Oakland State of the Market

Alan E. Dones is a licensed contractor, a long-time entrepreneur, an outspoken advocate of equal opportunity in employment and contracting, and an accomplished musician/producer. Dones is principal of ADCo, LLC and managing partner and co-founder of SUDA, LLC, a firm specializing in large-scale, innovative, public agency projects and mixed-use development. SUDA has completed several landmark projects in Oakland, CA and is currently pioneering international development projects in Africa. In 1988, Alan Dones co-founded and served as CEO of Rondeau Bay Construction, Inc. (RBC), an engineering and construction firm based in Oakland, CA. Under his leadership, RBC grew to include offices in five major US cities and completed over $70 million of construction projects. Alan is active in a number of local and national organizations. He has worked with agencies throughout the United States to revise and enhance their small business and W/MBE policies. Currently, he is a member of the City of Oakland’s Workforce Investment Board; member of the Alameda County Health Care Foundation; and member the East Bay Conversion and Reinvestment Commission. Formerly, Dones served as president of the Northern California Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors; vice-chairman of the Oakland City Charter Review Committee; board member of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce; delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business; and member of the Legislative Committee for the Engineering and Utility Contractor’s Association. As a member of the Military Conversion and Reinvestment Commission, Mr. Dones was instrumental in promoting legislation and drafting revisions to the language of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) that enhanced the ability of Women and Minority owned firms to compete for DOD and conversion related contracts. Mr. Dones has authored several articles on minority business issues in local and National publications. He has co-authored a measure on the 1996 ballot in Oakland, California to amend Oakland’s City Charter mandating Affirmative Action programs, combating disparities in City employment and contracting. This initiative had national significance in that it is one of the first voter responses to counter the impact of the controversial anti-affirmative action California Civil Right Initiative (CCRI). Alan Dones is executive producer and co-founder of Strategic Media Alliance, LLC (SMI) ― an international production company based in Oakland, CA. His musical credits are many. Alan co-authored the 1981 hit single, “Be Yourself” with world-renowned bassist, Nathan East. The song appeared on singer Debra Laws’ first solo album, “Very Special” and rose to the top-ten mark on Billboard’s R&B charts [listen]. In 1981, Dones co-authored, “Go For It”, performed by Bill Summers & Summers’ Heat and featured on their classic Jam the Box album. Alan has produced, written and performed with many of the Bay Area’s top artists, including Rodney Franklin, Ray Obeido, Larry Batiste, Jennifer Johns, Hannibal Means, Patricia Banks, Harvey Scales, David Daniel, and The Nemonics. He performed for more than a year in the award-winning and highly acclaimed San Francisco musical review, “Soul, Style & Sass.”

Will joined Ellis Partners in 2007 to lead the leasing effort at the redevelopment of Oakland’s Jack London Square. Will’s responsibilities today include the asset management and leasing of various Ellis Partners projects through Northern California. Will has over twenty years of experience in a variety of commercial real estate areas including mortgage brokerage, development, asset management and corporate transactions. He began his real estate career in debt and equity placements with George Smith/Grubb & Ellis in Los Angeles. Upon moving to Northern California, he joined Prometheus Development Group focusing on acquisition and development of mixed use projects in the Bay Area. Subsequently, he held a variety of positions with AT&T’s real estate companies, including President and Chief Operating Officer of CalFront Associates, its $500 million investment and development company and overseeing transactions on the West Coast. Will holds a B.S. from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School at UCLA. He is a licensed California broker and a member of CoreNet Global’s Bay Area chapter.

A sixth generation San Franciscan, Mr. Herzog’s 15-year career in real estate development reflects his passion for the Bay Area and its continuous self-renewal. As Division President of Northern California for Quarterra, he oversees all multifamily development throughout the greater Bay Area. Mr. Herzog received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is a member of the honorary land economics society Lambda Alpha International.

Ed has a strong Urban Design, Architecture and real estate development background, degrees architecture and business. Ed and JRDV are leaders in a next-generation TOD projects. His focus is on creating exceptional high-density environments and context driven placemaking that activates urban communities. He has an acknowledged expertise working with private developers in complex urban contexts, and creating significant new urban mixed-use development. Ed and JRDV are responsible for some of the most significant urban planning and development in the Bay Area, including the West Oakland and Coliseum District Specific Plans. He is responsible for implementing projects which have incorporated long-term development strategies with innovative and coordinated approaches to public and private investment financing which have resulted in transformational urban development.

Lauren Jennings joined DCG in 2014, and is responsible for the strategic implementation of daily business operations as the Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining DCG, Lauren was the General Manager for Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center in San Ramon, CA. In her role, she increased sales and reduced costs which resulted in a 34% increase in annual profits within first two years of position and led the property to receive “Property of the Year Award” for 2012 besting other company locations. Lauren has invested significant time in volunteer and leadership activities over the years, including mentoring high school young women to build their self-esteem and empower them to fulfill their highest potential. Currently, Lauren serves as Worship Leader for Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship in Oakland. She serves on the board for the Cornell Hotel Society, Northern California Chapter and is the 2020 President of CREW, East Bay, an organization dedicated to enhancing professional growth and business opportunities for women in commercial real estate. Lauren was nominated for and recognized in 2017 as a Rising Rockstar, an award given to exceptional women, thirty-five years and younger, who are influential, dynamic and show early promise as an industry leader. In addition, she served as the Founding Chair of CREW, East Bay’s Rising Leaders Committee. In addition, Lauren is a member of and volunteers with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated and the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network. Lauren graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree. She earned her California Department of Real Estate License in 2015.