In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Emily Kurtz, Chief Housing & Development Officer at RiseBoro Community Partnership, to explore her 20-year journey in affordable housing and community development. Emily shares how a sociology degree and a curiosity for cities led her to urban planning, and eventually to leading one of New York’s most impactful housing organizations.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Sarah Berman, Founder and President of The Berman Group, one of the leading public relations firms in the real estate and construction industries.
Sarah shares how her early studies in urban planning led her into the fast-paced world of communications, ultimately inspiring her to launch her own firm nearly 20 years ago. She opens up about what it takes to build a PR powerhouse—from crafting compelling client stories and navigating industry challenges to cultivating a company culture rooted in hard work, empathy, and excellence.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, host Chris Papa talks with Jim Mather, President and CEO of Century Housing.
Jim’s story is anything but ordinary — from editing a dirt bike magazine to leading one of the state’s top affordable housing lenders, his career path proves that purpose and curiosity can fuel lifelong impact.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume podcast, we chat with Sharif Mitchell, a seasoned real estate entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Northern Liberties. Sharif shares his inspiring journey from being a Morehouse College scholarship recipient to a thriving real estate mogul. He emphasizes the role of mentorship, the importance of risk management, and his mission to create workforce housing and foster community impact. Sharif discusses the power of daily structure, understanding customers, and building a strong network. He also provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, stressing the significance of long-term vision and calculated steps toward success.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, we bring you another edition of our webinar series. Join Chris Papa and Kristin Niver as they lead an urgent discussion on the future of affordable housing in Washington, D.C. The expert panelists unpack the economic, political, and social factors shaping the city’s housing landscape.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Matt Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer at The Michaels Organization, one of the nation’s largest privately held owners and operators of affordable housing. Matt shares his personal journey from studying politics at Princeton to leading a company with more than 80,000 units across 39 states, all while staying true to Michaels’ vision of creating communities that lift lives.
Read MoreIn this episode, we sit down with Brian J. Fishback, Director at Red Stone Equity Partners, to explore how alternative investments are shaping the future of affordable housing. Brian breaks down Red Stone’s $12 billion track record in real estate investment management, the company’s growing focus on preservation housing, and why affordable housing remains one of the biggest challenges in today’s market.
Read MoreHow does a history major from New Jersey end up transforming housing for farm workers in California’s San Joaquin Valley? In this episode, Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Tom Collishaw, President & CEO of Self-Help Enterprises, a nonprofit that has pioneered affordable housing solutions since 1965.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Richard Ross, CEO of Quinn Residences, to explore the rise of purpose-built single-family rental communities and what it takes to scale a real estate company from the ground up. Richard shares his journey from accounting to real estate leadership, how Quinn integrates sustainability and technology into its homes, and why culture and language—like calling residents “residents,” not tenants matters for long-term success.
Read MoreOn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker welcome Peter DiCorpo, co-founder of Brook Farm Group, for a candid conversation about his journey from auditor at Arthur Andersen to building a multifamily development company during one of the most challenging real estate markets in decades.
Peter shares how deep friendships, trust, and complementary skillsets fueled the launch of Brook Farm Group during COVID, and how the firm has already delivered projects in Georgia and Florida despite market headwinds. He reflects on the lessons from working at global institutions like AIG and CBRE, the freedom and speed of entrepreneurship, and why capital raising requires persistence, honesty, and long-term relationships.
Read MoreIn this Summer Series episode of Beyond the Resume, host Chris Papa sits down with Brian Murray, Co-Founder and Principal of Shift Capital, to explore how impact real estate is reshaping Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
Brian shares his journey from auditor and tech entrepreneur to community-focused developer, and how Shift Capital is tackling challenges like affordable housing, equitable development, and community displacement.
Read MoreIn this Summer Series episode of Beyond the Resume, host Chris Papa sits down with Kent Colton, President of the Colton Housing Group and one of the most respected voices in U.S. housing policy. With over 30 years of leadership experience at organizations like the National Association of Home Builders, Freddie Mac, and the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Kent brings unmatched insight into today’s housing challenges.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, the Summer Series, we bring back the conversation with Jeff Brenner, President & CEO of Impact Community Capital and explore his 30-year journey in affordable housing and impact investing.
Jeff shares how a “two-year plan” at a nonprofit turned into a lifelong mission—combining finance expertise with a passion for social impact.
Read MoreIn this Summer Series throwback of Beyond the Resume, we revisit a powerful conversation with Marie Murphy, Principal and CEO of MJD Capital Partners, a full-service development and management firm based in San Francisco.
Marie opens up about her untraditional path into real estate—starting in pharmaceutical sales, pivoting into residential brokerage, and eventually founding her own investment firm. She now oversees a 50+ person team and manages a portfolio focused on value-add multifamily housing in key West Coast markets.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Andrew Germansky, Senior Vice President of Real Estate at Westhab, a leading nonprofit affordable housing developer and shelter operator in New York. Andrew discusses his journey from history major to housing leader, the innovations Westhab is bringing to affordable and supportive housing, and why ending homelessness requires bold thinking, public-private partnerships, and a reimagined approach to shelter development.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume with Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker, we speak with David Kramer, President of Hudson Companies, about his unconventional entry into real estate, his leadership approach, and the values that have guided his work across three decades of urban development in New York City.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Lisa Flicker and Chris Papa sit down with Sydne Garchik, Founder and President of MRK Partners, for an honest, fast-paced, and often hilarious conversation about building a national affordable housing company while raising a family and disrupting industry norms.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Ty Barnes, Head of Investments at Comunidad Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, career pivots, and how mission-driven investing is reshaping the future of real estate.
Read MoreIn this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Janéa Jackson, CEO of HomeRise, for a candid and deeply insightful conversation about leadership, legacy, and the urgent work of supportive housing in San Francisco.
With roots in sociology and urban planning, Janéa shares how her early experiences—from working in public schools to redeveloping military bases in Japan—shaped her bold, people-first approach to community development. She breaks down the realities of housing formerly unhoused residents, the growing crisis among elders, and how her team is building operational resilience in uncertain times.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to lead a mission-driven organization in a moment of political backlash, economic pressure, and social fragmentation — this conversation is your blueprint.
Read MoreIn this inspiring episode, we sit down with Sheri Thompson, Executive Vice President and Head of Affordable Housing at Walker & Dunlop, to talk about navigating the complex world of affordable housing finance, taking risks in your career, and the power of mentorship and sponsorship.
From managing equity funding challenges to reflecting on leadership lessons learned through decades in the commercial real estate industry, Sheri shares real talk and actionable advice for anyone looking to grow in the multifamily housing or real estate finance sector.
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