OUR TEAM

Alan Washington, President and CEO of Charter Schools Development Corporation (CSDC), believes that all communities across the nation should have the real estate facilities needed to empower its members to lead rich and vibrant lives. To that end, he has dedicated his life to helping underserved communities control and own their real estate, whether directing real estate operations within an organization or leading a corporation founded on this mission. Throughout a distinguished 19+ year career, Alan has continuously paved the way for transformational results through expertise, diligence, and innovation.

Since joining CSDC in June of 2022, Alan has worked with the existing leadership team to analyze all functional areas, identify strengths and opportunities, and launched a strategic planning process to implement robust initiatives to help drive CSDC to the next level of success.

Previously, Alan was the Executive of Real Estate for Success Academy Charter Schools. He was brought on board to create and execute the real estate vision for the organization, with full responsibility for an incredibly ambitious, multi-year real estate expansion strategy targeting, in excess of $1 billion future growth. Over a 5-year period, Alan built the entire Real Estate organization from the ground up, launched a $455 million project (building a K-12 campus that had never been achieved previously in the organization or at this scale in the City of NY).

Prior to this, Alan enjoyed a successful career with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership as a Director of Real Estate & Planning and Managing Director, Real Estate & Economic Development, respectively. As a key member of the Executive Leadership team, he spearheaded efforts to revitalize Downtown Brooklyn by facilitating 3.1 million square feet of new commercial office space, as well as funding for 3,000 new elementary seats in the area.

Alan earned his Master of Science in Real Estate from NYU and is also an alumnus of Dartmouth College. His is proud of his long tenures as Board Member of multiple organizations, including Harlem Academy in New York City and Camp Timanous in Raymond, Maine.

Joined the organization in 2024. Abby is a tenacious recent college graduate eager to leverage his financial acumen by providing support to CSDC’s development and portfolio monitoring teams. He will help assess the viability of projects during the initial and underwriting phases and will make recommendations about end-to-end data process improvements.

Abby is very involved in his community and volunteers as a tax-preparer for the AARP.

Abby holds a Bachelor’s Degree inAccounting from Lehman College.

Joined the organization in 2023.  Amy is primarily responsible for day-to-day accounting operations and office support to CSDC’s Maryland office. She maintains all bank accounts, note payables, accounts receivables, and monthly billing for CSDC and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Amy also assists CSDC’s portfolio monitoring process through her collection of school financial, enrollment and academic reports.

Amy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Ave Maria University.

Andrea Gallo, Staff Accountant, joined the organization in 2023. Andrea is responsible for the oversight of accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoicing and project support, banking and portfolio maintenance, month end close financial reconciliations, and general accounting. In addition, she assists CSDC in the monthly/yearly financial accounting close processes.

Andrea holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from The University of Baltimore.

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Britt Kozlewski, Business Analyst, joined the organization in 2017. Britt is primarily responsible for providing insights and analysis to the team. She oversees CSDC’s portfolio monitoring process, contributes to financial planning, and takes on ad hoc analyses in support of strategic priorities.  Britt also serves the crucial role of developing and monitoring KPIs to ensure CSDC’s long-term success.  

Britt previously supported CSDC’s project managers and school clients as a Project Accountant, ensuring overall project success from construction through completion.  

Prior to joining CSDC, Britt worked for a large global asset management firm in the Fixed Income Fund Accounting department. She also held a Senior Accountant position at a major income investment organization.  

Britt holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

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Glenn Klein is a highly accomplished executive with an illustrious career spanning over 30+ years. He has been instrumental in reshaping company financial policies to enhance accounting and finance oversight performance, thereby driving company profitability. Glenn's expertise lies in analyzing existing procedures and spearheading the implementation of innovative policies that optimize performance, reduce costs, streamline operations, and minimize person-hours lost. His proficiency in utilizing various technologies to monitor financial performance and develop reports that comply with government regulations is well-regarded in the corporate world. Additionally, Glenn takes pride in mentoring and developing talent and fostering meaningful and sustainable growth within companies.

Before joining CSDC, Glenn was the Chief Financial Officer at Forrester Construction and has a tenured record of accomplishment in leadership positions such as Bluestar Telehealth and Aronson, a national advisory and CPA firm.

Glenn holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Business Administration in Business Finance from the University of Phoenix.

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James joined the organization in 2024. He began his career on the architectural side developing construction documents for big box retail, light industrial warehouses, and public sector buildings. After about five years, he made the switch to commercial construction and happily found his home in the General Contractor sector for the bulk of his career. Sticking with smaller companies, he was able to have his hand in all parts of the construction process from preconstruction through project completion and tenant handover, with a major focus on high end corporate interiors projects. Most recently, he used his prior experience to come full circle and be a key member of a light industrial real estate developer as their head of construction. Working with architects and engineers, James was able to develop projects and then handle the construction work to completion for either property sale or tenant leasing.

James received a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University.

Jennifer Ford, Executive Assistant/Office Manager, joined the organization in 2023 and is primarily responsible for providing office and administrative support to the leadership team.  She works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the day-to-day operations for both offices run smoothly.

