Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities

In the latest episode, we sit down with the indomitable Arden Karson, Managing Principal of Karson & Co. If there's a corner of commercial real estate Arden hasn't conquered, we haven't found it yet. From developing single-family homes for Lennar to sculpting the skyline with high-rises for Related Group, and steering the ship as Senior Managing Director for CBRE South Florida,...

In this episode, Natasha joins us over a glass of Veuve Clicquot to share her remarkable journey from accountant to multifamily entrepreneur. She began her career at Tobin Properties, where her dedication and talent propelled her to the positions of President and COO. In 2019, Natasha took a bold step by founding Falconi Capital, which has since grown to own and manage over 100 multifamily units i...

In this episode, we hit the road and land in Bob Benyo's North Miami Man Cave, surrounded by his vintage Kawasaki and Suzuki motorcycle collection, for The Built World Podcast. Bob, a high school dropout turned serial entrepreneur, shares his wild journey. He started in Daytona Beach at a motorcycle tech school, then bought and sold motorcycles and cars before diving into the flight school bu...

In this episode we kick it with Alfredo over some gin and tonics and we talk about how he got started in real estate at the ripe age of 19 all while attending college full time. Alfredo began his brokerage career in 2007 with Metro 1 Properties in Wynwood back when the neighborhood wasn’t cool, but Alfredo had the foresight to see the potential that Wynwood had and was one of its early advocates. ...

In this episode, serial entrepreneur Doug Levine joins us for some gin and tonics and a ton of laughs, as he shares his wild ride through the world of business. Picture this: fresh out of college and working for a private equity firm in San Francisco, Doug stumbles upon some gym concepts and decides to pump iron on a whole new level. He heads back to his NYC roots and opens his first Crunch gym in...

Stephen Ross is one of AMLI’s OGs, joining the young start-up  back in 1989. Stephen has pretty much done it all for one of the top multifamily developers in the US. From dreaming up, structuring, and closing investments to leading AMLI’s financing escapades and now spearheading development in South Florida, Stephen is the Swiss Army knife of real estate. He’s helped build AMLI into a luxury apart...

Hold onto your bagels, folks! This week, we're serving up something extra special. Join us as Neil drops by for some vodka on the rocks and spills the beans on his incredible journey. We talk with Neil about his Montreal frozen bagel stash and all the incredible South Florida development projects Neil has been involved with.  Get ready to race through his love for fast cars, his adventurous c...

In this episode, we sit down with Carlos to discuss his inspiring journey from managing his family’s first  hotel in Costa Rica to taking a bold leap and establishing his first Holiday Inn near Miami International Airport in the late 1990s. Today, Driftwood Capital, under Carlos's leadership, operates 86 hotels across the US, boasting over 16,502 rooms and managing hospitality assets worth ov...

In this episode, Bill Fuller, Managing Partner of The Barlington Group and Co-owner of Ball & Chain joins us for a glass of tequila. Bill began investing in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood in the early 2000's and has been pioneering the thoughtful transformation of one of Miami's most iconic neighborhoods for the past two decades. Bill began acquiring multifamily apartments a...

Dive into an inspiring chat with Miami real estate icon, Jeff Berkowitz, on our latest podcast episode! From lawyer to developer, Jeff's journey is a testament to innovation. Discover the groundbreaking story behind Dadeland Station, the pioneering big box vertical retail concept that revolutionized the industry in 1996. We also talk about Jeff's projects, including Aventura Commons, Fif...

In this episode, we're joined by Joe Furst, a leading figure in placemaking, as we dive into his remarkable career. Starting with Goldman Properties during Wynwood's early days, Joe played a pivotal role in shaping the neighborhood's transformation. From spearheading the Wynwood BID to fostering collaboration among artists, property owners, and entrepreneurs, Joe's contribution...

In this episode, we sit down with Kobi Karp to talk about his storied career. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Kobi moved to Minneaplois with his family at a young age and then went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.  Kobi founded Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design Inc. in 1996, which is now headquartered in Wynwood. His firm has since become r...

