Our Team
Real Estate Development Associate
Alexander Walker
VP, Programs
Altrea Wilson
Real Estate Operations Manager
Ashton Slate
Real Estate Development Manager
Ben Cuevas
Programs Lending Supervisor
Brandee Prosser-Dotson
Loan Review Specialist
Brenda Lewis
Homeownership Advisor
Brittany Hardy
Program Administrator
Cheryl Jones
Lending & Compliance Specialist
D’Andria Ashe
SVP, Real Estate Development
Daniel Cimaglia
Assistant Asset Manager
Deanna Jones
Executive Assistant to the President
Dona Stephenson
VP, Finance and Accounting
Douglas Maxey
SVP, Programs & Fund Development
Erin Barbee
COO & EVP of Real Estate
Fred Dodson, Jr.
Real Estate Development Associate
Jarrod Jones
Real Estate Development Manager
Jennifer Duru
VP of Economic Opportunity
Jennifer Jones
President
Julie Porter
SVP, Construction
Karen Batten-Balas
CFO
W. Kevin Schrader
Loan Coordinator
LaShawn Ralph
Assistant Director of Education
Manuel Dubuc
SVP, Marketing & Communications
Noelle E. Bell
Homeownership Advisor
Patsy Wingate
Assistant Construction Manager
Rebecca Farrar
SVP, Asset Management
Rebekah M. Baker
Homeownership & Foreclosure Advisor
Rosalyn Johnson
Real Estate Development Associate
Samantha Yu
Real Estate Development Manager
Sammy Jackson
Homeownership Advisor
Sonya Johnson
VP, Asset Management
Susan Bowman
Construction Manager
Trey Witte
Real Estate Development Associate
Alexander Walker
Rainmaker. Artisan. Visionary.
The world needs rainmakers, and Alex is one of them. His creative spirit and talent for seeing well beyond the obvious gives him the unique ability to bring about new possibilities in affordable housing. Alex holds master’s degrees in both architecture and urban planning and has spent years applying his skills as an architect, housing rehabilitation specialist, and real estate developer. He’s most passionate about “finding creative ways to provide affordable housing and places for people to build community.”
We also happen to know that Alex has received accolades for being a very gifted and motivating public speaker. And he spends his free time taking his children to various parks or drives through the country. Hmm…perhaps those activities are really intended to “capture” his kids and deliver “motivational speeches.” Pretty smart strategy, Alex.
VP, Programs
Altrea Wilson
Fairy Godmother. Servant Leader. Soldier.
Altrea’s benevolent spirit is magnetic and contagious. A pivotal cornerstone of the DreamKey Partners family since 1997, as VP of Programs she oversees lending, the loan portfolio and the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. She also has assisted with the oversight of foreclosure preventions, and pre-purchase homebuyer education and counseling. Throughout her career of service, she has consistently stretched herself and touched countless lives in the process. Her passion is in working hand-in-hand with others and “seeing the enthusiasm in people who reach their goals after never imagining that they could.”
Altrea’s love for people extends beyond her professional life—she serves in the Ministry of Helps and leads the ministry for the homeless for her church. She also loves to sing. You know, there really are “angels unaware” among us. We think we found one of them. Her name is Altrea.
Real Estate Operations Manager
Ashton Slate
Crackerjack. Go-Getter. Snake-Charmer.
In his role as Real Estate Operations Manager, Ashton makes sure we are compliant with all state, local and federal regulations governing affordable housing. But, to him, his role is about “mitigating exposure, while realizing opportunities or quite simply, managing expectations.”
Ashton’s one smart cookie—he has a master’s degree in public administration and a Juris Doctorate from law school. And he has a Peloton, which he swears he has yet to use as a clothes hamper. Essentially, he’s a hopeless overachiever.
Real Estate Development Manager
Ben Cuevas
Dynamo. Catalyst. Conductor.
