Prior to joining CREFC as President & CEO in 2016, she was CREFC’s 2010/2011 President and a member of CREFC’s Board of Governors for over nine years. Ms. Pendergast has 30 years of industry experience in the structured-finance real estate markets. She has been a top-ranked research analyst in the highly competitive Institutional Investor All-American Fixed-Income Research Team and Orion surveys in the CMBS category. Prior to CREFC, Ms. Pendergast was employed by Jefferies LLC as a Managing Director, where she was head of CMBS Strategy and Risk in the Fixed Income Division’s MBS/ABS/CMBS Group. Before joining Jefferies, Pendergast was a Managing Director in the Fixed-Income Strategies Group at

Greenwich Capital/Royal Bank of Scotland, where she worked for eight years. Ms. Pendergast enjoys golfing and long-distance road biking, and spending time on the beaches of Rhode Island with family and friends.

Greg Brown is senior vice president of government affairs at the National Apartment Association (NAA), where he leads advocacy efforts across all levels of government to champion NAA’s policy goals on behalf of housing providers. Under Greg’s leadership and counsel, NAA’s government affairs program has meaningfully expanded its footprint on Capitol Hill and across regulatory agencies, educating and engaging with government leaders, policy influencers and grassroots supporters alike.

Greg has led a number of key housing initiatives for NAA. Most recently, Greg’s leadership helped achieve tangible tax provisions that help housing affordability and secure the bipartisan reintroduction of the Choice in Affordable Housing Act and the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act.

Before his service with NAA, first as vice president of government affairs and now as senior vice president, Greg worked as the associate vice president of government affairs at the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). In this role, Greg led a team of federal legislative directors to coordinate with membership teams and built congressional relationships to implement NAHB’s tactical policy initiatives. Prior to his work at NAHB, Greg was associate director at the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies and the co-director of non-profit development at the Bonner Group.

Greg graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in political science. Greg later went on to receive his masters degree in public administration from American University.

Kathy E. Hollinger serves as the CEO of the Greater Washington

Partnership (GWP), a first-of-its-kind alliance uniting leading

employers across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC to

collaborate in building a vibrant, economically competitive, and

prosperous place to live, work and build a business. Prioritizing

the economic growth of the region, Kathy directs GWP in its

mission to catalyze collaboration, convenings, thought leadership,

and collective action. She connects stakeholders across public,

private, and nonprofit sectors to address shared opportunities and

challenges in some of the region’s most pressing issues, including

skills and talent, regional mobility, infrastructure, and economic

growth and innovation. Through strategic alliances, focused

investments, and pioneering initiatives, she relentlessly works to

find practical, impactful, and visionary solutions to the region’s

challenges.

Prior to GWP, Kathy led the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and its

Educated Eats Foundation as President and CEO. Her tenure marked a period of dramatic

growth for the region’s food service industry, culminating in national recognition including Bon

Appetit’s 2016 Restaurant City of the Year, ZAGAT’s Hottest Food City of 2016, and the

prestigious arrival of the Michelin Guide to Washington, DC in 2016.

Kathy’s leadership has earned widespread recognition. She has been named to the region’s

Power 100 list for five consecutive years (2021-2025), honored as Washington Business

Journal’s COVID-19 Response CEO Leader of the Year, and recognized as the 2021

Washington Woman of Excellence by Mayor Muriel Bowser and Person of the Year by

Downtown DC’s Business Improvement District.

Her career spans public service and private sector leadership. Kathy served on the DC City

Council, working with Councilmembers Charlene Drew Jarvis and Kevin P. Chavous. She was

later appointed Film Commissioner by Mayor Adrian Fenty. Kathy also led external affairs for

Comcast in Washington, DC. She holds degrees from American University and George Mason

University, where she received the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Kathy is an active member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC, and the Chair of

Leadership Greater Washington. She contributes her expertise to the Washington Business

Journal’s Leadership Trust and the American City Business Journals’ Bizwomen Leadership

Council.

Kathy resides in Washington, DC with her husband Anthony, son Bijan, and their dog Kalli.

Derek Ford serves as the Partnership’s President & CEO, where he leads efforts to promote business attraction, retention, and expansion, positioning DC as a global hub for innovation and investment. Since taking the role in November 2023, Ford has redefined WDCEP’s priorities to elevate business retention, connecting with over 1,100 companies in 10 months to strengthen DC’s commercial landscape and inform policy. A seasoned leader with experience in neighborhood revitalization, global economic development, and affordable housing, Ford previously served as WDCEP’s Senior Vice President of Neighborhood Development and as Chair of the DC Housing Finance Agency Board, where he oversaw $670 million in affordable housing investments. He also leads DC’s activation at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) conference, expanding the city’s retail footprint. A Ward 7 resident, Ford serves on the boards of AAREP-DC, CFLS, and Bright Beginnings, and holds a B.S. in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University along with executive leadership certifications from The George Washington University and the Wharton School of Business.

Keith Andrew Perry is the Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy at the DC Chamber of Commerce, the leading voice for the business community in the Washington metropolitan area. A nationally recognized authority in government relations, public policy, and nonprofit leadership with a distinguished career spanning decades of transformative impact across public and private sectors.

