Cali Williams

Experience

• 

  Strategic Economics

  Feb 2004 - Jun 2005

  Research Associate

  Completed market and policy analyses for a wide variety of planning and transit-oriented development projects in the Bay Area. Completed national research and data analyses on who lives near transit for the Federal Transit Administration.

• 

  Reconnecting America

  Jan 2005 - Jul 2006

  Program Associate

  Conducted national research on mixed-income transit-oriented development, co-authored report for the Environmental Protection Agency on the topic of transit and economic development, and facilitated national discussions.

• 

  Broadmoor Development Corporation

  Oct 2006 - May 2007

  Graduate Student Intern

  Convened local and national stakeholders and wrote a report on innovative strategies, including community land trusts, to support stabilization and revitalization in the Broadmoor neighborhood.

• 

  LandCorp, Western Australia

  Jun 2007 - Aug 2007

  Consultant

  Primary author of strategy report on how to align investments in transportation with affordable housing preservation and new construction in the Perth region during an economic boom.

• 

  Somerville Community Corporation

  Sept 2007 - Jun 2008

  Graduate Student Intern

  Identified vacant and underutilized properties near planned transit and recommended finance tools to develop affordable housing in these high opportunity areas.

• 

  New York City Economic Development Corporation

  Jul 2008 - Jun 2019

  As a Vice President, I managed the NYCEDC's portfolio in Queens:Downtown Far Rockaway: Served as the City’s lead on the negotiations with City Hall, elected officials, and neighborhood stakeholders that resulted in the approval of the 2017 rezoning of the neighborhood. Responsible for bringing in $200 million in new funding commitments for parks, infrastructure, library and 600 affordable homes.Long Island City: Directed an inter-agency team to identify key priorities and coordinate efforts that will result in over $180M in investments and the attraction of life science, creative tech and other commercial anchors Jamaica Now Action Plan: Managed planning, stakeholder engagement and creation of the Jamaica Action Plan. Identified sites for redevelopment, participated in RFP process and selection of affordable developer that will result in 380 units of affordable house. Show less Started my career at NYCEDC in the Real Estate Transaction Services Group focused on financial modeling, supporting land sale negotiations and strengthening the industrial sectors. Key highlights: New Stapleton Waterfront: Helped negotiate the agreement with Iron State Development at the former Naval Homeport. Led to the development of Urby, Staten Island, a mixed-use development with over 570 residential units and a $32M park.Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market: Wrote the successful grant applications for nearly $35M in federal funding ($25M CMAQ grant, $10M Tiger grant) to support improvements to the market. Show less

  • Director of Sunnyside Yard and Senior Vice President

    May 2018 - Jun 2019

  • Vice President

    Jul 2013 - May 2018

  • Assistant Vice President

    Apr 2013 - Jun 2013

  • Senior Project Manager

    Jul 2010 - Mar 2013

  • Project Manager

    Jul 2008 - Jun 2010
• 

  Coro New York Leadership Center

  Jan 2010 - Jan 2011

  Leadership NY
• 

  Self Employed

  Jul 2019 - Aug 2020

  Economic Development, Real Estate and Community Planning Strategist

  As an independent consultant, I advised government agencies, developers, and business leaders on equitable economic development projects. I supported the strategy around major infrastructure projects, redevelopment of private sites, and Covid-recovery plans.

• 

  Karp Strategies

  Sept 2020 - May 2021

  Principal

  As Principal at Karp Strategies, I worked to advance equitable economic development and neighborhood planning across the United States. I helped lead the development and implementation of stakeholder engagement strategies related to offshore wind for NYSERDA. I led a major stakeholder engagement project focused on the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resilience project on behalf of NYCEDC. Several of my projects were focused on supporting developers, agencies and community stakeholders on an equitable recovery from Covid-19. Show less

• 

  Kyanite Partners

  Jun 2021 - now

  Founder

  Kyanite Partners supports public and private clients on complex urban challenges, reconciling competing interests, forging meaningful relationships, and working collaboratively toward more resilient and inclusive teams and built environments.