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Adeola Adejobi is the Founder and CEO of the Avant-Garde Network (AGN), her firm is a leading social impact company that creates social and economic impact through a collaborative ecosystem of industry professionals, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. 

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Through AGN she created, the Women of Color and Capital Conference, the only conference of its kind where diverse women entrepreneurs & professionals come together to learn about money, finance, capital and investing from a 360-degree lens and the Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference, the largest conference in the nation that specifically focuses on diversity in the commercial real estate industry. 

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Over the course of nine years, Adeola organically grew the company to engage over 25,000+ professionals annually hosting events, conferences, and forums in the U.S. and internationally, including New York City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Georgia, Austin Texas, Lagos, Nigeria, Johannesburg, South Africa and more. AGN also advocates for professionals of color and diversity and inclusion through business education, recruiting, career development, thought leadership and partnerships. 

Marissa John, Esq. is a Corporate Real Estate & Sports Law Attorney and is currently Associate Corporate Counsel for Amazon, Inc. Marissa focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions in the industrial space.

 

Prior to her position with Amazon, Marissa worked for large corporate law firms where she represented private and public clients throughout the country in connection with the acquisition, financing, leasing, sale and operation of commercial retail, industrial, office, and hotel properties. Marissa has also counseled professional sports teams, leagues, ownership groups, and related governing bodies in various matters associated with the acquisition, development, and operation of sports facilities. 

 

Marissa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law. Marissa is active in the Central Florida community where she serves as a Mayor-appointed Board Member on the Downtown Orlando Development Board, as a Commissioner for the Mayor’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, and as a Board Member for the Orange County Building Code Board of Adjustments and Appeals. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and serves on the Board for the West Orange County’s Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida.

Daniel Chatters serves as a Manager of Aviation Compliance in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. His responsibilities include creating and implementing initiatives to increase the utilization of diverse businesses in professional service contracts, major capital projects, leases, and airport concession opportunities. He also reviews and analyzes contracts and leases to ensure MWSDBE, DBE, and ACDBE opportunities are maximized and that goals are attained as well as prepares reports for submission to federal agencies. 

 

Prior to joining the Port Authority of New York and Jersey, he served as a Vice President in Asset & Wealth Management at JPMorgan where he led business initiatives for regulatory projects. He also has experience as a management/technology consultant at large firms such as Accenture and Protiviti, as well as independently. As a consultant, he led several successful engagements that included strategic initiatives, compliance, finance transformation, operations, process reengineering, and technology.

 

Daniel Chatters holds a MBA from Florida A&M University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Venroy July is a partner in the corporate practice group of Dickinson Wright PLLC.  Based in the Baltimore office, Mr. July’s practice includes a wide range of corporate and finance matters, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate counseling.

 

He has written extensively on the power and potential of Opportunity Zones, as well as other capital-raising mechanisms. He has been named to the Best Lawyer list, and as a Who’s Who in Law by the Baltimore Business Journal. In addition to his legal career, Mr. July is a real estate investor in the city of Baltimore and utilizes many of the capital-raising mechanisms that he writes about to facilitate his real estate investment.

 

 He received his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar and his J.D. from the Duke University School of Law. He has been recognized for his other efforts within the community by being named to the Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class of 2014, the Black Business Review’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017, a Warnock Fellow for the Class of 2017, and with the Leadership in the Law Award by the Daily Record, as well as other awards.

Sonya Rocvil is the Principal and Founder of Bedrock Real Estate Investors, a privately-owned real estate company, specializing in the acquisitions and asset management of multifamily apartments in the United States. With over 15 years of experience within the financial services industry, she has syndicated multifamily deals totaling 374 units and valued at $18.6m. She has also been an equity partner for multifamily investments totaling 438 units and valued at $28.7m.

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Sonya has been a speaker on Podcasts and Live Webinars including: The Level Up REI Podcast, The Real Estate Syndication Show, Real Estate Investor Goddesses Podcast, the Bisnow Multifamily Tri-state Digital Summit, the Commercial Observer 4th Annual Women in Real Estate Forum, Pretty Girls Love Real Estate, the Women of Color and Capital Summit and the Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Summit.

