2016 Summer Alumni Profiles

Erica Alexis set out at an early age to follow her grandfather's footsteps who was a very successful developer-builder in the Bay Area. Her grandparents built multifamily units, grocery stores and recreational centers in the Bay Area and their hard work and success inspired her limitless vision. Alexis bought several properties in 2006, unfortunately her family portfolio and her personal investment portfolio didn't survive the real estate downturn crisis of 2008. Five years later, she decided to build a new legacy.

Prior to becoming a developer-builder, Alexis as a REALTOR consulted commercial property owners on their multi-faceted portfolios, consulted hotel owners on business development strategies to increase performance and consulted real estate technology firms on aggregating real estate data for innovative solutions to enhance the ever-aging National Association of Realtor standards.

Alexis reestablished herself in the real estate development industry in 2013 as an investor building a personal real estate portfolio in states outside of California. She quickly catapulted into commercial development consulting after stumbling across a prime real estate opportunity in Detroit and started her own firm, Bridgeline in 2015. Bridgeline is a minority woman owned development and construction company that acquires, develops, manages and/or builds commercial, residential, and industrial projects in the United States. The mission of Bridgeline is "Transforming real estate development visions into reality."

Alexis' expertise encompasses every aspect of the development business: site evaluation, feasibility studies, to building projects on budget and on time. Alexis put her first pair of boots on in the construction field as a general carpentry laborer with a local general contractor in 2015, working without pay. Sacrificing to learn the trades firsthand, her relentless work ethic earned her wages within a week of starting. She worked as a development consultant. project manager and builder for years before managing projects exceeding 25 million. Five years later, she became a Lady Builder (B-Licensed General Contractor). Over the past decade, Alexis has demonstrated strengths on the development of key relationships to build in communities she serves. She partners with local property owners, developers, contractors. and investors to advance self-sustainable environments in underdeveloped urban communities to increase diverse business growth through building legacy projects.

In 2016, Erica Alexis led the USC Lusk Ross Program in Real Estate winning team for "Best Development Proposal." Alexis is a proud graduate from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She received construction management experience from CSU Dominquez Hills, and hotel revenue management expertise from Cornell University. Alexis serves on the Board of American Society of Professional Estimators and is a member of Beverly Hills Greater Los Angeles Association of Realtors, We Care LA (non-profit), National Association of Minority Contractors, and a lifetime member of the USC Lusk Ross Alumni, HireLAX Alumni, Loyola Marymount Ascend Alumni, UCLA Varsity Club and UCLA Alumni Association. In her spare time Alexis enjoys playing golf, traveling, salsa and tango dancing.
 

Email: erica@bridgelineconstruction.com

Anastacio Castillo III is a Project Manager with the San Diego Unified School District since 2014. He oversees as well as manages the Design & Construction for School Modernization Projects within the City of San Diego. Prior to working at the School District, Anastacio worked as a Development Project Manager for the Jacobs Center for Innovation for 6 years. During that time he worked closely on the Physical Redevelopment of Southeast San Diego’s Diamond Neighborhoods, also known as Market Creek. Here he gathered a deep understanding of Urban Planning & Development to increase the livability and quality of life in the community. Anastacio especially takes pride in this piece work since he grew up in the neighborhood and has been an integral part of the development as an industry professional.  

Anastacio began his career studying Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Construction Management at San Diego State University. He also took courses including Architecture Design, Small Business Investing, and Real Estate Sales. He has continued his education and training in many areas related to Land Development, Environmental Planning, & Real Estate Investing. Currently Anastacio is working to obtain his Real Estate License.

Anastacio’s short term goal is to complete the USC Ross Minority Program in Real Estate and establish a pathway for success within the real estate industry. In the near future he plans to continue to be involved within Urban Community projects and form a business in Urban Real Estate Development with a focus on sustainability.

Email: anastaciocastillo3@gmail.com

Chelsea Coleman graduated from The University of Virginia in 2008 with a joint degree in gender studies and Italian. She has been working as a chef and farmer for the past eight years and currently co-owns an organically-minded wine bar in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego. Along the way, she has sold organic ice cream sandwiches out of a pushcart as the "Cream Queenz", incorporated a restaurant-to-farm composting company called "Closing The Loop" and Chaired the San Diego chapter of Slow Food for two years. Her interest in emergent community development and real estate comes from her experience working in restaurants that were harbingers of neighborhood development and her sincerely held belief that development with access to good food in mind can transform communities for the better.

