The Emerging Developers Program (EDP) has been transformational in my development as a real estate professional, project manager, and community development leader. The program provided far more than classroom instruction—it immersed me in the full lifecycle of an affordable housing development project, allowing me to apply strategic leadership, financial analysis, development planning, and stakeholder management in a real-world environment.

One of my greatest accomplishments during the program was serving as a Project Manager for the Restoring Neighborhoods – Las Deltas Initiative, a multi-site affordable housing redevelopment project in North Richmond. Throughout the project, I helped guide the development from early predevelopment planning toward the construction phase while coordinating with architects, engineers, surveyors, lenders, contractors, local government agencies, and nonprofit leadership.

Key milestones included:

• Leading weekly project management reporting that tracked project budgets, schedules, entitlement progress, risk management, and funding status for multiple development sites.

• Coordinating the procurement and evaluation of critical consultants, including surveyors, structural engineers, Title 24 consultants, environmental testing firms, utility expeditors, and general contractors through competitive bid processes.

• Assisting with the preparation and submission of SB 9 entitlement and permit packages for four redevelopment sites while navigating complex zoning and county approval processes.

• Developing and refining project budgets, identifying funding gaps, monitoring grant utilization, reviewing loan structures, and evaluating financing options from LISC, Enterprise, NFF, and other funding partners.

• Creating project management systems that improved schedule tracking, milestone reporting, vendor accountability, and communication among project stakeholders.

• Representing the project at community outreach events, educating residents about affordable homeownership opportunities and strengthening community engagement throughout the redevelopment process.

• Supporting the transition from predevelopment into construction by participating in consultant selection, construction planning, contractor procurement, RFP development, and construction readiness activities.

Perhaps the greatest lesson I gained through EDP was learning how to balance technical development work with community impact. Every budget decision, permitting milestone, consultant selection, and project schedule ultimately supports a larger mission. Today, I continue building on that foundation through my work with Invested Property Management Group, Cotton Realty, and my leadership roles with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) and the Women's Council of NAREB. My current focus is on expanding affordable housing initiatives, developing future real estate leaders, creating partnerships with developers and housing organizations, and helping families build generational wealth through homeownership and real estate investment.

The Emerging Developers Program not only strengthened my technical knowledge of real estate development but also reinforced my commitment to leading projects that create lasting economic and social impact for the communities we serve.