Industry Veterans

Matt Whelan is the Founder and a Principal with RedLeaf, LLC where he is responsible for strategic direction and execution. He is responsible for leading the adaptive reuse and redevelopment of Highland Mall in conjunction with Austin Community College. The 80-acre mixed-use redevelopment will transform the failed mall into a vibrant district that features nearly 4 million square feet of residential, office, retail, hospitality and educational uses. Previously, Matt held the following positions: Executive Managing Partner of Investments at Live Oak – Gottesman where he oversaw development activities and public/private partnership programs. Regional Director for Catellus Development Group and the senior Texas executive responsible for leading the $2 billion public/private redevelopment of the 700-acre Robert Mueller Municipal Airport into a thriving master-planned mixed-use community. ​Senior Executive at CCNG Realty, Inc., responsible for the development of Spanish Oaks, a 1,300 acre, $1 billion, mixed-use project which included retail, multi-family, commercial, residential and golf uses including a network of protected open spaces.​

​Education

Masters and Bachelors in CivilEngineering and Environmental and Water Resource Engineering – The University of Texas Austin

Affiliations

• Mueller Foundation – Board Member
• Urban Land Institute – Member
• Urban Development Mixed-Use National Council – Member
• Airport Boulevard Initiative – Advisory Board
• Caritas – Community Advisory Board

Rob Shands is a partner at RedLeaf, where he specializes in master-planned developments and public-private partnerships. An expert in capital markets, acquisitions, procurements, and venture capital life sciences, Shands has been a part of transforming the real estate market in Central Texas for nearly two decades.

With more than X million square-feet of development experience to tout, Shands is most notably recognized for leading the development process of The Bell District, a large-scale mixed use, P3 development in partnership with he City of Cedar Park, since its inception.

Prior to joining RedLeaf, Rob was Partner and Director of Investment for Live Oak-Gottesman, a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Austin. As head of operations, he also ran the investment arm and served as a member of the firm’s management team. While there, Rob played an integral role in the development of more than 650,000 square feet of office and retail products and established a thesis-based acquisition strategy focused on Class B office properties across the state.

Rob began his career at Frost Bank in the real estate division where he managed a loan portfolio consisting of retail, office, industrial, multi-family, land and self-storage. Financing, deal structures and partnerships remain a key strength of his today.

Rob is a frequent speaker, panelist and guest contributor to a variety of real estate-related publications and articles. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Texas Town & City Magazine. His speaking includes a long list of corporate talks, workshops and public presentations.

Rob sits on the Board of Directors for the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA) and is Co-Chair of the Urban Land Insitute’s Office and Retail Member Council. He is the former Board President of Hill Country Conservancy and a previous member of the First Bank, N.A. Board of  Directors. An outdoor enthusiast, Rob has been a key contributor to the Pease Park Conservancy, one of Austin’s oldest public parks – an 84-acre green space. He also helped establish the RedLeaf Properties Endowment Scholarship to assist single mothers in pursuing an associate degree or certificate.

Rob lives in Central Austin with his wife Elizabeth and their two daughters Cece and Molly. A born and raised Texan, you can often find him spending quality time at the Frio, hitting the links or exploring the great outdoors.

Affiliations:

• Board of Directors for the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA)
• Co Chair – ULI Austin Office and Retail Local Member Council
• Former Board President of Hill Country Conservancy
• Former Board of Directors – First Bank, N.A
• Member of The Pease Park Conservancy

Education:

• Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance – University of Mississippi