Cheryl Cort is Policy Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) in the Washington, DC region. She develops policy initiatives in the areas of land use, transportation, and housing, with a focus on equitable development. Prior to this, she led the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities and managed urban projects for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Ms. Cort also worked for Maryland Governor Parris Glendening’s Smart Growth initiatives, and the World Resources Institute. She holds a M.S. in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Douglas M. Firstenberg focuses on strategic planning and development projects as well as taking a primary role in major transaction negotiation. He has more than twenty-five years of experience working on complex real estate projects and directing the implementation of the firm’s strategic plans. Among his affiliations, Mr. Firstenberg is a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of the NoMa Business Improvement District. He has a B.A. from Duke University.

Mr. Fisette has been a member of the Arlington County Board since 1998, serving as chairman in 2001, 2005, and 2010. He is an advocate for smart growth and New Urbanist principles including linking land use and transportation, providing robust transportation options and designing inviting public spaces. A former Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Chair, he now chairs COG's Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee, and serves on the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee. He represents Arlington on the Board of Trade's Greater Washington Initiative and serves on the ULI Washington District Council Executive Committee. Mr. Fisette has a M.A. degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and received his B.A. degree from Bucknell University.

Robert A. Peck serves as the Commissioner of Public Buildings for the U.S. General Services Administration. He was appointed to this position on August 19, 2009.  As Commissioner, Mr. Peck is responsible for the nationwide asset management, design, construction, leasing, building management and disposal for 370.2 million square feet of government-owned and leased space, accommodating over 1.1 million federal workers. Additionally, he oversees an annual budget of more than$9.1 billion and a workforce of over 7,000. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, and was a Visiting Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Ms. Swoboda has spent more than 14 years in the professional field of economic development. She joined the Office of Military and Federal Affairs in 2005 and currently serves as Deputy Director. She also serves as an advisor and liaison to Maryland military-affiliated alliances and federal installations. Ms. Swoboda manages a number of projects related to the preparation of the anticipated influx of 60,000 statewide jobs due to BRAC, including work conducted on behalf of the Governor’s BRAC Subcabinet. Ms. Swoboda previously worked for the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. She holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Maryland’s top honors college, St. Mary’s College of Maryland.