July 18-20, 2024
15th Annual
Cascadia Regional Conference
Table of Contents
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.
PROGRAM, HOTELS, TRANSPORTATION
Welcome Letter
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
Hotels
Transportation
Program
Recommended hotels are located downtown for convenient access to the pick up and drop off location at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.
Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
Kimpton Riverplace Hotel
Hyatt House
The Porter
The Hotel Zags
Hotel Rose
Attendees should plan to use the provided transportation on Friday July 19th. Buses will pick up at 7am on the Clay Street side of the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, taking all attendees to the main program and tours. In the evening, around 5pm, there will be two drop-off options in Portland: Migration Brewing, where our evening social will take place, and the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.
If you do not plan to use the transportation provided on Friday, please inform us in advance to avoid delays.
On Saturday, July 20th, group bus transportation will not be provided. Instead, we have organized carpooling through the link here. Attendees in need of a ride can sign up, and those who are willing to drive others can volunteer. The entire Saturday program will be held within walking distance of the Vancouver waterfront.
If you need transportation on Saturday or have any questions or concerns about conference transportation, please contact northwest@uli.org.
THURSDAY JULY 18
Afternoon................................................Self-Guided Exploration of Portland
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm......................................... Summer Social at Stoel Rives
FRIDAY JULY 19
7:00 am..........................Gather at Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
715 am......................................................Buses Leave Portland Waterfront
8:30 am............................................... Arrive at Stillwater for Main Program
4:00 pm.......................................................................Bus returns to Portland
5:00 pm.......................................................................... Dinner + Happy Hour
Thursday Agenda
JULY 18
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)
Hike in Forest Park (Lower Macleay Park)
PORTLAND, OR
Afternoon | Self Guided Tour of Portland Arrive early on Thursday; check into your hotel and explore the city. |
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Summer Social Join us in downtown Portland for our annual Summer Social and kick-off the conference with networking and scenic rooftop views. Special thanks to Stoel Rives LLP for hosting this year’s event. |
Friday Agenda
JULY 19
11:20 am – 11:30 am | Break |
11:30 am – 12:00 pm | Hospitality Innovator Presentation Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality, This Assembly, Levant Hotels |
12:00 pm – 12:35 pm | Hospitality Innovator Presentation Frank Foti, The Ground, Stillwater |
12:35 pm – 1:20 pm | Lunch at Stillwater |
1:20 pm – 1:30 pm | Load Buses |
1:30 pm | Buses Leave Stillwater for Tours |
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Tours See next page for more information. Each attendee will be randomly assigned a tour at check-in. |
4:00 pm | Buses Return to Portland There will be two drop-offs upon returning to Portland; Migration Brewing and then Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. |
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Happy Hour + Food at Migration Brewing Join us at Migration Brewing for a no host happy hour + light bites. Explore nearby Burnside or NW Portland for dinner options. |
MCMINNVILLE, OR
The bulk of today’s programming will take place in McMinnville. We highly encourage all attendees, whether local or out-of-town, to ride with us on buses. Please note that pick-up and drop-off locations are listed and linked in the agenda. There is limited parking at some of our tour locations and riding together is part of the fun! If you do not plan to use the provided transportation on Friday, please inform us in advance to avoid unnecessary delays. Please visit our speaker bios page for more details about each speaker or click on their name in the agenda to the right. | |
6:45 am – 7:15 am | Gather at Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront The last bus will depart promptly at 7:15 am. |
7:15 am - 8:30 am | 1-hr. Drive to Stillwater All travel times are estimates and subject to traffic or other delays. |
8:30 am - 9:15 am | Check-In, Breakfast, Networking Please follow the full check-in process at Stillwater. Make sure to get your name tag and tour assignment before the event starts. |
9:15 am – 9:30 am | Opening Remarks |
9:30 am – 10:15 am | Keynote Address |
10:15 am – 11:20 am | Housing Panel Sarah Zahn, Security Properties (Moderator) Abisha Stone, SEDCOR Shawn Daley, George Fox University Maria Guerra, Farmworker Housing Development Corporation |
Visit Knudsen Vineyards and hear from Owner and Managing Partner Page Knudsen-Coles as well as the architect who designed the vineyard’s remodeled tasting room, Steven Ehlbeck.
Located in the heart of the prestigious Dundee Hills, Knudsen Vineyards produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Rose and sparkling wine.
Enjoy the local vintages and excellent pairings while you debrief from our day at Stillwater.
Follow Bryan Weil through the only ultra-premium custom crush facility in the Willamette Valley offering grape-to-bottle services for both still and sparkling wines.
