Host a SMALL Talk!
SMALL Talks help audiences think differently or create a community call-to-action. Our stable of seasoned Small PROs bring unique perspectives, speaking styles and subject matter that are perfect for conferences, panels and community education. Let us help you bring the right subject focus and message about Building Small to reach your audience in whatever format works best.
Housing Summit
Atlanta, GA 2024
“Jim set an optimistic tone for the day. Great message and excellent public speaker. His cadence and content were well executed…it could have even been longer! Having Jim open the summit was the best.”
—HOUSING THE BAY | April 2025, ULI San Francisco
Upcoming Small Talks
JUNE 2 | Starting Small – Keynote | Indiana Municipal Power Association Carmel, IN
JUNE 16-17 | Small Case Studies and Workshops | Downtown Colorado, Inc Center + Wolsenburg, CO
OCT 1 | Small Housing Solutions – Keynote Pikes Peak Housing Network, Pikes Peak CO
Recent Noteworthy Talks
Incremental Development Workshop – Panel and Workshop Facilitators | Design Rochester, Rochester, NY May 2026
Doing Development Different – Keynote | ULI Carolinas Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC March 2026
Saving Spaces to Create Places Keynote Colorado Preservation Inc. Feb 2026
Statewide Housing Summit |South Dakota Housing Authority [Keynote], Pierre, SD June 2025
Build Maine State Urbanism Conference [Keynote], Skowhegan, ME June 2025
Housing the Bay| ULI SF San Francisco [Keynote] April 2025
Local Developer Forum | Opportunity Appalachia [Program Curator, Moderator and Speaker ] Charleston WV
University Lectures + Case Study Studios
MIT Center for Real Estate
NC State University
Presidio School of Management
Tulane University
UC Berkeley – MRED+D
University of Miami – MRED+U
RECENT FOUNDER KEYNOTES
Jim Heid
Build Maine Annual Forum, June 2025 | Build Maineʻs annual development and policy conference brings together a wide range of actors involved in creating more walkable and livable communities. | VIEW
Jim Heid
ULI Carolinas Conference, March 2026 | ULI’s three Carolina District Councils convene once a year for an industry conversation. This year Building Small demonstrated how we can build different.| VIEW
Jim Heid
TEDx Sonoma, March 2022 |Following the release of Building Small, the program committee of TEDx asked to learn more about the what and why of Small. | VIEW
PODCASTS FROM OUR SMALL PROS
Listen to the ideas and lessons our members can bring to your meetings!
Jesse Russell and
Ryan Andrews
The Messy City, December 2024 | Description| LISTEN
Jesse Russell and
Ryan Andrews
American Building, October 2025 | Description| LISTEN
Lorenzo Perez
The Placemakers Journal, May 2025 |Description | LISTEN
Jonathan Dodson
American Building, September 2025 | Description| LISTEN
Liz Dunn
Seattle City Makers, March 2022 | Description| LISTEN
Jeff Johnston
Transforming Cities, March 2024 |Description | LISTEN
Hal Shapiro
The Messy City, November 2024 | Description| LISTEN
Jim Heid
I Found My Tribe, July 2022 | My conversation with crowdfunding innovator Eve Picker as we riff about all things Small. | LISTEN
Jim Heid
The Impact of Small, January 2022 | My fast paced interview with coworking thought leader Jamie Russo. | VIEW
“As a young business professional that is looking to create positive impacts in the communities and on the people that we touch, I just wanted to say thank you for your time and effort, wisdom, and the rich amount of knowledge you have poured into your book Building Small.
– AJ Moreno, San Antonio
SPEAKING & TEACHING
KEYNOTES AND PANELS
Small PRO presentation style rely on a conversational and accessible style with a clear framework and specific examples organized around the Building Small ethos. Our stable of speakers strive to ensure audiences leave informed and excited about making positive change in the built environment where they live.
STUDIO LECTURES AND TEACHING
Our Small PRO’s experience – as developers and designers – makes for provocative and inspired studio lectures, crits and case study exercises. We bring a practical eye towards what it takes to move projects from plan to reality, while encouraging the next generation to think about the responsibility they hold as developers..
“…because our goal is to build stronger collaboration around housing solutions, the “building small” approach clearly illustrates how meaningful community change comes from many individual projects adding up over time. “
SOUTHERN TIER 8 REGIONAL BOARD | October 2025
Whether a keynote, panel moderation or panelist, having a Building Small speaker included in your program provides a fresh perspective and new way of seeing the important role thoughtful real estate developers can bring to your community.
ULI Houston Blueprints, June 2025
Photo Credit @Paul R Davis