What is a Young Leader?

A Young Leader is any ULI member under the age of 35 who wants to be actively involved in shaping the future of the real estate industry in the area. The Young Leaders Group (YLG) has activities in addition to those offered by the Tampa Bay District Council for all ULI members. YLG was created to engage the next generation of real estate industry leaders. Each ULI YLG member within the respective ULI district is guided by a committee of peers from the real estate industry. We organize property tours and professional, educational, and networking events throughout the year.

Our Mission:

The mission of the Young Leaders Group is to provide a unique forum for the industry leaders of tomorrow to engage with the leaders of today, and to connect local expertise with global knowledge across the entire spectrum of real estate disciplines.

YLG Benefits:

Urban land use professionals under 35 years of age are automatically considered Young Leaders at Urban Land Institute.

• Attend YLG educational, mentoring, and social events (Additional fee or active ULI Membership may be required)
• Network with ULI Tampa Bay members
• Reduced fees for ULI events, programs, conferences
• Participate in the ULI Tampa Bay Mentorship Program (Additional fee and active ULI Membership required)

YLG Steering Committee:

The YLG Steering Committee is developed of ULI member leaders under 35. They meet once a month to program for our ULI Tampa Bay Young Leaders. The YLG Steering Committee includes the following subcommittees and member leaders:

• Mentorship Program Committee
  • Alexander Guluzian, Vice President, Middle Street Partners
  • Anthony Cimino, Investment Associate, Carter Funds
  • Matthew Cavanaugh, Insurance Advisor – Real Estate Practice (Multifamily), The Baldwin Group
• Sponsorship Committee
  • Avery Jordan, Senior Director, Florida Multifamily Sales at Franklin Street Real Estate
  • Danielle Barkett, Leasing & Sales Director, Barkett Realty Group, LLC
  • Wade Vaughn, Hotel Developer and Mixed-Use Asset Manager, Strategic Property Partners
  • Mathilde Jarrett, Project Manager, Blue Sky Communities
• Programming Committee
  • Cary Brown, Senior Associate – Multifamily Investment Sales, Franklin Street
  • Mike Nauman, Senior Associate, Loci Capital
  • Devin Tiffany, Asset Manager, Ally Capital Group
• Membership/Recruitment Committee
  • Connor Tamarkin, Development Analyst, Backstreets Capital
  • Haven Heavenridge, PrimeGroup Insurance

Leadership:

The Co-Chairs of YLG are responsible for representing the interests of YLG and advancing the mission of ULI within the YLG platform of activities. The Chairs participate on the District Council Executive Board and support and celebrate the efforts of the various YLG committees.

Shane Hanney, YLG Co-Chair

Shane Hanney is a project manager at Kimley-Horn with six years of civil engineering experience throughout Florida and select projects across the US. His expertise includes a wide range of complex urban redevelopment, mixed-use, multifamily, hospitality, and industrial developments. He works primarily as a consultant for developers from the early stages of site prospecting through construction, guiding due diligence, entitlements, design, and permitting. Shane graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors in Civil Engineering and has been a part of the ULI Tampa Bay YLG Steering Committee for the past three years, planning events, participating in the Mentorship Program, and co-chairing the Membership and Recruitment Committee. Outside of work, Shane enjoys to golf and travel.

Stuthi Ponnala, YLG Co-Chair

Stuthi Ponnala is an Assistant Project Manager at Moss & Associates, a national construction management firm recognized for its innovative approach to building and strong commitment to community. Based in Tampa, she plays a critical role in managing large-scale construction projects from preconstruction through closeout, working closely with clients, trade partners, and design teams to ensure successful delivery. With five years of experience in the construction industry, she brings a detail-oriented mindset and collaborative leadership style to every project she leads.

Her passion for the built environment stems from her academic foundation in construction management. She earned her master’s degree from Clemson University, where she developed a strong technical and strategic understanding of construction practices and project delivery.

An active member of the Urban Land Institute for the past three years, she has served on the Young Leaders Group (YLG) Steering Committee and contributed to the Mentorship Subcommittee, helping to foster connection and leadership among emerging professionals in Tampa Bay’s development community.

As Co-Chair of ULI Tampa Bay’s Young Leaders Group, she is focused on creating more meaningful opportunities for engagement, connection, and professional growth. She aims to strengthen the YLG community by expanding mentorship programs, increasing collaboration across disciplines, and ensuring that emerging leaders have a strong voice in shaping the future of Tampa Bay’s built environment.

Get Involved:

Contact [email protected] if you want to get more involved!