NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The African American Real Estate Professionals of DC (AAREP DC – www.aarepdc.org), the premier trade organization for African Americans within the Washington DC Metropolitan Area commercial real estate industry, today announced the addition of 21 new members to its 2012 Board of Directors. During their one-year terms, each board member will be responsible for governing AAREP DC, including developing programming and promoting its mission, vision and values to new and prospective members.
"Our new board includes some of the most influential members of Washington, D.C.'s real estate community," says Brandey Rodgers, immediate past president, AAREP DC. "Their involvement underscores the level of importance that AAREP DC has achieved and their participation will enable us to not just to continue our success, but to robustly build upon it."
Meet the Board
Among the new 2012 board members are:
- Sanders Adu, director, federal government relations at Wells Fargo
- Lisa Anders, director, business development at McKissack & McKissack
- Montez Anderson, senior policy advisor for economic development at Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation
- JR Clark, partner, public finance at Squire Sanders
- Craig Dean, sales representative at Knoll
- Kimberly Driggins, associate director, city wide planning at District of Columbia Office of Planning
- Derrick Ford, consultant and vice chairman of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency
- Kenneth Fuller, treasurer at LaSalle Hotel Properties
- Jacquelyn Glover, business development at Hermosa Construction DC
- Al Grant, managing partner at CGA Financial
- Rickey Green, senior vice president, business banking at Bank of America
- Robin McBride, mid-atlantic chief operating officer of Federal Realty Investment Trust
- Kenyattah Robinson, vice president, public institutions at Jones Lang LaSalle
- Vanassa Coleman Simmons, project manager at James G Davis Construction
- Ashleigh Simpson, associate at MetLife Real Estate Investments
- Chrystal Stowe, director, business development at Smoot Construction
- Kevin Thurman, associate, structured finance at Marcus & Millichap Capital
- James Williams, assistant director, business opportunities and access to capital at District of Columbia Small and Local Business Development
- Shelton Williams, coordinator at Fairfax County Schools Facilities Management & Contracting Section
- Jennefer Witter, president of The Boreland Group
- Anthony Waddell, director, public finance at DC Housing Finance Agency
Looking Forward
AAREP DC, in making the announcement, also outlined its organizational goals for the year. In addition to increasing its membership and public awareness in 2012, AAREP DC plans to garner support from major corporations and introduce those firms to its diverse pool of talent. As part of that effort, the organization will focus on recruiting promising African-American and other minority high school and undergraduate students who may be interested in pursuing a career in development, construction, brokerage or any of the other commercial real estate disciplines. The organization has also recently been incorporated as a 501(c) 3 non-profit and, as such, plans to launch a separate Board of Directors to grow that portion of AAREP DC.
About AAREP DC
Founded in 1995, The African-American Real Estate Professionals of DC (AAREP DC) was created with the purpose of leading in the intellectual, professional and economic development of African-American commercial real estate professionals. The organization has since gained recognition throughout the Washington, DC-area real estate community as a highly successful professional association, known for both the depth of its membership and the success of the programs and activities undertaken by the group. AAREP DC's membership represents every major discipline within the commercial real estate industry and the group offers a wide range of programs and activities including guest speakers addressing relevant industry topics, an entrepreneurship center to support the growing needs of African American entrepreneurs in the commercial real estate industry, an annual awards gala, and an annual golf outing for members and guests. For more information, visit www.aarepdc.org.