An architect celebrated for shaping inspiring spaces that bring people together across cultures and communities, Barbara leads the charge in growing our presence and impact in people-focused markets, including housing, civic and community spaces, sports, entertainment and workplace. With a sharp eye on cultural shifts and emerging behaviors, she’s constantly exploring how best to design for how people live today, where work, play and life are constantly intersecting, and helping clients stay ahead of how those dynamics are ever shifting. Barbara is the former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, where she led the global team behind Disney’s theme parks, resorts, cruise ships and immersive entertainment experiences. Known for fusing story with technology and design, she’s directly shaped some of the most memorable experiences across the globe. At the heart of all of her work, at Disney and with some of the most renowned design firms in the profession, is an instinct for designing authentic experiences that bring people together and leave space for wonder to unfold. Barbara is a member of Fast Company’s Impact Council and currently sits on the SCI-Arc Board of Trustees.

Lou is an asset management partner in PwC’s Trust Solutions practice based in Chicago. Lou has more than 22 years of experience serving financial services clients with an emphasis on both public and private commercial real estate companies and alternative investment products such as private equity funds and hedge funds. He has deep expertise in valuation of various asset classes including real estate, various types of portfolio companies, structured credit products and the like. Lou returned to Chicago in 2013 after working in PwC’s National Quality Organization for 2 years. In that role, he advised engagement teams in a number of technical areas including leasing, consolidation and various other related topics. He also closely monitored emerging accounting standards and has authored numerous thought leadership publications on the new leasing standard and revenue recognition standard. Lou is also actively involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where he currently serves as Vice Chair on the National Board of Trustees and serves as the Audit Committee Chair. In November 2019, Lou was also elected to the Reporting Standards Council for the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF), and he is currently serving his 2nd, 3 year term in that role. Lou received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois. Lou is also a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

As President of Keeley Properties, Jason leads all aspects of asset management and investment activities. Jason joined Keeley Properties predecessor the Koman Group as Vice President of Investments in 2008, and has since led close to $2 billion in transactions as Managing Director and President, including CityPlace, Koman’s flagship mixed-use office campus, Clayton on the Park, a 213-unit luxury apartment high-rise, and Centene Plaza, a 485,000 square foot Class A office development in Clayton. Jason critically directed the firm’s focus into St. Louis’ urban core within its office and mixed use developments, including 280,000 square feet of adaptive reuse/historic rehabilitation and over $200 million in live-work-play mixed used investments. Most recently, Jason has overseen the firm’s entry into the self-storage space, developing or acquiring 28 assets comprising 16,500 units and 2.2 million rentable square feet across eight states. Prior to moving to St. Louis and joining Koman, Jason was Vice President of private equity fund Strength Property Partners, specializing in urban real estate development investments throughout the greater Midwest. Jason also served as Chief Financial Officer for Connektiv Companies, an urban development firm specializing in mixed use brownfield projects, and was Financial Associate for Royal Oak, Michigan-based Milestone Realty Services. Having grown up in southeast Michigan with nine degrees in his immediate family, Jason is an unapologetic fan of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, and has been known to take his two thoroughly-brainwashed teenage daughters on many football and basketball road trips. EDUCATION MBA, University of Michigan MS in Urban Planning, University of Michigan BBA, University of Michigan

As Vice President at CRG, I help lead the strategic execution of the firm’s data center developments and master development projects. My role encompasses managing critical aspects of projects, including site selection, development oversight, and stabilization. Prior to joining CRG, I worked as a tax credit and incentive finance attorney, advising clients on complex state and federal new markets tax credits, historic rehabilitation tax credits, renewable energy tax credits, and opportunity zone incentives. To date, I have closed or lead the development of $2.7B worth of real estate transactions.

With more than two decades of experience in travel and tourism, Brad Dean is president and CEO of Explore St. Louis, leading the charge to promote the city as a must-visit destination and positioning America’s Center and The Dome as top choices for conventions, concerts and events. Before joining Explore St. Louis, Dean served as CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, where he played a pivotal role in revitalizing the island’s tourism industry. Taking the helm in 2018, he spearheaded efforts to boost economic growth and reestablish Puerto Rico as a premier travel destination, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Dean’s career began in Puerto Rico as a financial analyst for General Electric, where he also met his wife. In 1993, he transitioned into hospitality, joining the Rank Corporation as unit controller for its Hard Rock Café chain. Two years later, he was tapped to launch and lead the Myrtle Beach location, which quickly became one of the company’s top-performing outlets. In 1998, Dean took on a leadership role with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce as chief financial officer. By 2003, he was named president and CEO, guiding the region’s tourism industry to unprecedented growth. Under his leadership, the chamber earned national recognition and was named Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2015. A respected voice in the travel and tourism industry, Dean serves in leadership roles with organizations including the U.S. Travel Association, Destinations International and Meeting Professionals International. He is a member of the National Council of State Tourism Directors and vice chair of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. In 2021, he was named State Tourism Director of the Year by the National Council of State Tourism Directors of the U.S. Travel Association, honoring his contributions to Puerto Rico’s tourism renaissance. Beyond his professional achievements, he remains committed to community service and philanthropy. Originally from Illinois, Dean holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Illinois. Now calling St. Louis home, he continues to drive innovation and economic impact through tourism.

Chris Hansen is the Executive Director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation (KAF) and a preeminent architect of the St. Louis cultural landscape. A seasoned entrepreneur and veteran performer with over 25 years of experience, Hansen has transitioned from the stage to the vanguard of urban place-making, overseeing a massive 2-million-square-foot portfolio of creative infrastructure. Under his leadership, KAF has become a national model for arts-based community development. Hansen has spearheaded the design and development of 16 landmark facilities—including The Grandel, The Big Top, and The High Low—and most recently, the highly anticipated The Key Burger Bar & Boogie and The Sovereign. These newest developments represent a bold evolution in Hansen’s work, blending high-energy hospitality and sophisticated urban living with the Foundation’s core mission of cultural sustainability. Beyond physical development, Hansen’s influence spans the region’s most vital initiatives. He serves as Chairman of the St. Louis Art Place Initiative and was recognized as one of St. Louis’s Top 500 Business Leaders in 2025. From producing the Music at the Intersection festival to launching the 92,000 sq. ft. Downtown West workforce development hub, Hansen’s work ensures that St. Louis remains a premier destination where artists have the tools, stages, and community support to thrive.