Ben’s the kind of guy you’d want in a bunker with you. Armed with a master’s degree in real estate development and finance, and loads of experience as a real estate broker, analyst, and developer, he’s a catalyst for making dreams happen. Ben has a passion for helping the underserved. As he puts it, “We provide a lot more than just housing to our residents; we create diverse and vibrant communities that can provide upward economic mobility and social capital.”
In his spare time, Ben stays busy with fitness/sports activities, hiking/backpacking, and traveling the world. On top of that, he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and the Urban Land Institute. In an endurance contest against the Energizer Bunny, our money is on Ben.
Programs Lending Supervisor
Brandee Prosser-Dotson
Problem-Solver. Educator. Innovator.
As a Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator with over a decade in the mortgage industry, Brandee has what it takes to facilitate down payment assistance and homeowner education for eager prospective homeowners. Her friends find her “ridiculously optimistic,” and her customers would agree. Brandee cherishes “working for a company that allows her to have a positive impact on so many lives which in turn contributes to an overall positive impact on the community.”
Brandee loves spending time with her family watching movies and playing board games. We bet she’s a ringer at Monopoly!
Loan Review Specialist
Brenda Lewis
Guidepost. Guru. Unicorn.
Brenda is a natural-born, compassionate counselor. Her long, successful career in mortgage loan counseling for both financial institutions and nonprofit organizations is a testament to her talent for guiding people. What she enjoys most about her role is seeing people receive assistance in getting their first home.
Brenda’s friends say she is a lover of life and laughter (and just a little crazy too). We also found out she’s a pilot in her free time. A drone pilot, that is.
Homeownership Advisor
Brittany Hardy
Spark Plug. Comrade-in-Arms. Scout.
Brittany uses her optimistic energy to harness resources to break through barriers to achieve goals. As a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor, with a BS in Business Economics, she provides homebuyer and financial literacy education, and inspires people who are experiencing financial challenges overturn their circumstances. Brittany finds it most rewarding “to see the impact my work is having on the community and by helping people change their situation, they can develop a better life for themselves and their family.”
Her secret to staying energized? Brittany takes to the outdoors, where she claims nature rejuvenates her. We think she secretly found the Fountain of Youth during one of her hikes.
Program Administrator
Cheryl Jones
Crusader. Tutor. Investigator.
Cheryl is perpetually inquisitive and a thought-provoker. As program administrator, Cheryl relishes being able to educate future homeowners with the knowledge and resources she has gained at DreamKey Partners. Her friends describe her as the “debater” – the one who never shies away from asking the tough questions.
Her free time consists of poring through the annual list of “must read books” and shuttling her children between soccer, football, and dance activities. Being the “debater,” we figure she’s the one challenging the coaches on the sidelines.
Lending & Compliance Specialist
D’Andria Ashe
Ringmaster. Firefighter. Point Guard.
D’Andria is a multifaceted, energetic member of the DreamKey Partners team. Having a long history in banking and mortgage lending, she is well-equipped to help families reach their homeownership goals as a lending and compliance specialist. The things she most enjoys about her job is working with an amazing team and the feeling of accomplishment when receiving a “thank-you note” from clients whose homeownership dreams she’s help fulfill.
D’Andria stays busy playing the piano and teaching Sunday School, writing, and landscaping. But don’t let those mild-mannered activities fool you. She’s also trained in Krav Maga self-defense and sparring. Probably best to stay on her good side, huh?
SVP, Real Estate Development
Daniel Cimaglia
Shepherd. Visionary. Coach.
The dreams of affordable housing come true for so many people in large part because Daniel is our “development shepherd.” In his current role as SVP of Real Estate Development, Daniel is responsible for the continued growth of the organization’s acquisitions, entitlement, and the closing of all multi-family projects. He has more than 30 years of expertise in pre-construction and development operations with an emphasis in site planning and design for a variety of real estate types, ranging from single-family to mid-high-rise development. What he likes most about his job is “working with the team and the vision of seeing a raw piece of land develop into a community.”
