Keynote: County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy

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  Aisha N. Braveboy

  Aisha N. Braveboy was elected County Executive of Prince George's County on June 3, 2025, during a special election and was sworn in as County Executive on June 19, 2025, after serving six years as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney. Remaining true to our commitment of service, In her last two days as State’s Attorney, Ms. Braveboy remained focused on delivering justice for the people of Prince George’s County. She was engaged in a two-week jury trial that resulted in a first-degree murder conviction. She also took immediate action on two of her key priorities as County Executive: Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and public safety. Anticipating the removal of the PGCPS Superintendent, she acted quickly to unite stakeholders behind her choice of an Interim Superintendent. She also identified and rallied support for a new Police Chief, an internal candidate from the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) who is community-focused and deeply familiar with the County. County Executive Braveboy is a lifelong public servant, uniquely distinguished in County history for having served in all three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. She was twice elected State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, first in 2018 and again in 2022, representing over one million residents. In that role, she managed a $24 million budget and a staff of over 200. As the County’s top law enforcement officer, she secured over a 90% conviction rate in homicide cases and implemented programs to reduce recidivism, support survivors of domestic violence, address hate crimes, and combat gun violence. As County Executive, she will continue to advance a comprehensive public safety strategy to build stronger, safer communities. Ms. Braveboy began her public service career in the Executive Branch of County government, where she gained expertise in the County’s budget process and worked on major projects such as the development of the National Harbor and Woodmore Towne Center. She learned the importance of cross-branch collaboration to achieve results. Later, she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates to represent the 25th Legislative District. As the youngest chair (at the time) of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, she led the passage of key legislation including raising the school dropout age from 16 to 18 to help young people avoid life-altering decisions that would hinder future success. While serving in the legislature, Ms. Braveboy also started her own law practice. When the mortgage crisis struck, she took on many clients pro bono and held foreclosure mitigation workshops across the County, connecting attorneys, lenders, and distressed homeowners. After eight years in the legislature, she became Manager of Government Affairs at Children’s National, where she led the effort to bring a Children’s National outpatient clinic to Woodmore Towne Center. There, she also championed the educational rights of hospitalized children with disabilities and developed trauma-informed training for resource officers and judges. Ms. Braveboy has said she loved her job as State’s Attorney, but it was from that vantage point that she saw the unmet needs of County residents. Her cumulative experience in County government, the State Legislature, private practice, and law enforcement has refined her leadership and administrative abilities. County Executive Braveboy is a promise-keeper. Her priorities include cleaning up County communities, streets, and roadways to reflect residents’ values; making Prince George’s County Public Schools the best in Maryland; focusing on job creation and youth investment; and maintaining a strong commitment to public safety. She has begun assembling a team of experienced professionals to help advance these priorities. Born in Washington, D.C., Ms. Braveboy is a proud product of Prince George’s County Public Schools and a graduate of Largo High School. She earned a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 2000. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar the same year.

  Prince George's County

  County Executive

  Keynote

  Aisha N. Braveboy

  County Executive

  Prince George's County

Recognizing Transformation in Prince George's County: Catalyzing Regional Economic Development, Housing, and CRE Opportunity

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  Dr. Gina Merritt

  Dr. Gina Merritt is an award-winning, experienced real estate developer specializing in community development. She has been involved in over 8,000 units of housing in various stages of development, managing the entitlement process, structuring and securing the required financing, managing the design, and the overall construction process. Dr. Merritt has expertise in managing large development projects with complicated financing and ownership structures. She has also underwritten over $4.0 billion in real estate transactions. Her real estate development expertise includes mixed-use development, apartments, condominiums, single-family homes, and public-private real estate transactions. NREUV's recent real estate advisory engagements include consulting for the University of Virginia on its Affordable Housing Initiative and consulting for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority on their Sustainability Study. NREUV is also managing over $300M in development for its own account. Project Community Capital®(PCC), an award-winning economic empowerment platform, was founded by Dr. Merritt in 2008 and redesigned in 2021 to include the Collective Impact Model. PCC is an innovative platform that bridges the social capital required to connect residents and businesses of underestimated communities with employment and economic opportunities. PCC works with developers, contractors, and public agencies to place individuals in construction and permanent employment. PCC also hosts Heighten the Hustle™, an entrepreneurship accelerator that helps stand-up businesses that operate informally within a neighborhood we serve with our real estate projects. Dr. Merritt earned a BBA from Howard University, MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia, and a Doctorate in Social Innovation at the University of Southern California. Dr. Merritt's recent industry recognitions include the Stevie Award for Changemaker of the Year-Race, Baltimore Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity Award 2022, Enterprising Women of the Year Award 2022, and the Social Innovation Summit Award-Economic Empowerment 2022. She resides in Baltimore, Maryland, with her husband and daughter.

  Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures

  Principal

  Dr. Gina Merritt

  Principal

  Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures

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  Ken Ulman

  Ken Ulman serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Economic Development and President of the Terrapin Development Company. In his roles at the University of Maryland and Terrapin Development Company, Ken strives to realize the concept of “Greater College Park.” Ken brings together the private, public and institutional sectors to turn College Park into the next great college town by creating a vibrant downtown community, dynamic academic spaces and create a public-private research hub for tech talent. In his time working for the University of Maryland, Ken has been integral locating major companies such as Cybrary, Adobe, Capital One, IonQ, WeWork, and Trader Joes in College Park. Ulman also teaches BSOS and Government and Politics 388, Innovation in the Public Sector, where he is honored to have taught brilliant UMD students for the past 8 years. Ulman previously served two terms as Howard County Executive, where he earned a reputation for a leadership style that blends innovation and common sense, with a goal of providing the most efficient and effective government services possible. During his time in public office, Ulman took Maryland’s sixth largest jurisdiction to new heights in education, healthcare, environmental protection and economic development. Ken has won numerous awards, and was named a Tech Titan by Washingtonian Magazine, a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer and Driver by Government Technology Magazine and a Regional Visionary by the Greater Baltimore Committee. Ken is a past president of the Maryland Association of Counties and served as chairman of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, as well as serving on several boards including Shock Trauma, the Merriweather Arts and Culture Center, and the College Park City University Partnership. Ken lives in Columbia, Maryland, with his wife, Jaki, a fellow Terp herself, and has two daughters, Maddie and Lily. Maddie is a senior at the University of Maryland College Park.

  Terrapin Development Company

  President

  Ken Ulman

  President

  Terrapin Development Company

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  Omar Karim

  Mr. Karim has served as President of Banneker since its founding in 2005. Banneker has grown from a boutique real estate development firm to a diversified, full-service real estate and construction firm specializing in facilities and construction management with federal, state and local clients. Since its founding, Mr. Karim has been responsible for Banneker winning more than $30MM in contracts and overseeing the construction of more than $200MM in public and private projects. Prior to founding Banneker, Mr. Karim served as General Counsel for a Washington, D.C. based development company. Before that, he served as a Corporate Associate with a large New York law firm. Mr. Karim received a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University where he was a member of The Howard Law Journal and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, also from Howard, where he became the first undergraduate student to serve two terms on the University’s Board of Trustees.

  Banneker Ventures

  President

  Omar Karim

  President

  Banneker Ventures

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  Scooter Monroe

  As Managing Partner of Workhorse Residential, Scooter Monroe brings over 20 years of expertise in developing commercial and multifamily projects in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. ​ Mr. Monroe has collaborated with some of the nation’s leading developers on high-profile projects. He spent a decade under the Sagamore Ventures umbrella, the family office of Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, where he served as Director of Development and VP of Office Leasing for Weller Development Partners and MAG Partners on the Baltimore Peninsula project—one of the largest urban redevelopment initiatives in the United States. Prior to this, he held development roles with two multifamily affordable housing developers and gained valuable experience at The Cordish Companies, a nationally recognized developer known for its work in entertainment, gaming, and hospitality. ​ Throughout his career, Mr. Monroe has developed a comprehensive skill set encompassing property management and ground-up development for multifamily, senior housing, and hospitality assets. He has also spearheaded retail renovations, industrial/flex redevelopments, and facilitated a landmark retail investment sale that achieved the highest per square foot price in Washington, D.C. history.

  Workhorse Residential

  Managing Partner

  Scooter Monroe

  Managing Partner

  Workhorse Residential

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  John Childress

  John T. Childress holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rutgers University School of Business. John is certified trainer/facilitator in the Predictive Index, Balanced Scorecard, and Kauffman FastTrac tools and programs. John began his career with Domino’s Pizza where he became one of the first African American Franchisees in the 4,000-store chain. John served as Executive Director of the African American Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia. John was chosen by New York City Business Solutions to facilitate and train entrepreneurs and trained over 3,000 and launched the groundbreaking Food Business Pathways Program, trained over 350 people on starting a food business with the goal of gaining self-sufficiency. The program was highlighted in Wall Street Journal New York Teaches Food Business to Public Housing Residents. In 2018, John joined Mosaic Development Partners as Director of Business Development. His vast professional experience is integral to managing the needs of the MDP team, for which he leads major development projects and special projects including master planning and strategic higher education support. John was promoted to SVP of Development & Special Projects has helped build the Mosaic pipeline of impactful development projects while supporting Mosaic’s growth in Prince George’s county, Delaware, and other new areas.

