CEMDI Summit 2022

Maurice D. Cox was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and confirmed by the City Council on October 16, 2019.

Celebrated for his experience merging architecture, design and politics through multiple public, private and elected positions, Cox is responsible for leading DPD’s economic development, planning and zoning functions while fostering community-improvement initiatives throughout the city. His primary focus is under-invested neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

In his previous capacity as director of planning and development for the City of Detroit, Cox created a new, resident-centered planning and development department and led innovative urban planning and revitalization strategies that championed the equitable redevelopment of neighborhoods and fostered population growth and new mixed-use, mixed-income investment.

Cox was formerly the design director of the under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, where he represented the federal government for architecture and design matters and served as an advisor to more than 120 mayors on urban design issues. 

Graham C. Grady is a partner at Taft Law where he advises real estate developers, investors and property owners.  He assists clients in building consensus with local elected officials, government entities, community organizations and other stakeholders. As a former Zoning Administrator, Buildings Commissioner and Ex-Officio member of the Chicago Plan Commission, his practice encompasses zoning, land use, economic incentives, building code compliance, licensing, construction agreements, government and legislative approvals.

Leon I. Walker, Esq. has spearheaded cutting-edge community development projects over the past 15 years that have generated thousands of new jobs, and brought grocery stores and health care services into the food and health care deserts on Chicago’s south side.

As the Managing Principal of DL3 Realty Advisors, LLC, Mr. Walker works closely with municipalities, anchor institutions, and Fortune 500 companies to execute projects that are sensitive to a neighborhood’s character while creating economic opportunities for local businesses and residents. Mr. Walker’s projects are more than just bricks and mortar; they are designed to provide a stimulus that ultimately lifts economic prospects and the quality-of-life in urban communities. Prior to taking on the leadership of DL3, Mr. Walker worked in corporate real estate services at Jones Lang LaSalle, and in real estate capital markets at Citicorp Securities. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Law School and Booth School of Business and received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two children.

Patricia Saldaña Natke, FAIA is founder and Principal of Chicago-based UrbanWorks, an acclaimed architecture, planning, and interior design firm. The firm has won over forty-five local and national design and planning awards for projects including the UNO Veterans Memorial Campus, West Pullman Senior Housing, Big Bold Visionary Groundplanes for Gary Indiana,  La Casa Student Housing, and Galewood Elementary School.

Natke’s passion lies in the intersection of urban cities, social impact, innovation, and unwavering optimism.  Her firm belief that well-designed spaces and places galvanize urban transformation imbues UrbanWorks with a strong civic design ethic.

Natke has taught and lectured in the United States, Europe and South America. Natke is the current Board Chair of the Chicago Women in Architecture Foundation and an Adjunct Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture 5^th Year Advanced Design Studios.

Lyneir Richardson is an experienced commercial and residential real estate developer with over 17 years of experience in urban retail development. Lyneir is also a Professional Practice Instructor in the Department of Management and Global Business at Rutgers Business School in Newark, NJ, and the Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CUEED), where he leads capacity-building programs that have assisted over 400 entrepreneurs.

Lyneir served as the Chief Executive Officer of the primary economic development corporation in Newark, NJ, for Mayor Cory Booker. As Vice President of Urban Development at General Growth Properties, Inc., he led the national initiative to improve shopping centers in ethnic neighborhoods in large U.S. cities. Lyneir started his career as a corporate attorney at the First National Bank of Chicago.

Lyneir is a graduate of Bradley University and the University of Chicago Law School. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council, New Growth Innovation Network and Newark Arts Council, and has served as Vice Chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority Trust Fund Board and as a Commissioner on the Chicago Plan Commission.

He recently served as the Chairman of Community Development Advisory Board-CDFI Fund (appointed by President Obama) and currently serves on the Bank of America and US Bank National Community Advisory Councils, Kroger Community Development Entity, LLC Advisory Board, PNC Bank Advisory Board (Illinois) and the Illinois Real Estate Appraisal Administration and Disciplinary Board. He serves on the boards of the Cook County Land Bank Authority (Treasurer), Chicago Community Land Trust (Treasurer), Community Reinvestment Fund & NMTC CDE, South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority and the Interfaith Housing Development Corporation of Chicago (Secretary), among others. He is a 2003 Leadership Greater Chicago fellow and led CCLF to receive a 2009 MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. He is a recognized expert in community development finance and issues involving access to capital. He holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, with a concentration in real estate finance, from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies from Northwestern University. 

Chris Eagan has leveraged earnest curiosity and empathy as the engines of his career. Jesuit educated and fascinated by people, Chris cut his teeth as a grassroots organizer while at the employ of the 8th Day Center for Justice. The next chapter of his professional journey would see him dip into the social enterprise space. Here Chris oversaw Sales and Community Outreach for, Crisp! Mobile Grocery & Top Box Foods, each with the mission to eliminate food deserts in urban/suburban communities. After a brief detour working for a local tech startup, Chris spent three years at World Business Chicago where he spearheaded neighborhood business development efforts. Chris is a new addition to the Chicago Community Trust, where he is a Program Manager within the Catalyzing Neighborhood Impact team.

Rob comes to the Cook County Land Bank Authority from the Chicago Community Loan Fund where he served as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he managed a $170 million loan portfolio as Director of Commercial Real Estate for Urban Partnership Bank. Rob also has worked for apartment developer Lynd and for GE Capital. He has an MBA from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and an undergraduate business degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas.

Alicia Glen is the Founder and Managing Principal of MSquared, a real estate impact investing and development platform focused on promoting affordability, sustainability and inclusion in projects and the industry. Alicia is a former New York City Deputy Mayor where she oversaw more than 25 city agencies, a $100bn capital budget and was the architect of “Housing New York” and several other ground-breaking programs and policy initiatives to diversify the City’s economic base and catalyze quality jobs while also making strategic investments in the arts, parks and transportation systems essential to growing a fun and equitable city.  

Prior to being named Deputy Mayor, Alicia was the Head of the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, investing over $5bn in transformational, mixed-use projects and innovative public private partnerships.  A graduate of Columbia Law School and Amherst College, she is a nationally recognized expert in urban development, infrastructure finance, impact investing and housing policy.