Urbanist, real estate consultant/analyst, and writer.

Libby Starling is the director of the Community Development and Engagement department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. She is responsible for the Minneapolis Fed’s efforts to promote the economic resilience and mobility of low- to moderate-income individuals and communities across the Ninth Federal Reserve District. Prior to joining the Fed in 2019, she was the deputy director of the Community Development Division at the Metropolitan Council, the Twin Cities’ regional planning agency. While at the Council, she led the development of Thrive MSP 2040, the 2040 Housing Policy Plan, and Choice, Place and Opportunity: An Equity Assessment of the Twin Cities. She is a graduate of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

As Regional Director for the U.S. Green Building Council, Sheri oversees market transformation and development activities across the Midwest. Sheri is an experienced senior leader in sustainability with a focus on the built environment, strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement and organizational management. She is a resource to policy makers at the state and local level, and raises awareness about the USGBC’s work through public speaking and serving on stakeholder groups. Prior to this role, Sheri was appointed Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council Minnesota Chapter in February 2009. As Executive Director, she worked with the Board of Directors to strengthen and expand the organization. Before joining USGBC as staff, Sheri was actively involved with the organization as a volunteer leader when she helped form the USGBC Minnesota group in 2002. Her volunteer roles with USGBC MN included serving on the board of directors as secretary, vice chair and chair. With a background in the construction industry, Sheri brings over 25 years of experience in the building industry. In her previous positions as Director of Marketing for Weis Builders, Inc. and Adolfson & Peterson Construction, she developed and led the general contractor’s sustainability programs. Sheri holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Mr. Mark O. Decker, Jr., is the Managing Partner of Proterra Real Estate Partners, a strategy formed in 2023 at Proterra Investment Partners LP. Proterra is a real assets and credit investor with over $4 billion under management. Prior to Proterra, Mark served as a President, CEO, Chief Investment Officer & Trustee at Centerspace. From 2016 to 2023 Mark successfully repositioned Centerspace (NYSE:CSR) from a diversified portfolio of multi, healthcare, retail and industrial with inconsistent financial results into a focused owner-operator of apartment homes that possesses an investment grade quality balance sheet, consistent operating results and a winning culture. In the two decades prior to joining Centerspace, Mark was an investment banker who served the real estate industry with a focus on growth and transformational transactions for public and private real estate owner/operators, lodging companies, and real estate services firms. Mark completed over 300 transactions with over $90 billion in value. Mark serves on the Board of Directors at Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: PINE), a net lease investor. Mark earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the College of William & Mary; outside of his career, Mark is married with 4 children and loves the outdoors, music and cars.