AHARI’s Founder, Stephanie Booker, has 20 years of experience as a certified HUD Landlord, has rehabbed numerous properties, own several investment properties, and has been the general contractor on each project. Stephanie has presented before the Bureau of Zoning Board on numerous projects.
She has been granted variances in each appeal, pursued the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for three years to obtain 1.3 acres of land in a gentrified area in Philadelphia. Stephanie is educated in construction management and attended JumpStart Training to get a better understanding of the rehab process. Simultaneously, she worked with contractors that were subject matter experts in their respective fields as a Co-Chair of the AFT Local 2026 at Community College of Philadelphia.
A property investor and project manager, Stephanie believes that veterans deserve an alternative to more then flawed transitional housing. They should have permanent supportive housing.
She has been granted variances in each appeal, pursued the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for three years to obtain 1.3 acres of land in a gentrified area in Philadelphia. Stephanie is educated in construction management and attended JumpStart Training to get a better understanding of the rehab process. Simultaneously, she worked with contractors that were subject matter experts in their respective fields as a Co-Chair of the AFT Local 2026 at Community College of Philadelphia.
A property investor and project manager, Stephanie believes that veterans deserve an alternative to more then flawed transitional housing. They should have permanent supportive housing.
Aronda Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Peirce College. She earned her master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution. During her master’s program, Aronda earned three graduate certifications in Organizational Coaching, Organizational Leadership, and Organizational Development and Change Studies.
Aronda served honorably in the United States Army, deploying in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a medic. This experience shaped her leadership and commitment to service, which she carries forward in her personal professional life.
As the CEO of The Ivy League Coach, a coaching and consulting firm, Aronda specializes in Leadership Development, Organizational Consulting, Personal Development, and Professional Development. Her firm serves a broad spectrum of sectors, including colleges and universities, private nonprofits, and government agencies.
Aronda has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, working with organizations focused on serving veterans, ex-offenders, and addressing issues like housing and homelessness. Her work in these areas has allowed her to make a profound impact, particularly in empowering marginalized communities to create pathways to success and stability.
Aronda is also the author of the book "Appreciative Inquiry: A Strength-Based Approach to Enhance the Lives of Women Veterans", which focuses on empowering women veterans through positive, strength-based coaching. One of her proudest achievements was facilitating goal-planning workshops at an all-girls high school in Kumasi, Ghana. Additionally, for the past three years, she has hosted an annual Women’s History Month event, honoring and showcasing local women and their accomplishments.
Aronda has had the privilege of delivering keynote speeches, serving on various panels, boards, and committees, and receiving numerous accolades for her contributions to leadership, community service, and positive change.
Aronda served honorably in the United States Army, deploying in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a medic. This experience shaped her leadership and commitment to service, which she carries forward in her personal professional life.
As the CEO of The Ivy League Coach, a coaching and consulting firm, Aronda specializes in Leadership Development, Organizational Consulting, Personal Development, and Professional Development. Her firm serves a broad spectrum of sectors, including colleges and universities, private nonprofits, and government agencies.
Aronda has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, working with organizations focused on serving veterans, ex-offenders, and addressing issues like housing and homelessness. Her work in these areas has allowed her to make a profound impact, particularly in empowering marginalized communities to create pathways to success and stability.
Aronda is also the author of the book "Appreciative Inquiry: A Strength-Based Approach to Enhance the Lives of Women Veterans", which focuses on empowering women veterans through positive, strength-based coaching. One of her proudest achievements was facilitating goal-planning workshops at an all-girls high school in Kumasi, Ghana. Additionally, for the past three years, she has hosted an annual Women’s History Month event, honoring and showcasing local women and their accomplishments.
Aronda has had the privilege of delivering keynote speeches, serving on various panels, boards, and committees, and receiving numerous accolades for her contributions to leadership, community service, and positive change.
