Reimagining Downtown Santa Monica Leadership Forum — Part 2: Solutions & Partnerships
Hosted by CALS, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, in partnership with the City of Santa Monica.
Part 1 Brought Alignment. Part 2 Is About Deals.
In December, CALS brought 60+ public and private leaders together for the first honest, cross-sector conversation about Downtown Santa Monica's future. The room aligned on the problem. Now we're assembling the room that can solve it.
This forum is built for outcomes. We're bringing together City leadership, major property owners, operators, investors, and companies ready to act. The room is deliberately curated to maximize direct collaboration, partnership formation, and next steps you can execute on.
Why Now?
Downtown Santa Monica is at an inflection point. The question is no longer "What's wrong?" it's: What can be delivered in the next 90 to 180 days, and what partnerships can be formed right now to accelerate it?
Themes: Scorecard. Vision. Solutions.
Speakers
Panel 1: What Brings People Back — A Vision for Santa Monica
Moderated by Doug Higgins, President, CALS
Barry Snell — Santa Monica City Council · Former Chair DTSM Inc. CPA and small business owner with 30+ years in practice. Former Chair of the Downtown Santa Monica Board, where he served 12 years shaping policy for the Promenade and surrounding district. Led the Council's 2025 restructuring of DTSM governance.
Peter Fisher — Co-Founder & CCO, Metropolis. Former portfolio manager who allocated $1B+ into Amazon, Google, Netflix, and Disney at Transamerica. Now building the infrastructure layer for modern urban mobility across 4,000+ locations nationwide.
Craig Lewis — Principal & Placemaking Director, Arcadis Global. 30+ years leading urban revitalization across the Americas. Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP). Currently design lead for The Point, the 600-acre former Utah State Prison redevelopment. Award-winning plans for Memphis, Phoenix, Charlotte, and Albuquerque. His TEDx talk, "The Science of Walkable Cities," speaks for itself.
Marco Li Mandri — President, New City America. The architect behind San Diego's Little Italy transformation — widely considered one of the most successful downtown revitalizations in the U.S. Has established 101 BIDs and Community Benefit Districts generating $120M+ in annual revenue. If you want a playbook, he wrote it.
Christian Irwin — SVP of Leasing, Prism Places. 20+ years in leasing, merchandising, and placemaking. Former VP of West Coast Leasing at Federal Realty, where he led strategy across an 8M sq ft portfolio including Santana Row and Third Street Promenade. Lives in Santa Monica. Knows the Promenade inside and out.
Panel 2: What Actually Changes Downtown
Moderated by Andrew Swerdloff, Co-Founder & Treasurer, CALS
Scott Painter — Founder & CEO, Autonomy & TrueCar. One of the most prolific serial entrepreneurs in the auto industry, based in Santa Monica for 20+ years. In January 2026, completed a $227M take-private acquisition of TrueCar through Fair Holdings, returning as CEO of the company he founded in 2005. Named a WEF Technology Pioneer and EY Entrepreneur of the Year. A long-time Santa Monica business owner who has built multiple venture-backed companies here, Painter brings a founder's perspective on what Downtown needs to attract and retain the next generation of startups, talent, and capital.
Corvas Brinkerhoff — Founder & CEO, Submersive · Co-Founder, Meow Wolf. The creative force behind Omega Mart and installations that have drawn millions. Now building the world's first immersive art bathhouse. Brings a category-defining perspective on what draws people to a place and keeps them coming back.
Jason Chouluchas — Managing Director. Bank OZK. Manages originations and loan production across Southern California and Arizona. Previously Managing Director at Colony NorthStar, with senior roles at Ares Management and Wrightwood Capital. Deep capital markets expertise across CRE lending and investment.
Jake Zacuto — Managing Director, Zacuto Group. Advisor to LA's top family offices, developers, and brands. $1.5B+ in commercial real estate transactions. Bridges capital, strategy, and execution across sectors.
Rohit Shukla — Founder & CEO, Larta Institute. Founded Larta in 1993 to revitalize California's post-aerospace economy. Now an internationally recognized technology accelerator that has helped 10,000+ companies commercialize science and technology innovations. Since 2004, companies supported through these efforts have secured more than $20 billion in follow-on capital. A Santa Monica resident, Shukla brings the innovation economy lens to what Downtown needs next.
Agenda:
10:00–10:15 AM — Realignment Plan Scorecard
10:15 AM–11:15 AM — What Brings People Back: A Vision for Santa Monica (Panel 1)
11:15 AM–12:15 PM — Networking, Lunch & Drinks
(food/drinks provided)
12:15 PM–1:15 PM — What Actually Changes Downtown? (Panel 2)
1:15 PM–2:00 PM — More Networking
(food/drinks provided)
2:00 PM–2:45 PM — Promenade & Retail Space Open House
Who Should Be in the Room?
You should attend if you are:
City/public-sector leadership focused on what private partners need to execute
Major Downtown property owners exploring leasing, activation, partnerships, and repositioning strategies
Operator & Entrepreneurs positioned to activate space and create repeat foot traffic
PE/VC investors and portfolio companies evaluating DTSM opportunities
Tech, Media, and Entertainment Brands exploring a meaningful Downtown Santa Monica presence
Leaders in mobility, retail, hospitality, entertainment, or brand/cultural strategy
What Makes this Different?
A deliberately built room designed for:
Direct access to decision-makers across City + private stakeholders
Partnership formation among owners, operators, capital, and brands
Deal pathways: activation concepts, leasing opportunities, pilot programs, investment discussions
A program built to surface what the private sector needs and how public-private collaboration can accelerate delivery
Food + Drinks:
Food + drinks will be provided during the networking windows.
December Forum Recap
Local leaders signal a reset at Downtown Revitalization Forum (Santa Monica Daily Press):
https://www.smdp.com/local-leaders-signal-a-reset-at-downtown-revitalization-forum/
Registration
Space is limited. Registration required.
Tax Deduction
CALS is a nonprofit; a portion of your registration may be tax-deductible. A receipt will be provided.