Transformative changes are unfolding in Oregon's Wine ​Country as surging tourism spurs regional growth. ​Consequently, demand for workforce housing has skyrocketed ​prompting innovative solutions to ensure that the Willamette ​Valley's residents can thrive in a burgeoning hospitality ​industry. Competition breeds innovation in place-based design ​creating unique development opportunities and challenges.

Adjacently, Portland, Washington County, and SW Washington ​are also seeing increasing investment in hospitality, ​experiential dining, tasting rooms and bottle shops driving ​service-based growth.

Join us in Oregon’s wine country in July 2024 for the Oregon ​edition of the Cascadia Regional Conference for an ​exploration of the Willamette Valley as it propels toward a ​future characterized by sustainable growth, economic vitality, ​and a deep appreciation for its natural and cultural heritage.

Thank you for joining us for the 15th annual Cascadia Regional Conference! On behalf of the ULI Northwest team, ​it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome.

This conference represents a unique opportunity for us to come together, share insights, and explore new ideas. ​Our region is rich with innovation which we are excited to showcase. Over the next few days, you will have the ​chance to engage with thought leaders, participate in inspiring discussions, and network with like-minded ​professionals.

We have curated a diverse program to challenge and inspire you. Thank you for coming and for your commitment ​to making a difference in our community. We look forward to spending time together and hope you leave the ​conference with new knowledge, connections, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Warm regards,

Andrea Newton

Executive Director

ULI Northwest

Special Thanks to our Lead Sponsor

Hotels

Program

Special Thanks to our Connector Sponsors

If you arrive early, check into your ​hotel and visit the ​waterfront, Japanese Garden, a museum or art gallery, or ​one of Portland’s unique neighborhoods featuring boutiques ​and one-of-a-kind eateries.

After you’ve explored, join us in the evening for our annual ​Summer Social. Here we will kick-​off the conference with ​networking, scenic rooftop views, and of course – wine!

WoodWorks Innovation Network Mass Timber Map

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

Hopscotch Immersive Art Installation

International Rose Test Garden

Albina Music Trust Walking Tour (The Albina Soul Walk)

Portland Art Museum

Hike in Forest Park (Lower Macleay Park)

Alberta Arts District

Hawthorne

Pearl District

The development of the Vancouver Waterfront is a ​transformative urban project, blending historical roots ​with modern amenities. This revitalized area, once ​dominated by industrial activities, now features a scenic ​waterfront park, vibrant mixed-use spaces, and a ​bustling public market. Emphasizing sustainability and ​community engagement, the project incorporates ​residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Saturday Tour Options

Choose between two tours this afternoon: Upland, a ​mixed-use development in downtown Vancouver by ​Holland Partner Group or The Springs at the Waterfront, ​a state-of-the-art senior living project designed by ​Portland-based GBD Architects. Alternatively, if you ​prefer a more relaxed or unstructured afternoon, explore ​Vancouver’s downtown or waterfront on your own and ​meet us at Upland for a farewell BBQ.

Keynote Speaker

Remy Drabkin — Owner/Winemaker at Remy Wines, Mayor of McMinnville, OR

Mayor Remy Drabkin of McMinnville, Oregon has dedicated over 14 years to public service. She is the first ​woman and first queer-identified person to hold the Mayorship in her hometown in the heart of Oregon’s ​Willamette Valley. Prior to becoming Mayor, Remy served on the McMinnville City Council and Affordable ​Housing Commission, and as liaison to the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Taskforce. This year, ​Remy was selected for the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Just Mayoral Fellowship as well as for a ​small delegation of U.S. mayors invited to study urban design and government responses to critical issues in ​Switzerland.

As owner of Remy Wines, Remy co-founded Wine Country Pride, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing LGBTQI2S+ ​Pride celebrations to rural Oregon, and hosted the inaugural Queer Wine Fest in 2022, an annual event which ​showcases wineries with LGBTQI2S+ leadership.

During her winery’s recent adaptive reuse remodel project, Remy’s commitment to sustainability resulted in ​the creation of a new carbon-sequestering concrete called the Drabkin-Mead Formulation, a collaboration ​with McMinnville’s Vesuvian Forge and Bioforcetech in San Francisco.

Recognition for Remy’s visionary work in wine includes her selection for Wine Enthusiast magazine’s ‘Future ​40’ list of industry visionaries in 2022. She was also named one of ‘Wine’s Most Inspiring People’ by Wine ​Industry Advisor in 2023.

Housing Panel Moderator

Sarah Zahn — Security Properties

Sarah is an experienced real estate development professional with a passion for projects that strengthen ​communities and improve the urban environment in which we live. Over her 15+ year career in real estate, ​Sarah’s project track record includes mixed use infill, multifamily, office, higher education, civic uses and ​affordable housing. Sarah served on the Portland Housing Advisory Commission from 2011-2018 and ​currently is vice-chair of the Urban Land Institute Northwest in Portland, of which is also a member. She also ​sits on the board of the Portland Streetcar and Oregon Smart Growth. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys ​practicing yoga, skiing with her son, playing with her labradoodle and traveling with her family.

Housing Panelist

Shawn Daley — George Fox University

Shawn is a passionate leader who wants to harness the power of human creativity to solve the world's ​greatest problems. He has worked for over 20 years in educational environments, regularly marveling at the ​ingenuity of students and instructors who want to transform this world for the better. His experiences with ​design thinking and innovation have fostered an appreciation for perpetually asking what might be, if we ​collaborate effectively, grant each other psychological safety, and seek out the most diverse set of ​perspectives to color our collective enterprise. He considers himself a connector and bridge builder seeking ​to link like-minded creatives so they can cooperate toward building the next company, product or opportunity ​that improves our community.

Hospitality Innovator

Frank Foti — The Ground, Stillwater

Founder and Servant Leader at The Ground with his wife Brenda Smola-Foti.

Reading/following/co-creating a Regenerative Agricultural and Dialogue Center where our mission is ​"Conscious & Loving Service to All Species."

Learn more at www.theground.love.

Mike Wilkerson

ECOnorthwest

Dr. Michael Wilkerson is a leading expert and thought partner in real estate economics. He is a Partner and ​Director of Analytics at ECOnorthwest and has 20 years of experience working with public sector and private ​clients around the country. His unique expertise is the intersection of real estate and economic development, ​with the goal of creating effective policies, influencing the built environment, and producing outcomes that ​improve individual opportunities. He regularly presents to local and state legislative bodies and at national ​conferences, including the American Planning Association, the National Multifamily Housing Council, and the ​Urban Land Institute. Mike is an adjunct professor in the Master of Real Estate Development program at ​Portland State University.

Special Thanks to the Friends of the Cascadia Regional Conference