Dr. Danny Avula took office as the 81st Mayor of the City of Richmond on January 1, 2025.

Before his election to public office, Danny served the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts for 12 years, including 6 years as its Director. There, he championed efforts to increase access to care for the most vulnerable residents of our community, prioritized the voices of those with lived experience, lifted up the intersection of housing and health, and addressed the root causes that shape health outcomes-especially poverty and race.

In January 2021, Governor Northam appointed Danny to lead Virginia's COVID-19 vaccination effort. He jumpstarted a struggling vaccine rollout and elevated the Commonwealth from 50th to one of the top 10 most-vaccinated states in the country. As Virginia emerged from the pandemic, Danny was then appointed as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services by Governor Youngkin, where he led significant transformational work to support families and to create more sustainable pathways out of poverty.

Danny is a pediatrician and works as a hospitalist at Chippenham Hospital.

Born in Hyderabad, India, he immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1979. A father of five, Danny and his wife, Mary Kay, have lived in Richmond's East End for over 20 years. Mary Kay is a teacher with Richmond Public Schools.

Danny holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Johns Hopkins. He was named one of Richmond's "Top Docs" each year from 2013-2022, a Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year in 2019, and Style Weekly's Richmonder of the Year in 2020. In 2017, he won the Dancing With the Richmond Stars contest.

Jason Guillot is a principal at Thalhimer Realty Partners, a commercial real estate developer specializing in mixed-use projects encompassing Class A office, retail, and multifamily. Jason joined Thalhimer in 2007, building a successful career as an office broker before transitioning full-time to development with TRP in 2017. He is currently leading the redevelopment of the Diamond District — a 67-acre, $2.4 billion mixed-use project developed in partnership with the City of Richmond — to create a vibrant new neighborhood anchored by CarMax Park, home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

His portfolio includes a range of past and current projects: Westhampton Commons (the redevelopment of the historic Westhampton School site, including The Crest and The Birney Apartments), Westhampton on Grove, Willow Circle, 1510 Belleville, Scott's Walk, The Spur, C&F Finance HQ, Mission Lane HQ, Brookfield Place, and multiple

medical build-to-suits. Jason has been named twice to the Virginia Business VA 500 Power List, recognized in both 2024 and 2025.

As Managing Director of Acquisitions, Jamie sets acquisitions strategy for the company, as well as sourcing and evaluating all potential acquisitions. From site selection to contract negotiations, through due diligence and entitlement, he manages the financial and administrative aspects of the acquisition process. With over a decade of experience, he leverages his knowledge of capital markets, financial analysis, and investor expectation to ensure that Matan continues to deliver exceptional risk-adjusted returns for both Matan’s high-net-worth and institutional investors.

Jamie joined Matan in 2015, initially serving as an Associate, building out Matan’s Asset Management and Development report process, designing and constructing models to ensure managers had accurate and dynamic tools to manage investments at both the asset and fund-reporting level.

Prior to Matan, Jamie worked as a Financial Analyst at both B.F. Saul Company and Northmarq Capital. Jamie earned his master’s degree in Professional Studies in Real Estate from Georgetown University with a concentration in Finance and his undergraduate degree from Randolph-Macon College in History. He is active in several organizations including DC Real Estate Group, the Urban Land Institute, and Georgetown University alumni groups.

Morgan Blackwood Patel is President of Blackwood Development, a family-run commercial development company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The firm specializes in commercial and mixed-use development across the Commonwealth of Virginia, with an emphasis on long-term ownership and value creation through placemaking and elevated design.

Prior to returning to Richmond, Morgan led large-scale repositioning and development projects at The Meridian Group, a Bethesda, Maryland-based real estate private equity firm. There, she directed tenant experience, design, leasing, and branding across more than 5 million square feet of commercial, residential, hospitality, and retail assets, and played a key role in the launch of The Boro, one of the largest privately held developments in the country, along with Boro Station, 8280, and East Boro in Tysons, and The Aleck at 1400 L and 1901 L in Washington, D.C.

Since joining Blackwood Development, Morgan has worked on projects including Winterfield Crossing in Midlothian, 5069 Forest Hills in Richmond, One Pouncey in Short Pump, and many single-tenant NNN deals across Virginia.

Morgan holds a degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She serves on the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Executive Committee of the Pamplin Business School Advisory Board at Virginia Tech, the Blackwood Department of Real Estate Advisory Board and the Greater Richmond YMCA Board.

Dan Hargett is the Founder and CEO of Roka Partners, a real estate investment and operating platform he launched in 2024. The firm is focused on building a disciplined, fully integrated platform across the markets where people live, work, and connect.
Dan brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. Prior to founding Roka, he began his career at Goldman Sachs in acquisitions and later served as a Principal at Rebkee, where he played a key role in the firm’s growth over a 19-year tenure.
As CEO, Dan leads the firm’s strategic vision, with a focus on investment strategy, capital formation, and platform growth. He is committed to building a disciplined organization that delivers strong performance while developing high-performing teams in a collaborative, accountable environment.
Dan serves on the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Bank and previously served on the board of Christchurch School. He is a member of the Virginia Council of CEOs, the Richmond Real Estate Group, and the VCU Real Estate Center.

