Will Burgin, President of Jackson Burgin and managing member of Artifex DBD, is a financial strategist and project manager for small scale development, both in his hometown of Columbus, Georgia and for Artifex projects nationally.

While an undergraduate, in Vanderbilt University’s mechanical engineering program, Will had the opportunity to see firsthand how time-tested principles of urban design and planning helped Nashville realize its ambitions to become a more livable, better connected place for families and businesses. Upon returning to Columbus, he applied both his professional degree and what he’d observed in Nashville to neighborhood retail development and transportation projects on home turf. His successes in Columbus helped him develop an appreciation for – and expertise in – the seamless integration of design, engineering and planning with finance and construction oversight.

By combining Will’s skill sets with those of his three partners, Artifex offers clients the opportunity to simultaneously address all the components of planning and implementing transformative projects.

Alli Thurmond Quinlan is an architect, landscape architect, and small infill developer. She founded and runs Flintlock Ltd Co (a multi-disciplinary design practice) and Flintlock Development (an urban infill real estate development company) in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She also served on the Fayetteville Planning Commission and the Construction Board of Appeals, as well as being known to occasionally teach urban design with a focus on advanced grading and stormwater in the Landscape Architecture Department of the Fay Jones School of Design at the University of Arkansas.

Alli grew up on a large working cattle ranch in western Oklahoma and believes strongly in being hands-on in your farm. She believes that small developers have the potential to be advocates for their neighborhoods, leading the redevelopment of communities in a way that protect and include long time residents while welcoming new, diverse neighbors. As part of this approach, she recently completed a tactical urbanism project to make walking to the community center easier for neighborhood kids, located nearby to Flintlock Development’s South St Cottages.

Working as in a range of roles (architect, land planner, owner, developer, and city administrator) over a wide variety of development projects has taught Alli to cut through the voodoo of pro formas and zoning / building code to create beautiful, lovable, walkable projects that make sense for communities and make money for investors. Her work solo and with the University of Arkansas Community Design Center has been honored with national and international awards from the Congress for New Urbanism, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Institute of Architects, Architizer, and the American Planning Association.

Matthew Petty is a city planner and real estate developer who has also been elected three times to the Fayetteville City Council. Matthew has a deep understanding of American zoning and development codes and infrastructure planning processes. He has facilitated numerous public hearings and stakeholder engagement efforts, and his first mixed-use project as an owner-developer is under construction.

Matthew was a grantwriter and development associate for four years at the University of Arkansas Community Design Center, a professional urban design and architecture program which has earned more than 100 national and international awards for its urban designs, stormwater solutions, and scenario plans. Matthew’s time at UACDC has provided him a keen sense of how to overcome obstacles to project funding and site development.

Serving his ninth year on the Fayetteville City Council, Matthew is Chair of the Transportation Committee as well as the city’s tourism agency, where he orients infrastructure and marketing budgets towards Fayetteville’s broader strategies.

Matthew’s experience has taught him how to identify and overcome barriers to missing middle development and placemaking. He believes cities can build local wealth and restore neighborhoods by leveling the playing field for appropriate infill projects.

Matthew holds undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Political Science from the University of Arkansas.

Ryan Terry is a real estate developer, urban designer, speaker, and consultant practicing in central Texas. His practice aims for the recovery of flourishing communities through the renewal of neighborhoods and public places. As the founder and managing partner of R + T Studio, a development and consulting firm specializing in urban infill and revitalization, he oversees projects throughout the region.

Ryan recently completed the first phase of 500 Bryan North, consisting of two four-plex apartment buildings for a total of 8 residential and 2 commercial units in 11,500 square feet. This was phase one of an incremental build out of a city block in downtown Bryan that will eventually consist of 42 residential units and 12,000 square feet of commercial space.

Ryan lives in Bryan, TX where he serves on the city Historical Landmark Commission and the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board. He is active is the Downtown Bryan Association, the Bryan Rotary Club, and the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce. Ryan holds a Master of Public Service & Administration degree with a concentration in Urban Policy, Development, and Design from the George Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M as well as a Bachelor’s in Philosophy and Classical Culture from the University of Georgia. His areas of expertise include urban design, land use and transportation policy, and economic and community development.

Ryan is a former Marine Corps infantry officer and management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. During his time in the Marine Corps, Ryan served as a platoon commander and staff officer, leading 50 Marines and Sailors during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.