The Real Estate Accelerator Lab (REAL) is an industry-supported program designed to educate and mentor the next generation of Greater Cincinnati real estate professionals. Program participants are 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 selected 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.

Take a moment and watch the following video to gain perspectives from graduates, mentors and instructors.

The nine-month program is comprised of a day-long orientation and eight program days. Each program day has a specific topic of focus.

2023-2024 Schedule*

1st Thursday of every month from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
All sessions will take place at 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45206.

Orientation – September 7, 2023
Program Day 1 – October 5, 2023
Program Day 2 – November 2, 2023
Program Day 3 – December 7, 2023
Program Day 4 – January 4, 2024
Program Day 5 – February 1, 2024
Program Day 6 – March 7, 2024
Program Day 7 – April 4, 2024
Program Day 8  with Graduation & Capstone – May 2, 2024

The REAL Board is Comprised of the following organizations and two graduates of the program. In addition, more than four dozen organizations are represented with instructors and mentors:

Catalytic Development Funding Corp. of NKY
Cincinnati Development Fund
City of Cincinnati
Common Sense Capital Solutions
Cushman & Wakefield
Fifth Third Bank
Gail Paul Communication Consulting
The Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce
LISC Greater Cincinnati & Northern KY
Huntington Bank
Ironsmith Development
JAKE Advisors
Moody Nolan
PNC Bank
The Port
Sanders Development Group
STNL Development
Terrex Development & Construction
Taft Law
ULI Cincinnati

Participants

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 include 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.

Candidate Criteria

Cohort members are selected from a pool of applicants through a rigorous process of screening and interviewing.

• Emerging Leader: Individuals poised to assume leadership positions and/or have an entrepreneurial drive to create and foster real estate development in their communities
• Skills: Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience which may include education, work or real estate investment or a combination thereof

Application

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Completed and signed application
• Short essays
• Resume or bio
• Willingness to adhere to REAL’s Core Values

An application for the 2023-2024 REAL 5.0 program can be found here.

Tuition for REAL Participants

The Real Estate Accelerator Lab is a tuition-based program. The tuition cost for the 2023-2024 REAL 5.0 program for members of ULI will be $1,600.00. Tuition for non-members for REAL 5.0 will be $1,875.00 and will include a 12-month Associate ULI Membership (provided upon graduation).  Tuition is subject to change for the 2024-2025 REAL 6.0 program.

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 REAL program, contact ULI Cincinnati at [email protected].

Program graduates from REAL 1.0 included:
Kemo Aakhutera, Trep House
Brandon Black, Drawnversation and Greater Appreciation LLC
Dureka Bonds, Plum Tree Realty
Samantha Carmine, The Covington Farmers Market at Renaissance Covington
Anita Clark, Picture Perfect Rental Properties
Christine Crowe, Simply Organized
Micah Dickson, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Michael Golden, The Model Group
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, The Kroger Co.
Sean Mahaffey, Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker
Joseph Malek, City of Cincinnati, Department of Community and Economic Development
Brady Melton, The Port
Marcus Parrish, Keller Williams Advisors Realty Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association
Samantha Reeves, Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation
Morgan Rigaud, Queen City Hills LLC
Taylor Ross, Domicile Realtors, Inc.
Emily Scovil, TriVersity Construction Group
Michael Smith, Jr., Corbus
Nique Swan, Gravity Management Group
Allen Woods, MORTAR
Brian Yagyuen, Al. Neyer LLC

Program graduates from REAL 2.0 included:
Demetreous Ali, Holdstein Management Group LLC
Adetokunbo Ayoade, Ayoade Design
Yvonne Ballard, NOVE Home & Body Decor LLC
Alexandria Barnes Porter, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority
Kenitra Battle, Common Sense Capital Solutions
Felicia Bell, Trinity Investment Solutions, LLC
Christopher Bennett, Bendav Properties LLC
Fatima Bodrick, Source Investment Solutions
Tia Brown, Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses
Aharon Brown, Forest Park
LaTosha Chappell, Keller Williams Seven Hills
Robert Denham, 3CDC
Thomas Drought III, Colliers International
Kate Greene, College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation
Andrew Haynes, REDI Cincinnati
Joshua Kimber, Noble Barber & Beauty
Edward Mathis, Republic Commercial Real Estate
Derek McCain, City of Cincinnati
Dwayne McNeal, DMEFitness & Batboy LLC
Cedric Peerman, Cavalier Ventures LLC
Kimberly Nickoson Ranz, Ayla + West
Dejah Rawlings, Homebase Cincinnati
Luke Warren, City Center Properties
Sterling Wright, McCormick & Co.

Program graduates from REAL 3.0 included:
Daejah Alexander, 3CDC
Valerie Craig, JLL
Jilson Daniels, The Port
Chase Dawson, NorthMarq Capital
Leslie Gilmore
Mark Grauwelman, BE NKY Growth Partnership
Travis Gysegem, The Catalytic Fund
James Hall, Kangorue Home Solutions LLC
Candace Huff, KeyBank
Michael Inman
Richardo Johnson, Buildwell Development Group LLC
Robert Killins, Jr., Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Kai Lewars, Kaiker Development
Aaliyah Lovett, Black on Purpose
Tori Luckenbach, MKSK
Kalen Miller, KeyBank
Zenia Perez
Rosie Polter, Above & Below Preservation
Eric Robinson, Deuce Management LLC
Whitney Schieltz, Working in Neighborhoods (WIN)
Montez Shugars, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati
Daphney Thomas, Black Dove Properties
Chauncy Walker, CW Development Group LLC

Graduates of REAL 4.0 will be listed in May of 2023.