About VEREP

Erica Sims brings over two decades of experience in nonprofit management, affordable housing development, and community organizing. As President of Housing and Development Advisors, she supports congregations with actionable insights on how to reimagine their property for mission-aligned development. Her consulting with VEREP focuses on real estate feasibility, community impact, and helping parishes translate vision into viable plans for affordable housing and mixed-use projects. Throughout her career, Erica has held leadership roles in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. She has overseen the development of more than 2,500 units of affordable housing and 50,000 square feet of commercial space. Notably, she helped the Alexian Brothers convert a former convent on Chicago’s South Side into Bonaventure House, permanent supportive housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, aligning real estate with a broader healing mission of care and dignity. Relevant Experience & Affiliations: Founder & President, Housing and Development Advisors Project lead on Bonaventure House, Alexian Brothers (Chicago) Former roles with the Mutual Housing Association of New York Board Member, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond Education: MBA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) What Draws Her to This Work: Erica is deeply motivated by the belief that poor and marginalized communities hold the power to create healing and sustainable systems of care. Her work is grounded in justice, inclusion, and a deep respect for the leadership already present in faith communities. Areas of Specialization: Affordable Housing · Nonprofit Development · Real Estate Finance · Zoning & Land Use hdadvisors.net

Antonia Miller is a seasoned real estate attorney and shareholder in the transactional real estate practice group at Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C. With over 14 years of experience representing churches, nonprofit organizations, real estate developers, and REITs throughout Northern Virginia, Antonia brings deep knowledge of leasing, redevelopment, partnership structures, and complex transactions. She works closely with land use and zoning experts to provide churches with comprehensive legal guidance as they explore how their property can serve both their mission and their community. Antonia has served as counsel to several churches and partnered organizations, including True Ground (formerly APAH), navigating real estate transactions, financing, and strategic redevelopment efforts. Her work is recognized by peers and national organizations: she was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star (Virginia, 2020–2021) and a Top Attorney in Real Estate by Arlington Magazine in 2023. Relevant Experience & Affiliations: Shareholder, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C. Legal counsel to churches and mission-aligned developers in Northern Virginia Lead counsel on leasing, financing, and purchase/sale of religious properties Education & Credentials: B.A., cum laude, DePauw University, 2008 J.D., Order of the Coif, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary, 2011 Admitted to practice in Virginia and Washington, D.C. What Draws Her to This Work: Antonia is a creative problem solver who values the unique opportunities churches have to reimagine their role in community life. She is inspired by the alignment between faith-based mission and broader goals like affordable housing and sustainable development. Areas of Specialization: Church & Diocesan Governance · Legal & Regulatory Strategy · Real Estate Finance · Zoning & Land Use thelandlawyers.com

Rick Reinhard brings decades of experience in economic development, faith-based real estate strategy, and urban policy. A national thought leader in the reuse and redevelopment of religious properties, Rick helps congregations understand how to align their buildings, mission, and community engagement. His work with VEREP centers on project strategy, guiding churches through complex, multi-stakeholder decisions that require balancing real estate realities with faith-centered discernment. Over the course of his career, Rick has led economic development organizations in five U.S. and U.K. cities, served as chief of staff to a major-city mayor, and held senior roles in the United Methodist Church, including Chief Administrative Officer of the General Board of Church and Society and executive leadership of A Future With Hope, focused on real estate. He has published widely on church redevelopment and taught city planning and urban policy at seven major universities, including his alma mater, the College of William and Mary. Relevant Experience & Thought Leadership: Principal, Niagara Consulting Group Former Chief Administrative Officer, UMC General Board of Church and Society Former Executive Director, A Future With Hope Apgar Thought Leader Award Recipient, Urban Land Institute Featured in Planning, Governing, and ULI publications on faith-based development Urban policy lecturer at William & Mary, Rice, Harvard, and others Education & Fellowships: B.S., College of William and Mary Master of Business and Public Management, Rice University Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design What Draws Him to This Work: Rick sees the mismatch between aging congregations and underused real estate as one of the most urgent challenges facing faith institutions today. He believes successful faith property reuse requires equal focus on the real estate, the congregation, the community, and the resources—and that ignoring any one of these leads to failure. Areas of Specialization: Project Strategy · Congregational Redevelopment · Urban Policy https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtreinhard/

