Founder & CEO of
My Brilliant City
Developer/Land Strategist
Attorney at Law
Seasoned real estate developer with holistic and sustainable approach to residential and commercial real estate planning, finance and disposition, with over 21 years of experience visioning and completing innovative projects.
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW, Austin, TX
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Editor-In-Chief, Hispanic National Bar Association Law Student Division Newsletter; Texas Journal of
Business Law, Mock Trial Competition, Voir Dire Competition Finalist
GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY, San Francisco, CA
MBA in Management with highest honors.
Recipient: Chevron Scholarship, Levi Strauss Scholarship, and A.P. Gianinni Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colorado Springs, CO
B.S. Behavioral Science; Minor-Philosophy
Air Force Academy Wings of Blue Skydiving Team
EXPERIENCE
1996- Present MY BRILLIANT CITY, Austin, Texas
Founder and CEO (formerly Esperanza Development Corp.)
Chief executive of residential and commercial real estate development and consulting company. Oversees all aspects of development activities such as land negotiation and acquisition, contracting with design and engineering teams, zoning and entitlements, coordination with all governmental agencies, financial analysis, budgeting and obtaining financing, construction and property management, and project/unit sales. Recent experience includes acquisition through sale of mixed use commercial and residential units near downtown Austin, apartment rehabs, and single family subdivisions. Advises developers, business and property owners, and development teams on all aspects of the development process with specialty in affordable housing finance and entitlement law and policy.
2000- Present GREATER AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS., Austin, Texas
Executive Director/CEO
Chief executive of not-for-profit community housing development organization dedicated to developing, owning and managing quality affordable housing for moderate, low and very low-income families. Completed development of and currently manages its existing tax credit development portfolio, including Georgetown Place Apartments, a 176-unit mixed income multifamily project in Georgetown, Texas, and the Villas of Cordoba, a 156-unit mixed income multi-family project in Austin, Texas.
2010- 2013 THE NRP GROUP, Texas Division
Development Project Manager, Consultant
Directly responsible for day-to-day project management from origination to closing and project oversight from closing through lease-up of the company’s tax credit, student housing, and senior housing portfolio in the Texas region. Scope included negotiation of purchase agreements, engagement letters, joint venture agreements, and financing commitments. Conducted due diligence analysis on appraisal, market feasibility, environmental, architectural, regulatory and financial aspects of each development. Managed all phases of the preconstruction process minimizing or eliminating critical path barriers. In 2012, closed the company’s first urban student housing mixed-use development Tobin Lofts- at San Antonio College ($40 million total development cost). Also closed $60 million in five tax credit developments in Fort Worth, Houston and Laredo. Currently, originating and consulting on over $100 million of urban workforce and student housing development, utilizing public private partnerships.
May 1995 -1998 GUTIERREZ, MITCHELL & COLMENERO, LLP, Austin, TX
Attorney
Practiced law, specializing in commercial transactions and receivership law. Represented Texas Insurance Commissioner in estate administration of and litigation involving insolvent insurance companies. Extensive experience in contract drafting, negotiation, and litigation, including residential and commercial real estate transactions, state and federal grant contracts, and insurance treaties.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP
2014-Present, COMMISSIONER, Austin Parks & Recreation Board
2014-Present, Board Member, Austin B-Cycle Bikeshare
2005-2009 COMMISSIONER, City of Austin Bond Oversight Commission, overseeing implementation of $567 Million bonds approved in 2006
2008 COMMISSIONER, Austin Waterfront Overlay Task Force
2008-2009 PRESIDENT, East End Merchants Association
2004-2005 COMMISSION, Austin (McMansion) Task Force
2004-2005 PRESIDENT, Org. of Central East Austin Neighborhoods (OCEAN)
2001-2004 COMMISIONER, Austin Planning Commission
2002 COMMISIONER, Austin Gentrification Task Force.
2000- 2002 COMMISIONER, COA Zoning and Platting Commission