Join us for an insightful episode as we engage in a conversation with David Arditi over a glass of tequila, delving into his fascinating upbringing straddling between the bustling metropolises of NYC and Paris within a real estate family. Despite his upbringing, David opted to pursue his passion for film, relocating to Los Angeles to immerse himself in the industry. Following his stint in LA, he t...

In this engaging episode, we sit down with Matthew over some gin & tonics to delve into the captivating history of Bal Harbour Shops, a legacy deeply rooted in Miami's real estate development scene since his great grandfather's arrival in 1912. Matthew's personal journey from his humble beginnings power washing and sweeping floors at Bal Harbour Shops at just 13 years old to asc...

In this episode, grab a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and settle in as we chat with the legendary Beth “The Canvassing Queen” Azor about her rollercoaster ride through the world of retail leasing. From juggling roles like rookie leasing agent at Terranova Corporation to becoming the President and even dabbling in property management, Beth's career is a retail leasing story worthy of a documenta...

Get ready to raise your glass of Pinot Grigio as we dive into the fascinating world of residential real estate with the one and only Lesley Deutch! From crunching numbers to clinking glasses, Lesley spills the beans on her journey from analyzing bonds at Lehman Brothers to becoming the go-to guru for all things housing-related. In this episode, join us for a delightful chat with Lesley, the ultima...

In this captivating episode, Juan delivers a comprehensive masterclass on the intricate dynamics of global supply chains, import tariffs, logistics, and their profound influence on industrial asset demand. Over a glass of Johnnie Walker Double Black, Juan adeptly unravels early indicators of industrial trends, revealing the nuanced interplay between capacity utilization, freight demand, and overal...

      In this episode, we sit down with Arnaud to explore his remarkable journey as an entrepreneur. As a first-generation American with French roots, Arnaud inherited a passion for entrepreneurship from his parents, who were also business owners. From an early age, he immersed himself in the world of business, learning invaluable lessons while working alongside his parents.       Arnaud's en...

In this episode, we crack open a Corona and jump into the fascinating world of South Florida real estate with the one and only Brian Bandell. We dive into Brian’s journey from the Associated Press to Reuters to the South Florida Business Journal where he has been for the last 20 years reporting on health care, business and now real estate for the last 7 years. Did we mention Brian is also a noveli...

In this episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Steven Wernick, a trailblazing land use attorney, and his pivotal role in the revitalization of Miami's iconic Wynwood neighborhood. Steven's distinctive blend of legal acumen and planning expertise, coupled with his fervor for neighborhood revitalization, positions him as a unique urbanist dedicated to the well-being of local comm...

In this episode, join us as we savor Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bourbon with serial entrepreneur Ricardo Caporal. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Ricardo immigrated to Miami at the age of 6. He attended Babson College and then went on to pursue graduate-level executive studies in real estate at Harvard University and marketing management at Kellogg School of Management. Ricardo established M...

In this episode we kick it with Nitin over some beers.  Nitin got his first taste of real estate when his parents purchased  a rinky-dink hotel in Fort Lauderdale in the 1980's.  After graduating from Duke University, Nitin decided to pursue a master's degree in real estate development from Columbia University.  In 2004 he moved back to South Florida and started networking with local rea...

In this episode we sat down with Toby Cobb and enjoyed a couple Samuel Adams beers. A Miami native, Toby shares his story about his career in commercial real estate. After graduating from Southern Methodist University, Toby returned to Miami and began working for Southeast Bank in the heart of the savings and loan crisis in the late 80’s.  Toby moved to New York City to attend NYU and received an...

In this episode we kick it with Kieran Bowers, President of Swire Properties. After graduating from Oxford, he began his professional career as a management trainee at Swire Pacific where he has been for 25+ years. Kieran spent most of his career in Asia, starting with Cathay Pacific Airlines. He has lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Karachi, Sri Lanka, Riyadh, Amsterdam, Beijing and now Miami. We talk a...

From valet parking cars in Miami during the Cocaine Cowboy days, to brokering  deals for CBRE for 20 years,  we dive into Jay's career path which eventually led him to becoming an accomplished real estate developer. Jay is a humble and frugal entrepreneur that believes in giving back to his community. He is the outgoing  Board Chair of the University of Miami 's Master of Real Estate Dev...