Sonya began her career as an auditor and later transitioned to finance at a Fortune 500 Company. Her depth of knowledge in business analytics and strategic implementations that drive growth, has made her successful in acquiring and operating multifamily properties. 

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Sonya is an Adjunct Instructor for the NYU School of Professional Studies and serves as Treasurer of the Council of Urban Real Estate. She is also an active member of her local merchant association. Sonya holds a Master of Business Administration from Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University. She is also a graduate of Project REAP (Real Estate Associate Program). Sonya is a Certified Public Accountant and Licensed Real Estate Agent in the State of New York. 

As Principal and COO of Harlem based All Renovation Construction LLC (AR CONSTRUCTION) Allan serves to initiate new business relationships with prime general contractors, city economic developers, end users and financial institutions to collectively merge business interests into successful construction projects or real estate developments. Allan is the Founder of the Newark Foundry Workspaces - a company dedicated to real estate development in Newark New Jersey whose philosophy seeks the revitalization of unique properties through authentic and differentiated projects.

 

Allan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Boston University and graduated from the Turner School of Construction Management. In 2020 Allan graduated from the Columbia University Community Business Program (CCBP) - an executive education program for small business owners aligned with the core curriculum of the MBA program at Columbia Business School.

Encompassing a broad range of real estate transactions across all real estate classes, Aaron Holloway’s experience includes acquisitions and dispositions, financings, commercial leasing, forming and representing joint ventures, and negotiating joint venture agreements.

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Aaron represents real estate investors, commercial and residential developers, and building owners involved in real estate deals across the U.S., including in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Seattle. He has managed portfolio and single-asset transactions nationwide in connection with the acquisition and sale of properties, and loans secured by such properties. Aaron also represents commercial landlords and tenants in all aspects of commercial leasing, including ground leasing, retail, restaurant, industrial, office, and headquarter leasing.

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During the due diligence process, Aaron advises clients regarding the risks associated with each transaction. He also reviews, negotiates, and prepares purchase and sale agreements, conveyance and loan documents, and other ancillary deal-specific instruments, documents, and agreements. Known for his practical approach, Aaron applies a laser focus to understanding his clients’ business in order to help them achieve their business objectives. His overarching goal is to gets deals done efficiently and on time.

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Aaron is a graduate of Howard University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Howard Law Journal. During his studies, Aaron served as a judicial intern to the Hon. Reggie Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Aaron is currently participating in the Fellows Program in the Real Property Section of the American Bar Association.

Robert Merrill Jefferson is a son, father, husband, entrepreneur, real estate developer, reality television actor, author, community advocate and business leader that was born in New York, New York. Currently, Robert is the Director - Housing Development for IMPACCT Brooklyn, where he leads the company’s efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing. Previously, Robert founded Merrill Jefferson Enterprises LLC, a private real estate investment company that syndicated Multi-Family investments across many US markets. Robert has held corporate finance roles at several fortune 500 companies including Procter & Gamble, Walt Disney, and American Express.

 

Robert is a graduate of Hampton University (BA-Accounting) and UNC-Chapel Hill (MBA-Real Estate Development). For the past 10 years, Robert has served on the Board of Directors of Brick by Brick, a non-profit that supports underserved communities in Uganda. Robert is a member of the CALIBR leadership development organization and is a member of the Council of Urban Real Estate.

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Robert Merrill Jefferson is a son, father, husband, entrepreneur, real estate developer, reality television actor, author, community advocate, and business leader that was born in New York, New York. Currently, Robert is the Director - Housing Development for IMPACCT Brooklyn, where he leads the company’s efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing. Previously, Robert founded Merrill Jefferson Enterprises LLC, a private real estate investment company that syndicated Multi-Family investments across many US markets. Robert has held corporate finance roles at several fortune 500 companies including Procter & Gamble, Walt Disney and American Express.

