FEATURED SPEAKERS:
General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.)
Opening General Session - "Leadership: Take Charge"
Thursday, June 26
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) became the 65th Secretary of State on January 20, 2001. As he stated at his confirmation hearing, the guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy during his tenure was that "America stands ready to help any country that wishes to join the democratic world."
General Powell brought extensive experience with him to his office. Before becoming Secretary of State, Colin Powell served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defense and as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. He also served 35 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Four-Star General and serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 – 1993). During this time he oversaw 28 crises to include the Panama intervention of 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in the victorious 1991 Persian Gulf War.
That experience served him well, both before and particularly after the events of September 11, 2001, the day of the greatest tragedy on American soil since Pearl Harbor. As Secretary he stood shoulder to shoulder with the President and the other members of the President's cabinet in fighting the war on terrorism. As he often said, "winning that war is our first priority, and it will remain so for as long as necessary."
A fervent purveyor of democratic values, Colin Powell stressed that fighting the war on terrorism is not just a military but also a diplomatic task – the two go hand in hand. He led the State Department in major efforts to solve regional and civil conflicts – in the Middle East, between Israel and its Arab neighbors; in Sudan, Congo and Liberia; in the Balkans, Cyprus, Haiti, Northern Ireland and elsewhere. He was especially concerned with the peace and security of Afghanistan and Iraq, countries where winning the peace is as important as Coalition battlefield victories. In all areas, he used the power of diplomacy and the universal ideal of democracy to build trust, forge alliances and then begin to transform these once-unstable regions into areas where societies and cultures prosper.
General Powell was devoted to grasping opportunities as well as to confronting the global and regional security challenges of the 21st century. He was at the forefront of the administration's efforts to advance economic and social development worldwide – in the fight against HIV/AIDS, in the promise of the Millennium Challenge Account, the most significant change in helping needy nations since the Marshall Plan, and in pursuing a freer trading and investment climate worldwide. These efforts, too, are not separate from the nation's security agenda. Indeed, in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, then Secretary Powell affirmed that our main purpose is to extend democracy, prosperity, and freedom to every corner of the world. It is a process that is establishing a balance of power that favors freedom across the globe.
Born in New York City on April 5, 1937, General Powell was raised in the South Bronx. His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. General Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from Morris High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.
General Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. military awards and decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.
General Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. He has received awards from over two-dozen countries to include a French Legion of Honor and an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
General Powell was the founding Chairman of America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth, a national crusade to improve the lives of our nation’s youth. Established at the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in Philadelphia in April of 1997, and endorsed by every living U.S. President, America’s Promise aims to ensure all children in America have access to the fundamental resources needed to build and strengthen them to become responsible, productive adults. He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of Howard University and the Board of Directors of the United Negro College Fund. The General also served on the Board of Governors of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Children's Health Fund.
Since returning to private life, General Powell has become a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm. He is also on the Board of Directors of Revolution Health Group, a company developing strategies for consumer-directed health care. Powell is the Founder of the Colin Powell Policy Center at his alma mater, the City College of New York, and he is helping to raise funds for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC and for the construction of an education center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
General Powell is the author of his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey.
General Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family includes son Michael; daughters Linda and Annemarie; son-in-law Francis; daughter-in-law Jane; grandsons Jeffrey, Bryan and Patrick; and granddaughter Abigail.
Friday General Session, CEO-Panel Discussion: "What Keeps You Up at Night?"
Friday, June 27
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Steven D. Bell, Chairman & CEO, Steven D. Bell & Company
Steven D. Bell, one of Steven D. Bell & Company’s principals, is actively involved in all aspects of investment real estate, placing special emphasis on major acquisitions, negotiations, marketing, and future planning. With more than 37 years of experience in commercial and apartment real estate, Steve focuses on finding real estate investment opportunities and managing properties to their full potential.
He worked with Cameron Brown Company from 1968 until 1970 as a commercial property mortgage banker. He then joined Richardson Corporation as an investment property real estate broker. In 1976, he established Steven D. Bell & Company. Since that time, the Company has handled over $3.5 billion in sales and has managed or sold over 50,000 apartment units and 9 million square feet of retail/commercial space throughout the Southeast. Total transactions exceeded $800 million in 2006.
Steve has twice been a finalist for Real Estate Entrepreneur of the Year in North Carolina. He is currently regional board chairman of Wachovia Bank, a board member of Griffis/Blessing (a Colorado Springs investment realty company), past-president of the North Carolina Beta Foundation, a member of the Board of Visitors of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, Greensboro College Board of Trustees and the North Carolina Aquarium Society.
As an active member in many industry and civic groups, Steve values his role in the community. He has served as President of the Triad Apartment Association and President of the Commercial and Industrial Division of the Greensboro Board of Realtors. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967.
Terry Danner, Chief Executive Officer, Riverstone Residential Group, a CAS Company
Terry is Chief Executive Officer of Riverstone Residential Group, a Consolidated American Services (CAS) Group Services and a Principal of CAS. Terry was President and Chief Operating Officer with TCRS and had property management responsibility for more than 90 properties and over 24,000 units in the South Central region.
Prior to joining TCRS, Terry worked as a VP with Summit Properties in Atlanta, where he was responsible for the company’s Southern and Midwest management operations. Terry began his property management experience in 1989 as a property manager with NVProperties in the Washington D.C. metro area. His experience over the years includes conventional, affordable, mid-rise, high-rise, and garden apartment communities, both vintage and new. In 2006 Terry led a successful management buy-out, with Christy Freeland, of TCRS.
Terry has recently been responsible for the growth of Consolidated American Services support service headquarters in downtown Dallas. He is a 1989 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his Masters of Business Administration. His undergraduate degree, with high honors, is in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech.
D. Keith Oden, President, COO & Trust Manager, Camden Property Trust
D. Keith Oden is President, Chief Operating Officer and Trust Manager of Camden Property Trust. Mr. Oden has served in this capacity since 1993 and was co-founder of Camden's predecessor companies in 1982. As a Principal Executive Officer and Director, Mr. Oden drives Camden's strategic initiatives, leads the property operations and corporate support services and promotes the company's culture.
After completing his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Oden began his career as a Management Consultant with the then public accounting firm of Deloitte, Haskins and Sells in 1979. He joined Century Development Corporation, one of the most active real estate development firms in the Southwest, in 1981 and later became Director of Financial Planning.
Mr. Oden is a member of the Executive Council of the Center for Real Estate Finance at the University of Texas and serves as advisor, financial supporter, guest lecturer and panelist for the faculty and students pursuing their MBA in real estate finance. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a licensed real estate broker in the State of Texas.
David Stockert, CEO, Post Properties
David Stockert has been CEO of Post Properties, Inc. since July 1, 2002. Prior to that time, he was Post's President and Chief Operating Officer. He joined Post in January 2001. Prior to joining Post, he served as a senior executive officer in two other public real estate investment trusts (REITs). In addition, Mr. Stockert’s career includes investment banking and public accounting.
Mr. Stockert sits on the boards of directors of the Buckhead Coalition (chair), Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, National Multi-Housing Council, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Central Atlanta Progress, GeorgiaHousingSearch.org, SafeHouse Outreach Ministries, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School (chair), and serves on the Government Affairs Committee of the Atlanta Apartment Association.
An undergraduate of the University of Colorado, Mr. Stockert also has an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.