Tawanna A. Black is a nationally recognized thought leader known for influencing, inspiring, and equipping cross-sector leaders to transform a personal conviction for equality into actions that produce equitable and thriving communities. For more than 20 years, Tawanna has led multi-sector collaboratives, triple bottom line diversity and inclusion strategy development, and economic revitalization organizations in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. In 2017, Tawanna launched the Center for Economic Inclusion, the nation’s first organization dedicated exclusively to creating inclusive regional economies by equipping public and private sector employers to dismantle institutional racism and build shared accountability for inclusive economic growth. As Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tawanna leads a team of people who offer ground-breaking consulting products and services to move businesses and local and regional governments from diversity and inclusion programs to triple bottom line results that are good for employees, employers, and communities; foster shared accountability for regional inclusive growth; change the narrative about the economic imperative and value of closing racial wealth gaps. Prior to founding the Center, Tawanna was Executive Director of the Northside Funders Group. The place-based funders collaborative comprised of 20 corporate, community, and private foundations and public-sector investors committed to aligning investments and strategies and changing philanthropic practices to catalyze racial and economic equity in North Minneapolis. Before moving to Minnesota, Tawanna led diversity and inclusion for Cox Communications in Omaha, Nebraska, where she served as an advisor to the senior management team, establishing the first business inclusion strategy, responsible for setting the highest standards for business growth, innovation, and stakeholder return by ensuring that the company understood and acted upon the needs of diverse communities. Prior to Cox, Tawanna served as the first Executive Director for Destination Midtown, leading an unprecedented community economic development public-private partnership. Her visionary leadership led to more than $500 million of re-investment, attracting over 30 small businesses, and building the civic infrastructure for meaningful co-creation between residents, small and large businesses and policy makers in the historic heart of Omaha in just three years. Tawanna is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. She has a Bachelor of Public Administration Degree from Washburn University in Topeka, KS. Tawanna’s accomplishments and civic leadership have been recognized with many awards and commendations, including: City of Minneapolis History Maker (2021), Twin Cities Business Community Impact Award (2021), Washburn University Alumni Fellow (2018), Twin Cities Business 100 People to Know (2017); Minneapolis- St. Paul Business Journal’s Women in Business Award (2017); Minnesota Business Magazines’ Real Power 50 (2017); selected as one of the nation’s Top 25 Disruptive Leaders working to close racial gaps by Living Cities (2016); recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship by the Bush Foundation (2014), and Midlands Business Journal’s (Omaha) 40 Under 40 (2004). Tawanna has lent her leadership to over 35 nonprofit and philanthropic boards over the past decade. Today, she generously lends her time to: Minnesota Tech Association Board of Directors; Washburn University Alumni Foundation Board of Trustees; Community Advisory Board of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank’s Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute; and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Tawanna is married to Eric Black and has two children, Traviata (11) and Christian (9).

Grant Martin has over 15 years’ experience conducting market research and providing critical recommendations for retail and other real estate uses. An excellent communicator, Grant effectively drives strategy through a combination of deep market understanding and thorough data analysis. He understands that clients need tailored, cost-effective methodologies that drive true value for their organizations. Grant helps organizations find the right locations for market expansion, identify key customer segments, or develop forecasting models to assess multiple locations. If you need a market study to support the financing of your project or to help you tailor your approach to the specifics of a market, Grant will put together the right approach to fit your needs. His focus includes retail, office, residential, and mixed use.

Scottie Lee is Vice President, Strategy & Research at Equity Residential in Chicago where he manages a team responsible for market research, sustainability, resilience, energy and environmental. Prior to Equity, Mr. Lee served as Vice President, Strategy & Analytics at Taubman where he oversaw corporate strategy, market research, financial planning & analysis, and financial & data analytics. Mr. Lee is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He participates in ULI's Real Estate Economic Forecast Survey, Real Estate Research Forum and ULI Greenprint. He previously served on ULI Michigan’s Technology Local Product Council and was a member of ULI Michigan’s Larson Center for Leadership’s inaugural class. Mr. Lee, an ICSC member, is an emeritus member of ICSC’s North America Research Group, former co-chair of the Planning Committee for the ICSC Research Connections and a recipient of ICSC's Global Researcher Gold Medallion Award (2022). He is also a member of Real Estate Roundtable’s Research Committee, where he participates in the Affordable Housing Working Group, and NMHC. He previously served on the Governing Board of Detroit Chief Data Officer. Mr. Lee received an MBA with High Distinction from the University of Michigan and a BS in Industrial Engineering and Economics from Northwestern University.