About Us
Team
Mission and Vision
Mission
To expand career pathways in commercial real estate through education, mentorship, and strategic industry partnerships.
Vision
A commercial real estate industry where high-performing professionals from a broad range of backgrounds lead, grow, and shape the future of the field.
Download Our Impact Report
Discover how Project REAP has helped reshape the commercial real estate talent landscape over the past 25 years.
History of Project REAP
Project REAP (Real Estate Associate Program) was founded in 1997 by Mike Bush, then Vice President of Real Estate for Giant Food, to create new pathways into the commercial real estate industry for ambitious professionals seeking access to industry networks.
Launched in Washington, D.C. in 1998, the program quickly expanded to cities across the U.S.—including Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Recognizing that success in this industry depends not only on expertise but also on relationships, REAP built a model focused on both technical training and insider connections.
Today, Project REAP is a national platform with over 2,000 alumni working at top firms throughout the commercial real estate sector. Our programs continue to deliver career-changing opportunities, while helping companies tap into motivated talent ready to make an immediate impact.
Taneshia Nash Laird
Executive Director, Project REAP
Taneshia Nash Laird is a recognized leader in talent development within urban development and the arts. A former city and state official for economic development, she has overseen multifamily housing, commercial office, retail, and light industrial projects. As both an entrepreneur and nonprofit CEO, she has led culturally significant real estate initiatives, including art galleries and performing arts centers in urban communities, often through public-private financing strategies that promote economic growth and cultural preservation.
Taneshia also teaches creative entrepreneurship as an Associate Professor in the Africana Studies department at Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In addition to her leadership at Project REAP, she advises cultural and philanthropic institutions and serves on the boards of the Billie Holiday Theatre, the National Independent Venue Foundation, and the Roxbury Cultural District.
She has been appointed to economic development-related commissions in both New Jersey and Massachusetts, most recently serving on Governor Maura Healey's Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council.
Taneshia holds a BBA from Bernard Baruch College and an MA in Live Entertainment Management from the University of Miami. As Executive Director of Project REAP, she is committed to developing high-potential professionals to thrive in the real estate industry. She is a proud graduate of the REAP Academy, NYC, 2021.
Board of Directors
Mike Kercheval
Chairman
Executive Director (Retired)
University of Colorado Real Estate Center | Boulder, CO
Erica-Nicole Harris
Vice Chair
Vice President, Wispark LLC | Milwaukee, WI
Jimena Sayavedra
Vice Chair
Industrial Real Estate Specialist, Newmark | Chicago, IL
Khalid Rashid
Treasurer
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Clarion Partners | Los Angeles, CA
Katrina Rainey
Secretary
Director, Site Acquisition & Portfolio, Microsoft | New York, NY
Alan Barocas
Senior Executive Vice President, Leasing (Retired), General Growth Properties | Chicago, IL
Giselle Battley
Global Talent Acquisition & Certified DEI Executive, Yahoo | New Orleans, LA
London Kemp Boykin
Director, World Wide Real Estate Development, Amazon | Los Angeles, CA
Joseph French
Senior Vice President, Institutional Property Advisors/Marcus & Millichap | White Plains, NY
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Sonia L. Huntley
Senior VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Urban Land Institute | Washington, DC
Jazmen Johnson
VP, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, ICSC | Washington, DC
LB Johnson
VP, Health & Wellness Real Estate Development
Walmart | Bentonville
Angele Robinson-Gaylord
Senior Vice President, Starbucks | Philadelphia, PA
Allan F. Suarez
Principal & Chief Operating Officer, All Renovations Construction, LLC | New York, NY
Founder
Mike Bush
Founder & Senior Mentor, REAP | Adjunct Professor, Urban Development, Georgetown University | Washington, D.C.
Testimonial
Khalid Rashid
Managing Director, Clarion Partners
REAP Academy NYC, 2006
Board Treasurer, Project REAP
"Project REAP played a pivotal role in shaping my career trajectory in commercial real estate. As a graduate of the 2006 NYC Academy, REAP provided me with invaluable industry insights and the network I needed to succeed in this competitive field. Today, as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Clarion Partners, I continue to benefit from the foundation that REAP laid. Serving as REAP's board treasurer, I’m proud to give back to the organization that helped me reach new heights and support the next generation of leaders."
