H. Jerome Russell is President of H. J. Russell & Company and Russell New Urban Development, LLC where his focus is on the firm’s strategic direction and new business development. Over his career, he has experience with beverage distribution, consumer marketing, banking, construction and real estate for over 25 years which has led him to his current role as the lead Owner over the $250M real estate portfolio and Chairman of the newly formed Herman J. Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

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After earning his B.S. in Business Administration and Management from Georgia State in 1985, Jerome headed to Chicago, where he worked for City and Suburban Distributors as Assistant to the General Manager. In 1986, Jerome returned to Atlanta where he managed City Beverage, a $15 million beverage distribution company.   There he managed a beverage distribution/logistics company and oversaw the entire local consumer marketing for the various national brands. In 1990, along with his responsibilities as President of City Beverage Company, he began to integrate himself into real estate development by serving as a Project Manager for Gibraltar Land, Inc., a H.J. Russell-owned development firm, where he oversaw multi-million dollar urban residential and retail developments.  In 1995, he was named President and COO of H.J. Russell focusing on the firm’s strategic direction and new business development. During this tenure, the company’s earnings increased 20% every year He started Russell New Urban Development, LLC in 2003 to provide high quality in-town developments that stimulate economic growth and excite people about urban living. Recently, Jerome is focusing his energies into the opening of the Russell Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE).  RCIE is an economic mobility engine geared towards Black entrepreneurship. 

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Like his father, Herman J. Russell, Jerome has an entrepreneurial flair, he is involved in various business and civic pursuits.  In 1997, he was named to the Board of Citizens Trust Bank. As an active board member, he was part of two (2) successful mergers taken on by Citizens Trust Bank.  In 2005, he was named Chairman of the Loan Committee at Citizens Trust Bank. He currently continues to reside as Chairman of the Loan Committee and is an active board member. He also serves on the board of H. J. Russell & Company, Concessions International, Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE), Chairman of the West End CID, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Historical Society and Central Atlanta Progress. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Atlanta Rotary, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Tiger 21 and Board of Councilors of The Carter Center.

Jerome is a native of Atlanta.     He is married to Stephanie and, together, they have four children.

Recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the nation, Don Peebles is founder, chairman and CEO of The Peebles Corporation, one of the country’s few privately held national real estate investment and development companies. Mr. Peebles engages in practices of Affirmative Development™ with a multi-billion dollar portfolio of projects in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  

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Mr. Peebles is also the author of top-selling books, “The Peebles Principles” and “The Peebles Path to Real Estate Wealth,” a regular guest host on CNN, CNBC and FOX and a highly sought-after speaker who has addressed educational, business and professional audiences across the United States. 

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Mr. Peebles is a passionate proponent of mentoring programs that expose youth to the value of entrepreneurship, as well as an active political supporter and fundraiser for local, state and federal campaigns of both major parties. He serves as Ambassador to the University of Southern California, on the Board of Directors of YMCA of Greater New York and on the Business Roundtable of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

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Previously, he has served on the National Finance Committee of President Barack Obama, on the Board of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and is the former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. 

Ms. Jones has more than 24 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, investing and lending on CRE assets her entire career on behalf of large pension funds and institutional investors including Equitable Real Estate (largest pension fund advisor and investment management firm at the time), GMACCM (one of the largest CRE lenders, owned by GM) and CWCapital (the U.S. debt investment platform owned by Caisse de dépôt , one of the largest pension fund managers in Quebec). Ms. Jones is a seasoned veteran in CRE investments, capital markets, and structured finance.  Since 2009, Ms. Jones has served as both Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Basis Investment Group (Basis), a multi-strategy commercial real estate investment platform she founded with JEMB Realty Corporation that acquires and originates a variety of senior and subordinated loans, preferred equity and joint venture equity positions on behalf of its investors.  

Under her leadership, Basis has succeeded in closing nearly $2.7 billion in commercial real estate debt and structured equity related investments across the United States. Prior to joining Basis, Ms. Jones worked at CWCapital LLC (“CW”) from 2004 to 2009, serving as head of CW’s fixed and floating rate Capital Markets Lending Division and closing approximately $6B in investments. Between 1997 and 2004, Ms. Jones was a Senior Vice President of Commercial Capital Initiatives, Inc., a GMACCM subsidiary (now Berkadia) (“GMAC”) and part of the leadership team responsible for creating GMAC’s Capital Markets lending division. Prior to her seven years with GMAC, she held various positions on the equity and asset management side of the business at commercial real estate investment companies including Equitable Real Estate and AMRESCO Management, Inc.

Ms. Jones currently sits on the Board of Directors as an Independent Director for Monogram Residential Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MORE). Ms. Jones also sits on the Board of Directors for the Real Estate Executive Council (REEC), is a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) and formerly served as a board member and Treasurer for The New Agenda, a leadership organization for women. Ms. Jones holds a BA in Economics from Cornell University and an MBA with a concentration in Real Estate Finance from Georgia State University.

