Getting The Job Done
Meet the experienced professionals behind Clesia Ventures and the collaborative approach that drives our work with agencies, partners, and communities nationwide.
Clesia Ventures, LLC is a minority-owned real estate development, management consulting, and business solutions firm based in metropolitan Atlanta with experience serving clients nationwide.
We partner with government agencies, housing authorities, and mission-driven organizations to deliver strategic development, consulting, program management, financial modeling, and grant writing services. Our clients trust us to deliver practical solutions on schedule, within budget, and through collaborative partnerships that create lasting results.
With extensive experience in affordable housing and community development, our team understands the regulatory requirements, financial complexities, and operational challenges involved in successful development initiatives. We take the time to understand each client’s goals and develop customized strategies that strengthen organizations, build internal capacity, and support long-term success through knowledge sharing, training, and collaborative implementation.
Damon Duncan
Damon E. Duncan is the principal owner of Clesia Ventures, LLC, a firm he started in 2008. Administratively, he is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montgomery Housing Authority, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Housing Authority of Elgin.
Educationally, is a graduate of Auburn University, holding a Master of Real Estate Development. He also earned a Masters in Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University, respectively. Mr. Duncan currently serves on the MCP advisory council and is also the former President of the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) Alumni Association, both at Auburn University. Mr. Duncan is also an adjunct professor in the Auburn University Master of Community Planning (MCP) program where he lectures on public sector leadership, affordable housing and grants writing.
During his long 30-year career in public housing, he has participated in the development of more than $500M in mixed- finance, mixed income projects. Additionally, he is a holder of several accommodations and distinctions in affordable housing: he is a member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force for NAHRO, the past VP of Community Revitalization & Development for NCRC NAHRO, a PHADA Trustee, currently holds a PHM certification with NAHRO, and he has successfully completed PHADA’s Executive Director Education Program (EDEP).
Terese ‘Teri’ Walton
Teri Walton describes herself as a consummate servant of the public with a career that spans nearly three decades as a housing and real estate development professional, who has focused on providing affordable housing development, strategic and comprehensive master planning, operations and organizational structuring to public housing, local government, and nonprofit agencies.
Teri is an accomplished and well-rounded expert in the field with direct, day to day firsthand experience. She served agencies in a myriad of divisions and positions including Asset Management, Development, Community Supportive & Resident Services, Government Affairs. She’s held essential operational and strategic executive leadership positions including Asset Manager, Director, COO, Executive VP, Chief Real Estate Officer and President & CEO. During her executive level career in public housing administration and management, she provided tactical oversight and management, directed operations reviews, revised organizational development practices, guided innovative change management principles, and strategic management assessments of the agency’s public housing assets.
As a well accomplished professional in the real estate development industry, Teri has guided and oversaw various stages of the development /redevelopment process, including acquisitions/dispositions, demolitions, planning, financing and construction of residential units and commercial spaces throughout the Midwest, Eastern Seaboard, Southern and Southwest regions of the country.
Teri holds a BS in Organizational Development and Communications (Management) from Eastern Michigan University and has completed professional certifications and undertaken executive program studies at University of Maryland, George Washington University, and Rutgers.
Brandie Townsend
Ms. Brandie Townsend encompasses over 20 years of combined experience in supportive services, case management, housing, education, and job training. Past positions with the U.S. Department of Labor-Montgomery Job Corps Center, the State of Alabama District Attorney’s Office-Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and Alabama Department of Human Resources provided
opportunities for her to develop and manage programs catered towards at-risk youth and those who are economically disadvantaged.
Brandie has a strong passion for families and believes that anyone can be successful if given the proper tools, regardless of their background, economic status, or current situation. Her commitment to being a servant leader has led to a career of dedicated service in hopes of improving the quality of life for individuals and families. In the housing arena, Brandie served as the Director of Resident Services and Interim Director of Property Management at the Montgomery Housing Authority in Montgomery, AL, where she coordinated and supervised the development, implementation, and monitoring of the agency’s grant-funded programs and special projects for approximately 4,500 households. She is well versed in resident and community engagement, resident surveys and assessments, program development and evaluation, grant writing, developing PHA plans, and Choice Neighborhoods Initiative work.
In addition, Brandie has acquired approximately $3 million dollars in local, state, and federal funds over the past 4 years. She is the owner and Chief Executive Officer for Brand 21, LLC., a consulting company that assists agencies, churches, and nonprofits with program development and grant acquisition. Brandie is also shareholder and Director of Operations for Career Education Services Company (CESC), which provides supervision and administration of federally funded education and job training contracts throughout the U.S.
Brandie holds a BA in Psychology from Auburn University and a MS in Public Administration from Troy University Montgomery. She has also completed graduate-level coursework in Counseling/Psychology with the University of West Alabama in Livingston, AL.
Charles Edward Rush
Charles Edward Rush is an Urban Planner who believes in making a difference that will impact generations. His experiences range from communication, resident engagement, Geographic Information systems (GIS), Planning, and Management.
During his time at the Montgomery Housing Authority, Charles took part in many different planning aspects of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative, which includes the following: State Historic Preservation Process (SHPO), Environmental Assessment, Resident and Community Engagement, CNI Office, CNI Resident Assessments, CNI Website, CNI Application, CNI Reports. CNI Early Action Activity, Review of Contracts, and Writing Developer RFP and RFQ.
Charles holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Auburn University, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University, and a Master’s Degree in Community Planning from Auburn University.
Kebokile ‘Kebo’ Nyathi
Kebokile Nyathi is a Planner for Clesia Ventures, LLC, with three years of experience in the affordable housing and community development industries. Ms. Nyathi’s experience includes grant writing, program management, resident and community engagement initiatives and master/comprehensive planning.
Ms. Nyathi has experience in community revitalization initiatives through which she assisted PHA’s in successfully receiving funding for competitive federal grant programs such as Choice Neighborhoods. To date, Clesia Ventures has serviced twenty-six PHAs across the country. In addition, Ms. Nyathi has experience in community development and engagement initiatives through which she assisted Local Governments in successfully creating and hosting intentional, holistic and interactive community events. Ms. Nyathi also has experience creating and managing non-profit assistance programs through federal funding sources such as ARPA.
Ms. Nyathi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sustainability with a concentration in Society and Culture from the University of Oklahoma. She furthered her education with a Master’s in Community Planning from Auburn University.
