SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Housing & Economic Development Financial Corporation
Kansas City, Missouri

Bacchus is the Chief Operating Officer for the Housing and Economic Development Finance Corporation (HEDFC) in Kansas City, MO. HEDFC is a private Non-Profit Community Based Development Organization whose primary purpose is to provide financing for projects benefiting low and moderate income families. HEDFC is the sponsoring organization for a number of public-private ventures involving local developers, the Homebuilders Association, banking community and the Local Partnership Office of FNMA.

In addition to administrative duties, Bacchus is the Project Manager for the Beacon Hill Redevelopment Project (an inner-city redevelopment project based upon a Traditional Neighborhood Design). Bacchus’ urban planning experience spans over twenty-four years in a broad range of management of economic development projects.  He served two terms as an At-Large member of the Kansas City, Missouri City Council (1991-99).  Bacchus was Executive Director of a community development corporation (CDC) in the mid 1980’s.

While in the City Council, Bacchus was Chairman of the Plans, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee.  He negotiated many of the financing and development incentive packages for new job development, business retention and expansion, and community economic development policies throughout Kansas City.  Including recently completed projects in The Country Club Plaza, and historic 18^th & Vine Jazz District.

Executive Director
Tools for Change

Elaine H. Black is Executive Director of the Black Economic Development Coalition, Inc. d/b/a Tools For Change.  She is responsible for the administration of the daily activities of the corporation.  Tools For Change provides business development consulting which includes:  legal counseling on business formation, marketing, government certification of businesses, preparations of bids for the public and private sectors customized job training, and loan facilitation of business loans from banks, SBA and other sources.

In 1998, Mrs. Black served as the Consultant/ Executive Officer for Peoples National Bank of Commerce (during their search for a permanent President) she is very active in the Community.  Activities include:  Board Member on the National Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) since 1980, Enterprise Florida - Economic Development Practitioners Advisory Committee, Miami-Dade Weed and Seed Committee, Beacon Council, Jobs and Education Partnership Regional Board, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, OIC of South Florida and the Super Bowl XXIX and XXXIII Host Committees, Black Archives and NFL-YET Advisory Committee.  The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce acknowledged her in June 2001 for her untiring dedication and service to the African American Business Community.

In 1999 she was a presenter at the Fifth African-American Conference held in Ghana, West Africa.  While there she developed business relations with government officials and traditional business leaders.  In 2000 she coordinated two Trade Missions to Ghana.  The Missions have resulted in business opportunities in Ghana and in the United States of America.  Tools For Change wants to establish training programs in Ghana for businesses that conduct business in Ghana.

Mrs. Black has been an advocate for community and economic development since the early 1970’s when she served as President of the Ad-Hoc Committee for Logan in Philadelphia, PA, which advocated the creation of the Community Reinvestment Act because banks were not investing in urban neighborhoods.  A former Deputy Director of Commerce for the City of Philadelphia, she has over 30 years experience in business and economic development in developing programs and services in economically depressed urban and rural areas.  Her responsibilities have included (1) fundraising, planning, developing and implementing policies designed to stimulate small business growth; (2) managing neighborhood commercial revitalization and enterprise zone programs; (3) managing commercial construction projects; and (4) structuring finance packages for investment ventures.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Finance from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, with advanced studies at Temple University, University of Pennsylvania and Florida International University.

Christopher G. Bowers, Partner and Senior Vice President (1986), has over 26 years of experience in design and construction.  He is responsible for land acquisition, new development opportunities as well as design and construction for all residential and commercial development.  He received his Bachelor of Art in Architecture from Georgia Tech, is registered on the National Council of Architectural Registration Board and is a registered Florida and Georgia Architect.  Chris is also a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  He has his Florida Class “A” General Contractors license and has managed the design and construction of over 2.5 million square feet of office space with over half of this space being highly technical operation space for companies like IBM, Allstate, Chase, Anchor, Raymond James and others.  He has also managed the design and construction of over 8,000 apartment units throughout the State of Florida.