Jennifer has over 20 years of providing administrative experience to Senior Leadership.  She spent the last 6 years at Colliers International where she refined her real-estate and project management skills.

Jennifer has her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University.

Jeri joined the organization in 2024 and is based out of CSDC’s Maryland Office. Jeri is responsible for the daily maintenance of the accounts payable and accounts receivable ledgers, in addition to other accounting and office management duties as assigned. 

Prior to joining CSDC, Jeri spent 10 years in property management where she also provided full-cycle recruiting and accountancy support to leadership roles,

Jeri is very involved in community volunteering for organizations such as Adopt A Family, Catholic Charities, Support Our Troops, Baltimore Hunger Project, and Luminis Health.

Jeri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Morgan State University. She is also a Certified National Apartment Leasing Professional.

Laura Fiemann, Chief Development Officer, joined CSDC in 2010. She is largely responsible for marketing and administering CSDC’s Building Block Fund (lease and loan guarantees), Mountain West Charter Schools Fund (direct loans) and other CDFI & direct lending initiatives nationally. Laura also administers CSDC’s Turnkey Development Program for those projects in the Western U.S. She is also responsible for facilitating communication between CSDC’s charter school clients, commercial banks, potential landlords and its credit committee.

She has been in the public finance business for over 30 years, working with municipalities and non-profits on their project finance needs. As a bond underwriter at a registered broker dealer firm for 9 years and then Vice President at a private capital company, she fine tuned her skills to serve the unique needs of charter schools regarding facilities financings.

Laura is responsible for raising capital to support the growth and expansion of CSDC’s CDFI Operations and direct lending program, and oversees real estate development projects in the Western U.S. She provides ongoing technical assistance to client schools during the early/start-up years to prepare them to eventually finance a permanent home through bank or tax exempt bond transactions.

Lindsay Erickson, Project Manager, joined the organization in 2018 and is primarily responsible for providing project support for continuous improvement activities for the executive team. She works closely with internal and external stakeholders and in collaboration with the Chief of Staff to support CSDC’s Board of Directors.

Prior to joining CSDC, Lindsay spent 11 years in healthcare providing administrative support to senior leadership. During that time, she gained a unique perspective about operational workflows and process improvement.

Lindsay holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Mark Korinets joined CSDC in 2024 as the Senior Loan Officer, where he facilitates the organization's nationwide charter school facility financing operations. In this role, he works closely with the CSDC team across multiple aspects of the lending process, including loan origination, underwriting, deal structuring, closing processes and loan servicing. His work supports CSDC's mission-driven partners and stakeholders in their impactful community development efforts.

Prior to CSDC, Mark worked at a New York City-based real estate firm focused on non-profit and charter school facility development. His contributions enabled the delivery of over 425,000 square feet across New York City's five boroughs.

Mark is a graduate of Binghamton University's School of Management, holding a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

Mark Zeizel, Senior Vice President, joined CSDC in 2013 and serves as a project manager for CSDC’s Turnkey Development Program in the Eastern U.S. Mark’s primary responsibilities include initial underwriting, & credit analysis, arranging project financing and overseeing development and construction management from predevelopment through project delivery. Mark also provides ongoing technical assistance to charter school clients during the early start-up years, and portfolio monitoring of all charter school clients participating in any of the organization’s programs.

Prior to joining CSDC, Mark worked for a DC-based real estate investment and development company with primary responsibilities in its Capital Markets/Acquisitions Group. During this time he participated in approximately $800 million of acquisitions and in the debt and equity structuring of a 2 million square foot commercial and multi-family portfolio. Mark started his career in the financial industry working in the fixed income group of a mutual fund company.

Mark is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Master’s of Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California and Bachelor’s of Arts with a Business Management concentration from Gettysburg College. Mark also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for City Arts and Prep Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.

Michele joined CSDC in 2022 as Chief of Staff and is responsible for maintaining a strong team culture ensuring the team is aligned and invested in the mission in order to achieve CSDC’s bold goals. She works closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to oversee the overall implementation and success of the strategic plan, provide leadership across the organization to drive decisions and outcomes, develop strategy around IT, marketing, philanthropy & strategic partnerships and is leading CSDC’s efforts on brand identity and awareness. She has 25+ years of leadership experience in private and non-profit sectors, in prior roles as COO, President, Principal, VP, and Executive Director positions.

Prior to joining CSDC, Michele was most recently the Head of Board Relations and Enterprise Projects at Success Academy. She oversaw all activities of two boards from cultivation, engagement and governance, acting as a liaison between the CEO and the Executive Leadership Team. In addition, Michele led the Continuing Improvement internal consultancy team working on cross functional projects to drive efficiency and excellence.

Prior to Success, she was the COO of Public Preparatory Network, a network of five single sex Charter Schools, Pre-k-8, responsible for all non-academic functions across five campuses with 2,200 scholars.