Robert is a graduate of Hampton University (BA-Accounting) and UNC Chapel Hill (MBA-Real Estate Development). For the past 10 years, Robert has served on the Board of Directors of Brick by Brick, a non-profit that supports underserved communities in Uganda. Robert is a member of the CALIBR leadership development organization and is a member of the Council of Urban Real Estate.

Managing Director John Gilmore brings more than a decade of commercial real estate experience to Walker & Dunlop’s Multifamily Finance Group. Mr. Gilmore is focused on the affordable multifamily space and has extensive experience sourcing loans for execution through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Gilmore is also highly experienced in complex deal structures including structured credit facilities, tax-exempt bonds, and federal and state tax credits.

 

Prior to joining Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Gilmore was a Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in the Community Development and Investment group within KeyBank Real Estate Capital. While at KeyBank, he was a member of the management team tasked with expanding the bank’s affordable housing activity to all 50 states. He originated almost $1 billion of new mortgage debt in this position. Mr. Gilmore served many additional functions throughout his career at KeyBank, including working in the bank’s Income Property Group, Asset Recovery Group, and Private Equity Group. Mr. Gilmore began his career in the commercial real estate industry at Hartford Mezzanine Investors, LLC, where he was responsible for structuring real estate investment transactions for various levels of the capital structure with a primary focus on mezzanine positions.

 

Mr. Gilmore attended Morehouse College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in finance and a minor in economics with cum laude honors. Beyond the company, he is active in industry associations and is a member of the MBA’s Affordable Rental Housing Advisory Council as well as the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Affordable & Workforce Housing Product Council. Mr. Gilmore also serves on the board of Bridge Street Development Corporation and the steering committee of the Real Estate Associates Program.
 

Managing Director John Gilmore brings more than a decade of commercial real estate experience to Walker & Dunlop’s Multifamily Finance Group. Mr. Gilmore is focused on the affordable multifamily space and has extensive experience sourcing loans for execution through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Gilmore is also highly experienced in complex deal structures including structured credit facilities, tax-exempt bonds, and federal and state tax credits. Prior to joining Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Gilmore was a Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in the Community Development and Investment group within KeyBank Real Estate Capital. While at KeyBank, he was a member of the management team tasked with expanding the bank’s affordable housing activity to all 50 states. He originated almost $1 billion of new mortgage debt in this position. Mr. Gilmore served many additional functions throughout his career at KeyBank, including working in the bank’s Income Property Group, Asset Recovery Group, and Private Equity Group. Mr. Gilmore began his career in the commercial real estate industry at Hartford Mezzanine Investors, LLC, where he was responsible for structuring real estate investment transactions for various levels of the capital structure with a primary focus on mezzanine positions.

Amanda G. Benjamin-Smith joined Genworth Financial in March 2020 as Senior Investments Counsel focused primarily on Commercial Real Estate Lending and Private Placements.  Prior to joining Genworth, Amanda served as Associate General Counsel to BEB Capital, a real estate investment firm in New York with a diverse portfolio of industrial, retail, residential, and mixed-use asset types.  She also has a background in complex commercial litigation arising from commercial real estate transactions, mass torts, environmental claims, and general commercial insurance liability.

 

Amanda received her Juris Doctor from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

As Development Director at Dantes Partners, Mr. Nyamekye is primarily responsible for leading all aspects of planning, financing, and implementation of the current New York pipeline. He serves as the day-to-day contact and liaison with applicable housing finance agencies and other key stakeholders within the communities where the developments are located. He is also responsible for leading community meetings; overseeing construction of preservation and new construction developments; and actively engaging in business development efforts.

 

Mr. Nyamekye graduated from the University at Albany, SUNY in Albany, NY with a degree in Economics. Prior to accepting this position, he served as a Project Manager and Senior Project Manager for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development where he was primarily involved in the implementation of Inclusionary Housing, in both private and subsidized, new construction and preservation affordable housing developments.