As if his job wasn’t all consuming, Daniel has dedicated over 25 years of his free time working as a special teams coach at the high school football level. Put us in, coach, we’re ready to go!
Assistant Asset Manager
Deanna Jones
Analyzer. Communicator. Inspector.
Deanna has a knack for managing a world of details and remaining focused in demanding, fast-paced environments. Her varied career in property leasing, tenant sales, data analysis, and project management for over 12,000 multi-family HUD properties has prepared her well for her current role as Assistant Asset Manager for DreamKey Partners. Her greatest joy comes from being a part of making a difference in affordable housing and the communities she serves.
Deanna’s love for serving people extends beyond her career, as she enjoys being “The Chef” for her family and friends. We’d happily be your official taste-testers, Deanna!
Executive Assistant to the President
Dona Stephenson
Lion-Tamer. Juggler. Architect
Wherever Dona is, you can bet things are in a perpetual state of motion. As executive assistant to our president, she juggles a myriad of details without seeming to break a sweat. Throughout her career, she has dedicated her talents toward improving and enhancing life in communities with her work for municipal governments and nonprofits.
Dona’s a self-proclaimed practical-jokester and Hallmark card-lover, but she also enjoys using her spare time to follow public policy and communicate her opinions to federal and state representatives. You rabble-rouser, you.
VP, Finance and Accounting
Douglas Maxey
Bean-Counter. Air-Traffic Controller. Samaritan
When you call Douglas, you’re greeted with “How can I make your day excellent?” In his role as VP, Finance and Accounting, he is able to share his sunny disposition with colleagues across multiple DreamKey Partners’ disciplines. A veteran accountant with an MBA from Pfeiffer University, Douglas has experience in a broad array of environments, including over 20 years as a corporate accountant for various multi-family apartment developers. His goal is to “treat my team members as customers and provide the best possible support and information.”
Douglas is an avid volunteer. He donates much of his spare time volunteering at his church, working directly with inmates at the Mecklenburg County Jail, and helping relieve food insecurity as a board member for Charlotte Uptown Farmers Market. He also enjoys clay shooting, target practice, cooking, gardening and spending time as the “favorite uncle” to his nieces and nephews. Because he grew up a few miles away from Clemson, we never have a hard time finding Douglas wherever he is—he’s the guy wearing orange and a contagious smile.
SVP, Programs & Fund Development
Erin Barbee
Cheerleader. Hunter-Gatherer. Tap Dancer.
If Erin were a superhero, she’d be the one who can
break down walls with just her smile. Her love for
people has guided her in leading efforts to address
affordable housing, food insecurities, and building
equity and trust among people. Today, she’s the
driving force for the Financial Literacy, Home
Buyer Education, down payment Assistance,
Foreclosure and Eviction Prevention Programs.
Erin joined DreamKey Partners in 2019.
Ever the adventurer, Erin enjoys traveling the globe.
And yes, she wears her superhero cape.
COO & EVP of Real Estate
Fred Dodson, Jr.
Motivator. Cultivator. Stormchaser.
They say you have to watch out for the quiet
ones, and that’s certainly true of Fred. Fred’s our
“Gentle Giant”, leading DreamKey Partners’ real
estate development and construction operations
teams. He has a rich history of accomplishing the
seemingly impossible in affordable housing. He
does it by remaining laser-focused on his love for
the people we serve—and he has nearly 3,000
rental housing units to show for it.
When Fred’s not out cultivating hope in affordable
housing, you’ll find him knuckle-deep, cultivating his
own garden.
Real Estate Development Associate
Jarrod Jones
Organizer. Dreamer. Liberator.
Jarrod’s a true community soldier with a genuine soul of service. Throughout his personal and professional life, he has held leadership roles for several community service oriented organizations, (particularly those benefitting youth)—Project L.I.F.T., One Network for Education Charlotte (O.N.E. Charlotte), 100 Black Men of America Mentor, NAACP Co-Chair of Youth & Engagement, to name a few. His quest to help others has continued with DreamKey Partners, where he says, “There is always something new to learn; as human needs evolve over time, so do the spaces and places they call home.”
