Building an equitable economic development ecosystem that empowers underrepresented stakeholders to thrive.
At Baker Tilly’s DevelUP, we transcend traditional conference boundaries. More than just an event, we are a dynamic movement that unites professionals and stakeholders from commercial real estate, economic development, and private and public capital.
With a passion for equity and opportunity, this event goes hand in hand with our underrepresented developer services offering. Our comprehensive set of services directly addresses the barriers to entry that many underrepresented developers face, including limited access to capital, establishing key relationships in the industry and acquiring the necessary education and knowledge to thrive in commercial real estate.
Featured speakers
We were pleased to be joined by these industry titans at our 2024 event!
LaForce Baker
Vice President, World Business Chicago
Maggie Beckley
Development Executive, Healthcare, Mortenson
Moiz Dawoodbhai
Senior Director, Northwestern Mutual
Collete English Dixon
Executive Director, Marshall Bennett Institute of RE, Roosevelt University
Karen Freeman-Wilson
President and CEO, The Chicago Urban League
Zytha Kock
Senior Economic Development Associate, International Economic Development Council
Ra’eesa Motala
President and CRO, Evoke Partners
Phillip Sangokoya
Director of Business Impact Integration, US Bank
Agenda
Emceed by H.G. Chissel
1-1:15 p.m. | Welcome and intro comments
- Kristin Richards, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
1:15-2:15 p.m. | Building sustainable community: Affordable housing outlook and impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
- Catherine Evans, Freddie Mac
- Andrea Ponsor, SAHF
- Tania Kadakia, Wrought Iron Partners
- Althea Broughton, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
- Moderated by Don Bernards, Baker Tilly
2:15-2:30 p.m. | Break
2:30-3:30 p.m. | IRA overview: Investing in the clean energy economy and what diverse stakeholders need to know
- Carla Walker-Miller, Walker-Miller Energy Services
- A.J. Patton, 548 Enterprise
- Joel Laubenstein, Baker Tilly
- Chris Meister, Illinois Finance Authority
- Moderated by H.G. Chissell, Advanced Energy Group
3:30-3:45 p.m. | Break
3:45-4:45 p.m. | Energy finance overview: How Projects in the clean energy economy are getting financed
- Chrystel Cornelius, Oweesta Corporation
- Erica L. King, Sr., AAACDFI CEO's
- Alejandra Garcia Earley, Orrick
- Ben Healey, PosiGen
- Moderated by Serena Walters, Baker Tilly
4:45-5 p.m. | Closing remarks
5-7 p.m. | Opening reception
8-9 a.m. | Breakfast and registration
8:35-8:45 a.m. | Intro and welcome
- Todd Carpenter, Baker Tilly
- Matt Paschall, Baker Tilly
- Shante George, Baker Tilly
8:45-9 a.m. | Opening remarks
- Jessica Caffrey, Cook County Land Bank Authority
9-10 a.m. | State of the market
- Daryl Carter, Avanath Capital Management
- Robert G. Byron, Blue Vista Capital Management
- Donahue Peebles III, Legacy Real Estate Development
- Faron Hill, Peregrine Oak
- Moderated by Collete English Dixon, Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University
10-10:15 a.m. | Break
10:15-11:15 a.m. | Building equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Paul Wilson, Jr., Innovation & Entrepreneurship Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs
- Tia Perry, AEC Unites
- Debra Jennings-Johnson, Chicago Minority Supplier Diversity Council
- LaForce Baker, World Business Chicago
- Moderated by Arielle Johnson, Business Leadership Council
11:15 a.m. - noon | Lunch
Noon - 1 p.m. | Breakout sessions
Track 1 (Community development finance track): Impact capital: Intentional approaches to supporting diverse real estate sponsors
- Moiz Dawoodbhai, Northwestern Mutual
- Vernon Beckford, Diversified Lending Solutions
- Victoria Gousse, A. Walker & Co.
- Sara Myerson, MSquared
- Moderated by Phillip Sangokoya, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance
Track 2 (Equitable economic development track): Community impact through resiliency and sustainability
- Zytha Kock, International Economic Development Council
- Jolena Presti, Baker Tilly
- Ariel Yarrish, Esusu
- Michael Johnson, GigaCrete
- Moderated by Karen Freeman-Wilson, The Chicago Urban League
Track 3 (Sustainability and innovation track): Sustainability, supplier diversity and workforce development in the energy economy
- Zoar Fulwilder, Mavid Construction
- Jason Booth, Windward Engineers & Consultants
- Nadir Jones, CBRE
- Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde, State of Illinois
- Moderated by Jonathan McGee, Baker Tilly
1-1:15 p.m. | Break
1:15-2:15 p.m. | Breakout sessions
Track 1 (Community development finance track): Holistic community development: Creative approaches to drive community impact
- Chris Senegal, Invictus Development Group
- Phillip Beckam, P3 Markets
- Susan King, HED Design
- Annette M. Reschke, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Moderated by Julia Stevenson, Langdon Park Capital
Track 2 (Equitable economic development track): Keys to building your business sustainably and equitably
- Cornelius Griggs, GMA Construction Group
- D'Angelos Svenkeson, NEOO Partners
- Malcolm Johnson, Langdon Park Capital
- Paula Watts, Government Procurement Innovators, LLC
- Moderated by James Williams, Next Level Financial
Track 3 (Sustainability and innovation track): Building communities for the future
- Ra'eesa Motala, Evoke Partners
- Grace Macalino, Baker Tilly
- Maggie Beckley, Mortenson
- Christa Stoneham, Houston Land Bank
- Moderated by Nicole Chavas, Greenprint Partners
2:15-3:15 p.m. | Networking power hour and MBE/WBE vendor showcase
3:15-4:15 pm | Breakout sessions
Track 1 (Community development finance track): Leveraging New Market Tax Credits for community impact and transformation
- Jason Penn, Baker Tilly
- Nicholette Cameron, Chicago Neighborhood Initiative
- Leon Walker, DL3 Realty
- Kevin Goldsmith, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Moderated by Jeff Monge, Monge Capital
Track 2 (Equitable economic development track): Capacity building and capital access best practices for diverse developers
- Maggie Parker, Innovan Neighborhoods
- Sandra Dungee Glenn, The Growth Collective
- Ernst Valery, SAA | EVI
- Miranda Walker, U.S. Bank Impact Finance
- Moderated by Andy Hunt, Marquette University
Track 3 (Sustainability and innovation track): Tech-enabled transformation: Empowering MBE/WBE businesses in REC's sustainable future
- Shane Jefferies, Milhouse
- Sean McCarthy, Comcast
- Aziz Housseini, DAHA SEIN
- Vernon Jay, Equity Platforms
- Moderated by Eveart Foster, Autodesk
4:15-4:30 p.m. | Break
4:30-5 p.m. | Fireside chat
- Tawan Davis, Steinbridge Group
- Graham Grady, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
- Dr. Suzet McKinney, Sterling Bay
5-7 p.m. | Reception
Why you should attend the next DevelUP
1
Gain
Gain access to capital and resources.