Amelie Rives supports VEREP’s work through her expertise in project management, data analysis, grant administration, and feasibility studies. As a Senior Associate with HDAdvisors, Amelie partners with churches and mission-aligned organizations to help assess real estate options and move ideas from vision to viable projects. Her work spans policy research, housing program design, and strategic financial planning—all with a focus on increasing community impact through affordable housing. Prior to joining HDA, Amelie worked in the CDFI and economic inclusion sector, offering financial counseling and managing programs that advanced equity through housing. She was instrumental in securing $7.5 million to support BIPOC homeownership in the Richmond region and oversaw $3 million in grants to create more than 350 affordable units in Northern Virginia. She has also served as CEO of the Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust and helped raise over $950,000 for heirs property resolution in Richmond. Relevant Experience & Leadership: Senior Associate, HDAdvisors Former CEO, Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust Administrator of $3M in housing grants and $950K for heirs property support Key partner in $7.5M BIPOC homeownership initiative Education: Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Virginia Commonwealth University Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Roanoke College What Draws Her to This Work: Amelie is inspired by the opportunity to use faith-based real estate development to expand affordable housing and deepen community connection. She believes churches have the potential to be powerful partners in regional equity and housing access. Areas of Specialization: Affordable Housing · Nonprofit Development · Real Estate Finance · Zoning & Land Use

Cindy Barnes brings decades of experience in guiding organizations through strategic decision-making, leadership transitions, and purpose-driven discernment. As a licensed counselor, coach, and consultant, Cindy supports VEREP by walking alongside church teams as they navigate the often complex and emotional work of discerning the future use of their property. Her approach focuses on strengthening relationships, clarifying purpose, and honoring the sacred nature of the process. Cindy has worked with a wide range of parishes and nonprofits, from closing a business in New York City to helping a rural church call its next rector. She understands that discernment is not a single event but a journey that requires trust, confidentiality, and strategic thinking. Through her work with VEREP, she helps congregations ask the right questions, form cohesive teams, and move forward with integrity and hope. Additional Leadership & Service Roles: -Coach to discernment teams and vestries across the Diocese of Virginia -Consultant to parishes and nonprofits on leadership and transition strategy Education: Master of Science in Counseling, Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University What Draws Her to This Work: Cindy jokes that complaining led her to this work. Troubled by declining parish numbers, financial stress, and underused buildings, she felt compelled to find a better way forward. VEREP allows her to put “doing in place of complaining” by supporting churches in discovering new ways to live out their mission. Areas of Specialization: Discernment · Congregational Coaching · Leadership Transitions Home Church: St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Bon Air

Diana Bender supports VEREP as a leadership coach and congregational development consultant, specializing in helping churches sharpen their vision, strengthen collaboration, and launch meaningful community programs. She brings a rich background in clergy coaching, retreat leadership, and nonprofit child care strategy to her work with VEREP—offering congregations the tools they need to discern their purpose and move forward with clarity and compassion. Diana has more than a decade of experience as a coach and consultant and currently serves on the teaching faculty for the College for Congregational Development in the Diocese of Olympia. She previously co-founded Sound Child Care Solutions, a collaborative early childhood nonprofit, and brings that same spirit of innovation and mission alignment to her work with Episcopal and Lutheran communities across the country. Relevant Experience & Affiliations: Leadership Coach and Consultant, Catalyze Coaching and Consulting Faculty Member, College for Congregational Development (Diocese of Olympia) Co-Founder, Sound Child Care Solutions Experienced retreat and formation minister Education & Credentials: Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation B.A., Reed College Master of Public Policy (MPP), Harvard University What Draws Her to This Work: Diana finds her greatest joy in helping people and organizations discover where their deepest joy meets the world’s greatest needs. Areas of Specialization: Church & Diocesan Governance · Discernment · Child Care & Early Childhood Strategy