Roderick Hardamon
is the CEO of URGE Development Group (“URGE”), a real estate development and business innovation firm based in Detroit, MI. URGE is focused on systemic change in urban communities through creative place keeping and placemaking. Mr. Hardamon leverages his twenty years of Wall Street experience in strategy, business innovation, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and operational transformation to enhance and accelerate each development and business he engages. Over the past two decades, Hardamon has advised on the acquisition and development of over $65 million in real estate transactions including residential, commercial and office buildings. In addition, he has invested in and developed over 20 projects ranging from single family rehabilitations to mixed-use projects including the OSI Art Apartments.
George N'Namdi
of N’Namdi Holdings, has been a force in the Detroit area for more than three decades. Dr. N’Namdi and his gallery, The G. R. N’Namdi Gallery on East Forest Avenue, were a catalyst for transforming a formerly derelict area – located on the block bounded by E. Forest on the north, Garfield on the south, Woodward on the west and John R on the east – into a thriving arts center and historically designated area called the Sugar Hill Arts District. He co-developed the Sugar Hill Arts District with the development company East Forest Art Project, LLC, with whom he then partnered to develop the N’Namdi Center complex, which houses the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, SEVA restaurant, The Griot Music Lounge, a retail space, a performing arts theater, and an outdoor patio area. George is also very active on the 6 Mile corridor. He was an early investor in the area and sits on the Live6 Community Advisory Board. He activated the first major parcel on 6 Mile that will house the home office for Live6 Alliance, City of Detroit Planning and Development and Detroit Collaborative Design Center.
Richard Hosey
leads Hosey Development, a full-service real estate development company that has completed the historic re-development of the Kirby Center Lofts (which was a former school) in Midtown Detroit and has completed over 170,000 square feet of historic re-development within in the Capitol Park Projects in Downtown Detroit. Hosey Development is currently developing more than 340,000 square feet of real estate. Of this project pipeline, more than 300,000 square feet are within historic, adaptive reuse projects. Mr. Hosey’s career entails development, consulting, financing and asset management of more than 75 projects totaling over $2.5 billion in development costs. Hosey serves on several boards around the state including Detroit Historic District Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Detroit Partnership Business Improvement Zone, Detroit Land Bank and Detroit Housing Commission.
Izegbe N’namdi - Community Curator
lends her expertise as the Community Curator for 7303 West McNichols. As a native Detroiter, she believes strongly in the power of the city, its art and its people to uplift and inspire one another. She serves as the Executive Director of the internationally-recognized N'Namdi Center. As an impactful community leader, she also serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Experience Factory.
contact@urgeimprint.com - 313.454.1150
Benecia Cousin - Project Lead
is a native Michigander who is passionate about improving local communities through the implementation of systems and operational initiatives which bring about greater access, productivity and best practices.
Benecia earned her bachelor's and master's degreesfrom the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, completing her undergraduate studies inIndustrial and Operations engineering. Benecia’s desire to address gaps in financial literacy and reduce systemic income inequality led her to multiple Detroit-based and development-related projects during her graduate studies. Benecia served as anAmeriCorps volunteer with Jefferson East Business Association (now Jefferson East, Inc.)to spur business development, drive fundraising dollars and increase commercial spend to energize the business corridor.
In client service with URGE Imprint, Benecia leads client execution efforts and manages program and project managers. In her prior experience as Imprint’s program manager she focused on Real Estate, education and mergers and acquisitions. Benecia is an intentional thought leader focused on how to empower and equip people to thrive. Ms. Cousin is an active patron of the arts, enjoys volunteering in her community and is a member of the Great Lakes Chapter of the Project Management Institute.