BAE URBAN ECONOMICS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Vice President
- Vice President in BAE 's Los Angeles
Aaron Barker is a Vice President in BAE's Los Angeles office. Aaron provides real estate advisory expertise including pro forma analysis and market studies for BAE projects across Southern California.
Aaron is currently testing the feasibility of new development prototypes along Metro's Purple Line Extension for the City of Los Angeles. He is also evaluating Value Capture opportunities for expanded Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the San Fernando Valley.
Aaron brings a strong professional background in feasibility testing, land-use planning, and economic development. Aaron played a key role in supporting the City of LA's Affordable Housing Linkage Fee Study, as well as evaluating In-Lieu Fees and implementation for new legislation such as Measure JJJ. He has also conducted numerous hotel and lodging studies, including pro forma analysis for a TOT Incentive Policy in Long Beach. Other projects include evaluating Joint Development proposals for Mixed-Use TOD along the Metro Expo and Gold Lines.
Prior to joining BAE, Aaron worked for the Office of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti in the Infrastructure Services department, providing research and analysis to assess the potential for leveraging EIFDs to fund improvements in green infrastructure and affordable housing. In addition, he has launched several retail attraction and revitalization efforts as a Program Manager for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across New York City. He has also worked for JP Morgan Chase and Conde Nast as an editor and content strategist.
Aaron is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, and co-chair of the Roundtable Committee for Urban Marketplace. He earned a BA in International Studies from the University of Washington, and a Master of Planning (MPL) with a focus in Economic Development and Real Estate from the University of Southern California.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Assistant
- Administrative Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- MCP Senior Associate
Bilal, who joined BAE in 2019, has expertise in economic development, fiscal impact analysis, and quantitative research methods. He is a Senior Associate in BAE's Washington, DC office.
Prior to joining BAE, Bilal worked as an analyst for a consulting firm in the Washington area that specializes in fiscal impact analysis, impact fee studies, and infrastructure financing reports. He worked on projects for local government clients in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Tennessee.
At BAE, Bilal leads research and analytical tasks for projects nationwide. Bilal has conducted fiscal impact analysis for clients including the cities of Annapolis (MD), Vacaville (CA), and Menlo Park (CA). Bilal has also conducted market studies and financial feasibility testing for clients in the DC and Atlanta regions, including Frostburg (MD), the District of Columbia, Tyrone (GA), Woodstock (GA), and Winder (GA). Bilal is also experienced in conducting economic development strategies and industry analyses through engagements with Giles and Prince William Counties in Virginia, and the City of South Fulton (GA). Bilal also supports the University of Maryland's Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) program as an instructor, helping students in the program undertake real-world planning and urban economic projects.
Earlier in his career, Bilal worked for the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center at the United States Senate. As Deputy Regional Press Secretary, he wrote press releases, talking points, social media content, and summaries for caucus policy initiatives.
Bilal earned a Master of Community Planning degree from the University of Maryland and a BA in Political Science with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Rochester.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- MCP Vice President
- Vice President in BAE 's San Francisco
Chelsea is a Vice President in BAE's San Francisco office. She is familiar with econometric statistical modeling and conducts data research and analysis to support a diverse range of BAE's projects.
Chelsea has extensive experience preparing economic, development feasibility, and fiscal impact analyses to inform long-range planning decisions and the evaluation of proposed development projects in California. She has prepared fiscal impact analyses to evaluate the impacts of proposed land-use changes in the cities of Milpitas, Vallejo, Menlo Park, Gilroy, Long Beach, and San Ramon. Her work updating the Retail Strategy in the City of San Ramon included extensive analyses of existing retail and non-retail sales trends to forecast the potential impact of land use decisions on retail spending and sales tax revenue generation. Chelsea's housing policy work has included financial feasibility testing of potential inclusionary housing policy options for the cities of Los Angeles, Menlo Park, and Napa. She also played a key role in supporting the formulation of recent economic development strategies in the cities of San Carlos, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, and San Ramon.
