
Al Gentry
Al Gentry is a business development executive with more than 35 years of experience in manufacturing, developing and operating factories and real estate. His career reflects notable accomplishments in new development, acquisitions, asset management, debt structure, complex capital stacks, retrofitting assets and disposition. Al’s multi-disciplined talents are transferable to a wide variety of corporate boards in the areas of policy making, strategic planning, governance and regulatory and compliance where he has impacted several boards, advisory groups and committees as chairman. Al directed implementation policies that became protocol for federal agency programs.
In his position as an executive in the Treasury Department of International Paper, the world’s largest paper company, Al sought Board approval for developing and operating billion-dollar manufacturing facilities round the world.
Al worked as a real estate asset manager and acquisition executive overseeing a $2.5 billion portfolio for Fortune 500 international insurance companies, Aetna and John Hancock, where he presented acquisition investments to the Corporate Board. Al is the Managing Principal and owner of his own firm and crafted the value proposition for site development, architectural design, construction and leasing for $1 billion of mixed-used market rate and affordable development.
Al interfaces with key stakeholders at every business phase including, owners, public and private boards of directors, advisory boards, elected officials and government agencies in the areas of budgeting, governance, regulatory and compliance and compensation.
Al’s experience serving on a for profit, 5 non-profit boards and 8 advisory boards and committees have been impactful. Highlights of his deep board leadership experience in corporate governance, regulatory and compliance, policy making, compensation, strategic planning and economic development include two terms on his first board, as a Board of Trustee for the National Urban League. One-third of the trustees were Fortune 100 CEO’s and he learned firsthand how boards and the critical committee decision making process operate. Al directed the organization’s mission of economic self-reliance, and equal opportunities as the Board Chair of the Economic Development Committee. His work on that Board aligned with Al’s personal value proposition that economic development programs improve neighborhoods, create jobs, improve housing, health care, education, corporate and foundation donations and strategic partnerships.
Al served as a member of the Williams College Alumni Society Executive Committee during the college’s Bi-Centennial and led the group during the critical development of diverse alumni/student affinity group formation.
Al earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Economy with a concentration in Third World Development Economics from Williams College as well as an MBA from The Harvard Business School. Al holds a Maryland real estate sales agent license.
Resume
KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
Mr. Gentry has more than thirty-five years of experience as a real estate professional spanning across all areas of development, acquisitions, leasing and real estate finance and investment banking including: development and development consulting, commercial brokerage ownership, commercial asset management, debt and equity investing and underwriting, commercial lease negotiations, acquisitions specialist, commercial property disposition, general contracting, construction management and pension fund marketing. Mr. Gentry also has considerable experience as a board member for global non-profits.
EDUCATION:
The Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Master of Business Administration, 1982:
Selected as part of a team that provided Consulting services for the Rouse Company and developed strategic plan for expanding certain key revenue generators for their commercial properties and major retail developments including computer shopping and food court expansion. Worked under the direction of William Poorvu.
Williams College, Bachelor of Arts, 1978.
Majored in Political Economy with a concentration in International Studies. Senior Public Policy Thesis “Guaranteed Income Program.”. Awarded prestigious Class of 1914 Scholarship.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Development & Acquisitions: Mixed Use and Retail; International
2006-Present: President, Housing Opportunities & Concepts and Managing Principal, Cornerstone Development, LLC. Development, acquisitions and asset management consulting firm whose clients are private entities, foundations, public housing authorities, governmental agencies, nonprofits and religious institutions. Real estate projects total over one billion dollars.
New Developments:
The Art Place at Fort Totten Metro Station: Washington, DC. A mixed-use development including residential units, retail, office, restaurants and a public facility library.
- Worked with civil engineers and architects for zoning and preliminary designs
- Worked with Commercial brokers to determine rents
- Worked with General Contractor to determine construction costs and fees
- Executed Financial Feasibility Development Budget, Proformas and Sources and Uses Analysis based on plans and square footages by property type
- Worked on rezoning approvals
- Developed updated Development Budgets, Proformas and Sources and Uses by property type.
Riverdale Park Station. College Park, Maryland. A mixed-use development including residences, the first Whole Foods in Prince George’s County, retail, office, restaurants and hotel space.
- Worked with civil engineers and architects for zoning and preliminary designs
- Worked with Commercial brokers to establish rents
- Worked with General Contractor to determine construction costs
- Executed Financial Feasibility Development Budget, Proformas and Sources and Uses Analysis based on plans and square footages by property type
- Worked on re–zoning approvals
- Developed updated Development Budgets, Proformas and Sources and Uses by property type
The Station at Potomac Yards. Alexandria, Virginia. $35,000,000 development costs for 64 units of residential and mixed-use public facility 4 bay fire station.
- Worked with civil engineers and architects for zoning and preliminary designs
- Worked with Commercial brokers to determine rents
- Worked with General Contractor to determine construction costs and fees
- Executed Financial Feasibility Development Budget, Proformas and Sources and Uses Analysis based on plans and square footages
- Developed winning 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits Application yielding approximately $14,000,000 Equity
- Managed $35,000,000 three division development budget including final approval of all line items, draws from funding sources and distribution of payments.
- Inspected property progress and attended monthly construction requisition meetings
- Worked with the Virginia Housing Development Agency, bank trustee, accountants and auditors. Developed marketing plan with leasing agent
Booth Street Townhomes. Salisbury, Maryland. $35,000,000 development costs for 160 units.