A seasoned strategist and advocate, Perry has held pivotal roles in some of the nation’s most iconic organizations, including serving as Executive Director of the National Dental Association and the National Bar Association, where he championed equity, access, and systemic reform. As the former Executive Director for Southern Maryland at the American Red Cross, Perry was entrusted with the critical role of State Relations Representative for Maryland, leading high level government engagement and policy initiatives that advanced public health and emergency response efforts across the state.

With a rich background in law and public policy, he holds degrees from Morehouse College and Howard University School of Law and professional certificates from American University and Cornell University. Perry has served as a strategic advisor to foundations and nonprofits in matters of governance and advocacy and was an adjunct professor of Civics and Ethics at the University of the District of Columbia.

Perry has held numerous significant roles in DC Government, including, Mayoral

appointments by Mayor Sharon Pratt as Special Assistant to the Director of the DC

Department of Human Rights and Minority Business Development and Administrator for Community Services, DC Department of Recreation and Parks, serving as Chief of Staff to former Council-Member Kwame Brown and the late Council-Member Marion Barry and more recently as Senior Policy Advisor to former DC Attorney General Karl Racine’s Transition Team.

Widely regarded as a thought leader in DC Politics, government affairs, community

development and nonprofit governance, Perry is a prolific writer and speaker. His published works include critical analysis of public policy alternatives and urban preservation, including conservation efforts at the historic Langston Golf Course, as well as fiction, such as his DC political thriller, War Anthem. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his leadership, including a Maryland General Assembly Official Citation (2025) A US Public Health Service Citation (2022), Professional Service Award from the Eastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (2015), and a Professional Achievement Award from the Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. (2014).

A native Washingtonian, Perry serves as founding Vice Chair of the 1963 Foundation,

Secretary of the Board of Historic Howard Theatre, Inc. He lives on Capitol Hill with his

wife Belinda Kittles Perry, who is an attorney.

Will Rich is Managing Director of Advisory Services at Cavalry Real Estate Advisors, a Falls Church, VA-based real estate tax consulting and advisory services firm. He has more than two decades of experience providing real estate consulting and advisory services, covering all aspects of commercial real estate across the country. His clients have included real estate developers and investors, financial institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies.

Will began his real estate career at Delta Associates, starting as an associate and ultimately becoming president of the firm. Delta Associates, an affiliate of Transwestern Commercial Services, offered consulting, research and advisory services for all property types throughout the United States, including market feasibility, highest and best use, market entry strategies, asset performance enhancement, market due diligence, white papers on special topics, RFP negotiation, valuation analysis, and litigation support.

Will is active in his community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Southwest DC Community Center in addition to other volunteer work. He has also previously served on a variety of boards including the Washington DC Economic Partnership, the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, and the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council. In addition, he is a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE), a member of the National Association of Realtors, and a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Will received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Spanish from American University.

Mr. Oliver T. Carr, III has been the President and Chief Executive Officer at Carr Properties Holdings LP since 2004. Mr. Carr co-founded Carr Capital Corporation in 1994 and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer until 2005. He was responsible for managing Carr Capital, and led managing major acquisitions and financial transactions at the firm. Mr. Carr served as a Director of WashingtonFirst Bankshares, Inc. and its subsidiary WashingtonFirst Bank from December 2012 to May 17, 2013. He served as an Independent Director of Alliance Bankshares Corporation since July 2007. Mr. Carr served as a Director of Alliance Bank Corporation since August 15, 2007 and Alliance Bankshares Corporation since July 2007. He received Master of Science in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992 and his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, with a concentration in Economics, from Trinity College in 1987.

As the Chairman of the Shooshan Company, John Shooshan is responsible for directing and implementing the strategic objectives and goals of the company. His active and dedicated leadership is vital in generating business opportunities and fostering community relationships. John's experience and in-depth knowledge provide guidance for the shared goals of the Shooshan Company team and its partners.

John continually strives to assure that the company presents a strong, positive image to all relevant stakeholders. In 2o08, the Shooshan Company completed the Liberty Center North project, a 1 million square foot, mixed-use project consisting of office, residential and retail space. Today, Mr. Shooshan is leading the Shooshan Company in the completion of the Liberty Center development; Liberty Center South, a 5.35 acre mixed-use project, consists of about 1.2 million SF of density among a significant two acre open park space in the heart of Ballston. In addition, under John's leadership the Shooshan Company recently was reasonable for the redevelopment of Marymount University's Ballston mixed-use campus and has a pipeline of new projects planned; including The Clarendon West project, located in the heart of Clarendon.

John founded the Shooshan Company in 1986. In 2007, he helped form Kodiak Realty Services, LW by combining the property management and engineering services of the Shooshan Company and Fred Schnider Investment Group to create a property management firm to focus on the developed properties. Previously, he served as Mid-Atlantic Regional Partner for Faison & Associates, Inc., Vice President of Development for Cadillac Fairview Urban Development, Inc. John began his career at the Oliver Carr Company, which became Carr America, where he was the Director of Marketing and Leasing. In these capacities, he gained extensive experience in development, financing, property management and acquisitions.