Residential Real Estate Broker
First Charlotte Properties

Deborah Cox is a residential real estate broker associated with First Charlotte Properties in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She specializes in the marketing and sale of properties within Charlotte’s center city as well as its historic and early neighborhoods. 

Ms. Cox’s involvement in First Ward dates to 1997, when the redevelopment team selected First Charlotte Properties to market the initial “for sale” phase of the project.  Confident of the neighborhood’s success, she and her husband became First Ward’s first purchasers.  Since then she has marketed three additional First Ward projects and represented numerous purchasers in their move to the neighborhood. She continues to reside in First Ward.

Carolyn Dekle is Executive Director of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, a planning and public policy agency serving Broward, Dade and Monroe counties.  Prior to becoming Executive Director in October, 1991, Carolyn served as Assistant Director of the South Florida Regional Planning Council; Ms. Dekle was responsible for program management.  Specific responsibilities include development and administration of the local plan review process and development and implementation of the Regional Plan for South Florida.  Building consensus around the identification and resolution of critical issues and policies for the South Florida area is a primary responsibility.

President of the Board
Word of Life Community Development Corporation, Inc.

Reverend Dunn II founded the Word of Life Missionary Baptist Church in 1994 and has served as pastor since that time.  He has spoken to over 100 churches, schools and community groups and has received more than 50 awards and citations for religious and community service.  Reverend Dunn II has served on the City of Miami Zoning Board and City of Miami Commission and is a former member of the Dade County Code Enforcement Board.  He is also a member of the NAACP, Baptist Ministries’ Council Miami Vicinity, African-American Council of Christian Clergy (AACCC), P.U.L.S.E., and the Word of Life Community Development Corporation Board of Directors, to name a few.

Community Development Manager
Cleveland Housing Network, Inc.

Jennifer Ettorre has been with the Cleveland Housing Network since 1999. She started as a consultant with the non-profit, affordable housing developer and assumed a permanent role in 2000.

In her current capacity as the Community Development Manager, Mrs. Ettorre is CHN’s relationship manager. She is responsible for creating organizational and programmatic marketing materials, managing CHN’s public relations, and the production of special events designed to highlight CHN’s innovative public/private partnerships and successes.  She also manages CHN’s very generous volunteers and organizes several donor workdays per year.

President
Tacolcy Economic Development Corporation, Inc.

Tacolcy Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit corporation that has for 20 years been in the business of providing multi-family and single-family housing to low and moderate income families, and developing commercial ventures that provide full-time employment in depressed neighborhoods.  Mrs. Gardner joined Tacolcy Economic Development Corporation in March of 1995 as Chief Financial Officer.  In April 2002, she was promoted to the position of President.  Prior to becoming President, Mrs. Gardner was responsible for the oversight of the company’s accounting, as well as being the Assets Manager of more than 2,000 affordable housing units and commercial enterprises.

Dr. Paul George has published eight books (two of which have received history awards) and more than one hundred articles and book reviews focusing on Florida history with special emphasis on the history of Miami and South Florida.  He is an Associate Professor Senior of History with Miami-Dade Community College, Wolfson Campus and a member of the Historical Association of South Florida.  Further, Dr. George has served and continues to serve on numerous committees and boards relating to historical preservation and conservation.

President/CEO
Atlanta Development Authority

Kevin R. Hanna is the first President of the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) an independent public authority created by the City of Atlanta to promote the growth of downtown and redevelopment of surrounding communities.  ADA represents a consolidation of economic and community development efforts in residential, retail, commercial and industrial real estate, finance, marketing and employment opportunities.  ADA has financed the development of over 5,500 housing units, issued in excess of $350,000,000 in bonds and created over 300 new jobs in the city of Atlanta.  Thanks in large part to ADA’s efforts, downtown Atlanta along with many of its “ring” neighborhoods are enjoying unprecedented growth and redevelopment. 

