CARLOS VAZ, 38
Co-Founder and CEO
Conti Organization
Addison, TX
One of nine children born in Brazil to illiterate
parents, Vaz arrived in Dallas in 2007 just prior
to the economic downturn with no local contacts and $300 in his pocket, a non-paid internship at a Boston law firm and a fierce determination to do his best. This determination, coupled with a desire to
learn, brought Vaz from working three to four jobs to now owning
and operating a real estate portfolio of more than $300 million.
Vaz’s passion yielded a portfolio of more than 1,400 units in his first
year in the multifamily business alone. In 2013 and 2014, CONTI
Organization was a recipient of the Dallas 100 Award. In addition,
CONTI made the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held
companies for 2014 and 2015. In 2015, Vaz was an Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist.
OBIE WALLI, 38
Chief Executive Officer
Coldwell Banker Commercial Alliance
New York City
Walli believes the next generation of leaders
who specialize in a property sector, region or
type of business have a greater chance to suc-
ceed. He started CBC Alliance on the philoso-
phy that the small to mid-size business market
was a target niche, and an underserved market deserving of the
same quality service and attention from brokers as the largest cor-
porations receive. Walli is building a national organization of local
offices that share in this vision, as well as a full-service capital mar-
kets division. In just three years, CBC Alliance has also already
become one of the top three largest franchises in the global
Coldwell Banker Commercial organization as well as the only one
with a major market presence. Under his guidance, CBC Alliance it
has grown impressively, with more than $1.5 billion in transaction
volume and more than 170 professionals in the organization.
JOHN WILKINSON, 38
President
Boundary Cos.
Chevy Chase, MD
Wilkinson says there will be increasing demand
for work-life integration, collaborative work-cul-ture and companies where people can make a
difference. In January 2014, Wilkinson left his
SVP position at the JBG Cos. to form Boundary
Cos. He is one of the first real estate entrepreneurs who started a
mission-driven investment company, and his firm’s mission statement is “Pushing Boundaries to Maximize Potential.” Whether it’s in
the form of investing in emerging submarkets, choosing cutting-edge architects or creating a unique retail concept, Wilkinson
believes that pushing boundaries develops potential and helps
achieve self actualization. In just 18 months, he has amassed a portfolio exceeding $450 million of more than one million square feet of
office, retail, self-storage and industrial assets as well as market rate
and affordable housing. In his off time, Wilkinson serves as the
coach for the GNATS, a softball team in Washington, DC and is a
class parent for his four-year-old daughter’s class. ◆
