Multifamily Development: Addressing the Issue of Housing

Delivering More Units in a High-Demand, High-Cost Environment

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  Alex Corrales

  CEO

  Worcester Housing Authority

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  Ricky Beliveau

  Managing Partner

  V10 Development

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  Rich Mazzocchi

  With over 25 years of multifamily housing experience, Mr. Mazzocchi is responsible for leading the development initiatives and asset management functions of Tremont. During his tenure at Boston Capital, he gained extensive expertise in both affordable and market rate multifamily housing sectors, including the investment of over $1 billion in communities throughout the US. Mr. Mazzocchi served as the Director of Acquisitions in Boston Capital’s market rate housing group and was involved in the acquisition/development of over 12,500 multifamily units representing $1.5 billion of assets. Mr. Mazzocchi received a BS in Finance from Babson College and an MBA from Northeastern University.

  Tremont Development Partners

  Principal

  Rich Mazzocchi

  Principal

  Tremont Development Partners

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  Aksel Solberg

  In his 12 years of experience, Aksel has worked on many project types, including historic preservation, residential, commercial, industrial, offices, religious, educational, and museums. After many years involved in various community and industry organizations, Aksel has developed a talent for building trusting relationships with clients, consultants, and co-workers. His breadth of knowledge allows him to bring a unique perspective to every project. With an eye for detail and architectural design principles, Aksel ensures that every project is one of which clients and designers can be proud.

  HFA - Architecture + Engineering

  Development Design Studio Lead

  Aksel Solberg

  Development Design Studio Lead

  HFA - Architecture + Engineering

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  Brittany Gesner

  Brittany serves as VHB’s New England Industrial Team Leader and dedicates her time to ensuring VHB is actively building relationships with industrial clients, tracking, and prepositioning for industrial opportunities. She provides quality assurance to industrial development projects to ensure VHB is always delivering excellence for their clients. She manages projects providing site/civil, permitting, traffic, and environmental services for industrial developments, including warehouse, last-mile distribution, manufacturing, cold-storage and GMP facilities.

  VHB

  Principal

  Brittany Gesner

  Principal

  VHB

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  Samantha McDonald

  Samantha McDonald is an experienced, client-focused real estate lawyer at Bowditch, concentrating on business and real estate property law. She represents a wide range of clients and matters, including buyers and sellers of commercial real estate, land use, zoning, and development matters, leasing, and surrounding property issues. Samantha's clients include developers, nonprofits, manufacturers, retail, restaurants and educational institutions.

  Bowditch

  Partner

  Moderator

  Samantha McDonald

  Partner

  Bowditch

Growing Worcester: Attracting Business, Development and Investment

Building the Foundation for Long-Term Job Creation and Industry Expansion

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  Craig Blais

  President

  Worcester Business Development Corporation

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  Peter Dunn

  Chief Development Officer

  City of Worcester

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  Bo Menkiti

  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.

  Menkiti Group

  CEO

  Bo Menkiti

  CEO

  Menkiti Group

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  Steve Gentilucci

  Steve Gentilucci is a Vice President and 26-year veteran at Consigli Construction Co., Inc., a 100% employee-owned leading construction manager in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Caribbean. Steve oversees the firm’s self-perform division, Riggs, which is the largest of its kind in New England. This level of self-performance enhances Consigli's projects and ensures additional management oversight, leading to improved cost control, scheduling, safety, and quality for clients. Steve has been named to the 2023 Worcester Business Journal’s Power 50 List, and he serves on several boards of directors and trustees for organizations including the Working for Worcester, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, the Worcester Strategic Opportunities Foundation Board, and Massachusetts Laborers Health and Welfare Fund. Steve graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

  Consigli

  Vice President

  Steve Gentilucci

  Vice President

  Consigli

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  Marina Taylor

  Marina Taylor is Senior Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager, at Fidelity Cooperative Bank, bringing extensive experience in commercial lending since earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Dowling College in Oakdale, New York. She began her career in New York City, where she worked for six years before relocating to Massachusetts in the early 2000s. Since then, Marina has dedicated her career to serving local community banks, where she is passionate about helping businesses thrive and strengthening the communities they serve. Deeply committed to giving back, Marina has volunteered with the Center for Women and Enterprise, served as a mentor with Girls Inc., and held board positions with Dress for Success and the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC), where she currently serves as treasurer. She is also a trustee of Worcester State University. A resident of Sutton, Massachusetts, Marina is proud to combine her professional expertise with her dedication to community service, continuing to make a meaningful impact both inside and outside the banking world.

  Fidelity Bank

  SVP - Commercial Relationship Manager

  Marina Taylor

  SVP - Commercial Relationship Manager

  Fidelity Bank

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  Mark Borenstein

  Mark A. Borenstein is a partner in Prince Lobel’s Real Estate Practice Group. Mark is a skilled real estate attorney who represents clients in complex land use matters, acquisitions and dispositions, and leasing matters. Mark has significant experience assisting clients with the permitting and development of commercial, residential, mixed-use, industrial, life science and institutional projects across Central Massachusetts. He is a lifelong resident of Worcester, so clients rely on Mark for his comprehensive knowledge of the local Worcester community, culture, and businesses. He is known by his clients and colleagues as an inventive professional with a unique ability to bring different parties together. Mark also counsels clients in the food and beverage space. He represents breweries, wineries,

  Prince Lobel

  Partner

  Moderator

  Mark Borenstein

  Partner

  Prince Lobel

Opening Remarks

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  Darnell Dunn

  Director of Business Recruitment

  Worcester Chamber of Commerce