#MOYAtalks

As a part of our Sustainability and Design #MOYAtalks series, we had a privilege to talk with Ana Ka’ahanui. Ana is the communication manager at the U.S. Green Buidling Council. 

In her electric and captivating style, Ana elaborated on the story of the U.S. Green Building Council and shared her experiences in 18 years working in the council.  As an advocate for environmental education, Ana talked about her non-profit organization, Capital Nature, and the highs and lows of educating the public about environmental issues. Without a doubt, Ana has the gift of communication and we enjoyed learning about Capital Nature’s initiatives in the region and how the use of technology amplifies our ability to understand and expand our knowledge.  

Thank you, Ana, for sharing your knowledge and such an insightful and important conversation!

As a part our Inclusive Design and Accessible Cities #MOYAtalks series, we had the privilege to connect with Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, Founder of Blindish Latina and DEI Consultant.  

Catarina shared with us how her Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage shaped her experience broaden her horizons and provided perspective while growing up. Catarina gently and clearly walked our audience through her journey as an advocate, her life with Usher syndrome, and her work as a DEI consultant.  

We discussed key concepts such as “invisible disability” and how to have productive conversation on disability beyond cliches and token representation.  Catarina, thank you for sharing your time and experience.  

Please, if you want to learn more about Catarina and her work, visit her website: https://www.catarinarivera.com

As a part of our #MOYAtalks series celebrating Women History Month, we've had the pleasure to host a talk with Cheryl Steigerwald LEED AP, the Vice President of Vertical Design for The NRP Group.  

Cheryl shared her thoughts about women leadership in architecture, the story about how she switched from architecture to development and real estate and how her background as an architect is essential to the success in her role managing NRP $2billion portfolio.  

Thank you, Cheryl, it was a privilege to connect with you!

As a part of #MOYAtalks series celebrating Black History Month, our team had a privilege to host a talk with Jason Pugh, NOMA’s Director and Gensler’s Senior Associate.  

Jason talked about his approach to architecture, his vision for NOMA during his leadership, implementation of participatory decision making in complex architectural projects, as well as his thoughts about designing more equitable cities.  Jason was sharp, incisive and full of amazing analogies and data that were enlightening about the challenges BIPOC face in the profession. This was a great way to wrap up our Black History Month MOYA Talks.  

Thank you, Jason!

As a part of our Black History Month #MOYAtalks series, we had the privilege to connect with Paul Blackman, the Program Director of Overland, Pacific & Cutler, and a leading Consultant for Trusted Advisory Group.   

Paul shared his experience of switching from engineering to the Built Environment Industry and real estate; talking about the development of the DC Metro Area. We want to thank Paul once again for taking the time to share his knowledge with our team! Please enjoy the video and consider commenting your thoughts!

As a part of #MOYAtalks series dedicated to the Black History Month, our team had a pleasure to connect with Maria Thompson, Executive Vice President of Construction at Hoffman & Associates.  

Maria shared with us a variety of her personal and professional experiences, including being part of the leadership team at one of the largest developers in the US; overseeing one of the largest projects in DC, The Wharf; and mentoring youth on the construction and engineering industry.   

https://www.hoffman-dev.com/

As a part of #MOYATalks series on Design, Development and Opportunities, we had the pleasure to talk with Buwa Binitie, Founder and Managing Principal of  Dantes Partners.  

A great storyteller, Buwa talked about his arrival from Nigeria to New York 23 years ago, and about how his family values shaped the person he is today. Buwa shared his experiences as a young entrepreneur in the midst of the Dot-Com bubble, learning the hard way that any business requires patience and a carefully thought process.  More importantly, Buwa talked about how he discovered that real Estate Development was his passion, and a way to give back and build a more inclusive city. We delved into the how his earlier experiences informed the process that he followed to found Dantes Partners and the amazing job they have done in the District to provide high quality affordable housing and. Buwa’s sharp insights and honest answers were refreshing. It was a great talk!  

Read more about Reeves Center project concept at this link: https://moyadesignpartners.com/portfolio/reservation-13/

As a part of our Design, Development and Economic Opportunities #MOYAtalks series, we had the privilege to connect with Obiora "Bo" Menkiti, the Founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group and Vice Chair of City First Bank.  Bo is a great storyteller, and we had the true pleasure to hear his insights about The Menkiti Group’s history, his experience working with small businesses, his personal and professional goals, as well as some behind-the-scenes news for the Reeves Center project.  

Thank you so much, Bo, for such an engaging and emotional talk!  

Learn more about Reeves Center revitalization project at the links below: 

https://www.revitalizereeves.com/ 

https://moyadesignpartners.com/portfolio/moxy-hotel-new-franklin-d-reeves-center/