Mr. Speer, Principal of Speer Consulting, LLC, has more than 20 years of industry experience in the areas of retail market and consumer research, financial analysis and asset management. An independent adviser to retail and mixed-use developers, private and institutional investors, and public agencies since 2000, Mr. Speer is a respected counselor to senior management throughout the shopping center industry.

As Vice President and Department Head of TrizecHahn’s Market Research and Financial Analysis Department (1987-2000), he was responsible for all market and financial analysis for new development projects and acquisition candidates. He evaluated feasibility of TrizecHahn’s entertainment, retail and mixed-use development opportunities in Latin America, Asia and Europe as well as throughout North America and was responsible for annual valuations of its $2.6 billion retail portfolio.

A longstanding member of the International Council of Shopping Centers’ Research Advisory Task Force and a past member of its Steering Committee, Mr. Speer served as its Vice Chairman for two years and Chairman in 1993. He co-chaired ICSC’s 1998 Research Conference, was the chair of the 1999 Conference, and was a member of the Task Force's 2006, 2007 and 2011 Research Conference Planning Subcommittees. In 2009, he received the International Council of Shopping Centers' Trustees Distinguished Service Award, the organization's highest honor, and he was a 2011 recipient of ICSC's Research Award for Outstanding Service.

Mr. Speer holds bachelors degrees in both Political Science and Business from the University of California, Riverside and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and is a licensed California real estate broker.