Edward Faustin has over 15 years of professional experience in real estate finance, market research,  economic development, and strategic advisory services. Edward is co-founder and managing principal of  AreaProbe LLC, a tech-enabled real estate advisory company focused on housing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare. Mr. Faustin leverages his diverse experiences to provide a myriad of consulting service solutions for AreaProbe clients, including market and feasibility studies, as well as assistance with raising capital for acquisitions, refinancings, and construction projects. Mr. Faustin also plays an active role in the development of the company's emerging tech products and tools. Mr. Faustin manages relationships with third-party advisory firms, lenders, economic development and government entities, private equity firms,  proptech and fintech accelerators, real estate developers, and investors. 

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Mr. Faustin joined AreaProbe on a full-time basis after leaving his position as a Vice President in the  Strategic Investments Group at the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), where he focused on providing debt and equity solutions for commercial estate and business ventures. Prior to  NYCEDC, Mr. Faustin was an underwriter and asset manager for PNC Real Estate where he underwrote debt financings for commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, as well as construction financing and refinancings for real estate developers, limited partnerships, real estate funds, and REITS. 

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Mr. Faustin also worked in fund origination and fund management of LIHTC tax credit equity with  Centerline Capital Group (now the Hunt Companies), conduit real estate finance consulting for Blackheath  Financial (now Zenta, an Accenture company), and market research and valuation of commercial real estate for Cushman and Wakefield. 

Mr. Faustin received his BBA from the University of Notre Dame and a joint Masters in City & Regional  Planning and a Masters Urban Spatial Analytics from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Faustin is also a member of Urban Land Institute, International Downtown Association, and the Council for Urban Real  Estate (CURE).

Desiree Thomas is currently the Owner and Operator of DPJ World LLC. She is recognized  in the industry as an astute finance professional with experience in real estate investing,  corporate and investment banking, and business development. Prior to launching DPJ World  LLC, she was Vice President, Operations with Wilder Balter Partners focused on affordable  housing development. She previously served as Deputy Director with New York City Housing  Preservation and Development where she was responsible for executing Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan.  

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She owns and manages a portfolio of residential and mixed-use properties in New York.  Formerly, she was a member of the Business Development and Investor Relations team at Archimedes Alpha LLC and served as Senior Vice President of the Financial Institutions  Group at J.P. Morgan. In addition, Desiree owned and operated two Little Caesars franchises  where she was responsible for site selection and operations.  In addition to her professional career, Desiree serves on the board of Unique People  Services and the Bronx YMCA. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School where she was a  Robert Toigo Fellow. She is also a graduate of the General Management Program at Harvard  Business School and is a 2017 graduate of Project REAP. She was also selected as a participant in the 2021 Inaugural Open Access Fellowship Program where she is working  with TruFund Financial Services with a focus on New Market Tax Credit Financing.

Norberto Velazquez is the Principal and Chief Operating Officer of JGV Inc. Norberto is a well-established real estate professional, with over two decades of experience in all facets of real estate. Norberto's wealth of experience includes, but is not limited to, acquisition, property management, and redevelopment of residential, multi-family, commercial and mixed-use properties throughout New York City and abroad. In 2015, Norberto graduated from New York City Housing Development and Preservation, M/WBE Building Capacity program.

 

Norberto holds an ARM certification from IREM. He also holds the EDFP and HDFP certifications from the National Development Council. In addition, Norberto holds the TaCCs Certification from Quadel. In his spare time, Norberto volunteers. In that capacity, Norberto is the Vice-President of the Executive Board of Samaritans of New York.

Donnell Selby has several years of experience working in commercial real estate. His overall background includes leasing, property management, fund management, risk management, market research and analysis. At the firm, he plays a pivotal role overseeing the daily operations of mixed-use and co-op assets. Additionally, Donnell is responsible for the allocation of all funds under management.  

 

Donnell is a New York State licensed broker and holds a RAM designation from the National Associated Builders and Owner Inc. Furthermore, he has a certificate in Real Estate Economics & Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a Project REAP fellow and has completed HPD’s Building Capacity Program for M/WBE Developers in Affordable Housing. Donnell graduated from Hampton University, with honors, holding a degree in Political Science.