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Basis Investment Group is a New York-based certified Minority and Woman-owned business (MWBE), closed its first commingled, closed-ended fund, BIG Real Estate Fund I, L.P. Basis raised $410 million of capital commitments for the fund, which was oversubscribed.

John H. Banks is the former President of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the City’s leading real estate trade association which represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, salespeople, and other corporations and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate.

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Banks is a leading advocate for responsible pro-growth public policies to address the critical need to build and maintain housing at all income levels in every New York City neighborhood, commercial space to attract and retain businesses and accommodate the City’s growing population, and additional tax revenue to fund vital government services.

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Since his appointment in 2014, REBNY’s efforts have paved the way for: the production of more affordable housing, including advocating for the enactment of the Affordable New York Housing Program (formerly known as 421-a); economic development initiatives, such as the Greater East Midtown Rezoning; the Special Garment Center District text amendment and legislation to address critical issues ranging from sustainability and illegal short-term rentals to landmarking. Banks has led the effort to organize REBNY members to protest ill-advised legislation that would negatively impact all commercial leases and raise residential rents across New York City.

Margaret Chinwe Anadu is head of Goldman Sachs Bank’s Urban Investment Group (UIG), a domestic, multi-asset class investing and lending business that sits within the Consumer & Commercial Banking Division (CCBD). Established in 2001, UIG provides equity and debt to real estate projects and social enterprises and satisfies GS Bank's Community Reinvestment Act obligation.

UIG has committed more than $6B to community and economic development investments, benefiting underserved communities and serving as a catalyst in the revitalization of distressed urban neighborhoods. Margaret serves on the Goldman Sachs Bank USA Management Committee and is co-chair of the CCBD Capital Committee.

Previously, she worked in Equity Derivatives in the Securities Division. She joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst in 2003 and was named managing director in 2013.Margaret serves on the boards of several community and economic development nonprofit organizations, including the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, Center for an Urban Future, Core Innovation Capital, and 651 Arts. Margaret earned a BA in Computer Science from Harvard College in 2003.

Craig joined WeWork’s executive leadership team with responsibility for the Powered By We(PxWe) real estate service offering to occupier and investor clients. He leads the division'sglobal business development, service delivery, client account operations and platforminvestments. The PxWe platform provides clients with advisory services, technology, andintegrated portfolio solutions, including development, design, construction, projectmanagement, building management and more.

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Robinson previously worked as CEO of global corporate services at Newmark. Robinson came to Newmark from Colliers, where he served as president of the company’s U.S. region. Prior to that, he was president of corporate services at Cassidy Turley.

Mr. Marshall is a co-founder and Managing Partner of (“BRP”) Companies, a vertically integrated owner, operator, developer and manager of transit-oriented, mixed-use, multifamily properties in the NY Tri-State area. With over 50 employees and a track record of $1.7 billion of completed real estate projects, the firm has an additional $1.3 billion in transactions currently under development.    

Mr. Marshall is responsible for executing BRP’s investment strategy including deal origination, acquisition, finance and development.  He has also led the firm’s strategic partnership initiatives such as the firm’s decade long partnership with Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group and BRP’s active relationships with all of the New York City Agencies.  Prior to co-founding BRP, Mr. Marshall was a Managing Director at Musa Capital Advisors, an emerging markets private equity and financial advisory firm based in New York City.  Musa Capital managed a Separate Account for Kingdom Holding Africa, HRH’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s Investment vehicle for Sub-Saharan Africa.  At Musa Capital, Mr. Marshall was instrumental in executing cross-border transactions including the $37 million development of a mixed-use office complex and mall in Harare, Zimbabwe.  Mr. Marshall also led successful investments in the Telecommunications and Financial Services sectors.  Prior to Musa Capital Advisors, Mr. Marshall was a Senior Associate at Wasserstein Perella & Co., an investment banking firm based in New York City.  While at Wasserstein, Mr. Marshall was an integral member of the firm’s Telecommunications and Media, Mergers and Acquisitions practice, where he assisted in transactions exceeding $15 billion.  

Mr. Marshall is a Founding Member of the Council of Urban Professionals (“CUP”), and is a Member of the Executive Board of the New York State Affordable Housing Association (“NYSAFAH”).  Mr. Marshall also proudly serves on the Boards of Enterprise NYC Advisory Board and Citizens Housing and Planning Council since 2018, and is a Trustee of Xavier University of Louisiana. 

Mr. Marshall holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and International Business from Columbia Business School. 

Serving as La Cité’s Chief Executive Officer, Dan Bythewood, Sr. was a real estate investor and managing partner in Neptune Capital LLC, a limited liability company that invests in emerging new economy companies. He was an investor and partner in Flag Luxury Properties LLC, a real estate development company that was responsible for constructing high-end properties for the Marriott Group in the United States.

One project, the Miami South Beach Ritz-Carlton, is a 375-room hotel and spa with banquet facilities, specialty restaurants and luxury retail stores, which opened in 2002. Another development is the Ritz-Carlton Club in Jupiter, Florida with Jack Nicklaus. This project closed in April 2001. Flag Luxury also tied up the last “A” location in Las Vegas with a joint venture group to develop a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, fractional club and casino.

Dan Bythewood, Sr. played an integral part in raising money for investment into these projects. During the mid 1980s, Dan, Sr. established Wildwood Gaming, Inc., a riverboat gaming corporation seeking riverboat gaming licenses within the United States. In addition, he owned and operated Jet Routes Unlimited, a private jet charter service with contracts with ABC Sports and Jim Henson Properties. The company was sold in the early eighties, and Dan Bythewood, Sr. served as its President and Chief Operating Officer.

Adenah Bayoh, at 13 years of age, emigrated with her family from the war-torn African nation of Liberia, to live with relatives in Newark, New Jersey. Thinking America was “like heaven on earth,” she began building the foundation for her business success at the age of 14 with her first job at McDonald’s on Springfield Avenue in Irvington, NJ.  It is there that she learned the important lesson of being humble and that the customer is always right.

While working as many as three jobs at one time, she continued to excel in her educational endeavors, graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) with a degree in Business Management. During the earlier years of her career, Ms. Bayoh demonstrated her ability to take challenges head on and exceed all expectations. While an undergraduate at FDU, she was employed as a part-time bank teller.  Upon graduation, she accepted at full-time position with the bank working her way from bank teller, to branch manager and ultimately Vice President.  

It was during her time with the bank that Ms. Bayoh learned the value of saving, avoiding credit card debt and keen fiscal management.  To this end, she bought her first investment property after graduating from college, a three-family house in Irvington, NJ.  A few years later, she expanded her growing redevelopment portfolio, when she acquired a dilapidated building in an economically challenged section of Irvington, NJ.  Putting her educational, professional and personal acumen to work, Ms. Bayoh transformed the property into a mortgage company, which not only helped community members secure their own homes but also educated them about real estate and real estate funding via informal, free seminars.  

    Two years later, Ms. Bayoh transformed Irvington’s landmark Kless Diner, into an IHOP franchise, today employing more than 100 full- and part-time workers.  She also serves on the Board of Advisors for FDU’s Silberman College of Business, where she is often tapped as a resource regarding business development, entrepreneurism and alumni affairs.   

    Ms. Bayoh has certainly come a long way from her early years in Liberia, overcoming obstacles and challenges, and assembling an impressive record of accomplishments, demonstrating a deep commitment to the welfare and progress of her community.  As quoted in a recent Star-Ledger article, Ms. Bayoh’s formula for success is “Hard work, lots and lots of hard work.” 

As Managing Principal of Dantes Partners, Mr. Binitie directs the acquisition, development, management and financial activities of the firm. Mr. Binitie has an extensive tax credit financing experience (LIHTC, NMTC, and HTC) and has closed on financing from nearly every public capital source available including HOME, HPTF, NSP, CDBG, and NIF. Mr. Binitie maintains a narrow focus on creatively structuring deals that strive to address the needs of his clients, community stakeholders as well as various government agency partners.

By narrowly focusing on efficiently financing community development transactions, Mr. Binitie has been successful in adding value beyond the numbers. Mr. Binitie’s career is underscored by a commitment to creating and preserving affordable and workforce housing.

Since founding Dantes Partners, Mr. Binitie and his team have closed over $750 million of unconventional real estate transactions that utilize low-income tax credits, new market tax credits, tax-exempt bonds and various other forms of alternative financing. 

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Sonya Rocvil is the Principal of Bedrock Real Estate Investors, LLC. Bedrock Real Estate Investors
is a privately-owned real estate investment company, that specializes in acquiring and asset
managing multifamily apartment buildings in strategic markets in the United States. Sonya has
syndicated four multifamily deals totaling 374 units and $18.6M in asset value and has
exceeded deal return expectations on the two properties that have been sold.

Sonya is a seasoned professional with a career of over 15 years in the financial services
industry. She began her career in audit and transitioned to finance in a Fortune 500 Company.
Her experience in business analysis, problem-solving and implementing strategic initiatives that
drive growth, provide her with the skill set required for multifamily acquisition and asset
management. Sonya is also an Adjunct Instructor for the NYU School of Professional Studies.

Sonya holds a Master of Business Administration from Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business
and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University. Sonya is a Certified Public
Accountant and Licensed Real Estate Agent in the State of New York. She is also a graduate of
Project REAP (Real Estate Associate Program).
Sonya is the Treasurer of the Council of Urban Real Estate and is an active member of her local
merchants association.
Sonya lives with her husband and two young children in Brooklyn, New York.