Yvette leads the organization’s effort in managing private sector investment in catalytic real estate development projects in Cleveland. Since 2000, she has managed a portfolio of over $410 million which has leveraged over $3.3 billion in additional public and private sector investment. In addition, she serves as the executive vice president of finance and operations of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, an affiliate of CDA.
Prior to joining CDA, Yvette was an associate with the law firm of Calfee, Halter and Griswold LLP, practicing in the areas of public law and public finance. She served as bond counsel on multiple financings for the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, the City of Cleveland and several other Ohio local governments. In addition, Yvette served as finance director for the City of Lakewood and held several financial management positions for the City of Cleveland.
Yvette obtained her Juris Doctorate Degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. In addition, she is a certified public accountant and has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cleveland State University.
Cindy joined CDA in 2011 as Manager of Accounting and Asset Management and is now Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations. She is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with existing and potential investors in CDA funds. This includes overseeing and preparation of all financial and investment information to investors.
Prior to joining CDA, Cindy was a Manager at Novogradac & Company LLP in Cleveland, where she provided audit, tax and compliance services to the real estate industry, working with developers, contractors and syndicators. Her public accounting experience includes New Markets Tax Credits, historic tax credits and low-income housing tax credits, including those subject to regulatory requirements of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Cindy obtained a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Kent State University
Jessica joined CDA in 2013 and is Vice President, Lending. Her focus is to identify and analyze real estate and business development projects for investment consideration.
Prior to joining CDA, Jessica was the Senior Finance Consultant for Project Management Consultants, where she identified, secured and managed public financing opportunities for real estate development and business expansion projects. Her public finance experience includes New Markets Tax Credits, federal and state of Ohio historic tax credits, tax increment financing, and federal, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, and City of Cleveland loan and grant programs. Jessica has also worked for Strnisha Development Advisors as a Senior Associate and the City of Cleveland’s Department of Economic Development as a Project Manager.
Jessica has a master’s degree in urban planning and development from Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resource & Environment.
Katie joined CDA as a staff accountant in 2005 and is now Director, Financial Planning and Analysis. Katie oversees the financial management functions for the organization, its subsidiaries and affiliated companies which includes reporting, budgeting, forecasting and treasury management.
Katie graduated from Edinboro University with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business Administration, specializing in accounting. She also earned a Master’s of Business Administration degree at Lake Erie College.
In the role of Senior Manager of Community Impacts, Eric is responsible for sharing and reporting the significance of Cleveland Development Advisors’ investments through many different mediums including the annual investor report, board presentations, website and social messaging. His role also includes tracking and reporting on CDA’s investments.
Prior to working with CDA, Eric was part of the business development and growth team at the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Eric also held a marketing coordinator role at Jack Entertainment. Eric has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in International Business and Marketing from Ohio University.
Lamia serves as CDA’s Senior Coordinator of Development Services. CDA’s Development Services focuses on delivering technical assistance, advisory and capacity building for underserved emerging developers and development projects. In this capacity, CDA analyzes projects, facilitates and builds relationships within the industry and establishes a pipeline for projects to receive funding. Lamia is supports the efforts of the Equitable Development Ecosystem Collaborative, Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative (CLE EDI) and Developer In Residence.
Prior to joining CDA, Lamia was an Open Access Fellow at Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing where she evaluated affordable housing projects submitted to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and conducted extensive research on training programs tailored for minority developers, with the aim of identifying the most effective structure to foster optimal success within this segment of the industry.
Additionally, Lamia was a Property Management Rotational Associate at the NRP Group where she rotated among property management leadership, actively participating in a range of projects which includes restructuring standard operating procedures, auditing management contracts, and auditing irrigation landscape systems on properties.
Lamia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from The Ohio State University.
Heather performs due diligence for projects in the closing stage and carries out daily asset management of CDA’s direct loans and New Markets Tax Credits projects post closing. She monitors projects under construction, reviewing construction draws and project budgets, to ensure loan proceed disbursement requirements are met. Heather also makes loan modifications and assembles the semi-annual risk rating and loan loss reserve review.
As CDA’s Accounting Manager, Kate oversees the organization’s daily accounting and financial reporting tasks. She assists with preparing the annual budget, projections and forecasts for CDA’s portfolio of real estate investment funds. Kate also prepares information for reporting to CDA’s various stakeholders.
Prior to joining CDA in 2023, Kate was a Finance Manager for the Greater Cleveland Partnership. She also held a financial management position at The Center for Community Solutions in Cleveland. Kate was an associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the audit and assurance practice in their Washington, DC, office.
Kate is a certified public accountant in the State of Ohio. She obtained her Master’s of Accounting degree and a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Lea provides high-level administrative support with specific focus on organization, attention to detail, and effective follow-through to the President and CEO, Yvette Ittu. She is responsible for providing invaluable support, to Yvette, CDA Senior Staff and serves as liaison to the board of directors.
Lea has over two decades of professional experience providing vital support to key executives. Her role is characterized by a sharp focus on organization, meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to ensuring streamlined processes and procedures that enhance productivity, achieve business objectives, and facilitate efficient day to day operation.
William serves as CDA’s Senior Director, Development Services. CDA’s Development Services focuses on delivering technical assistance, advisory and capacity building for underserved emerging developers and development projects. In this capacity, CDA analyzes projects, facilitates and builds relationships within the industry and establishes a pipeline for projects to receive funding. William is instrumental in leading the Equitable Development Ecosystem Collaborative, Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative (CLE EDI) and Developer In Residence.
Prior to joining CDA in 2022, William was the Economic Development Manager for Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc., where he served as developer and project manager of a scattered-site Low-Income Housing Tax Credit development, led site acquisition and land assembly adjacent to the Opportunity Corridor, and managed neighborhood small business development initiatives. He has experience in neighborhood scale development projects and specializes in economic development finance.
William has a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Economic Development from Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Cleveland State University.