2019-2020 Real Estate Accelerator Lab

The Real Estate Accelerator Lab (REAL), powered by ULI Cincinnati and LISC Greater Cincinnati & Northern KY, is an industry-supported program designed to educate and mentor the next generation of Greater Cincinnati real estate professionals. 2019-2020 Program participants were chosen to bring together a diverse class with a focus on leadership and those typically underrepresented in the real estate development industry. The goal of the REAL program is to expand diversity of race, ethnicity and gender identity in real estate development by offering a select group the opportunity to expand their knowledge and build skills. Participants will develop a valuable network of fellow students, REAL graduates and industry professionals. Importantly, graduates will learn the building blocks of creating and sustaining thriving careers and communities.

Program participants for the inaugural REAL program include:
Kemo Aakhutera, eMerge CoLab
Brandon Black, Drawnversation and Greater Appreciation LLC
Dureka Bonds, Plum Tree Realty
Samantha Carmine
Anita Clark,Picture Perfect Rental Properties
Christine Crowe, Kennedy Heights Development Corporation
Micah Dickson, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Michael Golden, The Port
Lindzie Gunnels, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC)
Keitha Johnson, Eurie Realty
Jalen Johnson, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
Alexis Kidd Zaffer, Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses
Kyle Ludlow, Macy’s
Sean Mahaffey, Robbins,Kelly,Patterson&Tucker
Joseph Malek, City of Cincinnati Department of Community and Economic Development
Brady Melton, Green Habor Holding, LLC
Marcus Parrish, Keller Williams Advisors Realty Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association
Kimberly Rantz, Ayla+West
Samantha Reeves, Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation
Morgan Rigaud, Queen City Hills LLC
Taylor Ross, Domicile Realtors,Inc.
Regan Schmidt, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Emily Scovil, Ann Buys Houses
Michael Smith ,Jr., Corbus
Nique Swan, Gravity Management Group
Allen Woods, MORTAR
Brian Yagyuen, People’s Liberty

The eight-month program is comprised of eight program days and a group project. Each program day examines an aspect of the real estate development process from site selection through construction completion to lease-up and ongoing asset management. Each program day has a specific educational topic of focus and takes place at The Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber on Gilbert Avenue in Cincinnati.

2019-2020 Program Day Schedule

Program Day 1: Kick-Off – October 3, 2019
Speakers included Lydia Jacobs-Horton, Executive Director, ULI Cincinnati; Tom Rowe, Principal & Co-Founder, Terrex Development & Construction; and Matt Crawford, Vice President, Real Estate, Bon Secours Mercy Health
Program Day 2 – November 7, 2019
Program Day 3 – December 5, 2019
Program Day 4 – January 9, 2020
Program Day 5 – February 6, 2020
Program Day 6 – March 5, 2020
Program Day 7 – April 2, 2020
Program Day 8: Graduation and Project Presentations – May 14, 2020 (3:00-5:30 PM)

Representatives from the Catalytic Development Funding Corp. of NKY, Moody Nolan, Cincinnati Development Fund, STNL Development, Cushman & Wakefield, The Greater Cincinnati & Northern KY African American Chamber of Commerce, First Financial Bank, The Port, Kingsley + Company, Terrex Development & Construction, LISC Greater Cincinnati & Northern KY and ULI Cincinnati sit on the REAL program board.

Ideal participants are mid-career, Greater Cincinnati professionals who have a strong interest in advancing their career in the real estate profession. The program will be enriched by the diversity of participants which will be open to people of color, women, entrepreneurs, LGBTQ, non-profit and for-profit professionals. Select leaders with varying levels of familiarity with real estate development will create a myriad of experiences and perspectives.

Students were selected from a pool of applicants through a rigorous process of screening and interviewing.  Individuals should be poised to assume leadership positions and/or have an entrepreneurial drive to create and foster real estate development in their communities; be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel; and have a minimum of 5 years of experience which may include education, work or real estate investment or a combination thereof.

Applicants are asked to provide an essay, answering the following questions:

• Why do you consider yourself an emerging leader?
• Describe how your participation in the Real Estate Accelerator Lab (REAL) will transform your career or life and what the implications will be for your community.
• Describe a recent experience in which you assumed a role in, or related to, the real estate industry. If you do not have real estate experience, what interests you most about this field and why?

Tuition for REAL Participants

The Real Estate Accelerator Lab is a tuition-based program. The tuition cost for current members of ULI is $1,200.00. Tuition for non-members is $1,500.00 and includes a 12-month Associate ULI Membership.

Tuition assistance through the REAL Scholarship Fund is available for qualified individuals, particularly those who are self-employed or work at a non-profit. Information about applying for tuition assistance is on the application.

For questions about the 2020-2021 REAL program, contact ULI Cincinnati at cincinnati@uli.org.

Group Project

Participants will be placed on a small team for a program duration group project.  Referring to the group projects as m-TAPs (mini-Technical Assistance Panels), several teams of REAL participants will work with a governmental or non-profit client to address a real estate development-related challenge where they can add value and thought leadership.

Each team will present their m-TAP findings at the end of the REAL program in conjunction with ULI Cincinnati’s 18 Hour City Series session in May of 2020.

ULI Cincinnati and LISC accepted m-TAP applications from the following organizations for the 2019-2020 program:

Team ULI Urban Plan
Team Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation
Team Bond Hill and Roselawn Collaborative
Team Price Hill Will
Team Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses