While the old adage that experience is the best teacher may be true, it’s never a good idea to underestimate what energy, drive and youthful imagination can accomplish, especially when it comes to the young business leaders shaping Arizona’s commercial real estate sector.

The commercial real estate industry in the United States, and Arizona in particular, is thriving, thanks in large part to younger professionals who are quickly rising through the ranks of their respective fields. This rising generation is more open to change and innovation, not afraid of taking risks and more savvy in the ways of technology and how it helps work get accomplished faster and less expensive.

Each generation plays a role in pushing industry forward, and this latest cohort is doing just that.

These are just some of the young business leaders poised to push the commercial real estate industry forward in Arizona and beyond in 2020.

Haley Daily

Lead Compliance Manager

Texas division, Earthworks Environmental

A native of Arizona, Haley grew up spending most of her life outdoors and always knew she wanted to find a way to help preserve nature. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University in 3 1/2 years with a BA in sustainability. Her duties include consulting at client construction sites to ensure compliance is being met according to city, state and federal regulations. She manages EE divisions throughout West Texas, Austin, Houston and Corpus Christi. Haley enjoys traveling and has been to more than 10 countries. Haley believes that a person can never know enough; she actively strives to discover something new every day.

Katie Davison

Marketing Manager, Mortenson

Katie works with the business development team, marketing coordinators and construction/development teams to create compelling responses to RFPs. Katie also leads all public relations efforts and supports the firm’s marketing strategy. In 2019, she led and executed the grand opening, as well as supported all public relations efforts, for the Milwaukee Brewers’ American Family Fields of Phoenix. She has led Mortenson’s public relations strategy for large projects including The Beam on Farmer and Hyatt Place/Hyatt House, among others.

Dan Gauthier

Attorney, Rose Law Group

Gauthier is a member of Rose Law Group’s Real Estate Transactions and Business and Corporate Transactions practice groups. His practice consists of a range of real estate and business matters, including commercial real estate transactions, syndication, financing, acquisition and development. Gauthier has extensive experience advising developers, fund principals and investors with respect to opportunity zones and the opportunity zone program, as well as forming and structuring qualified opportunity funds.

Ryan Haines

Virtual Construction Application Developer,

Sundt Construction

Ryan Haines develops technology solutions for the frontlines of Sundt Construction. He engages multiple business units to reimagine digital workflows and physical work product. Ryan holds a Mathematics degree from Arizona State University, and previously worked hands-on with construction tools and materials. He passionately combines his field experience and formal education to unlock business potential.

Jared Kredit

President, K2 Electric

Jared Kredit guides a 135-employee firm with revenue exceeding $21 million in 2019. In this role he is responsible for leading the team at K2, managing the operation and direction of the company and spending time developing new and existing client relationships. From 2008 to today, Jared has worked in all aspects of Preconstruction, held various roles in back office Accounting and Administration and served both Project Engineer & Project Manager functions.

Jamison Manwaring

Co-Founder, Neighborhood Ventures

After spending several years on Wall Street as a research analyst for Goldman Sachs, Jamison Manwaring relocated to the Valley to join LifeLock as the VP of Investor Relations. While living in New York, he purchased and rehabbed a ten-unit building and discovered a deep passion for real estate. Shortly after LifeLock was acquired in 2017, Manwaring co-founded Neighborhood Ventures, a crowdfunding real estate company that enables people of all income levels to invest in apartment buildings for as little as $1,000. Since it was founded, the company has successfully funded three projects with over 300 investors.

Donny Peper

Partner and Broker,

Clear Commercial Advisors

As partner and broker, Peper manages the overall direction of Clear Commercial Advisors and its portfolio, which currently includes 15 Metro Phoenix properties with a focus on Downtown Phoenix properties like The Summit at Copper Square. His firm also provides brokerage services (office and retail) for Tapestry on Central, Portland on the Park and the Ellis Building, among other notable projects. He has been in the commercial real estate industry for the past 15 years, including nearly a decade in his current role.

Katie Haydon Perry

Executive Vice President,

Haydon Building Corp.

Perry has over nine years of experience with Haydon Building Corp, but a lifetime of absorbing her father’s passion for the business. She began her career in the financial area of the business and has grown into a leadership role. Her father, Gary Haydon, has built a lasting legacy over the last 30 years, based on pure grit and determination that Perry will continue as Executive Vice President. Her new role will be focused on strategy to successfully position the company for sustainability and growth for the next 30 years.

Cody Phelan

Principal in Charge, Partner,

Willmeng Construction

Cody Phelan developed his career in construction on large scale office, industrial and retail projects in the Valley, starting as an intern and moving quickly through management positions over an eight-year span to ultimately lead a large, Fortune 500 general contracting firm as Division Manager. Through this experience, he participated in constructing large-scale projects such as Scottsdale Quarter, and Palms Resort Casino and Spa, a large-scale resort expansion in Las Vegas and multi-project sites in a campus-style environment.

Becky Santiago

Transit Planner, HDR

Becky is a transit planning consultant for agencies around the nation, including Valley Metro. As a certified Envision Sustainability Professional and member of Arizona Forward’s Emerging Sustainability Leader program, she applies a systems-thinking approach to her work and intimately understands the relationship between land use and transportation planning. One of her main roles as a planner involves assisting agencies with the Federal grant application process, a large component of which considers land use and economic development plans.

