Mike Berry, President of Hillwood Properties, presented an economic forecast for 2014. He noted that the DFW metroplex continues to experience strong population and job growth, with over 1.5 million new residents expected in the next decade. Real estate trends show declining vacancy rates and increasing absorption across the multifamily, office, retail, and industrial sectors. Hillwood's AllianceTexas development was highlighted as an economic engine for North Texas, with over $7 billion invested and 35,000 jobs created across 18,000 acres. The expansion of the Panama Canal was also discussed as potentially benefiting North Texas inland ports and export growth.