"You have to act as if it were radically possible to change the world, and you have to do it all the time" – Angela DavisOriginally from South Carolina, I arrived in Boston in 1984 to kick-start my engineering and sales career. In 2014 I founded Catalyst Ventures Development (CVD). This Boston-based entity focuses on developing and investing in multifamily and commercial properties in Boston and surrounding communities.In addition, I've nurtured longstanding ventures with prominent corporate entities that include Redgate, WinnCompanies, and Tishman-Speyer. As a result of these entrepreneurial ventures, I've developed and deployed successful tactics for strategic execution, business development, contract negotiation, and governance capabilities.In 2021, Redgate and Catalyst Ventures Development formed Catalyst RCP, a partnership created to expand wealth and opportunity for people of color through real estate development and investments. Catalyst RCP is a 51%/49% minority-owned entity.My professional success in the local hospitality and real estate industry has provided me a platform to become a vocal advocate for the minority community in Boston. Highlights of my journey:• Reinvented iconic landmark "Bob The Chef" into Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen (DCBK) and brought new life to the longtime, traditionally Black-owned institution.• Served as part owner and managing partner at Slade's Bar & Grill (SBG), the oldest Black-owned operating business in Boston, where he continued his efforts to elevate daily life in an underserved community. Sold DCBK in 2018 and SBG in 2019.• Recognizing music as a unifying force, I was the founder and driving force behind the BeanTown Jazz Festival in 2001, now produced by Berklee College of Music.• Created and implemented community forums and events that contribute to civic education and pride (DCBK Black History Month Community Forums, Boston Mean Business, Community Game Changers, Critical Mass)• Served as a board member for multiple entities (including appointments by Governors Weld, Patrick, and Baker) that cross political party lines and advance national causes• Founding member of both the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts and the Builders of Color Coalition, organizations with missions to advance the economic well-being of Black businesses and entrepreneurs.I am open to corporate board appointments to leverage my experience, network, and passion for positive change toward economic equity and social justice.Contact me at dsettles@cvdboston.com if you think CVD can be helpful.