2026 SFRPC and TCRPC Joint Regional Conference

Blue Tech Jobs: Policy, Investment, and Workforce Development in Southeast Florida

October 30, 2026, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Join Blue Tech entrepreneurs, investors, and other public, private, non-profit, and educational leaders working to elevate Southeast Florida as the emerging state and national leader in the Blue Tech Economy.

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Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Support Blue Tech Jobs: Policy, Investment, and Workforce Development in Southeast Florida. Packages range from $1,000 to $8,000 and offer valuable exposure through event marketing, signage, and program recognition.

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WHAT IS BLUE TECH?

Blue Tech includes the technologies, products, and services used to explore, understand, protect, and work in the ocean and coastal environment.

CONFERENCE TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

  • What Blue Tech Companies Do in Southeast Florida
  • Workforce, Credentials, and Employer Commitments
  • Regulatory Pathways, Permitting, and Local Government Tools
  • Research, Commercialization, and Capital
  • Implementation Discussion and Next Steps

  • Agenda and speakers will be announced soon.

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND:

  • Learn about the challenges and opportunities facing Southeast Florida’s Blue Tech industry
  • Hear from experts on workforce and financing needs
  • Engage with community leaders on ways local governments can help streamline the regulatory path to success

DRAFT AGENDA:

  • 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Networking (30 min)
  • 9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. Welcome
  • 9:10 – 9:15 Conference Framing (5 min)
  • 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Blue Tech Implementation Overview (10 min plus 5 min Q&A)
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. Panel 1: What Blue Tech Companies Do in Southeast Florida (50 min plus 5 min Q&A)
  • 10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Networking Break (15 min)
  • 10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Panel 2: Workforce, Credentials, and Employer Commitments (40 min plus 10 min Q&A)
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. Lunch and Keynote (65 min)
  • 12:35 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Panel 3: Regulatory Pathways, Permitting, and Local Government Tools (50 min plus 15 min Q&A)
  • 1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Panel 4: Research, Commercialization, and Capital (45 min plus 5 min Q&A)
  • 2:30 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. Implementation Discussion and Next Steps (25 min)
  • 2:55 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks (5 min)


BE PART OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA’S BLUE TECH FUTURE

Help shape regional strategies for innovation, workforce development, investment and the growth of Southeast Florida’s ocean economy.

Questions? 954-924-3653 | Sfadmin@sfrpc.com | tcrpc.org | 772-221-4060 | Lgulick@tcrpc.org

Conference Materials

The Business Case for Transit-Oriented Development with Affordable and Workforce Housing
Agenda
Speaker Biographies
Press Release
Recording
Master Presentation
Factsheet

Conference Hosts

The Honorable Michelle Lincoln

Chair, South Florida Regional Planning Council; Mayor Pro Tem and Monroe County Commissioner, District 2; President, Florida Association of Counties; Member, 2055 Florida Transportation Plan Steering Committee

The Honorable Steve Geller

Broward County Commissioner, District 5; Former State Senator; Immediate Past Chair, SFRPC; Chair, SFRPC CEDS Strategy Committee

Welcome - Opening Remarks

The Honorable Michelle Lincoln

Chair, South Florida Regional Planning Council; Mayor Pro Tem and Monroe County Commissioner, District 2; President, Florida Association of Counties; Member, 2055 Florida Transportation Plan Steering Committee

The Honorable Steve Geller

Broward County Commissioner, District 5; Former State Senator; Immediate Past Chair, SFRPC; Chair, SFRPC CEDS Strategy Committee
Regional Overview: Report Overview - Regional Economic Development
DESCRIPTION
  • Overview of findings from the SFRPC analysis of TOD with Affordable and Workforce Housing.

Randy Deshazo, MA, MUP

Deputy Director & Director of Economic Development, South Florida Regional Planning Council
Session 1:
Building the Regional Economy: Development Around Transit
DESCRIPTION
  • This panel will invite speakers to evaluate how the market responds to the vision of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and communities. Where is the demand and how can it best be met? How have TODs successfully created economic growth in the region, and what challenges have developers faced? Why is TOD valuable to developers?

