About Gina

DR. Gina Merritt

About Gina

Dr. Merritt has exceptionally high standards for herself. She has had to overcome significant personal challenges as a young person losing her mother at the age of 13 and having a father who had substance abuse challenges. These obstacles created a drive in her that created her distinct level of ambition and high ideals. Dr. Merritt made her way to a top undergraduate school and graduate school whilst working on Wall Street in between in a role of significant responsibility.

When presented with the opportunity to go back to Wall Street–she instead chose another very difficult path for a woman of color: commercial real estate. Dr. Merritt’s career in real estate has spanned 20 years. She has demonstrated success by working with some of the most prominent real estate developers in the country who choose to work with a Black female developer–not because she is a black female but because she is a technical expert in her field.

Dr. Merritt’s expertise is constantly challenged as she operates in an industry that is mostly male and mostly white. These challenges to her integrity and her expertise do not intimidate her - she continues to demonstrate through her passion and technical expertise that black women can lead in real estate and in business. Dr. Merritt has won numerous awards in real estate and business which also illuminates her determination to be successful and the recognition of this success by industry leaders.

In The Media

Dr. Merritt has been in the media, and she is an industry leader.

Find out more

Career

Post Doctorate

Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, Washington, D.C. – Principal 2000 to present

Affiliates and programs started to enhance and expand NREUV's community development capabilities.

NREUV

Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, Washington, D.C. – Principal 2000 to present

Consultant and Developer of affordable housing, single-family homes, retail and commercial facilities.
Select Notable Projects:
- Development Manager, Crawford Square Apartments Pittsburgh, PA
- Development Manager, Beacon Center Washington, DC
- Development Manager, John and Jill Ker Conway Residence Washington, DC
- Development Manager, Mayfair Mansions Washington, DC
- Financial Analysis and Project Redesign – 4th and RI, NE – HSCDC Washington, DC
- Development Consultant, Development Strategy – MHCDO Portfolio Washington, DC
- Owner, Project Manager, Wiley H. Bates Senior Housing Annapolis, MD
- Owner’s Representative, Carver Terrace Tenant and Civic Association Washington, DC
- Owner’s Representative, TCCR Community Development Center Washington, DC
- Real Estate Advisor, Olive Branch CDC Washington, DC
- Project Manager, A. Harry Moore, HOPE VI Mixed-Use Development Jersey City, NJ
- Project Manager, Saint Vincent’s Day Home, Oakland, CA
- Real Estate Advisor, Richmond Ford Building-Proposal Evaluation Richmond, CA
- Real Estate Advisor, Vacaville Town Center-Land Valuation Vacaville, CA
- Financial Analyst, Development Impact Fee Study-South San Francisco San Francisco, CA

Post MBA

Neighborhood Development Company, Washington, DC – Vice President 2004 to 2005

Local Developer of multifamily for-sale and affordable housing projects. Role: Responsible for all predevelopment tasks on existing and current projects. Assist in creating development infrastructure. Managed the following transactions:
- 1106-1108 Columbia Road, MW – 40 unit Cooperative Conversion
- 3312-3318 Georgia Avenue, NW – 12 unit New Construction Condos
- 4100 Georgia Avenue, NW – 78 units new construction affordable housing
- 300 L Street, NE – Redesign – 45 unit new construction condominium

Struever Brothers, Inc, Baltimore, Maryland – Senior Development Director 2003 to 2004

Developer of mixed-use projects locally and abroad. Role: Responsible for managing all development tasks for the following transactions:
- Charles Village East – 63 unit condominium
- Charles Village West – 98 unit luxury condominium
- Aegon – 45 unit condominium
- Created underwriting template, which was adopted as the standard underwriting model for companywide projects. Negotiated the first institutional equity participation in an SBER project. Managed predevelopment tasks for aforementioned projects, including acquisition, design management and contractor cost estimation process management.

Capital Vision Equities (CVE), California - Finance Director 1998 to 2000

Investor and Developer of affordable housing, seniors housing, single-family homes, condominiums, retail and commercial facilities. Role: Managed CVE’s Northern California operations, including site selection, deal structuring, development management and development consulting.

Clark Realty Capital, Maryland - Development Executive 1995 to 1998

Investor and Developer of affordable housing, seniors housing, land development, condominiums, retail and commercial facilities. Role: Responsible for every aspect of project management from concept to completion. Structured deals, negotiated terms with joint venture partners, secured financing, managed construction, managed design and entitlements for multi-family housing projects.

