Pink Collar Housing and Issues Affecting Women of Color in CRE
Wed Feb 26
10:30 AM — 11:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time
Hilton Atlanta, Grand Ballroom D, Level 2
This engaging roundtable, led by Lisa Benjamin and Althea Broughton, brings together top African American Executive Women who are fostering innovation and leading in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry to explore the challenges and opportunities in housing development, investment, and economic mobility. Panelists will discuss barriers to entry, access to capital, and workforce housing disparities, particularly the impact of Pink Collar Housing - affordable housing critical for women in professions like teaching and nursing.
The discussion will also address systemic challenges facing women developers and CRE professionals, including navigating capital markets, overcoming bias in deal-making, and scaling projects. Additionally, panelists will examine how shifting policies and the evolving political landscape shape funding, tax incentives, and regulations affecting women entrepreneurs and affordable housing development. With a focus on economic opportunity, industry inclusion, and long-term sustainability, this session will offer actionable strategies and policy insights to empower women leaders in CRE and drive meaningful change in housing investment.
The discussion will also address systemic challenges facing women developers and CRE professionals, including navigating capital markets, overcoming bias in deal-making, and scaling projects. Additionally, panelists will examine how shifting policies and the evolving political landscape shape funding, tax incentives, and regulations affecting women entrepreneurs and affordable housing development. With a focus on economic opportunity, industry inclusion, and long-term sustainability, this session will offer actionable strategies and policy insights to empower women leaders in CRE and drive meaningful change in housing investment.
Speakers
Moderator
Moderator
Partner Lexicon Strategies
Lisa Y. Benjamin, CPA, is a partner at Atlanta-based consultant firm Lexicon Strategies that specializes in public affairs, media, marketing, and strategic consulting engagements for national and international firms. She is the former Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta where she was the highest-ranking public official appointed by Mayor Andre Dickens. She previously led a staff of 8,500 and was responsible for city…
Moderator
Moderator
Partner, Real Estate Practice Group Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP
Althea Broughton is a partner in Arnall Golden Gregory’s Real Estate Practice. Ms. Broughton represents developers, government agencies and tax credit investors in affordable and workforce housing transactions, mixed-use and urban redevelopment transactions, transactions and conventional real estate transactions. Through her work, Ms. Broughton has played a critical role in the creation or preservation of tens of thousands of units of affordable and workforce housing.…
Panelist
Panelist
Vice President, Real Estate Development Enterprise Community Development, Inc.
Shelynda Burney Brown, M.B.A. is the Vice President Real Estate Development at Enterprise Community Development (formerly CPDC), and she is responsible for business development as well as all aspects of acquisitions and redevelopment projects undertaken by ECD. Mrs. Brown has worked in the affordable housing finance industry for over 20 years and has managed projects comprising over 4000 units totaling over $425 million in development…
Panelist
Panelist
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer T. Dallas Smith & Co.
Audra is a senior real estate executive who transitioned into tenant representation following a 23-year career in telecommunications including time with BellSouth and Earthlink. She performed in several senior management roles, including call center management, marketing, product management and national special projects. Audra has worked in tenant representation with JLL, CBRE and Newmark between Atlanta and Washington DC. She represents law firms, non-profits, corporations and…
Panelist
Panelist
Principal Radiant Development Partners
Sharon D. Guest has been working in the affordable housing arena for more than 25 years. She has been directly involved in the financing and development of more than 50 housing projects totaling nearly $850MM in total development costs. In her various roles, Sharon has partnered with Churches, Non-profits, and Public Housing Authorities. She has worked in partnership with local municipalities, community development departments, housing…
Panelist
Panelist
Principal Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures
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 won over 30 awards, 11 in the last year. Her work has also impacted more…