LeSar Development Consultants (LDC) creates system change strategies for housing affordability and homelessness. The firm works with leaders in creating large-scale, lasting social change through customized consulting services focused on creating physically, economically, and environmentally resilient communities.As a mission-driven consulting firm LDC provides innovative and strategic advisory services to a wide variety of clients in the private, public, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors.In my role as Principal on the Housing Team, Finance and Development Unit, I assist clients in all aspects of affordable housing development including site analyses, acquisition and disposition strategies, land use, construction, and finance. Clients include: public agencies (local, state, and Federal), developers of affordable housing (for-profit and nonprofit), community-based organizations, philanthropy, foundations, educational institutions, community land trusts, and others.

T.R.U.S.T. South LA works with low-income community residents to transform the built environment and social conditions in South Los Angeles by: serving as a steward for community-controlled land; being a catalyst for values-driven, community-serving development; building awareness and community leadership in issues of housing, transportation and recreation; and creating programs and initiatives that encourage community building and economic opportunity.

Abode Communities' mission is to create service-enhanced affordable housing and socially-beneficial community facilities that promote the social, economic and physical transformation of underserved communities.Abode Communities is a nonprofit social enterprise that has been rooted in community development throughout the State of California since 1968. More than an affordable housing provider, our work fosters a culture of housing inclusion by integrating families and individuals with neighborhoods so communities at-large can thrive.Responsibilities included:1. Worked in collaboration with the Abode Communities Business Development team (including CEO, COO, SVP of Real Estate Development, and SVP of Business Development) on strategic planning, acquisition of new construction land opportunities, and preservation of existing affordable housing throughout California. 2. Assessed financial feasibility and conducted land use analyses for new construction opportunities; analyzed acquisition strategies for affordable housing preservation opportunities including low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) acq/rehab, re/syndication and buy/hold investments; collaborated on responses to public and private agency requests for proposal (RFP) for new development opportunities.Played a pivotal role in securing site control and/or development rights for 17 new affordable housing projects composing 1,700 new units of affordable housing with a cumulative total development cost of $1.05 billion. Developments included eight RFP awards issued by LA County, City of LA, City of Glendale, City of Indian Wells, City of Berkeley, County of Santa Clara, City of Tustin, and County of Riverside. Successfully negotiated the acquisition of four land and property development opportunities, including: Two off-market land transactions in the City of LA; one land acquisition in the City of San Leandro; and acquisition of a Project Homekey adaptive reuse site in the City of Corona.

Responsibilities included:1. Managed the construction closeout and permanent loan closing transactions of two LIHTC acquisition/rehabilitation projects, preserving the affordability of 149 units.2. Initiated feasibility analysis of a 157-unit acquisition/rehabilitation project utilizing 4% LIHTC, tax-exempt bonds and restructured "soft" debt from the City of Los Angeles and State of California.3. Developed strategies for recapitalization, refinancing and preservation of long-term affordability of existing affordable housing assets, utilizing LIHTC and public and private debt.

ACOF's mission is to end homelessness through the provision of quality permanent supportive housing for people with mental illness.ACOF is committed to managing its buildings and supporting its tenants from the moment a project is conceived until it is fully occupied, providing permanent affordable housing with onsite supportive services to help our tenants remain stably housed.Responsibilities included:1. Facilitating the development of four new, multi-family residential projects in the Cities of Los Angeles, Fullerton (Orange County), Redlands (San Bernardino County), and Riverside (Riverside County): A total of 268 affordable housing units with total development costs of approximately $109 million.2. Responsible for securing project development funds and operating subsidies from a wide-range of sources and programs, including: low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), Federal Home Loan Bank AHP, AHSC, VHHP, MHSA/SNHP, City and County sources (including Proposition HHH, HOME, LACDC), project-based Section 8, HUD VASH, and others.3. Responsible for managing all aspects of the development process, including: project underwriting, pre-development financing, entitlement and land use, design and engineering, green building consulting, permitting, general contractor bids, construction management, lease-up, and construction and permanent loan closings.4. Interface with community leaders and advocacy organizations, neighborhood council groups, and elected officials in order to garner support for projects.5. Working knowledge of programs, policies and voter initiatives concerning the affordable housing industry in Southern California.

206UP.COM was a website that covered hip-hop music originating in and around Seattle, Washington. Founded in July 2009 as a blog that offered daily music and video content, 206UP grew to a website that featured album reviews, live show coverage, exclusive interview features, and video production.206UP was the most popular website to exclusively cover hip-hop music in Seattle (based on Google search), and garnered mentions in NPR, the Seattle Times, and the New York Times for its coverage. It was a co-sponsor of the 2015 Experience Music Project Museum's Black History Month kick-off event featuring Talib Kweli.

The Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) is a non-profit housing organization that empowers low- to moderate-income residents to take control of their housing and enhance communities by creating strong tenant associations and lasting affordable co-ops. UHAB is the largest developer of limited-equity (low-income) housing cooperatives in New York City, and has been an advocate for affordable home ownership in New York for over 50 years.Responsibilities included:1. Facilitated the development of 12 limited-equity (low-income) housing cooperatives -- a total of 538 units of multi-family housing -- in New York City with project development budgets totaling approximately $95 million.2. Responsible for the management and delegation of project staff members; setting and managing project development budgets; underwriting and securing project financing; coordinating construction and permanent loan closings; and oversight of the physical rehabilitation of buildings (construction management).3. Direct collaboration with numerous New York City, State and Federal agencies, including New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, New York State Affordable Housing Corporation, and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.4. Direct work and collaboration with private lending institutions, construction industry professionals (general contractors, architects, engineers), property management firms, building residents, and other mission-driven non-profit organizations.

Contributed music writing in a freelance capacity to the following publications:City Arts MagazinePotholes in My BlogBeats Per MinuteSSG MusicContributed video production pieces in a freelance capacity to the following online publications:Potholes in My BlogThe Monarch ReviewPassion of the WeissOkayafrica

KBA Inc. is a construction management firm that improves lives by constructively managing projects with integrity, passion, and consistent results.Responsibilities at KBA included:1. Active field representation and supervision of general and subcontractors on a HUD-subsidized, mixed-income, mixed-use, multifamily housing development.2. Preparation of daily field reports documenting construction activities and quality control.

Earth Consulting, Inc. was a geotechnical and environmental consulting firm.Responsibilities at Earth Consulting included:1. Managing up to 15 field technicians including hiring, scheduling and performance review.2. Performing surficial and subsurface suitability analyses of construction sites and writing reports on findings for clients.