Speakers
Jessica Nepomiachi
Jessica Nepomiachi is the Managing Director for Real Estate Solutions in Chicago at IFF, a mission-driven lender, developer, and real estate consultant that supports nonprofits across the Midwest. At IFF she leads real estate consulting executing complex real estate projects, coaching and technical assistance programs with partners including Chicago’s Cultural Treasures, Elevated Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, Illinois Homelessness Education Technical Assistance Center and the City of Chicago DFSS Shelter Infrastructure Initiative. Jessica supports non profits and community developers with capital alignment and real estate readiness in a diverse range of sectors and across Chicagoland including arts and culture, emergency housing, early child care centers and mental health services. In her previous roles as a developer, Jessica created and preserved thousands of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing units. She previously served at the Chicago Housing Authority, New York Housing Authority and the New York City Council.
Jessica is the co-chair of the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs’ Community Ventures Program which provides predevelopment capital for community development projects in Chicagoland. Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College and a Master of Urban Planning from Pratt Institute.
Megan Lewis, AICP
Megan Lewis, AICP, brings more than 20 years of experience in project management, organizational development, strategic planning, relationship building, and project concepting. At Arts Alliance she oversees the Public Funding Navigator program, which conducts research and provides technical support to Illinois’s creative sector. A certified urban planner, Megan brings her ability to understand the important connection that the arts and culture sector brings to community health and vitality. She holds a BA in economics from Indiana University and master’s degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania.