Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1348582
as a commercial real estate agent and a site selector for national retail chains where she researched and negotiated development opportuni- ties for her clients. Leading up to her experience as a real estate agent, Ms. Brien was a Transportation Planner for a Regional Planning Agency, providing her with experience in accessing state and federal grant pro- grams as well as a foundation in community planning and development. Combining real estate with community development and planning, Roberta brings a comprehensive awareness of project management to the WBDC. Project Experience – Facilitated the closing and re-use of large former hospital proper- ties inclusive of hundreds of acres, multiple parties of interest, aged facilities, environmental contamination, historical designations, and sensitive political issues, – Oversight of the redevelopment of 20 Franklin Street into academic and business incubator space. – Manage and direct the financing of projects utilizing strategies including new market tax credits, historic tax credits, conventional financing, and state and federal grants, – Oversight of the on-going development of WBDC owned properties, and – Generate and oversee Fee-for-Service contracts for private devel- opers, institutions, and municipalities by assisting in creating mixed use developments, industrial parks, and industrial subdivision roads, expansion and relocation, acquisition and asset management. BO MENKITI , Founder and CEO, The Menkiti Group Bo Menkiti is the Founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group, a real estate company dedicated to transform- ing lives, careers, and communities through real estate. The Menkiti Group is focused on strengthening neighbor- hoods through the strategic development, management, and disposi- tion of real estate in urban markets. Mr. Menkiti also serves as CEO and is the Founding Partner of Keller Williams Capital Properties (KWCP), a residential real estate brokerage managed by The Menkiti Group. Most recently, Mr. Menkiti founded Mission Mortgage, a double bottom line regional mortgage lender. Prior to forming The Menkiti Group and KWCP, Mr. Menkiti served as Chief Operating Officer of College Summit, a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the college enrollment rate of low-income students. In this capacity, Mr. Menkiti oversaw the organization's successful growth into a multi-site national organization. Under Mr. Menkiti's leadership, The Menkiti Group and KWCP have been recognized by Inc. Magazine as being among the fastest growing private companies in the nation and by the Initiative for Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and Fortune Magazine as two of the fastest growing inner-city businesses in America. Mr. Menkiti has also been recognized by Earnest and Young as the EY 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Mid-Atlantic and by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City with the Marcia Lamb Award for Inner City Innovation. Mr. Menkiti's work has been featured in David Bornstein's book on social entrepreneurs, How to Change the World, and in Stephen Gold- smith's The Power of Social Innovation, and he has been recognized nationally by Ebony and Inc. magazines as one of the coolest young entrepreneurs in America. In 2006, Mr. Menkiti was recognized with The National Association of Realtors Prestigious "30 under 30" award, and in 2014 was honored by the National Association of Realtors as the District of Columbia Realtor of the Year. Additionally, in 2014, Mr. Menkiti was named to the Washington Business Journal's Power 100, a list of the most influential business leaders in the Washington metropolitan area and selected as Keller Williams Realty International's Entrepreneur of the Year. Committed to strengthening communities and transforming neigh- borhoods by serving on civic and public service organizations, Mr. Men- kiti currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board for the Meyer Foun- dation and has previously served as the 2013 President of the District of Columbia Association of Realtors, was appointed by the Major to the board of DC Water, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Author- ity, and was a board member for the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, Dance Place, and the Blitz for Better Foundation. In 2014 Mr. Menkiti launched the Capital Properties Menkiti Group Foundation (CPMG Foundation), an organization that focuses its resources on serv- ing the diverse social needs of the community in the areas of Housing, Youth, Education, and Entrepreneurship. Mr. Menkiti currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of City First Bank and is a founding director of Founders Bank, a De Novo commu- nity bank headquartered in Washington, DC. Additionally, Mr. Menkiti is currently a trustee for and serves on the executive committee for the Federal City Council, is on the board of DCBIA (District of Columbia Building Industry Association) and is member of the Tapestry Advisory Council at AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity). Mr. Menkiti is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Washing- ton, D.C. with his wife and four young sons. TIMOTHY P. MURRAY, President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Timothy P. Murray became president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce in June of 2013. He leads a team of professionals serving the re- gion's business community by focusing on economic development, public policy, member services, and other activities that contribute to a vibrant business climate. The Chamber's mission of recruit, retain, and incubate aims to bring new businesses to the region, retain existing Platinum Sponsors Supporting Sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts • Bollus Lynch • Maugel Architects Greater Worcester Community Foundation • University of Massachusetts Medical School Sullivan Group Insurance and Risk Management Services SESSION 1 SPONSORS