Caitlin Ritter Email and Phone Number

MHL is one of the region’s leading not-for-profit affordable housing development and management companies. I was hired primarily to serve as MHL’s lead representative for the organization’s Austin Housing Initiative, a wide-ranging effort to support positive change in the housing market of the Austin Community Area of Chicago. I also conduct research and create reports regarding housing needs, public allocations, and market needs in other communities/neighborhoods for use in strategic decision-making, including entry into new markets and property acquisitions. • Produced a comprehensive analysis of the housing market in the Austin Community Area and worked closely with community stakeholders to generate recommendations for future work that would contribute to stabilization and revival of the housing market in the community. • Organized an Austin Housing Stakeholders Group that included local landlords, representatives from local social service providers and community improvement organizations, banks and financial institutions active in the community, and individual homeowners. Led this group to work collaboratively to identify the primary factors influencing investment and/or disinvestment in housing in the Austin community. • Initiated implementation of a key recommendation of the Austin report by forming a group of local housing investors and a group of local lenders and financial experts to work in tandem to identify and/or create financial tools that will support coordinated investments in distressed one to four unit residential properties.• Completed market analysis of communities in a variety of areas such as Kane County and southwest Michigan in order to support MHL’s strategic decision-making regarding current and future undertakings.• Researched and analyzed changes in the local healthcare industry and related public policy in an effort to identify future opportunities to coordinate affordable supportive housing and healthcare efforts.

• As Co-Chair of Membership in 2007 I helped to triple membership in less than a year.• As Chair of Community Outreach in 2008 I established a partnership with Polaris Charter Academy in Chicago and organized a committee to plan, finance and plant a new garden in front of the school

Goodman Williams Group specializes in market and financial analyses for individual properties, large development sites, redeveloping neighborhoods, and suburban downtowns. My work with Goodman Williams Group included being a part of a team and being the lead on projects involving government entities, non-profits and private real estate interests throughout the Chicagoland area. I developed an expertise in site and market analysis of retail and residential proposals.• Prepared reports that analyzed local real estate market conditions to determine the feasibility of proposed projects and/or identify trends that would affect future land use decisions. • Surveyed and analyzed information such as rental rates, pricing, amenities, and absorption from existing commercial, industrial, and residential developments in order to assess market depth and identify opportunities.• Conducted interviews with business owners and community leaders to gain an in-depth understanding of the local market and challenges facing the community. • Played an active role in community and steering committee meetings.• Presented analyses to local government officials, project developers, and community members.

This division is responsible for creating long-term land use plans and evaluating proposals for zoning amendments. • Collected and analyzed land-use data to guide future zoning plans.• Prepared and presented information about existing buildings for community meetings about contentious zoning proposals. • Edited and updated zoning maps in the City’s GIS database.

Metro Home Chicago is a custom home building firm that specializes in high-end residential development. I worked with the owner of Metro Home Chicago to market a 12-unit townhome project in the West Loop and helped the company’s lead architect to oversee the construction of a multi-million dollar single family home in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. I also oversaw all aspects of office administration including bookkeeping and payroll.

MCZ is an urban real estate development company that specializes in the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. I assisted all departments including construction management, marketing, finance and accounting.