Andrew is a Principal and Co-founder of Spy Rock where he focuses on acquisition and development

and management of project teams on all of Spy Rock’s ventures. Andrew relocated to Richmond from

Falls Church in 2007 to start the Virginia Multifamily Development office for Colonial Properties

Trust. From 2001-2007, Andrew was Vice President of Development and Acquisitions for The

Silverwood Companies, a mixed-use, multifamily and land development firm based in Reston, VA.

At Silverwood, he was responsible for the acquisition and development of over 1,000 multifamily

units, including for-sale, market rate rental and LIHTC product.

Andrew holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and is a Board Member of the Home Builder’s

Association of Richmond, an Executive Committee member and former Chair of HBAR’s Multifamily

Council and a member of Virginia Housing’s (VHDA) Rental Advisory Board. Andrew was the

Urban Land Institute’s member of the year for Virginia in 2016.

Monique was appointed Chief of Programs in April 2024. She previously served as

Managing Director of Community Outreach, where she was responsible for fostering

relationships with housing service providers and grant assistance programs across the

Commonwealth. Monique’s lived experience has been a driver for her to pursue a

career in affordable housing. She was drawn to Virginia Housing’s mission because it

aligns so closely with her purpose and passion.

Monique’s career includes over 20 years of experience in affordable housing

development, commercial real estate lending, and organizational strategy and program

operations. She is passionate about solving complex problems and mentoring the next

generation of leaders. Monique also sits on the Board of the Housing Association of

Nonprofit Developers and is a member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Real

Estate Circle of Excellence.

Prior to joining Virginia Housing, Monique was the Chief Operating Officer at the Better

Housing Coalition and Vice President at Virginia Community Capital.

Monique holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth

University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Richmond, and a

Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia.

In her personal time, she enjoys being a mentor, teaching and practicing yoga, and

traveling with her husband Darius and daughter Phoebe.

Christopher Fong joined Hoffman & Associates in 2022, and as Senior Vice President of

Acquisitions, leads acquisition and pre-development efforts for Hoffman & Associates across the

Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, focusing on new pursuits, project conceptualization, entitlements,

joint-venture structuring and capitalization. Christopher’s past project experience at Hoffman &

Associates includes the acquisition and capitalization for The Bower, a mixed-use condominium

project at The Yards in DC.

Prior to joining the company, Christopher served as Vice President of Development for

Penzance, where he oversaw all multifamily acquisitions as well as positions in financial analysis

at Vornado Realty Trust and Avalon Bay Communities, Inc.

Christopher graduated from The College of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in Business

Administration.

Andrew Rubin is Principal of Breakwater Companies, an Annapolis, Maryland real estate development firm active across the East Coast. His experience spans multifamily rentals, land development, adaptive reuse, retail, distressed asset repositioning, and distressed debt. Since founding the firm, Andrew has served as principal on more than 20 projects totaling roughly $250 million. Andrew began his career with a Maryland-based nonprofit developer of affordable housing. Before starting Breakwater, he worked with a large private equity fund acquiring and developing multifamily properties across the United States. He holds a degree in History and City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina.

Peter Ruddy is the founder and president of RUDDY, an institutional property

management firm, founded in 2021 bringing disciplined, owner-aligned 3-rd party

property management to multi-family real estate across the Mid-Atlantic.

Under his leadership, the firm stewards over 5,500 units across 140 communities

in four states — the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida —

managing each asset with the rigor and transparency that institutional owners

expect. A graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.,

and an Accredited Residential Manager, Peter oversees a corporate team of 50+

staff and over 100 field personnel while leading the strategic growth and direction

of RUDDY.

Mr. Smith currently serves as Regional President of United Bank in Southern Virginia.  Prior to United Bank’s acquisition of Essex Bank in 2021,Mr. Smith was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Essex Bank since September 2010. From April 2009 to August 2010, he served as the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. From 2007 to 2009, he was the Central Virginia President for Gateway Bank and Trust and, from 2000 to 2007, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of Richmond.

Prior to that Mr. Smith held Executive positions at Guaranty Bank in Charlottesville Virginia and with Central Fidelity Bank in Richmond, Virginia.

He has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Richmond where he was an Honors Member of Beta Gamma.

He is a published author on many banking topics such as; branch banking, transfer pricing methodologies and retail profitability analysis in the American Banker, ABA Marketing Journal and, the Community Banker. Mr. Smith formally served on the Boards of the March of Dimes and Children’s Hospital of Richmond. He is currently a Board member of Bankers Insurance, LLC.