Leisure time for Jarrod includes a medley of activities, from attending stand-up comedy shows, exploring Southeastern Black culture, running with his Boston Terrier Nova, and planning date nights with his “lovely lady.” And the Great All-Around Guy Award goes to…Mr. Jones.
Real Estate Development Manager
Jennifer Duru
Negotiator. Problem-Solver. Doer.
If the community needs help, Jennifer will be the first to raise her hand. With over a decade of service in various roles with the City of Charlotte and a master’s degree in development and finance, she’s cultivated a deep sense of ownership and responsibility for using her skills to benefit others. To hear her tell it, “My roots are in community and economic development. I became more interested in real estate development as I saw its impact on communities, particularly communities of color, and historic and rural communities.” She loves being a part of the DreamKey Partners team, as she sees it as a “culture of possibility.”
While the community sees a tireless worker-bee and her friends see someone who doesn’t know when to just “sit down,” Jennifer is also deeply spiritual and introspective, and takes time to check-in with those closest to her, including herself. We don’t know what you see when you look in the mirror, Jennifer, but we see a beautiful friend to many.
VP of Economic Opportunity
Jennifer Jones
Navigator. Cheerleader. Servant.
As a natural-born nurturer and facilitator of dreams, Jennifer has a positive effect on peoples’ lives. She has played a pivotal role in counseling DreamKey Partners’ prospective homebuyers in foreclosure prevention and rent payment assistance since 2009. In her current role as VP of Economic Opportunity, she is driven to serve people in the community and “provide life-changing solutions to people during times they need it most.”
When she gets the chance, Jennifer enjoys spending time at the beach with her family. She also explores her creative side through sewing. We bet she saves a bundle by stitching her family’s beachwear. Move over, Speedo.
President
Julie Porter
Advocate. Pollinator. Ring-Leader.
Julie’s hope and optimism are potent and contagious.
Her straightforward, unwavering belief that housing
is the basic building block to economic opportunity
has been a driving force for the DreamKey Partners
team since 2013. Throughout her entire career, Julie
has been a dynamic, decisive pioneer at the forefront
of revitalizing communities and improving lives in the
Midwest and Southeast.
Julie’s talent for “stirring things up” to create
masterpieces is also evident in her kitchen, where
she loves to bake tempting treats.
SVP, Construction
Karen Batten-Balas
Mentor. Organizer. Communicator.
Karen is a superhero in the construction industry. A true veteran with over 30 years leading thousands of housing projects across the country, she had a hand in both expanding the availability of quality, affordable housing and educating the next generation of managers in the development and construction process. Karen gains deep satisfaction when she collaborates with her team to complete a project, and she can look back as say, “See that? I helped make it a reality.”
Karen loves spending time with her family and fishing her with father (something she’s enjoyed since she was a little girl). She was also Founding Board Member of Soka de Dios, Inc., a Charlotte, NC nonprofit inner city sports ministry group. We’re inspired, and a wee bit star-struck by all you do, Karen. Take a bow.
CFO
W. Kevin Schrader
Scorekeeper. Fortune-teller. Referee.
When Kevin comes to see you, you’re never sure if
he’s going to make your day…or tell you to get your
calculator out and start over. His deep knowledge
and experience in financial management for a
variety of companies and industries (including a Big
Four accounting firm) makes him fully equipped to
deftly govern DreamKey Partners’ purse strings.
But when you get past his strict adherence to
accounting practices, you sense his love for
people and his passion for helping others achieve
their potential.
When Kevin’s not crunching numbers, you may find
him playing on the tennis court, where he usually
wins. Is that because he’s also acting as the scorekeeper
and referee?
Loan Coordinator
LaShawn Ralph
Collaborator. Gatekeeper. Fact-Finder.