Izu Emeagwali is a Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel at a multinational
investment bank and financial services company. Izu’s expertise focuses on the intersection of technology and law. At J.P. Morgan, Izu counsels the various global businesses and data scientists of the Corporate and Investment Bank on their data use initiatives, including projects using big data, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Primarily, Izu advises on and oversees projects and negotiates agreements involving the sharing and use of J.P. Morgan’s proprietary information. She opines on and helps to implement the legal strategies and processes for sound data use and sharing practices and artificial intelligence initiatives.

In addition, Izu advises business partners on the development or enhance of new products and services that leverage emerging technology.
Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Izu was a Senior Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen and
Hamilton LLP. There she focused on intellectual property, commercial and antitrust
litigation. Izu also advised on intellectual property rights in technology focused M&A
deals and drafted agreements to help clients protect their intellectual property. She led
pro bono teams in advocating for issues impacting women in Africa. Izu also
volunteered with Lawyers for the Arts and advised pro bono clients on intellectual
property matters.
Currently, Izu serves as a Trustee for Westover School, an all-girl college preparatory
boarding school and her alma mater in Connecticut. Izu is also a Junior Board Member
of the Council for Economic Education based in New York.
Izu graduated magna cum laude from Howard University School of Law and the
University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering with a degree in Electrical
Engineering.
Izu is passionate about real estate and has been investing for over 10 years. Izu believes that
investing in real estate is a great way to build wealth. Izu has organized an informal group of
over 50 black women who mentor each other through the home buying and ownership process
mostly in Brooklyn, NY.

Ofo Ezeugwu is Founder and CEO of WhoseYourLandlord (WYL.co), WYL a web platform that's empowering and informing the rental community through landlord reviews, housing literacy content, and subscription SaaS software for owners/operators and lenders to better engage the needs of their residents. He graduated from TempleUniversity, where he was the VP of the student body and also the youngest alumni convocation speaker in the school's history.

 

He was recently recognized as the Young Professional of the Year by the African American Chamber of Commerce (2018), he's a Techstars' Risingstar, one of BET's #30Under30, a Black Enterprise: Modern Man, and his work has been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, Newsweek, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Blavity, The New York Post, and more. Ofo is also a professional actor and model who's walked in NYFW (5x), been featured on the Today Show (7x), and worked with Nike, ESPN (2x), and Alfani. 

Ofo is very actively plugged into the community and speaks with local high schools and middle schools on leadership, college planning, entrepreneurship, and life skills. He's a Big in the Big Brothers Big Sisters entrepreneurial program. And, he's also given lectures on tech - entrepreneurship - and leadership at prestigious locations and universities such as The White House, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Wharton, Temple, Villanova, etc. He lives by the motto, "No steps backward; just forward progress."

James Cunningham is the Managing Broker of Wellington Real Estate Professionals, a real estate brokerage formed in an effort to serve the needs of small to medium-size business owners and homeowners in the Atlanta market. James has worked in commercial and residential real estate for the past 14 years, serving as a consultant to clients seeking expertise in multifamily acquisition/disposition, office tenant representation, and residential acquisition/disposition.

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James is a graduate of Morehouse College where he received a B.A. in Psychology 05’ and Georgia State University where he received his master's degree in real estate 15’. He’s actively involved with the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors where he’s served as partnership committee chair for the diversity mentorship program and received accolades as Member of the Month September 2016 and July of 2017. Mr. Cunningham was also recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as Atlanta real estate’s potential future leaders in May 2016. His passion for serving his community is shown through his involvement with the Emerging 100 of Atlanta where he mentors young men from Best Academy in Atlanta along with many other initiatives. 

Aty manages Washington, DC-headquartered Third Story Capital, LLC, a manager of private equity real estate investment funds for foundations, endowments, pension funds, family offices, and high net worth individuals. At Third Story, Aty is responsible for overseeing real estate investment activities, including strategy execution and portfolio management. Through Third Story Capital, Aty offers a bespoke experience to clients as customized projects tailored to each market. Third Story’s value-add investment funds target single families, multifamilies, and retail and condo conversion opportunities in major US and some emerging international cities.