Christopher L. Chaney
Director of Corporate Partnerships, Project REAP
Christopher L. Chaney is a seasoned corporate sales and media professional with over 20 years of experience in building strategic partnerships that advance organizational missions. At Project REAP, he manages relationships with industry partners, driving support for the organization's mission to expand career pathways in commercial real estate. In his previous roles, he has collaborated with brands like AARP, Walmart, United Airlines, and JP Morgan Chase to create impactful partnerships.
Christopher's career highlights include organizing prestigious events at the Waldorf Astoria and the New York Stock Exchange, honoring influential leaders and building brand visibility for partners like Jaguar and Moet Hennessy. He also co-founded The Inccubator, a multicultural media platform set to launch in 2025.
A Harlem, NY resident, Christopher is a York College (CUNY) graduate and serves on the board of CONNECT – Safe Families, Peaceful Communities, a nonprofit focused on ending domestic violence in New York City.
Eugene J. Fullam
Strategic Programs Advisor, Project REAP
Eugene "Gene" Fullam brings 40 years of experience spanning Wall Street, private enterprise, and nonprofit sectors to Project REAP. As Project REAP's Strategic Programs Advisor through the Empower Success Corps Fellowship Program, Gene implements key initiatives focusing on the Local Planning Director program and Alumni Fellows programs.
His distinguished career includes roles as Managing Director/CFO at Civitas Capital Group, Director of Corporate Strategy at Salomon Smith Barney (Citigroup), Senior Vice President at HSBC Securities, and Executive Director of Vermont's Foreign Direct Investment Regional Center. Throughout his financial career, Gene raised billions in capital and built multiple high-performing operational platforms.
Gene's nonprofit experience includes serving as a Board Director for the Center for Health & Learning and extensive volunteer service with organizations serving emerging professionals. He has coached youth athletics for over 20 years and mentored through Catholic Big Brothers.
Gene holds a Masters Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College. His expertise in strategic planning, program development, and community engagement strengthens Project REAP's mission to create expanded pathways in commercial real estate.
Tenyse Williams
Special Projects Advisor, Project REAP
Tenyse Williams is a nationally recognized media strategist, journalist, and founder of Verified Consulting, a New York City-certified minority and women-owned business. As Special Projects Advisor at Project REAP, she supports strategic communications initiatives, including a national media outreach campaign that amplifies the organization's impact and drives visibility for its alumni and programs.
With a career rooted in digital storytelling and community engagement, Tenyse has led high-profile awareness campaigns—including the historic initiative that contributed to the posthumous pardon of Marcus Garvey. She is known for her ability to build culturally resonant campaigns and cross-sector partnerships that drive measurable impact. Her work has been featured through platforms such as the Museum of Food and Drink and numerous media outlets highlighting entrepreneurship.
In addition to her consulting work, Tenyse is an adjunct instructor at Columbia University, George Washington University, and the University of Central Florida, where she teaches media and communications strategy.
Christine Stulak
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Project REAP
With 20 years of experience as an administrative professional—including a decade as a virtual assistant at Fancy Hands, where she spent five years supporting CEOs, entrepreneurs, and best-selling authors—Christine Stulak brings exceptional organizational and communication skills to Project REAP.
As Executive Assistant to the Executive Director and Board Liaison, Christine ensures smooth day-to-day operations, manages executive communications, and plays a vital role in board coordination. She provides key administrative support to the board, facilitates its engagement and operations, and leads special projects on behalf of both the Executive Director and the board. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and proactive approach make her an integral part of REAP's leadership infrastructure.
Local Planning Directors
In addition to Project REAP’s dedicated staff, we benefit from the support of Alumni Fellows who serve as Local Planning Directors. These leaders play a crucial role in advancing Project REAP’s mission by helping to coordinate and support the program within their respective markets across the country