Moderator: Sandra Veszi Einhorn

Chair, Florida Housing Finance Corporation; Executive Director, The Coordinating Council of Broward

Teddy Lhoutellier

Director of Sustainability
University of Miami

Juan Carlos Liscano

Vice President, Miami, American Airlines

Rodrick T. Miller

President and CEO, Miami-Dade Beacon Council

Bob Swindell

CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
Session 2:
Is the Market Compatible with Vision?
DESCRIPTION
  • This panel will invite speakers to evaluate how the market responds to the vision of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and communities. Where is the demand and how can it best be met? How have TODs successfully created economic growth in the region, and what challenges have developers faced? Why is TOD valuable to developers?

Moderator: Chad Maxey

Vice President, Diversified Companies

Kim Briesemeister

Principal, RMA

Lindsay Lecour

Executive Vice President, Development, Atlantic|Pacific Companies

Albert Milo

President, Related Urban

Tim Wheat

Partner, Pinnacle Communities

Lunch Panel:
Creating TOCs and TODs: Executive Updates from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties
DESCRIPTION:
  • Why are Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) important to the long-range planning of the regional transportation system?

Moderator: The Honorable Michelle Lincoln

Chair, South Florida Regional Planning Council

Aileen Bouclé

Executive Director, Miami-Dade TPO

Javier Bustamante

Assistant Director, Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works

Coree Cuff Lonergan

General Manager/Director, Broward County Transportation Department

Greg Stuart

Executive Director, Broward MPO
Session 3:
Bricks, Mortar, and Design: The Public Return on Investment
DESCRIPTION:
  • This session will focus on how zoning and land use can support Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the region, and on successful public policy initiatives. Topics will include addressing integration of higher densities in low density neighborhoods with context sensitive design. How has the Live Local Act affected how local governments regulate? Panelists will be invited to address the public return on investments in TOD and transit-oriented communities. How successful have policy reforms been at streamlining approvals and incentives for TOD and affordable and workforce housing near transit corridors?

Moderator: Michael Marshall

Partner, Nelson Mullins

Darby Delsalle

Urban Planning Division Director, Broward County

Anthony Fajardo

Director, Development Services, City of Fort Lauderdale

Nathan Kogon

Director, Housing and Community Development, Miami-Dade County

Brandon Schaad

Director of Planning, City of Boca Raton
Session 4:
Innovative Partnerships and Financing Strategies
DESCRIPTION:
  • This session will delve into specific innovative partnerships and financing mechanisms for TOD projects, such as public-private partnerships, and joint development agreements. Innovative partnerships and financing for local projects will be described that are being applied in the real world from practitioners with a depth of experience and leadership in the public and private sector.

Aaron Stolear

President of Development,
13th Floor Investments

Moderator: Joseph M. Yesbeck, PE

Advisory + Planning Practice Leader, TYLin

David Dech

Executive Director, SFRTA

Nathan Perlmutter

Market Leader, South Florida
TD Bank

Ralph Stone

Director Housing Finance Division, Executive Director Housing Finance Authority
Session 5:
Leadership Roundtable: Aligning Vision, Policy, and Action
DESCRIPTION:
  • This session will feature a candid "Leadership Roundtable" where distinguished public leaders will reflect on the day’s proceedings and share their individual perspectives on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The discussion will focus on how TOD can most effectively serve the South Florida region and unique needs of their constituents, specifically addressing critical issues related to transit infrastructure, accessibility, and funding.

Moderator: The Honorable Steve Geller

Broward County Commissioner, District 5; Former State Senator; Immediate Past Chair, SFRPC; Chair, SFRPC CEDS Strategy Committee

The Honorable Lamar Fisher

Broward County Commissioner, District 4; Member, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority

The Honorable Oliver G. Gilbert, II

Miami-Dade County Commissioner, District 1; Council Member, South Florida Regional Planning Council

The Honorable Marci Woodward

Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 4, Chair, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority; Council Member, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
Closing Remarks

The Honorable Michelle Lincoln

Chair, South Florida Regional Planning Council; Mayor Pro Tem and Monroe County Commissioner, District 2; President, Florida Association of Counties; Member, 2055 Florida Transportation Plan Steering Committee

Moderator: The Honorable Steve Geller

Broward County Commissioner, District 5; Former State Senator; Immediate Past Chair, SFRPC; Chair, SFRPC CEDS Strategy Committee

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