Corporate Work Experience
My corporate career can be separated into two parts; prior to my academic career after my time in academia. I entered academic in 2007 after spending my five years after high school working as a freelance journalist, Retail Store Manager, and Service Office at a multinational bank. During this time, I covered Texas A&M athletics for Maroon Weekly magazine and hosted my own radio show, "Word on the Street.
After my time at Morehouse and Texas A&M my corporate experiences are my time at the Affordable Housing Corporation (2014-2015) and the time I spent from 2019-2021 working in Education as a Career & Technical Education teacher at Yes Prep in Houston. I enjoy the corporate experience, and welcome the opportunity to work with the right team where I can learn while also utilize my skills in a high stakes rewarding real estate environment.
My introduction to real world affordable housing finance and development programs
Working at the Affordable Housing Corporation was the best thing to happen to me at the time. It validated my research into neighbor revitalization. It helped me see creative deal structures for developing the type of products I wanted to see at the time. Moreover, I was able to begin understanding the regulatory process for income based housing in Texas. I worked with the lenders and moreover the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to understand their products available to affordable housing developers. My primary project during my time with BVAHC was the Falls Creek Ranch subdivision. I presented financial forecasts to the CEO and Board of Directors for the project. I also was in charge of marketing and loan origination for originating in-house mortgage loans.
Falls Creek Ranch
The project helped spur more supply for homes at the time priced between 120K-150K by promoting homeownership and affordable construction to indigenous populations via home buyer seminars, credit building workshop, and real estate brokerage services
Opportunity Finance
Performed feasibility analysis by establishing a base proforma to qualify buyers for second position liens for forgivable down payment assistance loans from Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
Affordable Housing Development
Worked in partnership with Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation to establish financing structure, operating budget and construction estimates include project hard/soft costs
Certified Housing & Urban Development Housing Counselor
During my time at BVAHC, in partnership with the Wells Fargo Foundation, Neighbor Works awarded a grant to fund HUD-approved housing counseling services that I delivered twice a month to prospective buyers as part of the delivery of our Falls Creek Ranch subdivision.
Alternative Lending opens doors for underserved populations
Another project I managed is the Affordable Small Dollar Loan Program. An alternative lending product to steer my clients away from preparatory pay day lending loans. The BBVA Compass Foundation provided a $50,000 grant for the program as part of the bank's Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) special grant program.