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Participants selected for real estate diversity initiative

The Denver Office of Economic Development and the Urban Land Institute, Colorado District Council, announce the inaugural class of participants for the Real Estate Diversity Initiative. A group of 42 individuals have been partnered with ULI mentors – local developers – for nine months to learn firsthand what development entails. The program is designed to increase awareness of opportunities in the real estate industry among women and minority groups.

“We’re incredibly excited to launch this innovative public-private partnership to advance the number of minorities and women involved in real estate development,” said Tamela Lee, OED Director of Small Business Advocacy and Support/Division of Small Business Opportunity. “Recognizing that these populations have traditionally been underrepresented, this initiative assists individuals with mapping their career paths within the development field.”

The program begins July 21, 2009, and the mentor groups will meet monthly to present, discuss and demonstrate real estate development concepts. Exploring the many different aspects of development, from financing to construction management, the program will include meetings at development sites throughout Denver.

Approximately 1.8 percent of ULI’s membership consists of minority groups, and only 20 percent are women.

The program is supported by a $20,000 Community Action Grant from the ULI Foundation.

The following individuals have been selected for the program:

  • Denise Balkas, director of real estate development, Wheat Ridge 2020
  • Janice Brown, senior intellectual property administrator, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Elizabeth Caswell Dyer, portfolio manager, St. Charles Town Company
  • Juanita Chacon, broker associate, Remax Alliance City Living
  • Raymond Cobb, associate broker, Home Real Estate
  • Luis Colon, president, Colon-Collawn, LLC
  • Ric David Tan, director of development, Revival Fund Management, LLC
  • Lynda Lou Delaney, real estate development consultant, Excell Fund, LLC
  • Lauren Douglas, director of research, Frederick Ross Company
  • Davida Echo Medina, design services program manager, Northglenn Neighborhood Development, Corp.
  • Shaun Egan, president and CEO, Iron Woman Construction and Environmental Services
  • Demetra English, broker, Real Estate Partners
  • Scott Flores, CEO, Die Cut Technologies
  • Kimberly Dawn French, global marketing manager, Bonfils Blood Center
  • Diedra Garcia, president and CEO, DRG Construction Corp.
  • Eyamide Garrett, broker associate, Herman Group Real Estate
  • Alicia Chai Hong Chong Gillis, president, Skyworks, Inc.
  • Juan Carlos Gomez, owner, City Design, LLC
  • Melissa Heck, project manager, Centerpoint
  • William Jackson, Jr., owner, Modus
  • Cathy Johnson, president, Latitude 39 Engineering and Development Services
  • Abraham Kalat, co-owner, Jasmine’s International
  • Nick Lovato, president, CyberCon Consulting, Inc.
  • Eugene Lucero, president, E. Lucero and Company, Inc.
  • John Lucero, broker, Lucero Real Estate, Inc.
  • Dana Malas, associate broker, Dana Investments Corp.
  • Travis Martinez, director of business development, Colon-Collawn Construction
  • Virginia McAllister, principal, Iron Horse Architects
  • Andrea Mimnaugh, historic preservation planner, City of Littleton
  • Sofia Pedraza, account manager, Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation
  • Doris Rigoni, assistant vice president, Chicago Title of Colorado
  • Terri Rittner, attorney, Moye White, LLP
  • Andreanna Sandomire, broker associate, The Nesbitt Group
  • MiYeon Seo, partner, 5280 Real Estate Solutions, LLC
  • David Thompson, president and CEO, NetWorth Investment Properties
  • James Watson, senior vice president sales, ARRIS Solutions
  • Stacy Williams, senior rehabilitation specialist, Northeast Denver Housing Center
  • Darcy Wilson, CEO, Stan-Mar Inc.
  • Janice Wilson, principal, Wilson Prim
  • Leslie Wilson
  • Stephanie Welsh, co-owner, Fins LLC
  • Penelope Zeller, client services department, Your Castle Real Estate

Participants will be matched in groups with the following mentors:

  • Frank Cannon, Continuum Partners
  • Chris Coble, Alliance Development Solutions, LLC
  • Nanci Kerr, Sky to Ground, LLC
  • Tom Markham, Lowry Redevelopment Authority
  • Ray Pittman, Pittman Development Group
  • Mike Zoellner, RedPeak Properties