• Akin Affrica is a lifelong Clevelander who purchased his first investment property 32 years ago. Since then he has closed on well over 400+ real estate projects. He is currently renovating 12 townhomes, 1 single family home, 1 mixed-use property and 2 new construction residential properties. His goal for 2025 is to complete 8-12 residential new construction properties and redevelop a commercial property into a food hall for at least a dozen entrepreneurs. He is also a restaurateur with 8 current restaurants, including Zanzibar Soul Fusion’s several locations and Angie’s Soul Cafe, and 2 more to open soon.

• Jenice Contreras is President and CEO of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development, overseeing the NEO Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Her work includes CentroVilla25 project, a $12 million adaptive reuse initiative that is set to revitalize a 32,500 square foot warehouse into a thriving community asset in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. She has served on several key boards in Greater Cleveland and is a member of the City of Cleveland’s Planning Commission’s Near West Design Review Committee and Cuyahoga County’s Citizen Advisory Council on Equity.

Naji H. Kelley is the founding principal of NHK Companies, a minority and veteran-owned real estate investment and development firm focused on transforming communities through responsible development and asset stewardship. He has an extensive background in media and communications, logistics, information technology and business development. He is an active NAIOP Northern Ohio member serving on their Government Affairs Committee.

• Tracey Kirksey is the Center Director of the Rose Centers for Aging Well, an affiliate of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. She pursued and received her real estate license not so much to sell property, but to learn how to acquire it. She has purchased, renovated, managed or sold properties in Washington, D.C.; Cleveland; and Richmond,VA. After returning to her hometown of Cleveland, her real estate work includes helping families build custom market homes in Hough, market rate new construction in Glenville, historic renovations, single family and senior housing utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and retail and commercial developments.

Gary Martin in the past year started a company that buys and operates residential property management firms in the Midwest. Prior to that, he worked in equity research and mergers and acquisitions for First Brands Group, Lincoln Electric and Northcoast Research.

• Ishmael Martin has 19 years of experience as a real estate developer and is the founder of Martin Premier Homes. He has developed, completed and sold homes in Cleveland, Maple Heights, South Euclid and Shaker Heights.

• Michael Mendoza is associate broker at FASS Real Estate Services, specializes in helping business professionals and investors buy, sell, lease and manage commercial and residential real estate. Prior to joining FASS, he spent more than 12 years as a Cleveland Clinic Administrator, managing hospital operations and physician practices. His Clinic real estate work included oversight of building several surgery centers and leasing medical office space for physician practices. He is a life-long resident of Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood and volunteers time with Community Development Corporations and non-profit boards in Cleveland.

• Brandon Moore has worked in construction management and as a project manager with Marous Brothers on Cleveland area projects including apartment buildings, corporate headquarters, office renovations as well as projects like the new Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters Building and many of the new CMSD schools. Brandon is a licensed Real Estate Agent, and he went to college at The Ohio State University with the goal of coming back to Cleveland to help rebuild the city.

Alex Quinones is a real estate investor and developer with 18 years of experience managing contractors and renovation crews on Cleveland project. “I strive to demonstrate the highest level of integrity and commitment, and to bring a little fun into every real estate transaction and development. I’ve lived here all my life and I love helping and working with my Hispanic community on the near west side of Cleveland.” Quinones is a member of the National Construction Coalition for Hispanics.

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Cecil Lipscomb is the President of Case Capital Management. He has been on the board for a number of area non-profits, including The Center for Community Solutions and Eliza Bryant Village. Previously he was Senior Director of Institutes at Cleveland Clinic and worked as Director of Fundraising for Case Western Reserve University’s School of Engineering.

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Carnisha Rodgers who, since relocating to Cleveland in 2020, has developed a profound interest in community development and revitalization. She has 25 years of experience in management and accounting. “I am deeply invested in the future of Northeast Ohio and its neighborhoods, and I am eager to continue contributing to the city’s growth and renewal. My passion for this region fuels my commitment to pushing Cleveland toward a vibrant and prosperous future.”

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Ceyon Swoope has worked in the real estate industry for 25 years, including as a loan officer and Real Estate agent. He now works with his siblings. He found his niche in rehabbing and flipping properties in Northeast Ohio and abroad. Ceyon wants to make housing more affordable, green and sustainable while maintaining functionality and neighborhood aesthetic.

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• Stephen Davis is an experienced affordable housing development professional with over 10 years of development experience in both the public and private sectors. Stephen has held key roles as a project coordinator, project manager, senior development, and HUD Choice Grant administrator. He has successfully overseen the development of more than 1,200 units of affordable and workforce housing across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. In 2022, he co-founded Pantheon Innovative Builders, focusing on affordable housing development, 3D-Printed Construction, and workforce development and training.

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