With over 20 years in the lending and mortgage industry, LaShawn operates like a well-oiled machine in her role as loan coordinator. Her motivation comes from working with people—both potential new homeowners and her teammates at DreamKey Partners. She most enjoys the fact that “everyone on my team shares the same vision and dedication for helping people in need.”
When she’s not helping future homeowners, LaShawn can be found embarking on her passion for shopping (“retail therapy”) and spending time with her grandkids. We’re guessing she’s one of those grandmothers who is guilty of spoiling the kiddos with the fruits of all her shopping sprees!
Assistant Director of Education
Manuel Dubuc
Teacher. Pilot. Dream-Weaver.
As assistant director of education, Manuel plays a critical role in helping people navigate their journey toward homeownership. With a B.S. degree from the Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela and a professional career as a highly successful salesperson, flight attendant, and home mortgage consultant, Manuel is well-armed with the skills he needs to work effectively with people. He gets his energy from “teaching others about homeownership, how credit works, and the best ways to manage their money.”
Manuel relaxes by working in the yard, swimming, and playing darts. Here’s a tip, Manuel—it’s never a good idea to mix dart-throwing with swimming. That’s how your pool floats end up deflated.
SVP, Marketing & Communications
Noelle E. Bell
Creator. Navigator. Storyteller.
Noelle brings DreamKey Partners’ voice to life through
all forms of communication. Equipped with acumen
in both left/right-brain thinking, she enjoys both the
artistic and analytical sides of her work. Her love for
photography comes in handy too. But most of
all, she gets her energy from collaborating with
people. Noelle’s extensive background in global
communications focused on making a difference –
charitable giving, social and economic investments
– ignited her commitment to continuing this work
more locally. She joined the organization in 2020.
Offer Noelle some dessert and put on an NBA
game — she’ll be your friend forever.
Homeownership Advisor
Patsy Wingate
Mother Hen. Traffic Cop. Lighthouse.
Patsy’s a true Mother Hen—she multi-tasks with ease, nurtures well-being, keeps things in line, has eyes in the back of her head, and sleeps with one of them open. These qualities are evident in her long career as an FHA loan specialist for a major bank, various customer service positions, and her work with DreamKey Partners in the emergency rent assistance program and homeownership advising roles. As a HUD-certified counselor, Patsy’s passion is in assisting people in making their dreams come true.
When she’s not mothering at work, she’s doing it at home. Patsy became a first-time mother at age 57! How about a little fire, scarecrow?
Assistant Construction Manager
Rebecca Farrar
Engineer. Bloodhound. Dreamweaver.
Rebecca is wired to understand the inner-workings of how things work. Good thing, since she is a civil engineer by education, and has spent years applying her skills in a variety of industries, from energy to transportation and residential construction. She studied civil engineering, transportation, and materials at the University of Alabama Huntsville, and joined DreamKey Partners as Assistant Construction Manager in 2020.
Rebecca spends her spare time watching sports with her family and is busy shuttling her children to sports activities. While at the University of Alabama Huntsville, she was a member of the “Concrete Canoe” team. Which begs the question, how do concrete and canoe go together when it comes to seaworthiness?
SVP, Asset Management
Rebekah M. Baker
First-responder. Ninja. Guardian.
Rebekah is a nimble, gifted, ninja warrior. Her
diverse background in real estate management and
finance, coupled with her resourceful and loyal
nature, has served her well as she fiercely protects
and grows DreamKey Partners’ real estate
investments. She is most passionate about “the
ability to create affordable housing developments
that not only reflect the character of the community,
but also display the same quality of design and
construction as market-rate housing.”
Rebekah is an active member of her F45 Workout
family. It’s probably how she keeps up with her
sons, who play and coach college baseball.
Homeownership & Foreclosure Advisor
Rosalyn Johnson
Coach. Juggler. Artist.
Rosalyn is a true mortgage maven. Boasting over 20 years’ experience in conventional and government loan analysis, documentation and underwriting, she has the chops to serve as a homeownership and foreclosure advisor for our customers. Rosalyn most enjoys being face-to-face with people who are eager for her vast knowledge and caring spirit. “I love learning each customer’s ‘why’ they want to purchase a home, as they embark on the journey of homeownership.”