By far, John's proudest achievement is his family. He and his wife Marcia have been happily married for 44 years and have two children and three grandchildren. Their daughter Kelly serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Shooshan Company, and son Kevin is the Managing Director of Kodiak Realty Services and also serves as the Director of Marketing and leasing for The Shooshan Company. Both attended Georgetown University and have followed in their parent's footsteps in multiple ways, including their dedication to the family business, community involvement and charity work.

Education • Bachelor of Science from the University of Delaware.

Bailey has almost 20 years of real estate experience in entitlement, master planning, development, and investment in a diversity of product types. She is currently responsible for a range of investment and development activities across Buchanan’s portfolio. She joined Buchanan from JBG SMITH, where she oversaw the design, entitlement, and investment in over seven million square feet of mixed-use development in the DC Metro Area. Bailey began her career in the investments group at the JBG Companies and has a background in underwriting and joint venture partnerships. She is a member of Urban Land Institute, participating as a member of the Public/Private Partnership Council, serves as Treasurer and Board Member for the Northern Virginia Housing Alliance, serves as a Board Member for Homestretch, and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Washington. Bailey holds a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and she graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies

Bo Menkiti is the Founder and CEO of the Menkiti Group, a real estate company dedicated to transforming lives

and communities through real estate. The Menkiti Group is focused on strengthening neighborhoods through

the strategic development, management, and disposition of real estate in urban markets. Mr. Menkiti also

serves as CEO and is the Founding Partner of Keller Williams Capital Properties, a residential real estate

brokerage managed by the Menkiti Group.

Mr. Menkiti’s work has been featured in David Bornstein’s book on social entrepreneurs “How to Change the

World,” and in Stephen Goldsmith’s “The Power of Social Innovation.” Mr. Menkiti has been recognized

nationally by Ebony and Inc. Magazine as one of the coolest young entrepreneurs in America, and was awarded

The National Association of Realtors Prestigious “30 under 30” award in 2006. Mr. Menkiti was also honored

as a Minority Business Leader by the Washington Business Journal and named to the paper’s 2014 Power 100,

a list of the most influential business leaders in the Washington metropolitan area. He was also recently

honored by the National Association of Realtors as the District of Columbia Realtor of the Year in 2014 and as

Keller Williams Realty International’s 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Under Mr. Menkiti’s leadership, the Menkiti Group and Keller Williams Capital Properties 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.

Prior to forming the Menkiti Group and Keller Williams Capital Properties, 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.

Mr. Menkiti served as the 2013 President of the District of Columbia Association of Realtors and is a board

member of City First Bank of DC and Dance Place. Mr. Menkiti also serves as a member of the Steering

Committee of the Small Business Policy Project and on the board of DC Water, the District of Columbia Water

and Sewer Authority. In 2015, Mr. Menkiti was inducted on the board of the Myer Foundation, the Federal

City Council, and was elected as the Executive Board Member of Prolanthropy. Earlier this year, Mr. Menkiti

launched the Capital Properties Menkiti Group Foundation, an organization that focuses its resources on

serving the diverse social needs existing in the National Capital Area.

Mr. Menkiti is a graduate of Harvard University. He lives in the District with his wife and three young sons.

Gary is the Chief Investment Officer and a Partner of Meridian. Gary is responsible for

acquisitions, capital activities and investor relations.  He also serves as Chair of the Investment

Committee. Gary led the fundraising and investing efforts of Meridian Realty Partners I and II,

Meridian’s discretionary private equity funds raised in 2012 and 2016. Between these two funds,

Gary has completed in excess of $2.5 billion in investments with over $1 billion of equity in 15

transactions.

With over 30 years of industry experience, Gary represented Meridian in its first 3 years of

investments as a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP in Washington, DC. He then headed up the

Real Estate Fund’s Acquisitions Group as a partner at The Carlyle Group, where he led and

completed over $12 billion of investments with $3.4 billion of equity in nearly 200 transactions.

These included the acquisition, development, structured financing, and recapitalization of office,

hotel, retail, residential, industrial, land, senior living, and mixed-use properties. He also led the

firm’s efforts in the formation of Carlyle Realty Partners I, II, III, IV and V – an aggregate of

over $5 billion in investor commitments – before joining The Meridian Group in November

2007.

Gary received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University and his J.D. from The University of Texas

School of Law. Gary is on the Advisory Board for George Washington University Business

School's Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis.

Nick Cumings joined the firm in 2017 and works in the Land Use and Zoning practice group in the Arlington office. He primarily focuses on securing zoning and land use entitlements, including rezonings, special permits, and special exceptions. Before joining the firm, Nick practiced for several years as an associate with the law firm of BrigliaHundley, P.C., where he focused on real estate litigation, title issues, local government, and financial services litigation. Nick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary in 2008 and graduated from William and Mary Law School in 2011, where he was a member of the William and Mary Law Review.

After Nick graduated from law school, he clerked for the honorable Michael F. Devine of the Fairfax Circuit Court. He is an active member of the Fairfax Bar Association and serves as the President-Elect of the Young Lawyers Section. Nick was also named to the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists for Virginia and the District of Columbia.