Marilynn conceptualizes and implements dynamic real estate projects that create vital places and build more equitable and resilient communities. Since joining HR&A’s Atlanta office in 2022, she has helped establish the firm’s growing presence across Georgia and the Southeast, bringing decades of leadership experience spanning real estate development, urban policy, and global corporate finance. Her work at HR&A bridges public and private sector priorities, from analyzing the Atlanta Beltline’s impact on commercial affordability, defining conditions for commercial-to-residential conversion in Downtown Atlanta, and advising affordable housing organizations on strategic growth.

Immediately before joining HR&A, Marilynn served as the first Chief Real Estate Officer at Clark Atlanta University, where her portfolio focused on optimizing 50+ acres of off-campus university assets. Marilynn pioneered an innovative approach to institutional asset optimization that balanced revenue generation with community benefit.  developing a strategy for commercial development that would generate long-term revenue streams for the university while contributing to the revitalization of surrounding disinvested communities. This work exemplifies her commitment to regenerative development that builds community wealth rather than extracting value from neighborhoods.

Marilynn’s distinguished public service includes serving as Assistant Secretary of Administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she was nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. This experience provided her with a deep understanding of federal housing policy and urban development programs that inform her current work with cities and developers navigating complex regulatory environments. Her public sector perspective enables her to help clients structure projects that align private investment with broader community development goals.

Throughout her career, Marilynn has held senior leadership positions across diverse industries, including Managing Director of IMC Octave’s New York office, CEO of landscape architecture firm Martha Schwartz Partners, and roles at major corporations, including FleetBoston Financial, American Express, and General Motors. She currently serves as Co-Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Academy in Rome and is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s University Development and Innovation Council. Her extensive board experience includes arts and cultural organizations such as the Studio Museum in Harlem and urban policy groups like the NY/NJ Regional Planning Association, reflecting her commitment to the intersection of culture, policy, and placemaking.