HXD Week: “Beyond the Lease” Panel Discusion + PDR Office Tour

Beyond the Lease: Why Employees Chose Places Not Offices + PDR Office Tour

Join us for a panel discussion exploring how development priorities have evolved, what today’s tenants expect, and how creating an experience-driven workplace can influence leasing decisions, company culture, and employee attraction and retention.

Moderator

Marc Bellamy, RA, NCARB, Fitwel Ambassador
Principal + Owner
PDR

Marc is a Principal and Owner at PDR with 25 years of experience in corporate interiors, base building design and real estate development. Throughout his time with PDR, Marc has worked on numerous projects for ExxonMobil, Jefferies Group, Vitol, and many other varied clients, coordinating ongoing work and delivering high-performance workplace solutions.

Panelists

John Connett
Senior Director
Cushman & Wakefield

I am a commercial real estate and construction management executive with 30 years of end-to-end industry experience, progressing from hands-on field craftsmanship to leading market operations for a global real estate leader. As Senior Director and Market Lead at Cushman & Wakefield, I specialize in scaling business units, building elite project teams, and protecting client capital across multi-million-dollar portfolios. Whether directing a high-end downtown interior buildout, managing an industrial hub, or aligning capital market strategies, I combine a macro-level real estate vision with a common-sense approach to execution. I thrive at the intersection of aggressive market expansion and disciplined financial containment – consistently delivering top-line growth and maximizing operational efficiency.

Philip Croker
Senior Managing Direct
Rockefeller Group Houston

Philip Croker leads Rockefeller Group’s Southwest Region, overseeing acquisitions, development, and operations across Texas and Arizona. With more than two decades of experience in commercial real estate development, he has led many of Houston’s most significant office projects and brings a developer’s perspective on creating workplaces that attract today’s tenants.

Brian Gabbard, RID
Design Director
PDR

Brian Gabbard is the Design Director for PDR – based in the Houston office. With over 25 years of award-winning design experience across the U.S. and internationally, he is known for his client-focused approach and ability to create transformative environments that positively impact users and occupants. As a natural storyteller, Brian develops design solutions built around a narrative unique to each client and project and brings a thoughtful perspective and immersive approach to every space that he helps to shape. Drawing inspiration from his multicultural background and global travels, he pulls from multiple influences to craft sophisticated and impactful design solutions.

Mark Reilly
JLL
Vice President

Mark Reilly is a Vice President with JLL’s Houston occupier advisory team, representing corporate clients in office and industrial real estate strategy. His work spans portfolio optimization, tenant representation, and workplace decision-making, helping organizations align their real estate with changing business and employee expectations.

Light bites and beverages will be provided.

Parking: Free surface lot and street parking available. Parking is limited, rideshare encouraged.