Jessica Schueren, Director of Development, is responsible for managing the design and development process at Kaufman Development. Jessica has a B.S. from Miami University and an M.P.A. from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining Kaufman, Jessica worked in real estate development for Edwards Companies focusing on its multi-family and student housing portfolios. Outside of work, Jessica is a volunteer leader with Besa and a Columbus Landmarks Foundation trustee. Jessica is a member of the 2022 Class of Columbus Business First’s 40 Under 40.

Abigail has served as our President, International and Chief Development Officer since June 2019. She has held a host of leadership roles at Wendy’s since joining the Company in 2002, including Chief Global Development Officer and International, Chief Development Officer, Senior Vice President of Restaurant Development and Growth Initiatives, and Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Planning. A high-energy leader, she thrives on big challenges and effectively leads her teams through significant transitions – evidenced by the central role she’s played in Wendy’s return to growth since 2013. Abigail’s fingerprints are all over our restaurants, so to speak. She’s been responsible for restaurant design, real estate, construction and franchise development, and she led an initiative to redesign crew member uniforms, packaging and the logo that helped reinvigorate our brand. In her current role, Abigail leads all aspects of our International business outside of the United States and is responsible for all restaurant and franchise development across the globe. Further, Abigail is the executive sponsor of Women of Wendy’s, our employee network focused on developing and empowering female leaders at Wendy’s. Although Abigail’s favorite menu item is the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, she fully appreciates fresh beef. She grew up on a cattle farm in Maine, and her family dined at the only Wendy’s in town because her father loved the brand (and because the restaurant served North American fresh, never frozen beef). Prior to Wendy’s, Abigail spent six years at the global professional services company Accenture, where she led various clients in the areas of process reengineering, systems implementations, organizational design and change management. She serves on the board of directors and the executive committee of the Columbus, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, for which she previously chaired the strategy committee. Abigail also serves on the advisory boards of Dupler Office, a privately held company, and Denison University, her alma mater.

Lori Bongiorno is a Managing Principal at MA Design in Columbus, Ohio. She is a graduate of Pratt Institute in New York City with a professional degree in Architecture. She is a Registered Architect in 18 states, and a LEED Accredited Professional. As an active member of the ICSC: Innovating Commerce, Serving Communities (formerly International Council of Shopping Centers), she has led discussions on the topic of the architect’s expanding role in managing mixed use developments at past national conventions. She’s had volunteer leadership roles with ICSC as both the State of Ohio Government Relations Committee Chair and State of Ohio Volunteer Director. Lori has been with MA Design for 29 years, specializing in large retail based mixed-use developments, sustainable design, various commercial, multi-family housing, and corporate office projects. She has been intricately involved with the ever-evolving, award-winning and precedent-setting Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio since 1997. Creating dynamic, sustainable, active neighborhoods is what Lori does best.

As Chief Financial Officer at Crawford Hoying, Allison is responsible for establishing and executing the company’s vision of financial investment and growth. She leads the senior management teams for both the accounting and finance departments which perform all aspects of underwriting, financing, asset management, operational and financial reporting for the company's real estate and non-real estate investments. Allison serves as the financial face of the company to customers, lenders and investors. Her approachable methodology of financial analysis has led the company to a great deal of successful returns on projects across the portfolio.

As a seasoned urban planning and economic development professional, Carolyn Thurman is passionate about leveraging public policy and creative problem solving to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in our communities. With over 10 years of experience in the field, She has a proven track record of successfully leading large-scale projects and initiatives that create positive impacts for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders. Carolyn's expertise includes strategic planning, community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and policy analysis. She believes that the best solutions come from working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and using data and evidence-based approaches to inform decision-making. At the core of her work is a commitment to building thriving, equitable, and sustainable communities that meet the needs of all residents. Carolyn has a deep understanding of the challenges facing communities today, from affordable housing to economic development, and is dedicated to creating solutions that are innovative, effective, and equitable.

MK Lindsey is Vice President of Real Estate Development for Crawford Hoying in Columbus, OH. Crawford Hoying has over $2.5B in total development and acquisition assets, including 17 hotels, over 3,000 residential units, and 19 million square feet of commercial space including food halls, restaurants, event centers, and entertainment complexes. MK leads Crawford Hoying’s development pipeline and specializes in large scale, multi-year, complex urban projects that often include public-private partnerships. She assesses new and existing markets for potential development and negotiates with local governments and economic leaders to make deals work. In her role, MK weighs factors such as local leadership, tax climate, planning and zoning regulations, value creation and investment returns, product brand and storytelling, construction costs, commercial and residential leasing opportunities, and partnership potential.