UFG
Leadership

AJ Jackson

Executive Vice President, Social Impact Investing
JBG SMITH Properties

AJ leads Social Impact Investing at Maryland-based JBG Smith Properties, which works to build and preserve affordable workforce housing in high opportunity neighborhoods.

Chuck Leitner

Chief Executive Officer

Chuck is a board member at Up for Growth, based in New York City with over 40 years of leadership, strategy, and governance experience through a variety of roles in the real estate industry.

Clyde Holland

Executive Chairman
Holland Partner Group

Clyde is the Chairman Emeritus of the Up for Growth Board of Directors. He is a recognized leader in urban planning and design, and has developed 50,000+ homes over the past 30 years.

Cy Richardson

Senior Vice President
National Urban League

Cy Richardson is a member of the Up for Growth of Directors. He has over 25 years of experience in community development, housing, job creation, and racial wealth equity.

David Williams

Vice President
Lafayette Square

David is a Vice President with Lafayette Square, a nationwide impact investment platform. There, he leads real estate, partnerships, and impact.

Genna Love

Vice President, Finance and Accounting
EYA

Genna Love has extensive work experience, primarily in the finance and audit sectors. Genna started their career in 2008 as a Federal Audit Intern at KPMG, where they gained experience in control, substantive, and compliance testing. In 2009, they joined KPMG as a Senior Audit Associate in the Federal Audit Practice in the Washington, DC office. Their responsibilities included planning, testing, and completing process areas. In 2011, Genna Love transitioned to EYA, LLC, where they currently hold the position of Director of Finance. Genna Love completed their Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business from 2004 to 2008. Following that, they pursued a Masters of Accountancy degree in Accounting from the same institution, attending from 2008 to 2009. Genna Love has not obtained any additional certifications as a Certified Public Accountant.

John Prete

COO, Asset Management Americas
Blackstone Real Estate

Since joining Blackstone in 2017, Mr. Prete has been involved in investments across multifamily, Affordable Housing, student housing, manufactured housing, office, retail, and other sectors.

Laura Foote

Executive Director
YIMBY Action

Laura is the Executive Director of YIMBY Action, a national advocacy organization with 38 chapters across the U.S. that advocate for state and local housing supply policies.

Sharon Wilson Géno

CEO
National Multifamily Housing Council

Sharon Wilson Géno is a 30-year veteran of the housing industry, during which she has helped guide numerous for profit, non-profit and governmental entities around housing affordability, community development and other housing policy challenges.

Stephen Whyte

Managing Director and Founder
Vitus Group, LLC

Steve is the Secretary of the Up for Growth Board of Directors. He is a nationally recognized leader in the preservation and redevelopment of the nation’s existing affordable housing stock.

Thalia Lankin

Chief Administrative Officer
The NHP Foundation

Tony Pickett

Chief Executive Officer
Grounded Solutions Network

Tony is the CEO of the Washington, DC-based Grounded Solutions Network, a national member network that works to advance affordable housing solutions that last for generations.