Team Building: Finding New Ways to Win Development
On June 18, our Managing Director, Jill Schmall, attended Obie's Breakfast Club, a premier networking event hosted by former Ohio State linebacker and real estate leader Obie Stillwell. Jill shared her favorite moments from the morning with our team, and even weeks later, we continue to reflect on the conversations and insights that emerged.
The event's panel, Closing the Gap: Real Perspectives in Housing, Lending & Development, brought together leaders from finance, affordable housing, and private development. Although each panelist offered a distinct perspective, a common theme emerged: meaningful community development depends on collaboration across disciplines.
Brandi Braun-Al-Issa, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity MidOhio, spoke about preparing families for successful homeownership—not simply by building houses, but by investing in education, financial readiness, and long-term stability. She introduced the concept of "gentle density" as a way to increase housing opportunities while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods, and emphasized that lasting affordable housing solutions require stronger partnerships between nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and market-rate developers.
Developer and founder Brad DeHays highlighted the importance of empathy, patience, and understanding the unique priorities of each community. He shared how successful development requires balancing diverse stakeholder perspectives while respecting the character of the neighborhoods being served. He also discussed Connect Housing Blocks, one of the world's largest modular apartment manufacturing facilities, which was created to help address workforce and mission-driven housing needs through a more efficient, sustainable, and streamlined construction process.
Those conversations resonated deeply with us at Development | Architecture Collaborative.
Not only because Brad spoke to many of the principles we explored in our recent blog on community-centered development, or because Brandi articulated a vision for attainable homeownership that closely aligns with our own values—but because the morning continually reinforced the final word in our firm's name: Collaborative.
Great architecture and development don't happen in isolation. They require owners, architects, engineers, contractors, developers, lenders, nonprofits, municipalities, and community members working toward a shared vision.
As Obie Stillwell, the panelists, and many attendees reminded us throughout the morning, our industry is a team sport, and we’re excited to keep setting all of our collaborators up to win.
Thank you to Obie's Breakfast Club for creating space for these conversations, and to the leaders continuing to move our communities forward together.