
2025 NAIOP NC Conference
Connecting and Advancing Commercial Real Estate in North Carolina
FEB 20-21 2025
PINEHURST RESORT
SPEAKERS
FEATURED INDUSTRY LEADERS
01
Kelly S. King
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Kelly S. King
Retired Chairman & CEO | Truist
Kelly S. King is the retired Chairman and CEO of Truist, a role he served in following the closing of the merger of equals between BB&T Corporation and SunTrust Banks Inc. Prior to the merger of equals, King had served as chairman and chief executive officer of Truist predecessor BB&T Corporation since January 2010.
Demetra Thornton
Co‑Managing Director, Principal | Gensler
As Co-Managing Director in Gensler’s Raleigh-Durham office, Demetra is focused on design excellence and working across the firm to ensure that projects continue to push the boundaries of impact, resilience, and experience. She previously served as a Managing Director and Sports Studio Director in Gensler’s Los Angeles office. Demetra identifies real-time emerging trends and drivers that impact her clients’ visions. She is well-known as a thought leader within the sports industry and is regarded as an expert in the design of professional venues and sports-anchored mixed-use developments.

02
Demetra Thornton
03
Brian Fork

Brian Fork
CEO | Carolina Hurricanes
Fork helps supervise all business units of Hurricanes Holdings, LLC, including the Hurricanes, Lenovo Center, the mixed-use real estate development, planned sportsbook and other business interests of the company.
Jake Burns
Chief Strategy and Development Officer | Tepper Sports & Entertainment
Jake Burns joined Tepper Sports & Entertainment in April 2021 and serves as the Chief Strategy and Development Officer. In his role, Burns focuses on forward-looking, high-level strategic initiatives, encompassing commercial endeavors of significant impact across the enterprise, while also guiding the Business Strategy and Analytics team.

04
Jake Burns
05
Megan Olgesby

Megan Olgesby
Principal Investor | Carolina Core FC
As Principal Investor, Megan's passion for community has paved the way for an exciting venture that extends far beyond the soccer field. Her strategic investment aims to give opportunity to those with untapped potential while fostering economic growth throughout the region.
Dee Stewart
President | The Stewart Group, Inc.
Dee has served as President of The Stewart Group, Inc., a political consulting firm, since 2001, and has been a Partner in Strategic Partners Solutions, LLC, an issue management firm, since 2011. His companies have run hundreds of successful political campaigns for Republican elected officials in North Carolina, as well as hundreds of public affairs campaigns for America's Fortune 500 corporations and leading trade associations.
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06
Dee Stewart
07
Morgan Jackson

Morgan Jackson
Co-Founder | Nexus Strategies
A co-founder of Nexus Strategies, a Raleigh based political and public affairs firm, Jackson has also successfully managed and implemented numerous campaigns, communications and advocacy efforts and serves as a strategic advisor for many leading Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and non-profits.
Jon Hardister
President | TREBIC
After college, Jon worked as the Vice President for Marketing at First Carolina Mortgage. In 2012, he was elected to the NC House of Representatives, serving six terms before retiring in 2024. After leaving office, Jon was selected to serve as the President of TREBIC. His knowledge of state and local government, combined with his ability to collaborate with others and solve problems, made him a natural fit for the position.

08
Jon Hardister
09
Alexander Thomson

Alexander Thomson
Founder | Prevail Consultants
Alex Thomson is a passionate advocate for the commercial real estate industry. A long-standing contributor to the Edmonton chapter board, Alex also serves as the chapter's representative on the NAIOP North America board. He holds the distinction of being the first ever Canadian Chair-Elect of NAIOP North America and is serves as the association's Chair in 2025.
Agenda
FEBRUARY 19 - 21 2025
WEDNESDAY | FEB 19
5:00 PM Optional Networking Reception in The South Room
THURSDAY | FEB 20
8:00 AM Registration Opens
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | NAIOP NC Board of Directors Meeting
9:00 AM – 10:00AM | Networking Coffee
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Sessions
Welcome Remarks & Announcements
Special Guest: 2025 NAIOP Chairman Alex Thomson, Prevail Consultants
Presentation of NAIOP NC Awards
Session #1
Seeing purple! A look over the political horizon.
Join us as North Carolina's premier political consultants, Morgan Jackson (Nexus Strategies) and Dee Stewart (The Stewart Group, Inc.) take questions and preview our political landscape in 2025 and beyond! Program moderated by Jon Hardister, TREBIC.
Networking Lunch
Network & Enjoy Lunch
Session #2
Sports & Entertainment Panel
Moderator: Demetra Thornton, Co‑Managing Director, Principal, Gensler
Brian Fork – CEO, Carolina Hurricanes
Jake Burns – Chief Strategy and Development Officer | Tepper Sports & Entertainment (Carolina Panthers)
Megan Oglesby – Principal Investor, Carolina Core FC
Session #3
The Integration of Success & Happiness
Kelly King, Retired Chairman & CEO of Truist
Closing Remarks
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Reception
Join us for "a taste of Pinehurst" | Drinks + Heavy Hors d'oeuvres
Entertainment by Whiskey Pines
FRIDAY | FEB 21
Networking Breakfast
For those staying in the resort, breakfast is included with your stay. Join us in our reserved seating section to start the day

The Venue
Pinehurst Resort
80 Carolina Vista Dr, Pinehurst, NC 28374
Please note that hotel rooms must be booked separate and are not included in conference registration.
Discounted room rates available for NAIOP NC Conference attendees. Registration is required to receive booking code. Code will be provided in the registration confirmation.
$293 Single Occupancy (includes breakfast buffet)
$161 Double Occupancy
*hotel room block closed on January 20th; Call hotel at (844) 330-1669 for waitlist information
Homewood Suites
250 Central Park Ave, Pinehurst, NC 28374
Overflow rooms available for $199/night.
*room block closed January 17th; prevailing room rate available after January 17, 2025.
Complimentary parking and shuttle service to the resort and surrounding area, and complimentary hot breakfast buffet served daily.
48hr cancellation notice which will be noted at the time of booking. Call 910-255-0300 for questions at Homewood Suites
Registration
Conference registration includes all-day programming, networking breaks, lunch, and A Taste of Pinehurst Reception.
Registration Refund Policy: If NAIOP receives your written cancellation and refund request at info@naioprd.org by February 15, 2025, you will receive a full refund less a $50 processing fee. On or after February 16, 2025, no refund will be given.
Note: Spoken requests for refunds will not be accepted; all requests for refunds must be made in writing. Registrations can be transferred to another member of your organization. If a registration is transferred from one NAIOP Member to another NAIOP Member, the Member fee will apply. If a registration is transferred from a NAIOP Member to a nonmember, the nonmember fee will apply. We cannot apply your registration fees to another NAIOP event.