Retail Real Estate in the Time of Covid….Is there a silver lining?
We are inviting all current MSRE students, alumni, and special guests to attend the Seminar Series on Friday, October 16th entitled, "Retail Real Estate in the Time of COVID...Is there a silver lining?" Sponsored by ICSC, we are pleased to welcome this month's panel....Please register today using the zoom link below for this exciting discussion.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Meet the Panel
Darrell Palasciano
Senior Vice President, TSCG; Current ICSC State Chairman (NC/SC)
Moderator
Darrell Palasciano has lived in Charlotte for nearly 30 years. In his role as a leasing advisor, he is responsible for the leasing of existing shopping centers and new developments as well as site selection for new projects. Prior to joining TSCG in 2008, Darrell was the leasing director for a Charlotte area developer. With 17 years in the business, he has completed nearly 500 transactions and leased over 2 million square feet of retail space.
Darrell is an active member of ICSC currently serving as the State Chair for North and South Carolina. His past ICSC roles have included Chairman of the 2019 Carolinas Conference and Chairman of the Government Relations Committee and the Operations Committee for the Carolinas. Darrell is a board member at Preserve Mecklenburg, Inc, a non-profit committed to historical preservation in the Charlotte area. He is an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte and his son’s local Boy Scout Troop.
He graduated with a finance degree from UNC Charlotte in 1998 where he is a founding member of the Real Estate Alumni Association for the CK Center for Real Estate. Darrell lives in Charlotte with his wife and four children.
Lauren Ball
Vice President of Leasing, SITE Centers
La
uren is responsible for oversight and leasing a portfolio of 50 operating properties and new developments, totaling more than 11.2 million square feet from Virginia through Texas. Lauren also assists with asset management, financial reporting, development, acquisition and disposition efforts in the region.
Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Colorado. In 2018, she was featured in the “Who’s Who in Commercial Real Estate” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, playing tennis and running.
George Dewey
President and CEO, Aston Properties
George is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aston, where he oversees the firm’s operations, including property acquisitions and property developments. Since joining Aston in 1997, he has been involved in the acquisition and development of projects valued in excess of $400 million. Prior to joining Aston, George was with Charlotte, NC based developer, The Bissell Companies.
His passion is working with a group of talented professionals to develop and acquire strategically located retail properties. This includes the enjoyment of being a part of an Aston Team whose goals are to execute on a well thought out leasing and development plan for each project. George believes the ultimate outcome of this effort is to enhance the retail landscape and the quality of life of the neighborhoods and communities our properties serve.
George earned a bachelor degree from Hampden-Sydney College with a double major in economics and Spanish. George currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the John M. Belk Endowment, the Levine Children’s Hospital Board of Ambassadors, Hampden-Sydney College Board of Trustees, Charlotte Country Day School Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors for the Trail of History, a founding board member of The May 20th Society and is a past board member of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. George has been an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and served as a panelist at several of ICSC’s Carolinas Idea Exchange conferences.
Melissa McDonald
Principal, The Providence Group of the Carolinas
Melissa McDonald is a native of Lancaster PA and graduated rom St Lawrence University in 1981 with a BA in Sociology. After graduation from SLU, Melissa moved to Charlotte NC and worked for both Bank of America and Amoco Oil Company prior to entering commercial real estate brokerage.
In 1990, Melissa took a leasing position with a local developer, Lat Purser & Associates Inc., who built grocery anchored centers. After shifting from landlord leasing to retail tenant representation, Melissa spent 15 years with a boutique retail estate firm who specialized in tenant representation and development. In 2011, Melissa joined The Providence Group in Charlotte as a partner, specializing in tenant representation. Her clients include The TJX Companies, Ulta, Five Below, Michaels, Sola Salons, Shake Shack and Amazon Grocery, among others, in the Carolinas.
Past and current volunteer experience includes extensive work with the International Council of Shopping Centers as well as volunteer assignments for The Council for Children’s Rights, Crisis Assistance, & the Second Harvest Food Bank.