Join us for AREA’s Quarterly Investors Luncheon with guest keynote speakers addressing case studies in transformational large scale community investment projects in successful markets. In addition, take advantage of the option to come early for an Albuquerque Business First New Mexico Forward Phoenix Panel discussion.
Register Online for One or Both Programs.
Featured Speakers for Phoenix Panel – doors open at 9:30 a.m., panel begins at 10 a.m.:
Karla Moran, Economic Development Manager, Salt River Project
Karla Moran is the Manager of Economic Development for Salt River Project (SRP). She is responsible for leading the Economic Development team with a focus on attracting and expanding business and industry within SRP’s service territory; providing site-specific electrical infrastructure identification and cost analysis; and working collaboratively alongside state, regional and municipal partners to identify targeted company attraction, expansion and retention efforts. The team works towards building a healthy economy that advances well-planned growth throughout the Valley of the Sun.
Karla has worked in economic development for more than 15 years, including roles at the Arizona Department of Commerce, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Town of Gilbert. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University and is designated as an Arizona Economic Development Professional through the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED). Karla serves on the boards of CoreNet Global’s Arizona Chapter, AAED, the Real Estate Investment Advisory Council, Phoenix Sister Cities, and the Arizona Workforce Council. She is also a Certified Ambassador for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
Sal Perdomo, Director of Acquisitions and Development, Titan Development
Sal is responsible for the Titan Development’s land acquisitions and new market expansions. He also manages and assists on industrial build-to-suit and speculative development projects. Sal’s background in economic development, city planning, and commercial real estate brokerage allow him to bring a comprehensive knowledge of the commercial real estate world and handle complex projects. Prior to Titan, he worked for CBRE, a Fortune 500 Company, as a commercial real estate broker specializing in office and healthcare leasing and sale transactions. Sal also has professional experience in urban planning and land entitlement. Sal holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Urban Studies and Business Administration-Finance from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. He is a current board member of NAIOP New Mexico and is the former Chair of the Developing Leaders program. In 2022, Sal was a national recipient of the NAIOP Developing Leader of the Year Award and was the first New Mexican to receive such award.
Larry Pobuda, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Opus Development Company, L.L.C.
Larry is responsible for the leadership and overall management of the western markets, including 
Phoenix, Denver and Austin. His primary responsibilities are the pursuit of real estate development opportunities in various sectors, including office, industrial and multifamily, as well as defining the office’s daily strategies and future growth plans.
Larry brings 30 years of real estate experience to Opus. His experience includes development, investment, tenant representation and serving as a landlord on various commercial properties. Larry holds a Master of Business Administration in marketing and finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.
He is on the board of directors for Downtown Tempe Authority and is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL). Additionally, Larry is a member of NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association, and the NAIOP Research Foundation.
Featured Speakers for AREA Quarterly Luncheon – doors open at 11:30 a.m., program begins at 12 p.m.:
Barry Broome, President & CEO, Greater Sacramento Economic Council
Barry is responsible for leading community-driven efforts to attract, grow and scale new businesses; develop advanced industries and guide new job-creation strategies throughout the six-county region. In his role, he has established the first public/private partnership economic development organization led by chief executive officers in California. The organization is led by 40+ CEOs and 22 communities in the Greater Sacramento region.
Previously, Barry was the President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) where he delivered more than 50,000 jobs and 250 company locates into the Phoenix region. Under his leadership, for six out of the ten years, GPEC was named one of the top economic organizations in North America by Site Selection Magazine. In 2013, he was also named Arizona Economic Developer of the Year, Arizona Real Estate Executive of the Year and received the Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce award.
Prior to Arizona, Barry was the CEO of Southwest Michigan First (SMF), where he built an organization from the ground up, which was later listed in the top 20 companies in North America by Site Selection Magazine. In 2006, SMF was named one of the fast 50 companies in Inc. Magazine— the first nonprofit to have that honor. Barry built and co-developed venture funds, angel networks, and 31 new ventures – primarily in the life science space in the Kalamazoo region. Barry was named Michigan Economic Developer of the Year in 2001. Preceding Michigan, Barry led the economic development in Toledo, Ohio. There, he completed the largest industrial deal in the history of the United States, Project Jeep, which was built on 450 acres of brownfields in the North Central Toledo area.
Barry has been featured and interviewed for his work in global and national media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Forbes and CNBC, among other publications. In addition, he was the keynote speaker at Arizona State University’s 2009 graduation and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago, Notre Dame, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University.
Michael Jasso, Assistant City Manager / Director City of Sacramento
Assistant City Manager Michael Jasso joined the City on April 25, 2018. His most recent adventure was in Chicago, serving as Chief for the Bureau of Economic Development of Cook County, IL (Cook County is the second most populous county in the United States.) There he oversaw three County departments along with a cross-cutting office of economic development.
Among other successes, he led the creation and implementation of Cook County’s strategic economic development plan.
Michael has also served as Managing Deputy Commissioner for Chicago’s Department of Housing and Economic Development, specifically overseeing the Bureau of Economic Development, Chief Development Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority helping to manage the third largest public housing authority in the nation, and led the Tax Increment Finance Program on behalf of the Mayor for the District of Columbia Government.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Princeton University, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. Michael Jasso is a native Chicagoan, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Yemen from 1987-1989.
Last but not least partnered with two dogs named Dexter and Arlo.
Rosalio Arellanes Jr., LEED AP, Vice President, Market Executive – Wexford Science + Technology
Rosalio serves as Vice President and Market Executive for Wexford Science & Technology and is responsible for developing and executing life science projects in the Western United States. With experience in commercial and multifamily real estate development, architectural design, and construction management, Rosalio brings a wealth of knowledge to leasing, acquisitions, budgeting, due diligence, environmental remediation, entitlements, sustainable design, and permitting.
Before joining Wexford, Rosalio oversaw Boos Development Group’s Western division operations as a Vice President of Development and Construction. Over his career, he has developed over 2.5 million square feet of commercial projects and managed development teams and company divisions in the western US. Previously, he worked as an architectural designer for HOK in the Culver City, CA office and Fragoso Construction as a project manager in the Chicago region.
He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Illinois Chicago and Master of Architecture from the University of California Los Angeles. He also attended the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate at the University of Southern California. In addition, Rosalio has the LEED AP accreditation from US Green Building Council and holds a CA Real Estate License.