District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill PR25-0478 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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6	6	MURIEL BOWSER
7	7	MAYOR
8	8
9	9	October 12, 2023
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11	11	The Honorable Phil Mendelson
12	12	Chairman
13	13	Council of the District of Columbia
14	14	John A. Wilson Building
15	15	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 504
16	16	Washington, DC 20004
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19	19	Dear Chairman Mendelson:
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21	21	In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
22	22	142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 205 of the Washington Convention Center
23	23	Authority Act of 1994, effective September 28, 1994 (D.C. Law 10- 188; D.C. Official Code § 10-
24	24	1202.05), I am pleased to nominate:
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26	26	Ms. Marisa Flowers
27	27	Walnut Street, NE
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29	29	Washington, DC 20018
30	30	(Ward 5 )
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32	32	for appointment as a public member with experience in municipal finance of the Washington
33	33	Convention and Sports Authority Board of Directors, replacing Max Brown , for a term to end May
34	34	16, 2027.
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36	36	Enclosed you will find biographical information detailing the experience of Ms. Flowers, together
37	37	with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
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39	39	I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation.
40	40	Please do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
41	41	Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
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44	44	Sincerely,
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47	47	Muriel Bowser 1
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60	60	~
61	61	Chairman Phil Mendelson
62	62	at the request
63	63	of the Mayor
64	64	A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
65	65	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
66	66	14 To confirm the appointment of Ms. Marisa Flowers to the Washington Convention and Sports
67	67	15 Authority Board of Directors.
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69	69	17 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
70	70	18 resolution may be cited as the "Washington Convention and Sports Authority Board of Directors
71	71	19 Marisa Flowers Confirmation Resolution of 2023 ".
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73	73	21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
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75	75	23 Ms. Marisa Flowers
76	76	24 Walnut Street, NE
77	77	25 Washington, DC 20018
78	78	26 (Ward 4)
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81	81	as a public member with experience in municipal finance of the Washington Convention and
82	82	29 Sports Authority Board of Directors, pursuant to section 205 of the Washington Convention
83	83	30 Center Authority Act of 1994, effective September 28, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-188; D.C. Official
84	84	31 Code§ 10-1202.05), replacing Max Brown, for a term to end May 16, 2027.
85	85	32 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
86	86	33 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
87	87	34 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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89	89	MARISA FLOWERS \| 202- 230-4041 I marisagflowers@gmail.com I District of Columbia
90	90	PROFILE
91	91	Highly engaged, influential and trusted senior executive leader dedicated to implementing strategic policy, real estate
92	92	and economic development, public/private partnerships, and redevelopment initiatives. Driven by an entrepreneurial
93	93	and analytical approach to strategic planning, market analysis and building cross-sector partnerships leading to urban
94	94	development, policy innovations and investments over a 20-year career.
95	95	PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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97	97	RLJ Lodging Trust, Bethesda
98	98	Senior Vice President, Administration June 2023 – present
99	99	• Responsible for leading and supervising all of the administrative functions of the $3b publicly traded hospitality
100	100	REIT including, but not limited to, human capital strategy, operating infrastructure, corporate strategic
101	101	planning, corporate philanthropy and ESG efforts and other corporate initiatives.
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103	103	Green Door Advisors, LLC, Washington, DC
104	104	Founder/Principal 2007 – May 2023
105	105	• Founder and Principal of a real estate advisory services firm providing strategic consulting services, including
106	106	market and financial feasibility analysis across all real estate assets, project financial analysis, fiscal impact
107	107	analysis, development/redevelopment strategy for over $1b in real estate transactions.
108	108	• Authored multiple strategic, housing, and economic development plans including, the Prince George’s County
109	109	Economic Development Strategy, the 2012 DC Housing Strategy the DC Creative Economy Plan among others,
110	110	helping to shape multimillion-dollar investments in affordable housing, workforce development and economic
111	111	development in the DC region.
112	112	• Manage public/private development agreements including deal negotiation, community engagement, financial
113	113	strategy for substantial projects involving DMPED, DCHA and DHCD and related public entities in DC and MD,
114	114	resulting in the development of affordable and market rate housing, commercial and retail development
115	115	leveraging public and private resources. Consulting services directly contributed to the development of more
116	116	than 2,000 units in the District and Maryland.
117	117	• Lead business development growing from start-up to established consultancy serving more than one hundred
118	118	clients (nonprofit and for-profit developers, institutions, municipalities, and quasi-governmental agencies),
119	119	maintained a large client base by providing exceptional analysis, service and value.
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121	121	Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, DC City Council
122	122	Chairman Committee on Business and Economic Development
123	123	Chief of Staff 2019 - 2022
124	124	• Managed a multi-disciplinary team with oversight of constituent services for approximately 85,000 DC residents,
125	125	executed office communication strategy, budget authorization, agency oversight and policymaking.
126	126	• Served as senior advisor to the Councilmember on all public policy goals focused on economic development,
127	127	hospitality and tourism, racial equity, real estate development, tax and financial regulation and opportunities to
128	128	enhance public-private partnerships.
129	129	• Managed budget oversight for the $939m cluster of Business and Economic Development agencies (including
130	130	DMPED, EventsDC Destination DC, ABRA, DISB, OCFO among others) to align budget and policy priorities and
131	131	ensure effective and efficient delivery of services to residents and businesses.
132	132	• Developed and managed the Equitable Recovery Advisory Group (ERAG), bringing t ogether business, finance,
133	133	and policy leaders to address the inequitable impact of COVID19 on communities of color in DC. Resulted in
134	134	$100m+ BRIDGE Fund investment in small, local and minority owned businesses to facilitate COVID recovery.