Prior to joining BAE, Chelsea worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on the Regional Prosperity Plan, a three-year regional planning initiative funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Her work on that project included supporting a sub-grant program that provided more than 50 sub-grants to community-based and non-profit organizations across the Bay Area.
Chelsea holds a BA in Political Economy, a BA in Geography, and an MCP with a concentration in Housing and Economic Development from UC Berkeley.
David operates from BAE's San Francisco Bay Area office as a Principal-in-Charge for the firm's work in support of public-private partnerships, economic development strategies, general plans, comprehensive plans, specific plans, precise plans, master plans, and associated community benefit programs. He is a full member of the Urban Land Institute and American Planning Association and is a frequent speaker on planning, real estate, and public-private partnership topics.
David received a BA in Public Affairs from the University of Chicago, and an MCP and MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Analyst
- Analyst in BAE 's Los Angeles
Jacob Richey is an Analyst in BAE's Los Angeles office with a background in data analytics, long-range planning, and project management. His unique problem-solving approach combines geospatial and socioeconomics analysis through an equity-based lens.
At BAE Urban Economics, Jacob's work includes housing element updates, real estate market studies, economic development strategies, and geospatial analysis for clients in California, Washington DC, and elsewhere in the country. Recent projects include researching demographic and economic trends to inform the East San Gabriel Valley Economic Development Element, engaging with the County of Sonoma to retrieve economic data to measure the economic impact of a bridge replacement project, and procuring real estate market data to assess the economic feasibility of FAR-based zoning in Santa Barbara.
Prior to joining BAE, Jacob worked with the Los Angeles County's Department of Regional Planning to develop a strategy to better incorporate Capital Improvements Plans into future planning, and at Nuance Communications, where he led software optimization efforts for a Fortune 100 client.
Jacob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University and is a Georgetown Entrepreneurship Fellow. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Urban Planning at the University of Southern California.
Job Titles:
- Vice President / Professional Staff
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Principal
- MCRP Associate Principal
Mary is an expert in economic development, transit-oriented development, housing, economic and market analysis, and public finance. She brings more than 25 years of experience working as a consultant, and for organizations in the public and non-profit sectors. She is Associate Principal of BAE's Washington, DC office.
Mary is a hands-on leader and advisor, with a broad portfolio of project experience that includes preparing economic development strategies for South Fulton, GA; Baltimore, MD, Smithsburg, MD, Wilmington, NC, and York County, PA; preparing housing market analyses and plans for Chesapeake, VA, Bristol, VA, Sussex County, NY, and New Iberia, LA; preparing economic impact analyses of the data center industry in Northern Virginia and the Amazon HQ2 on the District of Columbia and the Washington region. She also is a technical assistance provider to HUD grantees on various programs including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Mary managed the Arundel Community Reinvestment program for funding of community and economic development in Anne Arundel County MD's revitalization areas. She is also an expert in collecting and analyzing public health data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Prior to joining BAE, Mary served in leadership roles in economic and community development including Senior Vice President of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, Senior Vice President of Housing and Economic Development for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Assistant Secretary Community Development Administration (MD's housing finance agency) for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and Assistant Secretary, Business Development for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.
Mary serves on the Maryland Economic Development Association Past Presidents Council and the Anne Arundel County Food Bank Board of Directors. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the International Economic Development Council, and the American Public Health Association.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in BAE 's San Francisco Bay Area
Miki Kobayashi is an Associate in BAE's San Francisco Bay Area office, where she provides research and analytical support for a wide range of consulting assignments.
Her experience includes data collection and analysis for the Davis Downtown Plan update and for the County of Alameda's Real Estate Master Plan. This work included collection of demographic and economic data though primary and secondary research techniques, and compilation of real estate development cost inputs for pro-forma feasibility modeling. Miki contributed GIS-based analysis for the Placer County Housing Strategy and Development Plan and for economic evaluation of master plan changes for a mixed-use village in Truckee. She also conducted research on affordable housing funding programs implemented by communities using parcel taxes, real estate transfer taxes, and transient occupancy taxes.