Pre-MBA

Morgan Stanley, New York 1991-1993

Associate Managed several programmers and a global portfolio reporting system for Europe, Zurich, Japan and the U.S. Managed several front-end trade entry systems for global custody business in Europe, Japan and the U.S.
Traveled to England and Luxembourg to train colleagues on system enhancements.

Consolidated Edison, New York 1988-1991

Computer Analyst Initiated lead in Power Interchange Billing System and completed early. Spent several weeks in a Tool/Maintenance facility interviewing workers in depth to gain the necessary knowledge to design an efficient Tool Inventory Control System.

affiliations and engagements

Affiliations

Phi Alpha Honor Society, University of Southern California, 2020
Innovation Works, Baltimore, Mentor, 2020
National Association of Social Workers, 2019
Baltimore Community Mediation Center, Board Member, Treasurer, 2019
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, 2018
Leadership Baltimore, Greater Baltimore Committee, 2018
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Inner City Capital Connections Program - 2016, Philadelphia
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Board of Directors – 2014 to 2015
Frederick Elementary School, Baltimore City – Vision Team 2013 to present
Women Presidents Organization – 2011 to present
Commercial Real Estate Professionals – Maryland Chapter – Board Member 2011 to 2016 (African-American Organization)
Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND)- Member -2007 to Present
Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development 2006-Present
The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. – Housing Management Corporation, Board Member, 2008-2009
African-American Real Estate Professionals – DC Chapter 1997-1998,
African-American Real Estate Professionals – Baltimore Chapter Founder
District of Columbia Building Industry Association 1996-1998
District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency RFP Review Board 1997
District of Columbia Public Schools Tutor and Mentor 1997

Speaking engagements

Diversity in the Affordable Housing Industry Forum, Federal Home Loan Bank, Atlanta
Development 101, Can I Live DC, Public Housing Resident Leadership
Development 101, Alexandria Housing Authority, Residents
Women in Commercial Real Estate - Commercial Real Estate Professionals
City of Baltimore – Vacants to Value – Community Engagement in Major Redevelopment Projects
City First Bank Community Development Finance Conference – Equitable Economic Development East of the River – Revitalization of the Great Commercial Corridors
Development 101, District of Columbia Housing Authority, Barry Farms Residents
Development 101, District of Columbia Housing Authority, Lincoln Heights Residents
The Development Cycle – Howard University Real Estate Week
Developer Criteria for Selecting an Architect, NOMA
Building Strategic Alliances – Economic Challenges of the Twenty-First Century – National Organization of Minority Architects
Entrepreneurial Strategies for an MBA in a Downward Economy – The Darden School
Expert Discussion on Real Estate Development & Projects in the DC/Baltimore Area – National Bar Association

Frequently Asked Questions

Reach out if you'd like to hear more!

How many affordable housing units have you built in your career?

I've built over 7,500 units of affordable housing, valued at over $2 billion dollars. And we've impacted the lives of more than 18,000 residents.

What's your passion?

My passion is really helping people get access, honestly, to whatever they need. PCC starts with employment. When I meet people or talk to them about PCC, that's the first thing they say to me is, my gosh, I see how passionate you are about this work. I am. And I think because I feel blessed and lucky to have had the access to the education that I have, and the people that I have been able to come in contact with that have helped me in my career. I became passionate about social capital over the last couple of years. I was thinking: how can I help people that look just like me, who grew up in places just like I did get the same kind of access that I had? To me, there's so much power in helping someone get economic and social resources– that will change their life. Because once you can take care of yourself and your family, once you can make money, and move out of an underserved neighborhood and into the middle class, your life changes. People of color, especially, haven't had these opportunities to climb the ladder or really meet the American dream. My passion for social capital and helping communities extends far beyond employment.

Why did you pursue a doctorate in social innovation?

I pursued a doctorate in social innovation because as a real estate developer, I would meet people in the community all the time, that I knew were capable of working. And the subcontractors I've worked with that built my projects always had trouble finding people that can hold a job for 10 or 12 or 13 months. And so I designed Project Community Capital, purely to help people get construction opportunities to sort of bridge the gap in the connection between people who are ready to work and the subcontractors and then thought, you know, there's got to be a way I can have a greater impact with my work. I found a doctoral program that focused on creating programs that are scalable and would impact people in a significant way. And because I already operate in a space where I'm trying to help people get employed, and I also have access at my level, I figured I get sort of redesign Project Community Capital to help everyone so not just people that need access to opportunity to construction projects, right, which, which the government essentially wants you to, or encourages you to do this right to hire people in projects where they invest in the neighborhood.

