We sit down with Jamar Adams — Founder and Managing Principal of Essence Development — to discuss his journey from the NFL to becoming a leader in real estate development focused on affordable housing, workforce housing, and community-centered projects.Jamar shares how Essence Development, a 100% minority-owned real estate development firm founded in 2020, is building high-quality, socially impactful communities through affordable and mixed-use developments across the Northeast. We explore his approach to equitable housing, long-term community investment, and what it takes to scale real estate projects that create lasting impact.Before launching Essence Development, Jamar served as Vice President of New York Development at Related Companies, where he helped redevelop and preserve affordable multifamily housing nationwide. During his tenure, he oversaw billions in development and transactions, including the construction and rehabilitation of nearly 5,000 affordable and workforce housing units in New York City.Prior to real estate, Jamar played in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s a proud University of Michigan graduate and remains deeply committed to mentorship, leadership, and community empowerment through his involvement with national and local organizations.This conversation covers real estate development, leadership, discipline, career reinvention, and the mindset required to build something meaningful after professional sports.

Rania Svoronou is a senior design executive and Head of Design at Citi, where she leads design strategy, innovation, and AI-enabled digital banking experiences for millions of global users. Her work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, user experience (UX), product design, and financial services, helping shape the future of personal banking at scale.Prior to Citi, Rania held senior global design leadership roles at IBM, where she was recognized as an IBM Inventor and led the development of large-scale enterprise experience systems across multiple continents. Her career spans complex, high-impact digital platforms, combining human-centered design, emerging technology, and business strategy.Rania holds a BA in Graphic Design and an MA in Interaction Design. She is a frequent international speaker, mentor, and design judge, contributing to conversations around AI, innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of design in enterprise organizations. She has been named one of Greek America’s “40 Under 40” rising leaders.With a unique blend of creativity, technical fluency, and executive leadership, Rania Svoronou is redefining how people interact with AI-driven financial products and digital systems across industries.

Devin Kulka is the CEO of The Kulka Group, a full-service real estate and construction organization built on more than four decades of industry experience. Taking over the family business at just 26, Devin set a new tone of integrity, vision, and long-term growth—rebranding the former Kulka Construction into a modern consortium positioned for the next 50 years of development and innovation. Beyond leading major commercial and residential projects, Devin is deeply involved in advancing the industry as a whole. He serves as a Board Trustee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Hauppauge Industrial Association, and the Long Island Builders Institute, and is an active member of national and regional organizations including the Long Island Business Development Council, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Nexus Pro Group, which he co-founded. Devin’s expertise spans large-scale energy, infrastructure, and sustainable development. He oversaw the construction of the second-largest private solar field on the U.S. East Coast and the largest open-loop geothermal system for a pharmaceutical facility—achievements that earned him a keynote speaker role at the 2016 PSEG Energy Efficiency Conference. His leadership has been recognized across the industry, receiving honors such as Long Island Business News’ 30 Under 30, the Young Jewish Presidents’ 40 Under 40, LIBN’s Rising Construction Star Award, and Richner’s Rising Star Developer Award.

A born-and-raised New Yorker, Patrick Smith has a comprehensive grasp on every aspect of the real estate business. His 15+ years of experience spans all property types — condos to co-ops, townhouses to towering new developments, and everything in between. Major stakeholders rely on Patrick’s research and analysis, from clients and lenders to developers and investment partners, various city agencies, and journalists.Patrick leads a successful team of sales professionals serving Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, and he’s a noted authority in his native Manhattan as well as in Long Island City. In the latter, Patrick’s proprietary database, which includes detailed records of the neighborhood’s new development pipeline and every transaction since 2006, has positioned him as a go-to expert. The depth of Patrick’s market knowledge and experience results in an uncanny ability to untangle even the most complicated and delicate transactions while earning the respect and goodwill of buyers, sellers, and co-op boards alike.Previously named a top Manhattan agent by dollar volume in The Real Deal, Patrick was Corcoran’s LIC ‘Salesperson of the Year’ in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2019, he won first place at REBNY’s citywide ‘Deal of the Year’ awards after representing the buyer of a highly-valued Manhattan property — sold by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.