  Mosaic Development Partners

  VP of Development & Special Projects

  John Childress

  VP of Development & Special Projects

  Mosaic Development Partners

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  Perry Paylor

  Perry Paylor is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County, bringing more than 25 years of legal and leadership experience to the role. A seasoned attorney and committed public servant, Paylor has built a distinguished career centered on justice, community development, and civic engagement. He began his legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County, where he prosecuted serious criminal cases, including homicides and major drug offenses. From 2003 to 2018, he ran a successful private law practice, representing clients in criminal defense, personal injury, and real estate matters. During this time, he also served as General Counsel to the Redevelopment Authority from 2003 to 2010, providing legal counsel on real estate development projects and public-private partnerships. Notably, he played a key role in the issuance of bond financing in connection with the National Harbor project—one of the most significant economic development initiatives in the county’s history. In addition to his legal work, Paylor is deeply committed to education and community service. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Bowie State University and remains actively involved in civic and faith-based organizations, including Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the National Hampton Alumni Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

  Redevelopment Authority, Prince George's County

  Executive Director

  Perry Paylor

  Executive Director

  Redevelopment Authority, Prince George's County

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  Ebony Stocks

  Ebony Stocks is the Interim President & CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (PGCEDC). She leads initiatives focused on economic growth, business retention, and strategic partnerships in Prince George’s County. Ebony has developed and managed key programs including Grow Prince George’s, the Step Forward Initiative for women entrepreneurs, and the Pathways Series for business education, as well as the EmpowerHer Global Business Summit, which has connected over 200 women entrepreneurs. Previously, she managed the county’s $50 million Economic Development Incentive Fund, supporting business expansion efforts. Ebony holds a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Strayer University. She is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (CEcD) and serves on the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Board and Membership Committee.

  Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation

  President & CEO

  Moderator

  Ebony Stocks

  President & CEO

  Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation

Reimagining Growth: Mixed-Use, Industrial, Transit and the Rise of Urban Hubs

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  Andrew Roud

  Mr. Roud joined St. John Properties in 2009. As Regional Partner of Southern Maryland, he oversees the comprehensive acquisition, development, construction, leasing, and asset/property management activities for the firm’s portfolio in Prince George’s County, St. Mary’s County, Charles County and Wicomico County. He holds a degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, and is a graduate of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2012. Mr. Roud is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland College Park, frequent guest lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University. He also serves as Chair of the University of Maryland Medical System Community Advisory Council (Bowie) and board member for both the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation and the Charles County Economic Development Advisory Board.

  St. John Properties

  Regional Partner, Southern Maryland

  Andrew Roud

  Regional Partner, Southern Maryland

  St. John Properties

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  Stacy Kaplowitz

  Stacy Kaplowitz is the Vice President/Managing Regional Partner at Lincoln Avenue Communities where she leads the firm’s growing Regional Project Partner Development platform and runs her own deal pipeline in the Mid-Atlantic.  Previously, Stacy was with KCG Development where she established and grew the firm’s Mid-Atlantic portfolio, worth over $210 million. Stacy has more than 18 years of professional experience in infrastructure and affordable multifamily development and P3 (‘public private partnership’) real estate advisory. Prior to KCG, Stacy was with Brailsford and Dunlavey, where she and her team developed student housing master plans for clients such as Rutgers University and George Mason University, and expertly advised clients on how to position workforce housing as a valuable recruitment tool. Early in her career, as a Development Director at Herman & Kittle Properties and Project Manager at DMA Development Co., Kaplowitz oversaw the development of more than 650 affordable rental housing units worth over $119 million in Texas, Louisiana, and the Mid-Atlantic. Prior to that, she was a real estate officer for the District of Columbia. Stacy serves as Chair on the Rockville Housing Enterprises Board in her hometown of Rockville, MD. Lincoln Avenue Communities is one of the country’s leading developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for low- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. It serves more than 50,000 residents across 28 states, with a portfolio of more than 155 properties comprising 27,000 units.

  Lincoln Avenue Communities

  VP & Managing Regional Project Partner

  Stacy Kaplowitz

  VP & Managing Regional Project Partner

  Lincoln Avenue Communities

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  Nia Rubin

  As Acting Vice President and Director of Real Estate Development at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (“Metro”), Nia oversees the agency’s Office of Real Estate and Development, which includes its transit-oriented real estate development, parking, and asset management functions. In July, Metro released a Progress Report highlighting key accomplishments and new strategies since publishing its 10-Year Strategic Plan for Joint Development. Nia leverages two decades of real estate experience, combining private sector insights with public sector expertise, to transform publicly owned properties into economic catalysts and placemaking opportunities. In the Washington DC region, recent notable achievements in the last 3 years include the closing of 8 projects resulting in the delivery of 1500 residential units, soliciting and selecting developers for three new development opportunities and the opening of an award-winning LEED- Platinum office building for the new Metro Headquarters. Nia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Design from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development and Investment from NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate.

