ULI Chicago is pleased to announce our 2022-23 Fellows:

• WOMEN’S FELLOW: Kemena Brooks, Director of Development, The Community Builders
• KAHAN FELLOW: Michael Fausone, Development Manager, Conor Commercial Real Estate

ULI Chicago has two Fellowships to support the professional development of industry professionals.  The newly established ULI Chicago Women’s Fellowship, which has been funded by Heitman and JPMorgan for our inaugural year, supports Chicago women in the commercial real estate industry by helping them create new connections, foster career growth and expand their engagement in ULI.

Created in 2013 in memory of long-time ULI member, Jeffrey Kahan, the Kahan Fellowship is for ULI Chicago Young Leaders (Under 35 members) who are growing their career in commercial real estate.  Through the Kahan Fellowship, Young Leaders are introduced to more seasoned ULI members, and helps each Fellow establish new relationships that will help further and support their career. Both Fellowship winners receive a one-year Full membership in ULI, participation on a ULI National Product Council, attendance at the ULI Fall and Spring Meetings, as well as mentorship opportunities, and participation in the Chicago District Council.

Take a minute and learn about our 2022-23 Fellows:

KEMENA BROOKS
Kemena Brooks is the Director of Development for The Community Builders Chicago development office. Kemena oversees development activity from initial concept through project stabilization. Her responsibilities range from project planning and finance structuring through design, construction, and lease-up. Current focus includes future residential and mixed-use phase developments at Oakwood Shores, a 95-acre former public housing transformation site in Chicago.  Kemena is also leading redevelopment efforts in West Side neighborhoods and focused on providing mixed-income housing in Opportunity Areas. Recently, Kemena closed on a $5 million impact investment loan to support TCB’s efforts to deliver homeownership and retail development for local businesses in two South Side Chicago neighborhoods.

Before joining The Community Builders, Kemena worked for Laurel Street, a mixed-income real estate developer located in Charlotte, NC. There she developed more than 500 senior, family, and workforce units totaling over $75 million.

Kemena graduated in 2022 from Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Scholars MBA program.  She holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and a Bachelor of Science with a major in interior architecture from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

MICHAEL FAUSONE
As a Development Manager at Conor Commercial Real Estate, Mike oversees the firm’s development projects in the greater Chicago area and southeastern United States. He monitors economic and industry trends and identifies new development opportunities. Additionally, Mike leads the development team through all steps from land acquisition to entitlements, design, construction, lease-up and disposition.

As a registered professional engineer with a background in construction Mike brings to bear a comprehensive understanding of design and construction process. He is also the only development professional at Conor working in both the multi-family and industrial business units, and has been an integral part of the company’s re-entry into the multi-family development space.

Prior to Conor, Mike worked as Development Associate at Related Midwest, focusing on predevelopment work for (including entitlements) at The 78 and the company’s Fulton Market development sites, in addition to asset managing 500 Lake Shore Drive.  Mike is an active Developing Leaders member of NAIOP’s Chicago chapter, as well as the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders Group and Chicago Product Council (Green). He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Duke University.