Sean Slawson

Project Director,

McCarthy Building Companies

As a project director, Slawson handles complex healthcare projects for McCarthy and has a wealth of knowledge on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). He also has been trusted with developing McCarthy’s internal talent and recruiting new talent to the company. He serves as the McCarthy Project Engineer Peer Group Training Champion where he coordinates eight quarterly training sessions each year for all project engineers in the Southwest division (trainings occur in Phoenix and Las Vegas). Slawson is also a participant in the Central Arizona Society for Healthcare Engineering (CASHE) and ABA seminars and events.

Nate Sonoskey

Development Manager/Architect,

True North Studio

Sonoskey has developed projects from acquisition to design to permitting/construction and lease up/occupancy. His primary focus is on mixed-use, urban infill projects, and he recently completed a 7-story high rise hotel in Downtown Phoenix. Sonoskey is a registered architect in Arizona and Illinois, a member of the Central City Village Planning Commission with the City of Phoenix, and a member of the Steering Committee for Downtown Voices Coalition. In his spare time, Sonoskey loves spending time with his family, traveling, playing and watching sports and listening to audiobooks.

Taylor Davis Sonoskey

Taylor Davis Sonoskey

Senior Designer, DAVIS

Taylor’s creative expertise spans many markets, including hospitality, mixed-use, offices, restaurants, high-end retail, Chinese master planning, affordable housing, single family residential and education. Taylor earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. Her industry career spans nine years. She is a registered architect in three states and is a LEED AP B+C. She leads design of projects in concert with the Project Architect and DAVIS’ Director of Design conceptualization. Notable projects: BIM Lead, Marina Heights; Team Member, Portland on the Park and Novus Phase I.

Michael Stafford

CFO, LGE Design Build

Stafford embodies the LGE Design Build philosophy. He firmly believes in people over profit — a rare philosophy for a successful finance professional. After spending time in a large corporation, Stafford decided his talents were better served in the in the small business space. He saw an opportunity at LGE to drive a culture that prioritized people and relationships over the bottom line. It’s something that shows in the way he interacts with the internal team and how he delivers to clients.

Eric Sterner

Designer, Architekton

As an alumnus of the University of Arizona College of Architecture, Eric practices under the taught pillars of arid-regionalism culminating in designed responses balancing both the history and future of materials and technology. Eric is currently involved in the design of the Helios Education Foundation Headquarters and Convening Center which will serve as a case study for appropriate desert vernacular architecture. Eric is an active participant in the American Institute of Architects and part of the 2019 Arizona Forward Emerging Sustainability Leaders class.

John Theis

Director of Virtual Construction,

CHASSE Building Team

John Theis is the Director of Virtual Construction at CHASSE Building Team, working on projects including Canyon View High School, West Point High School, Astor on Osborn and Frank Elementary School. He’s also a member of the Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club, a philanthropic group that has raised millions for local nonprofits. Recently, he helped the organization with its annual Nite Flite event, and in Spring he will take on a lead operations role in the annual Agents Benefitting Children and Brokers for Kids event. Theis is also a member of the Young Builders Council where he focuses on construction legislation.

Brett Thompson

Director, Cushman & Wakefield

Brett Thompson is a director at Cushman & Wakefield and a member of Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Tenant Advisory Group. Brett assists office occupiers in planning and executing complex real estate in Phoenix as well as nationally. His primary focus is transaction management, financial analysis, business development and strategic planning. In the last two years, as part of the Downey Team, he has completed 95 tenant rep and multi-market lease transactions, totaling over two million square feet and $280 million in total consideration.

Charlie von Arentschildt

Senior Associate, CBRE

Charlie von Arentschildt specializes in the large-scale leasing within high-profile office properties throughout metro Phoenix. With a focus on Class AA buildings, new developments, and creative asset repositionings, Charlie has been involved in the leasing of many of Phoenix’s most prominent office projects such as Hayden Ferry, Galleria, The Quad and Rio2100. Charlie is a member of NAOP Developing Leaders and serves on the planning and fundraising committee for both the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and NAIOP annual charity golf tournaments.

Dayna Wasley

Transportation Planner, AECOM

Dayna Wasley is an urban planner who implements infrastructure projects that will support the growing commercial real estate market. Dayna specializes in infrastructure financing, emerging technology implementation, and transportation demand management. She has been recognized by the American Planning Association and Women in Transportation Seminar for her exemplary work in the field.

Dylan Whitwer

Office Associate, NAI Horizon

Dylan has served as Committee Chair for the 2019 Valley Partnership Community Project supporting New Pathways for Youth, a position that traditionally goes to a seasoned professional. Besides Valley Partnership, Dylan participates in events hosted by NAIOP Arizona, ULI Arizona and the AZ Tech Council. Dylan has been at NAI Horizon for 2 years. Dylan assists buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords in commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions and leasing of office properties. Notable deal: Dylan assisted in the disposition of more than 25,000 SF of shell condos in Troon North.

Vanessa Williams

Director of Business Development & Strategic Resources | Southwest Region, Colliers International in Arizona

Vanessa Williams serves as business partner and advisor to the Southwest regional president, division leadership and local markets. She oversees Colliers’ talented team of marketing and research professionals across Arizona, Nevada, Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, Utah and Hawaii. In partnership with national and regional leaders, Vanessa is entrusted to develop a highly effective sales force that achieves organic growth and gains market share. She advances Colliers as a leader in the commercial real estate industry through creation of business development and marketing programs with innovative and measurable tactics.