  WMATA

  Director, Real Estate Development

  Nia Rubin

  Director, Real Estate Development

  WMATA

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  Thomas Penny

  Thomas Penny is President of Donohoe Hospitality Services LLC (DHS). As the senior leader of Donohoe Hospitality, Thomas guides the operation of a portfolio of 11 business class hotels, which are affiliated with the Marriott, Hilton, and InterContinental Hotels Group. Thomas’ leadership responsibilities for DHS include strategic planning, overall operational direction, development and acquisition of properties, and long-term financial and capital planning. Thomas is a career hospitality professional with multi-brand hotel experience and a history of achieving above-average results in the areas of employee satisfaction, guest satisfaction, market share and profitability. Thomas joined The Donohoe Companies in 1996 and he has shared a successful 21+ year career with the company in both a developmental and hands-on operational capacity. In his most recent role with Donohoe Hospitality, Thomas served as General Manager at DHS’ Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center (CMCC) where he was responsible for oversight of the hotel’s day-to-day operations, guest service training, and strategic management of financial performance. During his nine year tenure as General Manager, the property achieved the 2nd highest RevPAR of any Marriott brand in the city for four consecutive years (Ritz Carlton excluded). Additionally, the hotel maintained the highest guest satisfaction score of any Courtyard in the city two of the last three years. Prior to his role as CMCC General Manager, Thomas served as Assistant General Manager at DHS’ Holiday Inn Capitol where he shared responsibility for 250 employees and $40 million in annual operating revenues. In this position, Thomas served as the hotel’s guest service culture leader, while also mentoring the growth and development of his staff.

  Donohoe Hospitality

  President

  Thomas Penny

  President

  Donohoe Hospitality

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  John Cruz III

  John B. Cruz III began his involvement and interest in the construction industry as a youth working summers and weekends in the construction business for his father John “Bertie” Cruz, the owner of a carpentry subcontracting firm he founded in 1948. After graduating from Wentworth Institute, John started his career in the company as superintendent and estimator. As the company grew and became primarily a general contracting firm, John became president and general manager. Under his leadership the company grew, diversified and expanded into real estate development and property management, developing mainly low and moderate-income housing developments. Now, Cruz Construction is one of the leading minority-owned construction firms in the nation. Under John’s leadership, Cruz Companies, which also include Cruz Development Corporation and Cruz Management Company, have built a reputation of excellence in their field, producing landmark projects like The Fortress building and The Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. Cruz recently developed and is in the process of building out The Residences at Harvard Commons, a 54-unit, market-rate, single-family home subdivision in Dorchester. Through the work of his companies, John Cruz is committed to increasing affordable housing opportunities, providing good jobs to area residents and hiring other minority businesses.

  Cruz Companies

  CEO

  John Cruz III

  CEO

  Cruz Companies

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  Remi Mignott

  Director of Site Acquisition

  Pivot Energy

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  Peter Goldsmith

  Peter works with real estate developers, multi-family companies, homebuilders, property owners, institutional organizations, and retailers to navigate the regulatory processes in Prince George’s County. He has helped clients obtain special exceptions, zoning variances, rezonings, site plan approvals, and permits, among other entitlements. Peter appears before the Prince George’s County Planning Board, the Prince George’s County District Council, the Prince George’s County Zoning Hearing Examiner, the Board of Appeals, and municipal legislatures. Peter regularly interacts with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning’s Prince George’s County Planning Department and the County’s Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. In addition to being able to manage land use and permitting matters involving local government agencies, Peter is known for his depth of knowledge of the law and his ability to handle land use cases in the Maryland circuit and appellate courts. Peter served as a former Senior Counsel to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, where he worked with the Prince George’s County Planning Board and Prince George’s County Planning Department. He advised on matters related to master planning, zoning, subdivision, site plans, sectional map amendments, natural resources, historic preservation, the Prince George’s County Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance, the Maryland Forest Conservation Act, and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act.

  Lerch, Early & Brewer

  Principal

  Moderator

  Peter Goldsmith

  Principal

  Lerch, Early & Brewer

Opening Remarks

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  Eric Morales

  Eric Morales is the Maryland Market President of United Bank, a premier community bank headquartered in Greater Washington, D.C. As Market President, he is responsible for the management and operation of all nine United Bank offices in the Maryland Market, including maintaining client relationships and new business development. Morales has an extensive background in commercial real estate lending, having financed the acquisition and construction of multiple commercial and residential real estate projects in and around the D.C. metro area. He is also active in the local community, notably with United’s financial literacy programs, educating local youth through the Bank’s Teach Children to Save initiative, and volunteering with Junior Achievement Finance Park. He has also served on the board of numerous organizations, most recently with the Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Eric was a proud recipient of the Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40 awards in 2024. Prior to his time at United Bank, Morales worked as a Financial Manager at TIER REIT, Inc. and a senior associate at EY. Morales holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

  United Bank

  Market President

  Eric Morales

  Market President

  United Bank