Gonzalo Barroilhet is a two-time Olympian turned real estate development professional, currently serving as Senior Development Manager at Intersection Development in Phoenix.

A former NCAA champion and South American record-holder in the decathlon and heptathlon, Gonzalo brings the same drive and discipline that defined his athletic career into the world of commercial development.

With experience spanning the U.S. and Latin America, his work blends financial strategy with a deep appreciation for design, community impact, and execution. Gonzalo also serves as Strategic Partnerships Director at räkkhaus studio, where he helps lead transformative architectural projects. His story is one of reinvention, global perspective, and the power of high performance—on and off the track.

Jay Hicks is a world renown landscape architect based in Phoenix, AZ. A few projects of his include Verrado in Buckeye, Scottsdale Kierland, & Scottsdale Civic Center.

Grateful to have his expertise in landscape design and his perspective on development trends specifically working with municipalities moving forward.

CEO of Venue Projects, Lorenzo brings the re-development perspective to the show.

Michael Lee, co-owner of Bench Dog Architects joins us to share his perspective on Placemaking.

Bench Dog Architects specialty in placemaking is master planning, building design, concept design through working drawings, a and construction administration.

We sourced Michael from our previous guest Rick Hill, who worked with Michael in the past, and felt he aligned with our mission.

Michael is a solid addition to the PMJ narrative particularly with his experience in Seattle, WA and throughout the country.

J Richard Hill

Rick is an international real estate strategist, working in the retail, dining, and entertainment sectors.

To him, placemaking is centered around the human touch. Creating places that inspire the senses to engage with the environment.

He’s worked on over 200 properties worldwide including shopping centers, main streets, urban districts, luxury resorts, mixed-use developments, new towns and communities, and attractions.

Rick was the first person to use the term “lifestyle center” in a printed article, he introduced IKEA to its first three sites in the United States, created strategies for guest services in 11 national parks, created the initial strategy for the sponsor and spectator villages at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

In the Phoenix market he studied Biltmore Fashion Park for an institutional investor, worked for the City of Litchfield Park on planning of their new town center, and developed retail strategies for Scottsdale Princess.