End in the Ambar tasting room owned and operated by the same winemakers and partners.
Tour Descriptions
Domaine Willamette is Oregon’s first sparkling wine facility that produces world-class méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines with an underground aging cellar at the biodynamically-farmed Bernau Estate Vineyard. The winery offers Oregon-inspired hospitality with wine and food pairings, stunning views, educational tours and beautiful gardens overlooking the Dundee Hills.
Domaine Willamette’s tasting room is also a mass timber project and Salmon-Safe certified.
Crosby Hops is a Salmon-Safe certified family owned and operated business. Join us at their TopWire Hop Project for a hops demonstration, a taste of some local beer, and to learn a bit about Salmon-Safe facilities.
If you want to be surrounded by a lush field of hops, catch a glimpse of Mt. Hood, and drink the best craft beer in a fresh-air setting, there is only one place to go—TopWire Hop Project in Woodburn, Oregon.
Saturday Agenda
JULY 20
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.
VANCOUVER, WA
Please let northwest@uli.org know if you will need transportation on this day. We will be organizing carpool options for out of town attendees to and from the Vancouver Waterfront using this website. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Note that all activities are within a walkable distance of one another. | |
9:00 am - 10:00 am | Arrive on the Vancouver Waterfront Saturday Programming begins at 10:00 am, however the Vancouver Waterfront has shops, cafes, the Grant Street Pier, and a local farmer’s market that we encourage all to visit. |
9:50 am - 10:00 am | Saturday Check-In |
10:00 am - 10:20 am | Coffee, Settle-in, Networking |
10:20 am - 11:45 am | |
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Tours Upland — Mixed-use Development, Downtown Vancouver The Springs — Senior Living Project, Vancouver Waterfront |
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Farewell BBQ/Cook-Out Hosted by Holland Partner Group at Upland Please make sure to coordinate a return carpool to Portland. |
Speaker Bios
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.
Speaker Bios
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
Abisha Stone — SEDCOR
Abisha currently serves as the Yamhill County Economic Development Manager for SEDCOR, a regional economic development organization serving communities and traded sector businesses in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. She is also a veteran of the industrial food manufacturing industry with more than 13 years’ experience in positions ranging from production management and business development to executive leadership. With a strong commitment to serving her community, Abisha is an avid volunteer. She currently serves as the past president for Oregon Aglink, is a Marion County CASA, a board member for the Missing Middle Housing Fund and she serves as the Treasurer for both the Oregon Economic Development Association and Cascade Capital Funding.
Speaker Bios
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.
Housing Panelist
Maria Elena Guerra (Meg) — Farmworker Housing Development Corporation
Meg is originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador and holds a BA in Business Administration from Espiritu Santo University in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Portland State University. Meg’s experience in housing spans over 15 years of working in property and asset management with funders & communities from a variety of backgrounds. Previous to accepting the Executive Director position at FHDC, Meg served as Asset and Property Manager for FHDC, Portfolio Manager for REACH CDC, and Asset Manager with Hacienda CDC. In 2009, Meg was awarded Star Player of the Year by the Oregon Opportunity Network. In 2010, Meg completed the Asset Manager Certification (CHAM) with the Institute of National NeighborWorks of America.
Speaker Bios
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.
Hospitality Innovator
Bashar Wali — Practice Hospitality, This Assembly, Levant Hotels
Bashar Wali is a founder, a father, and a hotel fanatic. He’s a pragmatist—hungry to experience life not as it is packaged and sold, but as it is. His vested interest in hospitality, culture, and design, is cut with curiosity of what’s possible, beyond the status quo. As founder and CEO of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality, Bashar draws upon expertise honed over a 30-year career in hospitality. An expert in the lifestyle space, Bashar is known for pushing limits in his philosopher-meets-hotelier kind of way. Whether helming the TEDx stage, hosting a Global YPO event, or collaborating on Clubhouse, Bashar’s message is unwavering: "Service is what you Deliver, Hospitality is how you make people Feel.
Speaker Bios
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.
David Copenhaver
Cascadia Development Partners
David Copenhaver holds a distinguished certified development professional designation and has been involved in the commercial real estate development, management, construction and acquisition industry for over 30 years involving in excess of 70 projects situated within the scenic Pacific Northwest marketplace. David’s professional accomplishments include; over 7,000,000 square feet of retail and office space, over 1,000 multifamily units, several large mixed use master plan developments and various business enterprises including yoga and cycle studios and a winery. David’s primary focus remains his family and he continues to engage in local volunteer faith based, professional and community organizations.