 

The Morehouse grad was enjoying his work as a management consultant in Chicago, with his first nice apartment in the South Loop area, when divine intervention altered his path. “There was a gas leak in my apartment building in November, and all the tenants were evacuated to a nearby hotel until the problem was resolved,” he says. “But the leak never got fixed. Everyone received their money back, and I found myself with nowhere to live. I felt homeless during the holiday season.”

 

That’s when he realized the power of real estate and the importance of homeownership. As a Christmas gift, he purchased his first condo and never looked back. “I wanted to harness that overwhelming feeling of joy and relief at having a home into something more, towards a passion,” he says. “That experience taught me that the business of real estate is very emotional. And for me, it’s a personal calling that became a business since 2005.”

Maurice Q. Robinson is an active alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) professional who currently holds adjunct professorships at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law’s Kukin Program in Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as Seton Hall School of Law’s Conflict Management Program. Awarded a New Jersey Legislative Proclamation for Pro Bono and Skills Based/ Service-Oriented Legal Pedagogy, Mr. Robinson’s courses include Negotiation Theory and Practice, Family Law and Mediation, as well as a client-driven practicum in the SDNY Federal Court. He has coached successful ADR competition teams on the national and international circuit. 

 

Mr. Robinson is also the EEO Officer | Executive Agency Counsel for New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Department of Equal Opportunity. Prior to his position at NYCHA, he served the NY community as a Senior Administrative Law Hearing Officer, Queens County Mediation Manager, and Housing Court Program Supervising Pro Bono Attorney. Mr. Robinson serves as an approved mediator for the New York Peace Institute, Manhattan Civil Court, Housing Court and Small Claims Court.  Mr. Robinson has also participated in arbitrations and mediations with EEOC, FINRA, and other private organizations.  

 

The Society for Human Resource Management | Human Resource Certification Institute (SHRM | HRCI) recognizes Mr. Robinson as a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR). Mr. Robinson received his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, with specializations in Mediation, Litigation, and Intellectual Property & Communications Law.  He completed the NY State Community Mediator Program, Safe Horizon Mediator Training and Apprenticeship, and received a certificate from the Kukin Program in ADR.  

 

Mr. Robinson is regularly invited to speak on Diversity in Alternative Dispute Resolution and ADR as a mechanism for Civil Gideon.

Myron Adoteye is the Founder and Principal of Aya Enterprises LLC, a capital markets firm sourcing debt & equity for middle-market real estate developers. To date, he has completed $10M in affordable housing transactions with another $90M in transactions currently in the pipeline. He is a Venture Fellow for Rebel One Ventures (RBL1), a venture capital syndicate firm focused on investments in climate, education, and healthcare.

 

In his tenure, he was the Managing Partner of Eye Street Capital, an exempt reporting advisory firm focused on multifamily and residential real estate development in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he co-founded Eye Street Investments, a firm focused on equities markets, residential real estate investment, and venture capital. He also worked for REIS (now acquired by Moody’s), consulting banks, REITS, and developers and institutional investors across the country on property and market intelligence in all sectors of commercial real estate.  He is certified in REIS 2.0 Subscriber Edition Data Analysis and acquired his Life, Accident & Health, Series 7 & 66 licenses.

 

He also serves as a guest venture capital judge and business mentor for the Georgetown University Law School Entrepreneurship Practicum and a member of the Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference Host Committee which runs the largest diverse commercial real estate conference in the country. Myron received his MBA in Management & Entrepreneurship, as well as his Bachelor of Science in Marketing & Communications at Fordham University.    

As a Brooklyn native and a seasoned real estate professional, Ade is known for excellent client service, strong work ethic, wide range of knowledge, and a vast network of resources. With over 15 years of service, Ade continues to fulfill his passion of hearing client stories and navigating the New York real estate market, ultimately finding them the ideal match. Kind, eager and a notably creative problem solver, Ade has managed to build relationships resulting in referrals from satisfied clients and repeat business.

