Conference Information
On March 8, 2014, EB5Investors.com and EB5 Investors Magazine hosted their first annual Las Vegas EB-5 Conference, featuring keynote speakers Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO 2nd District) and Steve Hill, Executive Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The conference was held in the luxurious Encore Resort, and gave EB-5 Regional Center principals and EB-5 professionals the opportunity to share knowledge and learn, network with the other 200 attendees, and get up-to-date on current EB-5 trends. The speeches and panels throughout the conference went smoothly and offered valuable insights for everyone present.
The conference began with a speech and Q&A with Steve Hill, Executive Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Over breakfast, Steve Hill discussed manifestations of the EB-5 program hard at work in the State of Nevada, creating jobs for its residents. He added, confidently, that Nevada advocates for the program and looks to work with high-quality EB-5 projects. His speech shed light on a growing trend of EB-5 Regional Centers partnering with state and city governments to boost local economies.
After Steve Hill answered some attendee questions, the conference transitioned to panels led by experienced speakers and moderators. The division of panels into beginner and advanced tracks ensured that everyone in attendance, whether new to EB-5 or a seasoned veteran, could take away EB-5 knowledge comprehensible to him/her and derive value from the panelists’ sessions.
The moderators of the first four panels were Cletus Weber, of Peng & Weber PLLC; Ed Beshara, of Beshara Professional Association; Dawn Lurie, of Polsinelli, PC; and Catherine Holmes, of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. These panels covered the basics of the EB-5 program, the trend of using individual and pooled direct investments for EB-5 projects, and information about EB-5 Regional Centers. Conference attendees were able to glean expert knowledge from immigration attorneys, regional center principals, economists, and even TEA guru Elliot Winer, who acted as speakers and presenters alongside the moderators. The topics most discussed included TEA regulations and designations, the rising role of pooled direct EB-5 investments, and the role of economists in regional center projects.
After these panels concluded, Congressman Jared Polis presented the EB-5 Program Advocacy Address, over lunch, followed by a Q&A session. In his keynote speech, he discussed the current state of EB-5 on Capitol Hill, the problems of partisanships the program faces in Congress, and his own plans to advocate for and improve the EB-5 program. This was especially exciting and relevant to EB-5 stakeholders in attendance, because Congressman Polis introduced The American Entrepreneurship and Investment Act of 2014 just two days earlier, which included a number of provisions to improve the EB-5 program, including premium processing options and permanent reauthorization. Additionally, Congressman Polis was gracious enough with his time to speak on a panel later in the day, discussing advocacy of and potential future developments in the EB-5 program.
When lunch concluded, the conference returned to eight more panels. They were moderated by Joe McCarthy, of the American Dream Fund, Inc.; Dawn Lurie, of Polsinelli, PC; David Hirson, of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP; Jeff Campion, of Pathways; Bernard Wolfsdorf, of Wolfsdorf Immigration Law Group; and Laura Reiff, of Greenberg Traurig LLP. Along with their speakers, the moderators presented panels about the team members needed for successful EB-5 projects, professional ethics issues, the rising role of broker dealers in legally selling EB-5 securities, and the necessary forms and documentation for petitions, applications, and day-to-day business dealings in the EB-5 world.
The conference ended on a high note, with the final two panels focusing on present trends and future changes in EB-5. Panel 11, “Hot Topics—EB-5 Latest Developments,” featured Ali Jahangiri of EB5Investors.com and EB5Investors Magazine as one of the speakers. This panel discussed the recent stakeholder teleconference held by USCIS, the new director of USCIS and program manager for EB-5, and the possibility for Chinese visa retrogression. Panel 12, “EB-5 Program Advocacy: How the Program Could Change in 2014 and Beyond,” featured Congressman Jared Polis as a speaker. This panel covered possible immigration reform on the table, Polis’s bill (which was recently introduced to the House of Representatives), and other immigration bills proposed by Congressman Darrell Issa and Senator Patrick Leahy.
If you missed this amazing event, don’t worry! EB5Investors.com and EB5 Investors Magazine will be hosting the third annual Southern California EB-5 Conference soon. The conference will be at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort on Monday, July 21st, 2014. U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) will return as the keynote speaker, and it is sure to be a worthwhile and valuable event for anyone interested in the EB-5 industry.
Also, look out for future Las Vegas EB-5 Conferences. There will be one just next year, in 2015, and each year after that. Hope to see you there!
- Conference Date: March 8th, 2014
- Address: 3121 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas NV 89109
EB5Investors.com events and conferences are open to the general public and may include persons resident in the U.S. or foreign countries who may be interested in EB-5 investment opportunities. Attendees, exhibitors and speakers at our events and conferences should consult with their own legal counsel regarding compliance with securities laws for any ongoing or planned securities offerings. EB5investors.com provides no legal advice concerning compliance with securities laws by attendees, exhibitors and speakers at its conferences and events.
Disclaimer: EB5Investors.com events and conferences are open to the general public and may include persons resident in the U.S. or foreign countries who may be interested in EB-5 investment opportunities. Attendees, exhibitors and speakers at our events and conferences should consult with their own legal counsel regarding compliance with securities laws for any ongoing or planned securities offerings. EB5investors.com provides no legal advice concerning compliance with securities laws by attendees, exhibitors and speakers at its conferences and events.