Email: info@therosewinebar.com

Tanner Cronenbold is a Realtor for John Aaroe Group who has actively been involved in real estate for over 10 years and has been licensed for 6 of those years by the Bureau of Real Estate. Tanner brings a multi-faceted approach to the real estate world having physically worked on multiple construction projects such as Hangar 25, the world’s first and only LEED Platinum Certified aviation facility, which is the highest environmentally friendly rating given by the U.S. Green Building Council. Not only has he been a part of projects such as the 60,000 square foot airplane hangar, he has also worked on the title and escrow side for Lawyers Title, giving him an understanding on all moving parts of the business. Tanner’s technology skills are unmatched having been the director of business development for Homestack, a real estate application that can be found and downloaded in Apple’s iTunes App Store as well as Android’s Google Play Store. He proudly joins USC’s Ross Minority Program in Real Estate with expectations to one day acquire the knowledge and expertise to eventually become a real estate developer himself.

Email: tannerjcronenbold@gmail.com

Jennifer Dunbar is the head of Sales for the Western Division at Nestle Waters.  She leads a sales team in the overall development of strategy and go-to market execution in the B2B channel.  Jennifer has spent the last 20 years growing brands and market share in the consumer products industry with behemoths Pepsi and Kellogg’s all while deepening her knowledge of how to manage a P&L. 

Jennifer has always had a passion for real estate and has cut her teeth in the residential market buying, rehabbing and selling single-family homes.  She has also worked as a general contractor on residential development project and is seeking to bridge these experiences as a pathway to multi-family development in the greater Los Angeles area.  Jennifer is elated to be a part of the USC Ross Program in Real Estate and is keen to gain the critical finance knowledge and skills to support her evolution to Real Estate Developer. 

Jennifer graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S in Public Policy.  She is a very active member of her community and currently serves as a Board member of LA Pride/Christopher Street West organization.

Email: jenniferdunbar22@gmail.com

Jéan Christopher Eason is a Real Estate Broker for Main Source Real Estate (MSRE), a boutique firm that Jéan created based in Oakland. MSRE’s focuses on both Commercial and Residential with an emphasis on Value add properties. Prior to MSRE, Jéan worked for a couple of Independent Real Estate Brokerages. Jéan also worked as a Case Mentor for The Mentoring Center in Oakland, CA. that provides services for both at risk youth and adults.

Jéan got started in Real Estate by accident. After originally purchasing vacant parcel in Oakland, with the intent to build a Recording Studio, Jéan took on the challenge to develop the parcel into a seven (7) unit Condominium project. He considers this experience as the primary factor in why he is still in the business. After receiving Entitlements and Approved CD’s for the project the Economy tanked, and he was not able to secure the financing for the project. This experience led Jéan to return to school to learn the fundaments for Real Estate and finish the requirements for a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies/Socio Economic Development from Cal State East Bay. He soon after received a Masters Degree, Constructive Urban Development, with the intent to eventually open up his own Real Estate firm.

Jéan is excited about attending the Ross Minority Program in real Estate to learn what the Pro’s do and continue on with his goal of participating in the Redevelopment in his hometown of Oakland, CA.

Email: jeasonre1999@gmail.com

Neo Garibay leads project development management at David Mi & Partners, a real estate development firm. 

An integral part of the team, Neo is deeply involved with every aspect of the real estate development process and strengthens performance by establishing goals with brokers, analysts, architects, and engineers through project milestones. Beginning at market research, Neo creates strategies and directs projects through: site review and feasibility, highest and best use, public agencies, due diligence, Pro Forma analysis, land purchase agreements and schedules, upfront cost control, site and building design, entitlements, construction cost planning, financing, and investment. Neo is also involved in mixed-use property management and directs maintenance crews, works with retail tenants, and leasing.