Why are you known as a financial modeling guru in the biz?

The truth is, I don't really know how it got it out there. I think because of the complex transactions I've worked on, and people have found out through my clients, partners, and financing agencies that I've worked with, that I am exceptional at structuring financial transactions for complicated projects. The Beacon Center which was three separate financings, one integrated building, and the financial structuring was quite complex. And we actually won an award for that transaction for financing from the real estate from Washington Business Journal, real estate deal of the year for financing. And, and I actually structured the financing for the whole project. So yeah, so once you do something like that, and you win awards for it, you know, people it really starts to catch on and people know, know you for that. And so, oddly enough, when I meet people from the for the first time in the industry, people will say things like that, like, Oh, you're Gina. Oh, right. You know how to run those numbers. You structured that crazy deal? And I'm like, Oh, yes, that was me.

Notable Recent Awards

I95 Women of Influence 2024

Women leaders are featured in every issue of I95 BUSINESS throughout the year. In this year’s cohort, they recognize 31 fantastic women. In this issue we are celebrating Women Managing Money, Millennial Women in Leadership and Women of Influence across industries.

Stevie Awards 2023: Changemaker of the YEAR

Most Innovative Woman of the Year - Industry

Women Helping Women - Social Change

Social Change Maker of the Year - Race

The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business are the world's premier business awards for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run.

The Moxie Awards - fINALIST

Organizations are recognized for having demonstrated boldness and innovation as an integral part of their growth strategy. These outstanding organizations not only help make the DC metro area a great place to do business, but also an incredible place to live, thrive and play.

THE DAILY RECORD Maryland’s Top 100 Women

Maryland’s Top 100 Women recognizes high-achieving Maryland women who are making an impact through their leadership, community service and mentoring. Winners are selected by past Top 100 Women and business leaders. Three-time winners are inducted into the Circle of Excellence.

Anthem Awards - Silver

Title: Helping Underestimated Residents Access Local Jobs

The Anthem Awards celebrates and champions work across seven core causes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Education, Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities.

BISNOW Innovator of the Year

The BISNOW Innovator of The Year Honorees are celebrated for: Women who have excelled in driving innovation in the commercial real estate field and used new or creative ideas to improve the industry.

GBC Bridging The Gap Award

Each year, through the Bridging the Gap Achievement Awards, the GBC recognizes exceptional minority, women-owned, majority businesses and executives who nurture the development of minority and women-owned businesses in Greater Baltimore and Maryland.

Stevie Award 2022: Change Maker of the Year Award - Race

The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business are the world's premier business awards for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run.

Social Innovation Summit Award for Economic Empowerment

The SIS Awards are a celebration of collaborations and organizations that have created a positive impact in the last year, and those that show a roadmap to future success and lasting impact.

Dr. Gina Merritt, MBA

Dr. Gina Merritt

DR. Gina Merritt

About Gina

In The Media

Awards

Career

Post Doctorate

NREUV

Post MBA

Pre-MBA

Dr. Merritt's CV Statement

Linkedin Posts

affiliations and engagements

Affiliations

Speaking engagements

Frequently Asked Questions

Notable Recent Awards

I95 Women of Influence 2024

Stevie Awards 2023: Changemaker of the YEAR

The Moxie Awards - fINALIST

THE DAILY RECORD Maryland’s Top 100 Women

Anthem Awards - Silver

BISNOW Innovator of the Year

GBC Bridging The Gap Award

Stevie Award 2022: Change Maker of the Year Award - Race

Social Innovation Summit Award for Economic Empowerment

Dr. Gina Merritt

DR. Gina Merritt

About Gina

In The Media

Awards

Career

Post Doctorate

NREUV

Post MBA

Pre-MBA

Dr. Merritt's CV Statement

Linkedin Posts

Connect With me

affiliations and engagements

Affiliations

Speaking engagements

Frequently Asked Questions

Notable Recent Awards

I95 Women of Influence 2024

Stevie Awards 2023: Changemaker of the YEAR

The Moxie Awards - fINALIST

THE DAILY RECORD Maryland’s Top 100 Women

Anthem Awards - Silver

BISNOW Innovator of the Year

GBC Bridging The Gap Award

Stevie Award 2022: Change Maker of the Year Award - Race

Social Innovation Summit Award for Economic Empowerment

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