Stephanie Y. Drake "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." -- Dr. Martin Luther King Company: Drake Incorporated Location: Washington, DC Website: www.drake-inc.com

Biography:
Stephanie Y. Drake is the Founder and President of Drake Incorporated, a real estate services and construction firm focused on delivering fully integrated real estate services to federal, state and local public agencies and the private sector. Ms. Drake is responsible for providing strategic management and overall leadership to the Company. She is also responsible for the full cycle of the construction and construction management processes, including marketing, estimating, design/build, coordinating project managers and subcontractors, ensuring quality, invoicing and project close-out. She is also actively involved in the firm’s real estate services practice.

In a relatively short time, Ms. Drake has performed on multi million dollar contracts and secured long term relationships with the firm’s leading clients, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the U.S. Pentagon, the Smithsonian Institution, Baltimore City Community College and most recently, the Washington Navy Yard where Drake received accolades during the Navy JAG Trial
Court’s ribbon cutting ceremony on April 3, 2009. Notably, she achieved some of these milestones and built her staff and business infrastructure throughout a very tight labor market.

Ms. Drake has also been an active and passionate leader in her community having mentored dozens of entrepreneurs and (Howard University) students in the areas of Business and Real Estate. Her efforts as a leader have not gone unnoticed, as she was recognized by her peers in the Washington Business Journal’s inaugural Minority Business Leader Awards in 2008. In 2010, Ms. Drake was featured in the Minority Business Entrepreneur (MBE) magazine recognizing her firm’s work and outstanding track record at the Smithsonian Institution.

Prior to establishing Drake Incorporated, Ms. Drake spent over 8 years as a commercial real estate executive with Allied Capital Corporation, GMAC RFC, and First Union. At Allied, she served as Vice President where she specialized in financing commercial real estate acquisition and construction loans. At GMAC RFC, she was involved in underwriting warehouse lines for major multifamily DUS lenders and securitization of mortgage loans. At First Union, where she started her career, Ms. Drake’s responsibilities included underwriting and providing acquisition, bridge, and construction financing to REITs and major development firms. Ms. Drake possesses expertise in commercial real estate finance including due diligence, project feasibility, deal structuring, negotiations, and pricing of development and construction loans.

Ms. Drake holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Georgia State University. She is also a member of the African American Real Estate Professionals, Inc., serving in several leadership capacities since 1995, including the role of President in 2000-2001.

Availability:
Available as a speaker or consultant