When she has time to herself, Rosalyn loves to be in the company of her family, watching movies, crocheting and listening to neo-soul. Neo-soul? The official definition: a musical genre that fuses contemporary R&B and 1970s-style soul with elements of hip-hop. Groovy, sister.
Real Estate Development Associate
Samantha Yu
List-Maker. Cat-Herder. Student.
A life-long student, Sam holds an associate of arts degree in natural sciences, a bachelor’s in environmental science and management, and earned a master’s in urban planning in 2020 (while working for us, we might add). As a Real Estate Development Associate, Sam understands that her job isn’t just about the bricks and mortar of affordable housing — “It’s about providing safe, high-quality housing for folks who might otherwise not have access.”
An avid hiker, Sam’s friends are convinced she’ll end up living her best grandma life (she admits she’s an early riser and reads the Sunday paper regularly) somewhere in the mountains. Not that there’s anything wrong with that
Real Estate Development Manager
Sammy Jackson
Catalyst. Cultivator. Ally.
When Sammy joined us as Real Estate Development Manager, he brought a plethora of value to the team. He has a head full of knowledge (he holds master’s degrees in real estate and business), a gut full of experience (15 years in real estate development and the financial services sector), and a heart for making a difference in peoples’ lives. What he enjoys most about his job is the opportunity “to give back by developing quality, affordable homes and community environments for individuals and families.”
Sammy also gives back during his free time. He is currently a board member for Aldersgate Retirement Community, served as a board member for the Childress Klein YMCA, and was on Bank of America’s Global Commercial Banking/Finance Diversity and Inclusion Council. He also enjoys spending time with his family and three dogs and watches “a ton” of sports (no surprise, since we know he played collegiate basketball). We’re curious to know who’s better at guarding and dribbling—Sammy or his dogs?
Homeownership Advisor
Sonya Johnson
Beacon. Sounding Board. Fairy “Mortgage Mother”.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer trying to navigate a mortgage, look no further for guidance. Sonya’s your guru. She’s spent more than 20 years honing her skills in loan administration, servicing, and counseling across the broad spectrum of mortgage types. Ready with a compassionate ear, Sonya gently guides our customers who need mortgage, rental, or utilities assistance.
Sonya enjoys volunteering at the women’s shelter and unwinds by indulging in spa days and plenty of travel. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that her husband works for Hilton Hotels. Sounds great! What time do we leave?
VP, Asset Management
Susan Bowman
Peril-Evader. Problem-Solver. Evaluator.
Susan’s an endless fountain of energy. When she joined DreamKey Partners in 2018, she brought a 30-year career in property and asset management of conventional and affordable housing in both new construction and existing property environments. What she most loves about her job is the “before and after” of a project and the positive impact DreamKey Partners’ work has on the area and its residents. Susan’s a life-long learner as well—she’s earned the Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation and is currently working toward her Certified Housing Asset Manager (CHAM) designation.
Ever the adventurer, Susan’s free time is spent playing outdoors (hiking, kayaking) at places like the U.S. National Whitewater Center. She also loves going out for sushi. We’re scared to ask if she gets the sushi while kayaking!
Construction Manager
Trey Witte
Problem-Solver. Ringleader. Juggler.
The phrase, “build it and they will come” was written for Trey. A virtuoso at his craft, Trey has over 25 years of multi-family construction experience, and has built over 4,500 apartment units in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. He’s been a dedicated member of the DreamKey Partners team since 2017. His passion is in “building—the sticks and bricks.” He especially enjoys watching the project go from “a napkin to a place for folks to live.”
Trey’s a rugged, outdoorsy kind of guy. He spends his spare time camping, bicycling, and working out. We also learned that he played on a rugby team for three years while attending the University of Texas at Arlington. We’re glad you’re playing for our team, Trey. Go get ‘em, champ.