From Where I Sit With Tom McGee

Retail has always been about more than transactions. The most successful shopping destinations continue to evolve alongside consumer preferences, technology, and the changing needs of the communities they serve.

On this episode of From Where I Sit, ICSC President and CEO Tom McGee sits down with Stephen Lebovitz, CEO of CBL Properties, owner of some of the largest and most successful malls in America, for a conversation about the evolution of retail real estate and the future of shopping centers. With nearly four decades of experience in the industry, Stephen shares insights on how consumer expectations, tenant mixes, and property strategies have transformed over time, creating new opportunities for retail destinations to remain relevant and resilient.

The discussion explores how today's shopping centers are becoming more dynamic environments that combine retail, dining, entertainment, wellness, and community experiences. Stephen explains how property owners are reimagining underutilized space, attracting new categories of tenants, and creating destinations that serve a broader role in people's daily lives. He also discusses the growing importance of omnichannel retail and why physical stores remain a critical touchpoint for both consumers and brands.

Stephen and Tom look ahead to emerging trends shaping the next generation of retail real estate, from mixed-use development and housing opportunities to the impact of technology, artificial intelligence, and changing demographics. The conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on how shopping centers can continue to create value for retailers, consumers, and communities in the years ahead.

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award and Signal Award winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommcgee2/

Follow Tom on X: https://x.com/TomMcGeeCEO

00:00 – Meet Stephen Lebovitz and CBL Properties

03:57 – Growing up in a retail real estate family

05:40 – How shopping centers have evolved over the decades

07:38 – The enduring role of retail in communities

09:25 – What makes a successful shopping center today

12:55 – Adapting to changing consumer behaviors

16:50 – The transformation of the modern retail destination

18:48 – Why omnichannel retail works best together

20:28 – The changing role of anchor tenants

24:37 – Redevelopment opportunities in retail properties

26:40 – Navigating growth and community partnerships

28:50 – New categories driving traffic and engagement

31:00 – Investing in long-term property value

34:31 – Leadership through industry change

38:23 – Understanding Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers

42:11 – Technology, AI, and the customer experience

44:05 – The future of retail destinations

46:02 – Mixed-use development and housing opportunities

46:03 – Final thoughts on what's next for retail real estate

This episode (S3E5) was recorded on October 13, 2026.

Permitting may be one of the most overlooked challenges in commercial real estate development, but it has an outsized impact on how quickly communities can build housing, retail, infrastructure and industrial projects. In this episode of From Where I Sit, ICSC President & CEO Tom McGee sits down with James Gallagher, CEO & Co-Founder of GreenLite, a real estate permitting platform that combines AI with human expertise.

James breaks down why many permitting processes still rely on antiquated and inefficient workflows, despite growing demand for speed and efficiency across the development lifecycle. He explains how workforce shortages in planning and building departments, combined with fragmented local processes, create costly delays that affect projects of every size and asset class. The conversation also challenges common assumptions about permitting, including the idea that building codes are highly localized, and explores where technology can make the greatest impact.

The discussion goes beyond permitting to examine the broader forces shaping development in the U.S. James shares why he believes the country is entering a new era of construction growth fueled by housing demand, infrastructure investment, data centers, manufacturing expansion and retail development. He also discusses the role AI can play in augmenting, rather than replacing, skilled professionals and offers lessons on leadership, team building and scaling a business drawn from his experience as a Marine Corps Officer and entrepreneur.

Whether you're a developer, retailer, investor, contractor, architect, public official or anyone interested in real estate development, construction technology, permitting reform, AI in commercial real estate and the future of the built world, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the industry's most pressing challenges.

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award-winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommcgee2/

Follow Tom on X: https://x.com/TomMcGeeCEO

Follow James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesabgallagher/

Find out more about GreenLite: https://greenlite.com/

00:00 – Meet James Gallagher and GreenLite

02:23 – Why construction permitting takes so long

06:18 – The workforce shortage behind development delays

09:52 – Permit intelligence and making permitting predictable

12:16 – How GreenLite speeds up the approval process

14:43 – The rise of private plan review

19:27 – Building an AI-powered construction tech company

22:46 – Why investors are betting on permitting technology

26:20 – AI agents and human expertise working together

28:15 – Why America may be entering a construction boom

31:25 – From Marine Corps officer to startup founder

37:12 – Leadership lessons from scaling a fast-growing company

39:44 – How AI will transform real estate development

42:37 – The future of permitting and development regulation

46:01 – Closing remarks

This episode (S3E4) was recorded on October 12, 2026.

What can decades of leadership through economic uncertainty teach us about the future of the built world?

