Mission-Driven Practice
Genuity is an economic development consultancy based in Buffalo, New York with an emphasis on human-centered, inclusive economic outcomes for all varieties of communities. We provide services ranging from strategic planning and implementation to project design and representation. All of our work is driven by a deep belief that prioritizing the creation of opportunity for incumbent and under-served communities is a central tenet of responsible economic development, and that relationships are at the core of sustained inclusive prosperity.
Michael DeMarco
Having worked in inclusive economic development for the past decade, Michael spent the majority of that time as the Executive Director of the 42nd Avenue Neighborhood Prosperity Network District in Portland, Oregon - one of the first community-led Tax Increment Financing Districts in the United States. Michael has significant experience implementing commercial property programs, including strategic property acquisition, adaptive building reuse, lease negotiations/analysis, tenant improvements, and property management, amongst others. He has fostered community entrepreneurship programs including small business incubators, a multicultural dance studio, and a community farmers market. In addition to building and directly managing numerous business spaces for under-served community members, Michael has assisted dozens of other entrepreneurs and small property owners to grow diverse participation in local commerce by providing property assistance services. His background working with business technical assistance providers, both traditional and non-traditional lenders, employment services, affordable housing developers, and construction professionals helps tie more closely the programmatic elements of economic development to place-based work. Most importantly, Michael holds that genuine relationship-building across differences is the most essential part of the equitable sharing of social capital, and thus economic opportunity.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Master of Arts, Community & Regional Planning
CAL POLY POMONA
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Notable Committees & Awards
Cully Tax Increment Exploration Leadership Committee
Portland Community Investment Fund - New Markets Tax Credits Advisory Committee
Portland Affordable Commercial FAR Bonus Advisory Committee
Prosper Portland Budget Advisory Committee - 2018
US Small Business Administration Portland Business District Champion 2018
Maggie Hamilton Winship
Maggie has over a decade of experience in commercial real estate, economic development, and real estate finance. Most recently, Maggie Hamilton Winship served as a Community Capital Investments Officer for LISC NY, which included originating, underwriting and closing loans, providing real estate technical assistance to community partners, and managing other capital deployment for community initiatives. Previously, Maggie served for 6 years as Director of the Town of Amherst & Village of Williamsville's Economic Development office, overseeing all special projects, economic development initiatives, real estate transactions, PILOT Increment Financing, and grant funding opportunities. As a licensed Real Estate Broker in NYS, she has a decade of experience coordinating real estate transactions in both the public and private sector. Maggie founded Buildup Buffalo, a women-owned boutique brokerage specializing in assisting nonprofits and small businesses with their real estate endeavors. Maggie also served as President of Common Owner Portals, a crowdfunding portal focused on providing access to capital for small scale real estate projects and businesses in Western New York. Maggie is always working to share the knowledge she has accumulated to build a bigger, more equitable table in the real estate and economic development industries. In her free time, Maggie can be found cooking for people she loves or enjoying Buffalo's beautiful four seasons with her husband and son.
Education
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Master of Public Administration Management & Analysis
Agnes Scott College
Bachelor of Arts Economics and Social Justice
Notable Committees & Awards
Finalist, Athena Young Professional Leadership Award, 2021
ULI Prologis Achievement Award Fall Meeting Scholarship Recipient, 2019
Co-Founder of Buffalo’s Urban Land Institute Women’s Leadership Initiative WNY
Vice Chair of the Urban Land Institute, Western New York, 2013 -2021
Varsity Swim Coach, Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, Buffalo, 2013- 2017
Finalist, ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship