Guest speakers Charlie Betts, Charles Heimsath and Robert Knight share their unique perspectives on the developing of downtown Austin.

Charlie Betts has been Executive Director of the Downtown Austin Alliance for more than six years. He is a director of the International Downtown Association, a member of the Austin Area Research Organization, an Advisory Director of Franklin Bank SSB, a Trustee Emeritus of St. Edward's University, and serves as an Elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Previously, he served as a director for both the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications Council (KLRU), and was president of the Heritage Society of Austin.

Charles H. Heimsath, president and founder of Capitol Market Research, has been active in commercial and residential market/feasibility studies and real estate research since 1976. Prior to establishing Capitol Market Research, Mr. Heimsath was responsible for feasibility/market research at R. Robinson & Associates (a real estate appraisal firm) and while living in Houston, managed the real estate research division at the Rice Center. After obtaining a Master's Degree in City Planning from The University of Texas (1976), Mr. Heimsath worked as an urban economist in the Mayor's office in Houston, Texas.

Robert Knight, President of Knight Real Estate, carries the professional designation of Certified Commercial/Investment Member (CCIM) of the Realtor's National Marketing Institute. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas, he has taught numerous courses including Introduction to Real Estate and Urban Land Development, Appraisal Theory and Methods, and Real Estate Investment. Mr. Knight has served as a Director of the Austin Board of Realtors, the Texas Association of Realtors, The Real Estate Council of Austin, the Austin Multiple Listing Service, the Austin Commercial Real Estate Society (ACRES), and a number of banks and charitable institutions.