Jacquelyn J. Sims, President of The Maple Corporation, is a finance and real estate professional with more than 20 years’ experience. She has worked in banking, wealth management and home mortgage financing. Maple is a minority-led non-profit focused on affordable housing preservation. The firm provides real estate development planning, feasibility studies, site analysis, acquisition assistance and financial packaging services. A member of several community development committees; Jacquie also holds a Certificate in Rental Housing Development Finance.
Sonya T. Nickerson serves as Assistant Project Manager for The Maple Corporation. Ms. Nickerson has ten years of affordable housing property management experience with five years in housing development and is a certified Assisted Housing Manager. Sonya has experience in producing commercial and residential rent comps, project feasibility studies, construction cost breakouts, rehabilitation scopes, development budgets and operating pro-formas. Sonya has successfully completed Real Estate Practice and Project Management courses.
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Jahi Ali-Bey is a Veteran, served in the Army National Guards, and has a BA in Business Management from Temple University and a certification in Computer Science from Bellevue University. He is also a Certified Master Trainer and Business Credit Counselor. His critical skillset includes Assessment, Listening, Leadership, Organizational-level Operation Management, Business and Contract Negotiations, Quality Improvement, Communication, Community Outreach, Cost Reductions, Cross-Cultural Communications, Departmental Operations Management, Distribution Management, Diverse Market Unification.
Esteban Rodriguez is a Staff Attorney and PLAN Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow working on the development and preservation of affordable housing and other community development efforts. Prior to joining RHLS, Esteban was an Assistant City Solicitor in the Philadelphia Law Department’s Labor and Employment Unit, representing the City and its departments in various types of litigation. While in law school, he held an internship with Community Legal Services’ housing unit, worked in the chambers of U.S. Magistrate Judge David R. Strawbridge as part of Temple’s Federal Judicial Clerkship Honors Program, and served as a staff editor of Temple Law Review. His article on the applicability of state consumer protection law to Philadelphia tenants appears in Temple Law Review Vol. 94. Esteban holds a J.D. from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and a B.A. in both Psychology and Brain & Cognitive Sciences from the University of Rochester. Prior to law school, he worked in higher education development for a national top 10 university and in zoo volunteer management.
Raina Mehta works on the development and preservation of affordable housing and other community development efforts. Prior to her role at RHLS, Raina was Senior Counsel at PNC Bank supporting PNC Real Estate. During her tenure at PNC, Raina served as the Chair of PNC Legal’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, whose mission is to create a more inclusive and diverse department and environment. Raina is a 2023 Diversity Lab Equal Access Fellow and was a 2017 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow. Raina is Vice President of the Board of The Peace Center in Bucks County, PA, whose mission is to educate, empower and support individuals and organizations in efforts to prevent violence, promote peaceful resolution of conflict and foster inclusive, equitable and safe communities locally, nationally and worldwide. Raina is also a Member of the Forum of Executive Women of Greater Philadelphia. Raina holds a J.D. from Temple University, Beasley School of Law; and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication.
Prior to starting his own law firm in 2012, Steve Masters served twelve years as a senior attorney for the Philadelphia City Council, drafting groundbreaking legislation and serving as Council President Anna Verna’s zoning lawyer. During this time, he helped developers and community groups settle their differences, earned decisive legal victories in court when settlement wasn’t possible and used innovative solutions to improve the quality of life in all Philadelphia neighborhoods. In addition to his zoning experience, Steve wrote the nation’s strictest anti-predatory lending law, created the mechanism for ballot referenda in Philadelphia and wrote path breaking bills to promote sustainability and created landmark labor legislation. Steve also created and led City Council’s local nuisance task forces, which brought state and local law and code enforcement agencies together with community and political leaders to proactively tackle major nuisance business issues in neighborhoods across the city. After leaving City Council, Steve launched his own social impact law firm JustLaws. Steve has three main areas of concentration at JustLaws: Steve’s zoning practice assists developers and small businesses who want to government relations and local government practice leverages his deep relationships with elected officials and the administration to help small businesses, unions and nonprofits overcome their challenges with the city. Political law practice assists progressive candidates, PACs and nonprofits with election, campaign finance and lobbying disclosure legal compliance.