2
Build
Build meaningful business development and key industry relationships.
3
Learn
Learn from best-in-class business professionals.
Thank you to our 2024 sponsors!
Frequently asked questions
The 2024 event was held from April 17-18, 2024, at the Revel Motor Row in Chicago.
Please contact us if you have specific questions that are not answered above. Please allow two to three business days for a response ahead of the event.
2023 DevelUP
First time attending the event? Check out last year's recap to see what you missed.
Hear what attendees have to say about DevelUP
"Over the years I was looking for resources and developers to learn from and help me get started on my own. Not a lot of people had the time or interest to lend a hand. The DevelUP conference is an amazing resource that you should attend. There are people and resources that are helping and continue to help underserved communities and they'll be there."
"Innovating, inspiring and instrumental. Looking forward to returning next year."
"Baker Tilly is leading on a very important movement. Honored to have been part of the great event."
"Baker Tilly's commitment to advancing racial equity in real estate is clearly making meaningful impact. It was an inspiring event and I was grateful to be a part of it."
"This event has given me a new perspective on the collaborative efforts being made by Baker Tilly and community organizations to change the face of investors in our city."
Your next DevelUPment
Join Baker Tilly on May 22, 2024, for a rare opportunity to present your next development idea to a panel of industry titans. In the second year of this Shark Tank-style event, you will receive financial advice and development insights from experienced real estate professionals.
Featured content from DevelUP
Re:land Group engages Baker Tilly to advance their development projects
Re:land Group, an urban planning, design and development group, engaged Baker Tilly to provide back-office support and help secure capital from financial institutions for their development projects.
Emerging affordable housing developer gains industry access and knowledge to scale development projects
KG Development Group, a real estate development firm, worked with Baker Tilly to build capacity through education and creating relationships.
How to identify and implement LIHTC: a guide for emerging developers
Panelists during Baker Tilly's 2023 DevelUP: affordable housing workshop discuss how developers face financing challenges due to rising interest rates, soaring land costs and oversubscribed tax credits. This panel navigates the 9% and 4% low-income housing tax credit process (LIHTC).
Capitalizing on opportunities for underrepresented developers in commercial real estate
Panelists during Baker Tilly's 2023 DevelUP: affordable housing workshop discuss four ways opportunities for minority developers can improve providing equitable outcomes in commercial real estate.
BuzzHouse: How implementing ESG practices in the multifamily industry can drive society forward
Perfecto Sanchez, former Army Ranger and co-founder of Equity Quotient, joins BuzzHouse to discuss the role environmental, social and governance (ESG) plays in the multifamily housing industry.
BuzzHouse: Compassionate capitalism and an innovative housing model in blighted communities
Marjy Stagmeier joins BuzzHouse to discuss her innovative housing model and her new book “Blighted.”
BuzzHouse: Anticipating Atlanta! The buzz around the 2023 DevelUP: affordable housing workshop
BuzzHouse discusses the annual 2023 DevelUP: affordable housing workshop taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.
BuzzHouse: Underrepresented developers’ obstacles in the affordable housing industry
Special guest Matt Paschall speaks on ways underrepresented developers can tackle obstacles they face in the multifamily housing industry.
Affordable housing pros show how investing in yourself pays off for your business
Four experienced affordable housing professionals share their experiences and how to be intentional and thoughtful about scaling your business.
Co-development opportunities: how to identify the appropriate partner
Real estate co-development relationships are a crucial way for underrepresented developers to learn, build capacity and gain practical project management skills.
For emerging developers, relationships are key to success in underwriting LIHTC deals
New developers, especially underrepresented developers, learn best practices and fundamentals in the underwriting process for LIHTC transactions.
New affordable housing developers need to master the hurdles to success
Learn how to address and conquer the biggest hurdles to become successful in affordable housing development.
Underrepresented developers in the Midwest: breaking down the LIHTC process
Navigate the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program in Midwest states – Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.
Building a bridge between affordable housing design, financing and construction
Affordable housing specialists offer advice on how to build developments that meet budget guidelines, attract long-term residents, and protect the environment.
Strategies for building a holistic affordable housing development team
Find the right pieces for your development team to ensure you are successful with your projects.