- Worked with civil engineers and architects for zoning and preliminary designs
- Executed Financial Feasibility Development Budget, Proformas and Sources and Uses Analysis based on plans and square footages
- Obtained Zoning Approvals
- Won HUD approval for rent subsidies
- Executed relocation Plan
Acquisitions:
Fireside Park Apartments. Rockville, Maryland. $38,000,000 acquisition costs for 236 units.
- Negotiated the purchase price with Transwestern commercial brokers
- Executed Financial Feasibility Redevelopment Budget, Proformas and Sources and Uses Analysis based on acquisition, remodeling and soft costs
- Structured the equity and loan financing
- Obtained equity/loan from Montgomery County
- Obtained approval from the Rockville City Council for equity/loan
- Performed Due Diligence Managed Closing
Columbia Landings Apartments. Columbia, Maryland. $32,000,000 acquisition costs for 300 units.
- Negotiated the purchase price
- Executed Financial Feasibility Redevelopment Budget, Proformas and Sources and Uses Analysis based on acquisition, remodeling and soft costs
- Structured the equity and loan financing
- Obtained bank financing
- Performed the Due Diligence
- Managed the closing
Global Business:
The Wanda Group. World’s largest commercial property owner and mixed-use developer based in Beijing, China. Invited by Wanda Hotel and Resorts executives to visit China in 2016 to familiarize my company with Wanda brands and assess opportunities for expansion in the U.S. Met with senior Wanda executives during 3 week visit to multiple
Wanda properties in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan. Provided opportunity to bring initial Wanda Vista brand to several United States markets and determine their brand’s Value Proposition for domestic and international travelers.
Redevelopment; Marketing, Site Acquisitions & Leasing
2002-2006 President. Gentry & Associates. Consulted on the $5,000,000,000 HUD HOPE VI Public Housing Redevelopment Program and HUD Capital Fund Financing Program (“CFFP”) which provided funding for the acceleration of renovations of public housing.
- Analyzed and made recommendations on HOPE VI and CFFP proposals
- Site Visits
- Implementation Plan Consulting and Oversight.
1998-2002 Co-Founder/Vice President, Operations. LearnNow. Coordinated site identification, site assessment, lease or purchase negotiations, and bridge and long-term financing for charter schools. Obtained or leased facilities through commercial brokers in New York City, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Long Island including new buildings, rehabbed schools and readapted commercial buildings.
1997-1998 Development Director, Beacon/Corcoran Jennison.
Directed in conjunction with the Elm Haven Development Corporation and the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven mixed-finance family and senior apartment development, homeownership opportunity, resident self-sufficiency and support plan, relocation and disposition plan for the 455 unit, $95,000,000 Elm Haven HOPE VI neighborhood revitalization.
1995-1997 HOPE VI Coordinator. Housing Authority of the City of New Haven.
Coordinated preparation of the Revitalization Plan for $45,300,000 HOPE VI Grant, Section 8 Application, First Year Supportive Service Funding Application, Demolition Plan, Zoning Approval Application and Acquisition Application for over 30 City parcels of land.
1992-1995 Project Manager. The Community Builders, Inc. Managed affordable Housing developments. Developed HUD funded elderly housing. Developed 200 units of HUD insured low-income family housing. Directed residents in HUD approval of the first of its kind in the nation, Elm Haven Development Corporation, a public housing resident controlled city-wide development corporation that would own and manage Monterey Homes.
Real Estate Advisory Services
1990-1992 Senior Vice President. INNOVA Realty Advisors. Directed Capital formation, pension fund marketing, portfolio management and operations for a national real estate asset management, advisory and investment banking firm. Coordinated tax-exempt bond provision for $65 million mixed-income residential development in Stamford, Connecticut for the Related Companies.
Vertically Integrated Real Estate Company Founder and Owner
1986-1990 President, Founder and Owner. Future Realty and Future Group
- Developed and implemented Marketing Plans
- Sold and leased commercial and residential properties
- Performed financial feasibility analysis
- Prepared investment packages
- Negotiated financing
- Managed zoning, community and political processes and approvals
- General Construction commercial and residential properties
- Property Management
- Commercial Property Consulting
Commercial Property Acquisitions, Asset Management, Pension Fund Marketing and Lending
1985-1986 Investment Officer. John Hancock Equity Real Estate. Underwrote, negotiated and acquired $500,000,000 apartment, office, retail, business and industrial park investment properties throughout the U.S.A. working with national and local commercial brokers,
1982-1985 Assistant Investment Officer. Aetna Realty Investors, Inc. Analyzed market conditions, lease structures, tenant financial strength and appreciation potential of Southern California, Texas, Ohio and Indiana office, industrial, business park, and retail real estate. Asset Managed over $500,000,000 equity real estate portfolio. Hired and managed national and local commercial brokerage and property management firms.
1981 Treasurer’s Office. International Paper Company. Analyzed $1,000,000,000 Paper Plant investment and presented recommendation to the Board of Directors.
1978-1980 Analyst. Chemical Bank. Evaluated and underwrote loans to Fortune 500 companies.
Completed management training for Credit Analysis. Managed a $300,000,000 term loan.
NON-PROFIT BOARD MEMBERSHIPS:
Have served as a Board Member and Board Chair of global and national non-profits including:
National Urban League. United Way of Boston Allocation Committee. Project Reach of Boston. Boston Boys & Girls Club. Sigma Pi Phi Beta Mu Chapter Social Action and Mentor Program.
References Available Upon Request
Contact Information:
2801 New Mexico Avenue, NW Suite 1213, Washington, DC 20007-3942
Telephone: (240) 370-4757
Email: al.gentry@corner-stonedc.com