Before coming to the Authority, he was Vice President, Public Finance, First Union Capital Markets, Atlanta, Georgia.  Mr. Hanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Davidson College, a Master of Business Administration Degree (concentration in Banking Finance) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and recipient of a fellowship from the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Business.  Mr. Hanna has over twenty years of economic development and banking finance experience.   Notably, he organized and raised funding for three Development Banks in two states and the United States Virgin Islands; extensive experience in public and commercial finance, commercial real estate and multi-family housing finance.

Billy Hardemon, a native Miamian, is married and the father of three children.  Hardemon is an alumnus of Miami-Dade Community College and the University of Miami School of Business. Hardemon is a career public servant employed by Miami-Dade County for the past twenty years. His work experience includes serving as a Code Enforcement Officer, the Chief of Staff for a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and he is currently the Assistant Resource Recovery Administrator for the Department of Solid Waste Management. Hardemon is a long-time community activist and is the Chairman of the Board for the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation.

Laura is the Economic Development Program Manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission where she has been employed since 1990.  She was actively involved in the redevelopment of First Ward and served as the City of Charlotte's coordinator for the First Ward project.  Prior to joining the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, she worked as a planner in Fairfax, Virginia and Norfolk, Virginia.  Laura has a Masters Degree in City Planning from Georgia Tech and a Bachelors in Engineering from Duke University.

Mr. Leroy Jones has been the Executive Director of Neighbors and Neighbors Association (NANA) since 1998 and in FY 2002 oversaw an operating budget of $760,000.  He founded NANA in 1995 to assist small black businesses.  The organization currently employs seven full-time people to help carry out its economic development goals.  NANA was named the “Best Small Business Association” by the Miami New Times newspaper and in 1998 Mr. Jones received the coveted Medal of Merit Award from Miami-Dade County for volunteerism.  NANA has helped numerous businesses receive funding for a variety of purposes including façade improvements, commercial revitalization, and business stability.  Mr. Jones established a training program through NANA to train disadvantaged/low income residents and initiated an incubator program that relocates failing businesses to help them stay open and competitive.

Chief Operating Officer
Cleveland Housing Network

Patrick Kenney is currently the Chief Operating Officer for the Cleveland Housing Network (CHN). Mr. Kenney is responsible for ensure the effectiveness of the organization’s operating Departments. Mr. Kenney joined the Cleveland Housing Network in October of 1989 and focused on building a significant conventional for-sale homeownership program.

Over a ten-year period, Mr. Kenney has been responsible for the production of the organization’s Lease Purchase, For-Sale and New Construction housing ventures. His areas of involvement include acquisition, program budgets, bidding, contracting, sales, development and managing cost controls.  CHN's track record includes:

•  1,800 lease purchase homes

•  950 for-sale homes

•  45,000 energy conservation and home repair jobs

•  Helped 450 families obtain employment and leave public assistance

•  Provided permanent housing coupled with supportive services for 200 formerly homeless families

Prior to joining CHN, Mr. Kenney was the executive director of a non-profit housing corporation in the Buckeye Woodland Community, working in partnership with the nation’s first multi-bank owned CDC. Over a seven-year period, that development team leveraged millions of investment dollars into the area of for-sale rehab, for-sale new construction, and an array of energy conservation efforts.

Mr. Kenney has significant experience in neighborhood based community organizing and international disaster relief.

Joe Kohl is recognized nationally as an innovator in urban design and graphic communication. He pioneered the firm's use of computer imaging simulations and authored many of its illustrated land development regulations. Joe is responsible for daily business operations and internal management of Dover, Kohl and Partners since 1987.

Manager, Single Family Housing Development
Community Development
City of Cleveland

Rebecca Lombardo has been the Manager of Housing Development for the City of Cleveland's Department of Community Development since 1997.  Prior to her appointment as Manager, Ms. Lombardo served as a Project Manager in the Housing Development Office since its inception in 1990.  Ms. Lombardo has over twenty years of planning experience in the Community Development field at the urban county and entitlement city levels.  Ms. Lombardo manages four professional staff members and is actively involved in all phases of residential development, including pre-development/planning, financing, design review, and implementation.  Ms. Lombardo attended Cleveland State University.  She serves as Treasurer of the Cleveland Action to Support Housing, is a member of the Cleveland Action to Support Housing Loan Review Committee, and is a staff member of the City of Cleveland's Housing Design Review Subcommittee.