On this new video episode of From Where I Sit, ICSC President & CEO Tom McGee sits down with Acadia Realty Trust President & CEO Ken Bernstein for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, investment strategy, consumer behavior, and the evolving retail landscape.

Having led Acadia Realty Trust through the dot-com bubble, 9/11, the Global Financial Crisis, COVID-19, inflationary pressures, shifting interest rate environments, and many more disruptive cycles, Ken shares the lessons he's learned about navigating inevitable market cycles and positioning his business for long-term success.

The conversation also explores why reports of the demise of brick-and-mortar retail were greatly exaggerated. Ken discusses the growing body of evidence, including ICSC’s own research, showing that physical stores and e-commerce work together, with many retailers finding that opening stores actually boosts online sales in surrounding markets.

As the leader of Acadia, which specializes in street retail properties, Ken dives into the unique advantages of high-street retail, including the value of limited supply, barriers to entry, and lease structures that can provide a hedge against inflation. He also explains Acadia's approach to retail corridor ownership and curation, describing how thoughtful tenant mix can strengthen an entire street, enhance customer experience, and create value for retailers and property owners alike.

Finally, Tom and Ken discuss emerging trends shaping the industry, including the growing number of brands opening their own stores to introduce themselves to their customers, and what today's consumers are telling retailers about spending, confidence, and resilience in an uncertain economic environment.

00:28 - Meet Ken Bernstein, President and CEO, Acadia Realty Trust

08:58 - Navigating economic cycles and market disruption

13:44 - What the industry got wrong about retail

22:15 - Why opening stores can increase online sales

22:54 - Investing in high-street retail

24:12 - The power of barriers to entry

26:58 - Curation, tenant mix and creating value

30:16 - The Shift from department stores to brand-owned stores

37:21 - Consumer confidence and retail spending

40:52 - Interest rates, inflation and CRE outlook

46:00 - AI and the future of retail

49:36 Leadership lessons from 25 years as a CEO

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Ken on LinkedIn. 

This episode (S3E3) was recorded on September 25, 2026.

In this new video episode, ICSC President & CEO Tom McGee sits down with Aaron Block, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MetaProp, a leading VC firm investing in technology for the built world.

Over the past decade, Aaron has helped shape the proptech ecosystem, investing in companies transforming the built world across retail, office, industrial, multifamily, and beyond. Together, Tom and Aaron explore how technology adoption in CRE has evolved, why AI represents a pivotal moment for the industry, and what leaders should be doing today to prepare for the future.

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award-winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

00:00 - A decade of proptech innovation

02:16 - What Aaron got wrong about early proptech adoption

05:34 - Why CRE is often slow to adopt technology

09:04 - How technology touches every stage of real estate

13:14 - Is AI really as transformational as everyone says?

18:00 - Will AI replace jobs or make professionals more productive?

21:47 - Inside a venture capitalist's investment playbook

29:06 - Leadership lessons from founders and entrepreneurs

32:01 - Proptech beyond the U.S.

35:19 - The future of retail: AI, stores, and augmented reality shopping

39:27 - What excites and concerns Aaron as an investor?

42:28 - Looking ahead

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Aaron on LinkedIn. 

Follow Aaron on X. 

This episode (S3E2) was recorded on August 18, 2026.

In the season 3 premiere of From Where I Sit, ICSC President & CEO Tom McGee sits down with Brian Finnegan, CEO & President of Brixmor Property Group, one of the nation's largest owners and operators of open-air shopping centers.

Brian shares his perspective on how retail real estate has transformed over the past decade, why reports of the "retail apocalypse" proved to be overstated, and how shopping centers continue to evolve alongside changing consumer behavior. Together, Tom and Brian discuss the resilience of brick-and-mortar retail, the growing importance of grocery-anchored and open-air centers, the impact of AI on business operations, and what the future holds for retailers, landlords, and the communities they serve.

The conversation also explores leadership lessons from Brian's career journey, how technology is reshaping commercial real estate, and why strong relationships remain at the heart of successful retail businesses.