 

Prior to real estate, Ade worked in corporate accounting for more than a decade, a role which developed his razor-sharp financial expertise and listening skill sets. Earning a standout reputation as a “people person” with a closer’s drive, he has launched a number of successful businesses as an entrepreneur. Through his experiences, Ade has a fond appreciation for the work that it takes to be successful in the real estate industry. Raised in Coney Island by his Nigerian family, Ade now resides in Clinton Hill, which he loves for its beautiful architecture and friendly neighborhood vibe. He is an avid runner and a devoted Board Member of FaceAfrica.org, which supplies clean water to 200,000 people in Liberia.

Laurel Djoukeng was born in Washington, DC, and raised in the Metropolitan area. He earned his MBA at Duke University – The Fuqua School of Business in 2020, where he was a Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellow (MLT). In 2008 he received his Bachelor's in Accounting from Hampton University.

 

At Duke University, he served on the Cabinet of the Private Equity Club and Tech Club - Trek Committee. He was a part of the Program 4 Entrepreneurs at Fuqua; through the program, he launched a tech start-up called Sparc, a people-centric marketplace that connects and arranges live engagements with people that have complementary interests. During his two years in the program, he assembled 12 other Duke students, four of which were MBA students, and eight were undergraduate students (Computer Science and Economics majors).

 

Djoukeng began his professional career in 2008 as an Associate for Con Edison's Growth Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) Program. His profession in Finance started in 2010 as an Investment Analyst for PGIM Real Estate, a global private equity firm with $70 billion in assets under management. In 2012, he transitioned to the Carlton Group, an international investment banking firm with more than $125 billion in transactions. In the summer and fall of 2019, he worked as an MBA Intern – Business Development Manager at Blockstream, a global leader in blockchain technology (+$80MM in Series A funding).

 

In 2011, Laurel founded the Catalyst Network Foundation Inc.(CNF), a 501(c)(3) social enterprise focused on life enrichment and professional development, with a mission to engage high-potential youth and veterans by providing the proper tools, networks, skill-building projects, and development opportunities to maximize talent. Ranking Congressman Ed Towns awarded a proclamation to the Foundation in recognition of the organization's achievements.

 

At CNF, Laurel has arranged business, law, and tech symposiums at Google, college fairs, resume development, career, and college preparatory workshops throughout the academic school year, instructing more than 5,000 high school students. Djoukeng has curated more than 30 professional events and diversity career recruiting sessions for CNF.

 

Laurel holds an annual summer fellowship for high school underclassmen in New York City and Washington, D.C. More than 200 High School students have become CNF Fellowship Scholars (99 percent have graduated H.S., and more than 90 percent of them have enrolled in higher education institutions). Since 2011, the Fellows have experienced corporate tours and pitched capstone presentations and interventions for inner-city school challenges to several companies, including Google, Goldman Sachs, NIKE, LinkedIn, Microsoft, GAP, BET, NPR, Infor, The Carlyle Group, Covington & Burling LLP, The Peebles Corporation, Deloitte, and NBC.

 

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Douglas “Doug” Giles is the CEO of Five Points Abstract, LLC, a service-driven Title Insurance Agent, that provides title insurance and escrow services to the real estate industry. With more than a billion dollars in complex residential and commercial real estate transactions throughout his career, Mr. Giles has worked alongside some of the largest corporations and organizations in the Tri-state area, where he has developed innovative strategies focused on market growth, elevating brand awareness and providing inventive solutions to get deals closed more efficiently.

 

As a New York City and New York State-certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise, Mr. Giles focuses many of his business efforts on corporate responsibility and raising awareness for communities around the city. He is affiliated with Northside Charter High School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as a Trustee; The Borough Development Group in Brownsville, Brooklyn; Board Member of The Mortgage Bankers Association of New York; he is a member of New York State Association for Affordable Housing; he previously served as EVP of the Council of Urban Real Estate "C.U.R.E."; and he served on the Board of the Young Mortgage Bankers Association of New York.