Pastor
Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. George E. MacRae has been pastor of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in the Model City area of Miami, FL since 1989.  He is a noted community and spiritual leader as well as an accomplished teacher and counselor in the arena of HIV/AIDS/STB s/TB, Substance Abuse and mental health crisis intervention.  Under his leadership Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church has an established Community Based Organization, MOVERS (Minorities Overcoming the Virus through Education, Responsibility and Spirituality) for HIV/AIDS/STB s/TB, substance abuse and those incarcerated or at risk of being affected by the social ills that destroy the African-American Community.

Dr. MacRae’s model has been successful in promoting, protecting, maintaining and improving the health and safety of all citizens of Dade County, especially those within the minority communities disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS/STB s/TB, substance abuse and crime through the development, implementation and coordination of intervention strategies designed to increase education and awareness.  Through this model, the goal has been realized and the mission through ministry has been accomplished.

U. S. Congresswoman, District 17

Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 from Florida's 17th Congressional District, she is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee that funds all executive branch programs and independent agencies.  She serves on the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service and General Government, and the Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies.  Rep. Meek has championed efforts to create new jobs through federal and private sector initiatives and she has worked hard to use the resources of government to promote economic opportunity.

As a new member of Congress, Congresswoman Meek introduced legislation--subsequently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President--to provide retirement security for household workers such as gardeners, nannies and cleaning personnel.

She played a key role in providing over one hundred million dollars in federal assistance to help rebuild Dade County after the devastation caused by Hurricane Andrew and guided through Congress legislation to improve Dade County's transit system, airport and seaport; to construct a new family and child care center in North Dade; to rebuild Homestead Air Reserve Base; and to fund at Miami-Dade Community College one of the nation's most advanced aviation training programs.

Rep. Meek is a strong advocate for senior citizens.  Her amendment to the FY'98 funding bill for the Department of Housing and Urban Development added $195 million to the Section 202 elderly housing program.  In addition, Rep. Meek has emerged as a leader in efforts to use scientific sampling, techniques to issue accurate population counts in the 2000 Census --a matter of particular importance to minorities, who are often undercounted.  Rep. Meek sponsored a successful amendment to extend Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to aged, blind or handicapped legal aliens.

Housing Counseling Specialist
Hope VI
Charlotte, NC

Juanita D. Oates has over 30 years of housing and housing counseling experience, the last nine of which have been as a housing counselor with the Charlotte Housing Authority’s Hope VI Program.  During that period Juanita wrote and implemented the CHA Home Ownership Institute, which was lauded as a national teaching and counseling model by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  HUD recognized the Home Ownership Institute with an Outstanding Achievement Award.  The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NARO) honored the program with an Award of Merit.  Housing authorities and housing programs across the country are using the program.

Juanita has responsibility for leadership efforts in implementing homebuyer education and housing counseling training for families working to become candidates for homeownership.  She is a very strong advocate for partnerships with local, state and federal agencies to provide affordable housing and financing for low wealth families.

Director of Real Estate Development
Atlanta Housing Authority

Since 1986 Ms. O’Connell has worked in the affordable housing field at the national, regional and local levels and in public, not-for-profit and private sector environments.  With significant experience as an advisor, analyst, writer and manager, Ms. O’Connell focuses on public sector real estate development and homeownership program initiatives for low and moderate income families.

