Speakers
Roberto Contreras IV is the Chief Executive Officer of DC Partners and Managing Director of sister company Houston EB5. With over a decade of experience shaping some of Texas’s most iconic developments, Roberto leads with a passion for modern design, thoughtful hospitality, and mixed-use projects that create lasting value for the communities they serve.Under his leadership, Roberto has brought to fruition some of the most compelling mixed-use and hospitality projects in Texas, including The Allen, 4411 San Felipe, and The Muse in Fredericksburg — while overseeing the management of all existing assets across the firm’s portfolio.Having risen through the ranks as Senior Vice President and most recently Co-President of DC Partners, Roberto brings a deep, hands-on understanding of every facet of the business. He also served as Director of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, coordinating high-level dialogue between American and Chinese leaders.
Lauren Rottet is a highly accomplished architect, interior designer, furniture designer and art curator with an extraordinary record of awards, publications, lectures, juries and honors. She is the Founding Principal of Rottet Studio, an international architecture and interior design firm, and is the only woman in history to be elevated to Fellow status by both the American Institute of Architects and International Interior Design Association. She also holds the titles of Interior Design Hall of Fame, Interiors Designer of the Year, Boutique Design’s Designer of the Year, and Hospitality Design Platinum Circle inductee. Ms. Rottet’s furniture and product designs have earned her four gold medals for Best of NeoCon and a Chicago Athenaeum Award. Her new furniture company, Rottet Collection, was introduced in 2017 and was met with rave reviews garnering significant awards including an Interior Design Best of Year.
Jess Hardin is the Texas Bureau Chief at The Real Deal, where she leads coverage on the commercial and residential real estate markets across the Lone Star State. With a deep focus on major metro areas like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin, Jess breaks down the major investment trends, landmark developments, and economic shifts shaping the future of Texas real estate.
Prior to leading The Real Deal’s Texas newsroom, she covered regional growth, development, and business news. Known for her data-driven reporting and sharp industry insights, Jess regularly delivers in-depth analysis on everything from luxury vertical living booms to changing investment strategies across the state.