Prior to joining BAE, Miki interned with the Yolo County Transportation District, where she provided research support in analyzing ridership trends and planning for reroutes and detours. Additionally, she interned at Morgan Stanley and Majerko Investment Management, where she conducted financial analyses and market research.
Miki completed a BS in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a minor in Managerial Economics from UC Davis. She also completed specialized coursework in GIS analysis and Sustainable Planning at UC San Diego. She is currently working on a Master's in City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Director of Research
- Senior Staff Member
Ray's in-depth knowledge of complex data sources and quantitative methods has been a premier BAE asset since he joined BAE in 1988. He contributes to all BAE engagements across the company, providing strong analytical and data management services. Ray has conducted economic impact studies using tools such as IMPLAN, a dynamic model of direct, indirect, and induced economic activity and job growth from key regional investments, and completed numerous analyses using the Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) from the decennial Census and the American Community Survey.
Ray is also one of California's leading experts on "urban decay" impact studies, which assess the effects of developing new big box retail on existing retail sales and space in a trade area. Ray has completed impact studies for proposed retail centers throughout California including projects in Tracy, Patterson, Los Banos, Crescent City, Antioch, Eureka, Morgan Hill, Petaluma, Redding, Suisun City, Windsor, and Napa. This work included establishing the trade area, analyzing retail leakage, estimating capture of additional sales from growth in future years, identifying supportable square feet, and making findings regarding potential physical deterioration resulting from imbalances in supply and demand for retail space.
Ray also has extensive experience in preparing affordable housing market studies and plans. He has managed completion of over 50 Low Income Housing Tax Credit market studies, meeting all regulatory requirements for detailed demand estimates by household income range. He has supported numerous Consolidated Plans, Housing Elements, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. His primary survey research includes leading large-sample surveys for the City of San Francisco regarding housing needs and landlord experiences in rent stabilization.
Ray also has prepared numerous real estate development cash flows and pro formas, including recent work for the redevelopment of Fort Monroe, VA, a former military installation being converted to a mix of hotel, housing, and office space. This model combines private real estate investment scenarios with associated public municipal service costs and capital improvement expenditures in infrastructure improvements, generating a complete picture of private sector feasibility and public sector fiscal impacts throughout the 20 year redevelopment period.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Principal
- MCP Associate Principal
Stephanie provides thorough, timely, and compelling analysis of housing, retail, office, industrial, and special purpose land uses to BAE clients. Her work throughout both northern and southern California puts her at the cutting edge of market trends and innovative policy solutions.
Her recent affordable housing projects include completing Housing Element Updates for the cities of Milpitas and Concord, CA. For each Housing Element, Stephanie prepared updated data and analysis of housing needs, analyzed potential housing development sites, and presented findings to community meetings and City Council. She also completed the City of Napa's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.
Stephanie has supported numerous TOD plans throughout Northern California, including plans for the Walnut Creek West Downtown area, the Larkspur SMART Station, the South San Francisco Downtown/Caltrain Station, and the Suisun Amtrak Station area. For each plan, Stephanie conducted market analysis for a wide range of uses, assessed affordable housing needs, and formulated financing strategies for public improvements.
Stephanie has also developed strong expertise in local fiscal impact analysis. She led all the technical work for several major fiscal impact evaluations in Menlo Park, CA including for the new Facebook headquarters campus and a new SRI corporate headquarters.
Prior to joining BAE, Stephanie worked as a planner for Suisun City, CA, and as a housing analyst for the City of Berkeley, CA. Stephanie holds an MCP with a concentration in Housing and Economic Development from UC Berkeley, and a BA in Psychology from UC San Diego. She is a member of the San Francisco-based Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Manager
- Administrative Staff Member