Association Master Trainer Interviewing, Coaching and Feedback; Certified Life Coach. 

Available Monday, August 28, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Rod Castan, CRX, CLS

Rod Castan, CRX, CLS has been in the commercial property development, and management business since 1985.  He is the President of the Leasing and Property Management Division of Courtelis Company, a Miami based commercial and multi family real estate development firm that was established in 1963.  During his 22 year tenure at Courtelis, he has been involved in the development of 30 ground up and redevelopment shopping center and commercial projects totaling over 4 million sq.ft.  Prior to joining Courtelis, Rod Castan was Vice President of Leasing with Balcor Property Management, an American Express affiliate. 

Rod is the past Southern Division Operations Chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), past ICSC State Director for Florida, and recipient of the CRX Certified Retail Executive and Certified Leasing Specialist designations, CLS.  He has been a guest speaker at real estate programs for ICSC, ULI and many Universities, and currently serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of Florida’s Bergstrom Center for Real Estate.

Available Tuesday, August 29, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Ralph J. Conti, CCIM, CDP, CRX

Ralph J. Conti, CCIM, CDP, CRX, is the Principal and Managing Member of RaCo Real Estate, LLC, a boutique real estate consulting and development firm based in Atlanta, GA. A 37-year industry veteran, Ralph has extensive experience in retail and mixed use projects throughout the United States. Prior to forming RaCo in 2009, Ralph served as Executive Vice President for KIMCO Realty and prior to that he was a Partner with North American Properties-Atlanta; Vice President and Director of Development with Developers Diversified Realty, Cleveland, OH; Vice President of Development, Glimcher Realty Trust, Columbus, OH and Director of Development, Homart Development Co., Chicago. Ralph is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Georgia, a licensed General Contractor in the state of Florida and Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM).  Ralph has led the development of well over 40 million square feet of retail and mixed use projects in his career. Ralph is active member of the ICSC professional education program serving as a senior faculty member both domestically and internationally. Ralph currently serves as ICSC State Operations Chair for Georgia and is an active member of the real estate advisory boards at the University of Florida and Georgia State University where he frequently guest lecturers. 

Ralph holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Project Management LaSalle as well as a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell.

Available Monday, August 28, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

John M. Crossman, CCIM, CRX

John M. Crossman, CCIM, CRX is President of Crossman & Company, one of the largest retail leasing, management and investment sales in the Southeastern United States, with over 28 million square feet of properties located in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In this role, John oversees retail leasing and marketing initiatives for high margin clients. Under John’s leadership, alongside his brother Scott, Crossman & Company has been named one of the “Best Places to Work” by Florida Trend magazine. They are known in the industry for their community service, social media, education initiatives and diversity. Prior to joining Crossman & Company, John was a principal at Trammell Crow Company. He also led the company’s National Retail Council, which worked to advance the nationwide retail strategy.

Available Monday, August 28, 1:30 - 2:30 pm