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award-winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

0:00 - Introduction and welcome

01:12 - Remembering Jim Taylor and his industry legacy

03:32 - Brian's career journey from leasing representative to CEO

07:03 - Brixmor's culture and the importance of people

08:13 - How leasing shaped Brian's leadership philosophy

11:16 - What surprised Brian most about becoming CEO

13:06 - What the retail apocalypse got wrong

15:50 - Retail resilience and lessons from the pandemic

16:49 - Hybrid work, suburban growth, and changing consumer behavior

18:58 - The retail space supply-demand imbalance

21:25 - Brixmor's redevelopment and investment strategy

24:50 - Densification and unlocking value in existing centers

26:40 - New retailers and concepts entering open-air centers

29:39 - Speed, convenience, and meeting consumers where they are

33:32 - The state of the American consumer

37:34 - AI's impact on commercial real estate

40:20 - Why Brian is optimistic about AI

42:17 - Risks facing retail and commercial real estate

43:35 - Interest rates and market uncertainty

44:33 - ICSC Foundation and attracting talent to the industry

48:44 - Leadership advice and the power of relationships

50:14 - Books Brian is reading

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Brian on LinkedIn. 

This episode (S3E1) was recorded on August 27, 2026.

Energy has long been treated as a necessary expense that businesses simply manage. But as demand for electricity rises and concerns about reliability grow, many companies are beginning to view energy through a different lens.

In this episode, Tom sits down with Gareth Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of VECKTA, a platform that provides onsite energy solutions. Gareth spoke at the first ICSC+PROPTECH, co-located with ICSC LAS VEGAS this year, exploring how owners monetize solar in their grocery-anchored portfolios. VECKTA was also a recipient of the inaugural ICSC Tech Innovator Awards, recognized for the traction the company has achieved with landlords and retailers.  

Gareth also discusses how shopping centers and other commercial properties can generate, store, and even monetize energy while improving resilience for both tenants and the communities they serve. 

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award-winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Gareth on LinkedIn. 

Follow Gareth on X. 

This episode (S2E13) was recorded on July 15, 2026.

How is AI reshaping the way consumers shop and what does it mean for the future of retail?

Tom McGee, ICSC President & CEO, sits down with Colleen Baum, Senior Partner at McKinsey, to unpack key insights from ICSC’s report with McKinsey on “Shopping in the Age of AI.” Drawing on research from more than 3,000 consumers and interviews with retail and retail real estate executives, the report and this conversation explore how rising expectations, digital advancements and evolving consumer behaviors are redefining the role of the store.

As AI continues to shape consumer behavior, retailers and retail real estate leaders alike must rethink how stores are designed, operated and integrated into the broader retail ecosystem. The organizations that move fastest and most intentionally will be best positioned to capture value.

Read “Shopping in the Age of AI.”

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award-winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Colleen on LinkedIn. 

This episode (S2E12) was recorded on June 22, 2026.

Airports are often the first and last impression of a city, a region or even a country for millions of travelers. In this episode, Tom chats with Elisabeth Sailer, Chief Commercial Officer at LaGuardia Gateway Partners, to explore how airports function as ecosystems that blend place, people, commerce, and experience.

Elisabeth shares how viewing airports as “little cities,” rather than standalone assets, shapes everything from commercial strategy to passenger experience. Drawing on her work at LaGuardia Terminal B and the redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal A, she dives into how passengers make choices not just on price, but on reliability, emotion, and ease. She also shares why food and beverage, shorter wait times, and thoughtful design matter so deeply in an environment where travel is often emotional and high-stakes.

Follow From Where I Sit, hosted by Stevie Award-winner Tom McGee, for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Elisabeth on LinkedIn. 

This episode (S2E11) was recorded on April 27, 2026.

Take an inside look at ICSC LAS VEGAS in this practical preview of what to expect this year and how the event is evolving alongside the industry. With more than 25,000 attendees expected, Tom and Whitney discuss why ICSC LAS VEGAS remains the industry’s most important place to connect, learn and make deals.

They also dive into two new events launching at ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC+PROPTECH, connecting CRE decisionmakers with technology leaders, venture capital firms and over 100 buyers from leading commercial real estate firms, and ICSC+WOMEN IN CRE, empowering and connecting women across all sectors and career stages in CRE. Register here for ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC+PROPTECH and ICSC+WOMEN IN CRE: https://www.icsc.com/attend-and-learn/events/details/las-vegas-2026

Follow From Where I Sit for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow Whitney on LinkedIn. 

This episode (S2E10) was recorded on April 14, 2026.

Discover David’s deep connection to Baltimore and the transformative role of real estate development in revitalizing communities. As the new owner of Harborplace, Baltimore’s crown jewel at the heart of the downtown waterfront, David shares MCB’s vision for the project and insights into this major redevelopment project. 

Plus, hear more about the value of community engagement in development projects, the economic potential of Baltimore and why it makes more financial sense to develop existing retail real estate assets. 

Follow From Where I Sit for more conversations about the built economy.

Follow Tom on LinkedIn.

Follow Tom on X.

Follow David on LinkedIn. 

This episode (S2E9) was recorded on February 18, 2026.