Cynthia Parker
Cynthia Parker is a real estate development and finance expert across the public and private sectors. She served as President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing and held key positions in organizations like Mercy Housing North West, Seattle-Northwest Securities, and the City of Seattle. Throughout her career, she has successfully overseen the development of approximately 22,000 housing units, managed complex financial instruments, including bond and tax credit underwriting, and initiated Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) at various institutions.
Under Cynthia's leadership, BRIDGE Housing excelled, developing and managing over 17,000 affordable housing units. It maintained an S&P 500 Bond Rating of A+ while covering various housing types and populations. In her role at the City of Seattle, she established the Housing Office and spearheaded housing investment strategies, overseeing a substantial budget and loan portfolio. Her "Sound Families" initiative, in collaboration with Bill Gates, Sr., resulted in thousands of affordable housing units.
Cynthia's contributions extend beyond her professional roles, as she actively participated in various housing industry boards and initiatives, including directorships with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Housing Partnership Network, Housing Partnership Equity Trust, and the Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an exceptional capacity to drive impact across the affordable housing industry.
Colleen Edwards
Colleen Edwards is a seasoned real estate professional experienced with low-income housing tax credit financing. With 15 years of experience in multifamily development and a decade in commercial construction, she understands the entire development process, spanning site selection, financing, and eventual transition to permanent financing and stable operations.
One of Colleen's standout achievements is her leadership in the Weingart Tower project, a 19-story high-rise featuring 278 apartments for people experiencing homelessness, along with commercial kitchen facilities, case management offices, and various amenities. She managed the project through entitlements, subsidy layering, and substantial construction completion. Colleen started her career at Swinerton, a top-ranking general contractor handling estimating and project engineering roles.
Colleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Pepperdine University, a Master's in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California, and she is a certified LEED Accredited Professional.
André Bueno
With over two decades of experience in real estate investment, development, and advising governments, André F. Bueno is the Chairman and Founder of Bueno Group. Since 2006, André has redeveloped and repositioned 29 projects, totaling over 400 apartments across three states, and pursued numerous large-scale developments, including master planning a 43-acre mixed-use entertainment district and two twelve-story mass timber towers totaling over 300 units of affordable housing.
André leads innovative initiatives that merge community engagement with technology. He designs strategies that empower residents and stakeholders to shape local developments and foster transparent dialogue and collaboration with the community.
Before founding Bueno Group, André worked at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and a pension-backed private equity real estate fund.
Our hearts go out to the families and communities affected by the devastating California wildfires. As an Altadena native, he has witnessed firsthand the community's resilience. Our team constantly communicates with local leaders, emergency response teams, and community organizations to ensure our development efforts address immediate housing needs and contribute to long-term recovery and stability. Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, we aim to support rebuilding efforts.
André is a proud graduate of the University of Southern California’s Ross Program in Real Estate Development and has earned fellowships at the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative and the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy. He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University and continues to apply his expertise to bridge the gap between private capital, technology, and community-centered real estate development.