Prior to joining David Mi & Partners, Neo's experience includes luxury single family homebuilding and remodeling in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Hills. Neo's experience also extends to commercial tenant improvements and design in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Neo earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and is in the process of earning his architectural license with the California Architects Board. Furthermore, Neo's expertise in real estate development is reinforced with certification from the University of Southern California's Ross Minority Program in Real Estate and Finance.

Always goal oriented and an innovative problem solver, Neo expands his skills and passion for real estate development through recreational value-add projects, discussing investments, and philanthropy.

Email: meetme@neoGaribay.com

Deba Harper is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CHAMP Community Foundation, Inc. The CHAMP mission is to house homeless and at risk youth, ages 18 to 25, in healing homes where supportive intervention methods can change the trajectory of at risk youth toward productive adulthood. 

Innovative solutions are required to close the gap on affordable housing. Deba is no stranger to pioneering innovative approaches to solving complex problems. Prior to engaging the efforts to end homelessness, she worked with various multinational corporations as a specialist advancing digital technology. She integrated systems and teams to improve efficacy in producing goods and services. Deba was a key contributor on the Warner Brother Home Video development team that launched the DVD industry. She uses her analytical insight to created practical solutions for improving the human condition. 

As the Chairperson of the Antelope Valley Alliance to End Homelessness (AVAEH), she lead community volunteers to conduct the regional demographic survey for the national 2013 100K Homes Registry Week. Using the primary data gathered she wrote a literary review, “Los Angeles Homeless and Ethnic Disparities.” The quantitative data analysis of the study identified key factors contributing to long term homelessness. As a Project Manager contracted by Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA), she led the 2016 Unsheltered Homeless Demographic Survey for Antelope Valley.  

As a 2016 graduate from California State University Northridge with a B.A. in Liberal Studies Interdisciplinary in Art and Urban Planning, she is on course to be a licensed real estate agent and to pursue a Masters degree in Urban Planning. Deba explains her motivation and commitment to ending homelessness, “I have looked in the face of homelessness, and there for the grace of God goes I.” The measure of a strong sustainable community is how we care for the weakest and most vulnerable among us, our youth.

Email: deba.harper@gmail.com

Ricardo Hernandez is a Program Specialist with the Los Angeles County Housing Authority since 2015. He oversees as well as manages the profiles for a large group of homeless and low income families within the County of Los Angeles.  Prior to working at the Housing Authority, Ricardo worked as a Fraud Analyst for East West Bank Corp and before that as a Customer Service Representative. During that time he gathered a deep understanding of both personal and corporate finance which he used to better serve his clients through the institution.

Ricardo began his career as he began his studies at a local community college where he further focused his interest in Finance and Business. He took courses in Accounting, Business Law, Personal Finance as well as Real Estate. He transferred to the University of Phoenix where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He further continued his studies at UCLA where he earned a Green Belt Six Sigma Certification. Currently Ricardo is completing a Project Management Certification at Cal State Fullerton as well as completed his Real Estate Salesperson educational requirements.

Ricardo’s short term goal is to complete the USC Ross Minority Program in Real Estate and earn his real estate license. Perhaps in the future he plans on earning a Master’s in Real Estate Development, become a Project Manager and launch his own Real Estate Development firm focused on Minority centered Communities.

Email: ricardo.hernandez@hacola.org

Jason brings close to a decade of finance and banking experience, worked in banking management, investment, as well as NSAD registered Program Manager dually-employed by a publicly-traded bank and a premium financial institute in the United States. Moving beyond the finance world Jason’s early entrepreneurial involvements include fund-raising for startup companies, business ownership, and his role as Business Director in a $40M private equity funded EV venture in China. An entrepreneur at heart, Jason founded BTMA Investment Consulting that led many large and small foreign investments into the United States that included acquisition of corporations and real estate. Jason now leads BT Corporate Development Center, with it’s own investment and incubator arms set up in Shanghai China. With his multi-cultural business background, he also oversees real estate investments with foreign capital partners here in Southern California.

Jason graduated from the University of Southern California, with a B.A. in Economics, and received his MBA from the California State University, Los Angeles with a degree in Entrepreneurship. He also currently serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Economic Development in the city of El Monte.

Email: jason.wang@btmachina.com