As the Director of Real Estate Development at the Atlanta Housing Authority, Ms. O’Connell manages the operations of the nationally recognized Olympic Legacy Program, AHA’s innovative initiative to develop mixed-income housing and promote neighborhood redevelopment.  Working with a staff of 7, Ms. O’Connell is responsible for 8 major redevelopments, 5 HOPE VI grants, and 3 HOPE VI Demolition grants.  To date, the program has involved 18 real estate transactions and created over 3,300 housing units.  By 2006, the program will be responsible for the creation of approximately 2,500 public housing, 1,450 affordable (low income housing tax credit), and 2350 market rate rental apartments, as well as 650 homeownership units in vibrant and healthy neighborhoods.  With a total investment approaching $300 million in housing and generating over 1.5 billion in neighborhood reinvestment, the Olympic Legacy Program has contributed significantly to the Atlanta urban renaissance in 5 downtown neighborhoods.  The program works with public and private partners using funding strategies that blend HOPE VI funds, low income housing tax credit equity, tax exempt bonds, Community Development Block Grant and City of Atlanta funds, private debt, and FHA credit enhancements. In addition to real estate development, management of the OLP involves resource development and community building with public housing residents, the community and governmental stakeholders.

Prior to her work with the Atlanta Housing Authority, Ms. O’Connell was selected by Yale University in a nationwide competition as one of twenty housing professionals to participate in a community development fellowship analyzing large scale revitalization projects funded under the HOPE VI program; served as the Director of Real Estate Development at Fulton County Housing Authority; served as the Executive Director of Fulco CDC (a non-profit CHDO); and as a Partner and CFO in a consulting practice at National Facility Consultants, working with public housing authorities nationwide.

Acting Commissioner
Department of Planning, Development & Neighborhood Conservation
Atlanta, GA

Timothy Polk is currently the Acting Commissioner of the City of Atlanta’s multi-bureau Department of Planning, Development and Neighborhood Conservation (DPDNC).  The Department is involved in all fronts of planning to advance the City’s community-building initiatives of infrastructure building and renewal, responsive government and promoting a safe and secure environment.  The Department coordinates the City’s development activities with the Atlanta Development Authority, the Atlanta Housing Authority, the Empowerment Zone, the Atlanta Public Schools, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, and various private and non-profit agencies through the Development Council established by the Mayor’s Renaissance Program.

Economic Development Coordinator
Department of Economic Development and Property Management
City of St. Petersburg

Charles Ray is Economic Development Coordinator with the City of St. Petersburg with 15 years of professional work in the field of Economic Development.  He is the project manager for the City's Dome Industrial Park Redevelopment Project, Brownfields Program, 22nd Street Main Street Program and other commercial revitalization projects.  He has responsibilities for Federal and State loans and grants received by the City's Economic Development and Property Management Department; e.g. HUD Section 108 Loan, BEDI, CDBG, EDA and OTTED funding.

Derrick Smith, who has worked on the Master Plan for the City of Miami Model City is a Principal at A+S Architect, Planners, P.A. since founding it in 1993.  Prior to that he was employed with Robert A. M. Stern Architects in New York as a Designer and Registered Architect.  Mr. Smith has also worked as a Town Architect for Seaside Florida and as a Junior Architect with Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Architects in Miami, Florida.  Other recent projects include the Gibson Charter School in Coconut Grove and the Midfield Airport Fire Station at the Miami International Airport.

City of Miami Commissioner, District 5

Arthur E. Teele, Jr. is the Commissioner representing District 5 for the City of Miami. On November 14, 1997, Arthur Teele was elected by the City of Miami to serve a four-year term as City Commissioner. Commissioner Teele also serves as Chairperson for both the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Economic Development and Transportation Committee.

President
Tricomm, Inc.
Atlanta, GA

Mr. Michael Walker is the President/Owner of Tricomm Inc. with the overall responsibilities of marketing, sales, and contracts with AT&T, Star Electronics, LET, Centers of Disease Control, Sage Communications, General Communications, TennMark, Raytheon Service, US Army Garrison at Fort Richie, etc.  Tricomm Inc. provides all manner of technological services such as, consulting/installation/maintenance on telephone, LAN, computers, voicemail, call-accounting, and others.  The company also provides project planning, system design, data gathering, feasibility studies, writing technical specifications, coordination and implementation of installation and maintenance.