2025 Speakers

The 2025 Conference featured an all-star lineup of speakers from across the sports, entertainment, and civic infrastructure world—each bringing bold ideas, real-world experience, and fresh perspectives to the stage.

  • Steve Ballmer

    Chairman of LA Clippers and Former CEO of Microsoft
  • Jim Ross

    Mayor
    Arlington, TX
  • Constantine Dimas

    Chief Business Officer
    Loews Hotels & Co
  • Martye Kendrick

    Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
  • Rob Matwick

    EVP, Public Affairs
    Texas Rangers Baseball Club
  • Anna Nash

    Senior Vice President, Market Development
  • Marty Wieder

    Executive Director
    Arlington Economic Development Corporation
  • John Ahrens

    Head of Design and Construction
    Live Nation
  • Chris Bennett

    Director of Sales Execution
  • Peyton Booth

    Principal/Sr. Designer
  • Craig Bojda

    Project Executive
  • Mike Drye

    Partner/Business Development Director
  • David Carlock

    Founder & Principal
    Machete Group
  • Rosa Fleming

    Director, Convention and Event Services
  • Leslie Fangman

    Owner
    Fangman Associates
  • Mike Garcia

    President
  • Katharine D. David

    Office Managing Partner
  • Korey Kirschenmann

    Principal
    ME Engineers
  • Maggie Duff

    Project Engineer
    Turner Construction
  • Andrea Hight

    Shareholder
  • Kelly Holton

    Senior Principal, Brand Activation Director
  • Rob Hunden

    President & CEO
    Hunden Partners
  • Meg McWilliam

    Principal, Senior Architect
  • Hussain Naqi

    General Manager
  • Riki Nishimura

    Principal, Senior Urban Designer
  • Dewey Newton

    Senior Vice President
    Turner Construction
  • Tyler Othen

    Project Manager
  • Jon Niemuth

    Director of Sports, Principal
  • Michael Lockwood

    Senior Principal and Convention Center Director
  • David Stone

    President
  • Thomas Somdahl

    National Account Manager - Advanced Convention Services
  • Kristian Teleki

    Sr. Vice President, Development
    Inspire Dallas
  • Liam Thornton

    Executive VP of Strategy and Development
  • Bruce Yee

    Engineered Solutions Manager
  • Brian Unekis

    Senior Principal
    ME Engineers
  • Chris Canetti

    President
    Houston 2026 World Cup Host Committee
  • Ryan Walsh

    Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
  • Dan Schmitt

    Senior Project Manager
  • Victoria Watson

    Associate Principal, Sr Sustainability Engineer
  • Kai Westermark

    Entertainment Venues Leader
    Gensler
  • Robert Burns

    Vice President for Business Development
  • Mike Campo

    General Manager
  • Matt Deimund

    Chief Product Officer
    Dude Perfect
  • Leslie Fangman

    Principal
    Fangman Associates
  • Seth Miller Gabriel

    Principal
    Taft Infrastructure Advisors
  • Kyle Hamilton

    Partner
  • Johno Harris

    Senior Executive Vice President
    Lincoln Property Company
  • Dan Hoffend

    Executive Vice President, Convention Centers
  • Thomas John

    Partner
    Taft
  • Andrew Minick

    Associate Perot/Jain, Texas SuperKings
    MLC Cricket
  • Paula Portz

    Chief Operating Officer
  • Erin Talkington

    Managing Director
    RCLCO
  • Josh Tooill

    Principal - Venues (Sports & Entertainment)
  • Bryan Trubey

    Founding Partner
    OVERLAND Sports and Entertainment
  • Matt Valentine

    Chairman/Founder
  • Greg Verabian

    Partner & Regional Practice Director, Commercial/Mixed-Use