135	135	• Developed key economic development initiatives including the Commercial Property Acquisition Fund to support
136	136	minority and women – owned business ability to acquire commercial properties and combat commercial
137	137	displacement and gentrification in DC.
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139	139	• Developed and maintained public and private sector relationships within the Washington DC business
140	140	community to effectuate sound tax, finance, development and business policy and regulation to support the key
141	141	drivers of an $148b local economy.
142	142	• Provided critical guidance to shape the 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update, specifically related to environmental
143	143	justice, racial equity and economic development policy codified within the current Comp Plan for the District of
144	144	Columbia.
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146	146	The Gideon Companies, Washington, DC
147	147	Chief Operating Officer & Principal 2017 - 2019
148	148	• Founding team member of $50m investment pool for real estate transactions in Washington, DC.
149	149	• Managed in- house real estate development partnerships and projects, including two new construction
150	150	multifamily projects, third party contractor management, as well as public/private partnership opportunities.
151	151	• Facilitated the refinancing of real estate portfolio of approximately eight hundred units, valued at $100 million.
152	152	• Led real estate and financial analysis to effectuate investment in third party projects of over $10 million in
153	153	equity and mezzanine investments in residential projects in Washington, DC.
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155	155	National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), Washington, DC
156	156	Director, Real Estate Transactions 2005 -2007
157	157	• Negotiated the disposition of large scale urban real estate projects including retail, residential, office, mixed-
158	158	use and affordable housing projects of behalf of quasi-public agency.
159	159	• Managed community, city council and public agency outreach required to proceed with development in four
160	160	public dispositions for redevelopment projects that furthered affordable housing and economic development.
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162	162	RCLCO (Robert Charles Lesser & Co.), Bethesda, MD
163	163	Director of Consulting 2003 – 2005
164	164	• Managed consultant teams in the completion of market feasibility studies, go/no-go analysis,
165	165	product/community positioning and consumer research studies for national clientele of private sector, public
166	166	sector, and nonprofit real estate development firms nationwide and in the Caribbean.
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168	168	Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Washington DC
169	169	Assistant Program Officer 2002 – 2003
170	170	• Provided program support for the seven sites throughout the Southeast Region including fundraising development, donor stewardship, research, policy advocacy and conducted underwriting due diligence.
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172	172	Los Angeles County, Chief Administrative Office, Los Angeles, CA 1998 - 2000
173	173	Budget Analyst
174	174	• Assisted the Principal Analyst in the planning, coordination, direction, and control over the Dept of Public
175	175	Social Services (DPSS) $3.2 billion budget, including authorization of budget expenditures, adjustments, and
176	176	human resources investments.
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178	178	EDUCATION & SERVICE
179	179	• Masters in City Planning – Massachusetts Institute of Technology – HUD Fellow 2000 – 2002
180	180	• Bachelor of Arts – UC Berkeley – Summa Cum Laude 1994 – 1998
181	181	• Board Member, Washington Community Investment Fund (WACIF)
182	182	• Executive Committee Member – Jack and Jill of America (Washington, DC Chapter)
183	183	• Founder & President, Capital Reserva Wine Club (est. 2005)
184	184
185	185	Executive Office of the Mayor - Office of Talent and Appointments
186	186	John A. Wilson Building \| 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 \| Washington, DC 20004
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191	191	Marisa Flowers
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194	194	Ms. Flowers brings over 20 years' experience and a demonstrated track
195	195	record of success providing public, nonprofit, and private clients with
196	196	innovative and collaborative solutions to complex real estate, planning,
197	197	and policy challenges.
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199	199	Ms. Flowers currently serves as the Senior Vice President of
200	200	Administrationat RLJ Lodging Trust, a hospitality real estate investment
201	201	trust that owns approximately 100 hotels across the country. In this role
202	202	she is responsible for leading all administrative functions of the publicly traded company. Ms.
203	203	Flowers founded Green Door Advisors in 2007 and has provided real estate advisory services –
204	204	including market analysis, investment analysis, public sector engagement and deal structuring
205	205	with a particular focus on public/private partnerships to more than 100 clients, in real estate
206	206	projects valued at over $1 billion .
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208	208	Recently, Marisa served as the Chief of Staff to DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Chair of
209	209	the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development. In this role, she managed all
210	210	aspects of the personal and committee offices and played a critical role in advancing racial equity
211	211	and economic development initiatives. These initiatives included the Commercial Property
212	212	Acquisition Fund and $100m COVID small business and hospitality relief fund.
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214	214	Over her career, she has also served in a variety of public, private, and nonprofit positions
215	215	including, Director of Real Estate Transactions with the National Capital Revitalization
216	216	Corporation in Washington, DC, Director of Consulting with RCLCO and an Assistant Program
217	217	Manager with Local Initiative Support Corporation. Ms. Flowers serves on the board for WACIF
218	218	(Washington Area Community Investment Fund), a DC based CDFI.
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220	220	A Ward 5 resident, Ms. Flowers graduated Summa cum Laude from UC Berkeley with a
221	221	Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies and received a Master’s in City Planning from the
222	222	Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Marisa lives in northeast Washington, DC with her
223	223	husband and two daughters. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
224	224	Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
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226	226	Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
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229	229	______________________________________________________________________________
230	230	The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724 -7681
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232	232	To: Tommy Wells, Steve Walker
233	233	From: Betsy Cavendish
234	234	Date: September 27, 2023
235	235	Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution nominating Marisa Flowers as a member
236	236	of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority Board of Directors
237	237	This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above- referenced resolution and
238	238	found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
239	239	hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202 -
240	240	724-1303, or me at 202- 724-7681.
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243	243	______________________________ Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish
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