Introducing Our Keynote Speakers

Anirban Basu, MPP, MA, JD, Ph.D.

Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group, Inc.

Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with an office in Orlando, Florida. The firm provides strategic analytical services to energy suppliers, law firms, medical systems, government agencies, and real estate developers among others.

In 2014, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed him Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission (2014-2021). He serves as Chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee. He also serves the chief economist function for Associated Builders and Contractors, the Construction Financial Management Association, the Modular

Building Institute, the Maryland Bankers Association, and several others.

He has taught at several universities, most frequently at the Johns Hopkins University. He currently teaches History of Economic Thought at Goucher College as their Distinguished Economist in Residence.

In 2007, 2016, and 2022, the Daily Record newspaper selected Dr. Basu as one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.

Dr. Basu is currently on the boards of the University of Maryland School of Law, St. Mary’s College, the University of Maryland Medical Center, the University System of Maryland Foundation, the Lyric Opera House and the Archdiocese of Baltimore School System. He is also on Truist Bank’s advisory board.

Dr. Basu earned his B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He earned his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and his Master’s in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. He acquired his Juris Doctor at the University of Maryland School of Law. He completed his doctoral work at UMBC with a concentration in health economics.

Tommy Brunson

President, Fairfield Residential

Tommy is responsible for the overall Development, Entitlement, Design, and Construction team and works in tandem with Fairfield’s capital markets group to raise debt and equity capital. He participates in strategic planning for the firm, and is a member of its Executive, Management, Portfolio, and Investment committees.

With more than 27 years of industry experience, he previously held roles in Development, Acquisitions, and Asset Management. He began his career with Harbert Management Corporation, and prior to joining Fairfield in 2008, was Vice President for development and acquisitions at Lincoln Property Company – Southeast.

Tommy graduated with a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College and earned a master’s degree in Real Estate Development and Finance from Columbia University. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, National Multifamily Housing Council, and National Association of Homebuilders, and is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Apartment Association.