Michelle Prosperi, Chief Operating Officer, has overall responsibility for the operations of the organization, including programs, asset & grants management, investment/capitalization strategies, philanthropic partnerships, new product development, and HR.   Michelle assumed her current role in January 2020, having previously served as CSDC's Executive Vice President.   Michelle has been with CSDC since its founding and has had management responsibility across all areas of the organization.  She works closely with the President & CEO and the Board of Directors to implement strategic and business plans, identify potential funding sources, and manage corporate assets and personnel.

Prior to joining CSDC, Michelle was the Program Director of Women’s Leadership Programs at the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. She also worked as a legal assistant for the Federal Education Association and served as a substitute teacher for the Arlington County, Virginia Public Schools.

Michelle holds a Master’s Degree in Education Policy from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Tulane University.

As the Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs, I serve as a legal advisor and thought partner for the organization, providing proactive insight on strategy, internal operations, and client projects so that we are able to reach propelled levels of achievement and uphold a standard of excellence that our clients, and the industry, knows and recognizes us for. Ensuring that our organization and clients are protected— from a legal and integrity standpoint—  is my utmost priority.

Previously, at the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), I had the ability to support over $100M in transactions for over 30 different charter schools. Additionally, I assisted with the launch of several career and technical development programs to further OSSE’s commitment that all learners in the DC community had the ability to continue bettering their personal selves through education at any age. The exposure to federal and local laws, educational grants, higher education opportunities, school choice policies, student privacy protections and public financing for public charter schools has enabled me to lead and advise on various educational aspects, providing legal advice that drives institutional change.

Leveraging my decision-making and problem-solving capabilities and leading with trust and a decisive mindset, I ensure our organization is always moving forward and able to implement innovative ideas seamlessly. As CSDC evolves and offers new opportunities encompassing the educational ecosystem, I look forward to contributing my experience and insight, helping our goals become a reality, and profoundly influencing communities throughout the United States. 

Nagesh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law.

Rebecca Salvo, Senior Vice President, is primarily involved with CSDC’s Turnkey Development Program, performing the role of Project Manager on facility development projects from the initial feasibility study through full underwriting, credit analysis and predevelopment through financing, acquisition and project completion. She represents CSDC and its charter school clients with commercial banks, CDFIs and landlords. Rebecca is also the Assistant Corporate Secretary of CSDC.

Prior to joining CSDC in 2006, Rebecca worked in the financial industry in both the fixed income and equity sides of the industry. After leaving the financial industry, she focused her career on marketing as the primary Marketing Coordinator for a transportation engineering firm.

Rebecca received her MBA through the University of Maryland’s Executive Program and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing / Communication from the University of Pittsburgh.

Risa Assakul, Senior Financial and Investment Analyst, joined CSDC in June 2023. She is part of the development team and is responsible for pipeline identification, project management, underwriting and budget maintenance for new projects. Her work also involves overseeing special projects and supporting the scaling efforts of the organization.

Prior to joining CSDC, Risa was the Director of Real Estate Growth & Strategy at a charter network in New York City. She also led the development of Brighton College International School Bangkok’s 1.2 Million sq ft campus located in Bangkok, Thailand.  

Risa holds a BS degree in Environmental Sciences and Economics from New York University, and an MBA in Strategy from Columbia Business School.

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Shanta Bacon, Accounting Manager, joined the organization in 2015 as CSDC’s first dedicated project accountant. Shanta is primarily responsible for performing all of the project accounting and financial reporting and compliance functions for the real estate development and loan programs of CSDC and its affiliates. She also works closely with project managers to provide administrative support to projects, assist with property acquisitions and sales, and communicate with prospective investors, lenders, and capital providers as appropriate.

Prior to joining CSDC, Shanta spent 10 years in private and public accounting with both real estate and construction companies where she gained a unique perspective on multiple forms of development.

Shanta holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Simmie Singh, Project Accountant, joined the organization in October 2023.  Simmie  is primarily responsible for performing the project accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions for the real estate development and loan programs of CSDC and its affiliates. She also works closely with project managers to provide administrative support to projects, assist with property acquisitions and sales, and communicate with prospective investors, lenders, and capital providers as appropriate.

Prior to joining CSDC Simmie worked in the Real Estate and Construction industry providing support to various projects, maintained budgets, developed cashflow forecasts, and assisted with audits.  Simmie has over 16 years of experience in the accounting field and brings a unique perspective to managing finances for CSDC’s real estate projects.

Simmie earned a master's degree in business administration from Norwich University.

Sriram joined the organization in 2024. He has over a decade of experience in the NYC construction and real estate industry working with general contractors and developers.

Sriram holds a Master’s of Business Administration from NYU Stern and a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Syracuse University.

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Tim Behrens, CSDC’s Predevelopment and Sustainability Manager, is primarily responsible for overseeing and coordinating all activities related to the predevelopment phase of projects and helping to make our current and future portfolio school buildings more energy efficient. Additionally, he manages the draw process for all construction projects and handles insurance claims when incidents occur.

Prior to joining CSDC in 2015, Tim worked in the financial industry in both construction and property management.