Meet the Tapestry Development Group Team
Tapestry Development Group has over two decades of experience in affordable housing development.
Leadership & Staff
Jonathan (Jon) Toppen
President
Jon has been in the affordable housing development field since 2002 and has been involved in the development or preservation of over 2,000 units of affordable rental housing.
In his current position at Tapestry Development Group, he administers its corporate affairs and works with the staff and Board of Directors to implement the goals of the organization. Jon’s responsibilities include the oversight and management of development projects, with specialties in permanent supportive housing and Low Income Housing Tax Credits. His current and past experience with project development also includes historic preservation, affordable housing preservation, and green building design.
Jon is a certified C.P.A. in Virginia and held a variety of accounting positions prior to entering the affordable housing field. Prior to co-founding Tapestry, he has served as a Project Manager and controller for other affordable housing development organizations. He has a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Richmond, Virginia, and a Masters of City Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Supportive Housing Association and has served on the Board of Directors for Historic District Development Corporation. Jon is a 2013 graduate of the Urban Land Institute-Atlanta’s Center for Leadership. He is an officer at North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.
Judy Van Dyke
Director of Business Development
In 2013, Judy founded Bennett Group Consulting, LLC, focusing on affordable housing development and property asset management. In 2018, the firm rebranded as Vizion Driven Communities, LLC (VDC). As leader of VDC, she managed all real estate matters, including construction and permanent loan closings, organizational and partnership agreements, and the use of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME funds, credit-enhanced bonds, CDBG funds, and FHLB AHP grants. She also oversaw site selection, development budgets, community relations, deal structuring, and asset management.
Judy is also the sole member of Van Dyke & Company, LLC, which has served as developer and/or consultant on 15 affordable housing developments over the past eight years. She serves as co-general partner in those developments, which have produced more than 1,000 units of affordable housing across the Southeastern United States. Since 2013, she has also developed deep expertise in HUD asset management programs, including RAD, Section 8, and Section 22, helping public housing authorities create strategic redevelopment plans by combining her public housing experience with development and deal-structuring expertise.
Britni Grimes
Regional Development Director
Britni has over 20 years of real estate experience and has been in the affordable housing industry since 2007. During this time, she has worked for an affordable housing developer, state and local government, and a tax credit syndicator. She has been involved in the development or preservation of over 3,800 units of affordable rental housing and over 400 units of affordable single-family homeownership homes.
In her current role, Britni manages development projects, primarily funded by Low Income Housing Tax Credits. She oversees the development process from site selection to deal structuring to construction/development through lease-up. She has a B.S. of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters of Architecture (Construction Management Option) from Virginia Polytechnic University and State Institute (Virginia Tech). Britni is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cynthia (Cindy) Prater HCCP
Director of Due Diligence
With over 20 years of affordable housing experience, Cindy is passionate about providing low-income families with quality housing options. Utilizing her knowledge of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, HOME, and other funding programs, she has worked on affordable housing developments throughout the Southeast United States. Coordinating all aspects of the funding/development process has also allowed her to develop successful long-term relationships with a multitude of affordable housing professionals including, but not limited to, conventional financing institutions, syndicators, attorneys, accountants, and non-profit organizations.
In her role with Tapestry Development Group, Cindy is responsible for all due diligence aspects of the development process, from project concept through stabilized operations, for the company’s affordable housing portfolio. In this role she oversees the preparation and submission of all affordable housing funding applications; maintaining and building on relationships with state housing finance staff, development partners, and third party vendors; coordinating all closing transactions related to property acquisition, construction loans, equity, and permanent financing; preparing and submitting all cost certification documents; and coordinating completion and filing of IRS form 8609 for all developments. As a member, and past President, of the Alabama Women’s Affordable Housing Network, and a board member for the Low-Income Housing Coalition of Alabama, she is proud to support and encourage women interested/working in the affordable housing industry.
Tammy Kirkpatrick
Application and Due Diligence Coordinator
Throughout her career, Tammy has successfully submitted and obtained funding for multiple Alabama 4% and 9% LIHTC developments, as well as Housing Trust Fund grants. Her work also includes assisting with tenant relocation, an important part of ensuring smooth transitions for the families these developments serve. In addition, she has played a key role in the closing of many LIHTC housing developments, helping carry projects from application through to completion.
Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Arkansas University, along with a Certification in Accounting and Bookkeeping from Auburn University. This combination of financial knowledge and hands-on industry experience makes her a valuable asset to the Tapestry team.
Team Members
Bo Johnston
Acquisitions Consultant
J-Five-Family, LLC
Bo has been in the affordable housing industry for over 20 years. He has worked on and delivered many affordable housing developments throughout the Southeast for several affordable housing development companies. He brings with him a wide range of experience in developing real estate. In his role as an Acquisitions Consultant for Tapestry he helps build a pipeline for new business for Tapestry in Georgia and other states. Bo also provides assistance on funding applications and predevelopment activities. He builds relationships with municipalities and real estate professionals to help create new opportunities for Tapestry. Bo has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of Alabama. He also has his real estate license in Georgia.
Marcella Roberts
Acquisitions Consultant
M. Roberts & Associates LLC
Tapestry contracts with Marcella to originate and manage new affordable housing developments, with a special focus on housing authorities in Alabama.
An attorney and developer with more than 30 years in the industry, Marcella specializes in affordable housing, community development, economic development, and government relations. She has partnered with lenders, municipalities, organizations, and housing authorities to tackle housing challenges and strengthen underserved neighborhoods. Her focus is on creating quality, multifamily properties using financing tools such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, with the goal of serving low-to-moderate-income families and giving every person a home they can be proud of.
Previously, Marcella was Senior Deputy Director of the Alabama Partnership Office at Fannie Mae, where she built strategic partnerships to oversee the company’s $100 million investment in Alabama. She also held regional government and industry relations roles across nine Southeast states and served as Regional Senior Business Developer, leading rural initiatives in Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
Marcella holds a B.S. in Business Management/Marketing from Stillman College and a Juris Doctor from Miles Law School. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar, Magic City Bar Association, Alabama Lawyers Association, and Black Women Lawyers Association, as well as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America.
John E Taylor
Outside General Counsel
John was a member of Tapestry’s board of directors from its founding until 2021, when he became outside general counsel. In that role he advises the board and staff on organizational and legal matters and coordinates with transaction counsel. He is a partner at the law firm of Davis Hartman Wright LLP, where he specializes in commercial real estate investment, lending, development, and leasing.
He received a B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science from Valdosta State College (now University) and a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he served on the law review and was selected to Order of the Coif. He began his legal career as a clerk to the Honorable Lewis R. Morgan of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and has subsequently practiced in Atlanta both solo and with prominent law firms.
John is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Florida Bar, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the Cobb County Bar Association. He formerly served on the Executive Committee of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and as co-chair of the Legislative Subcommittee.
Kelly Newkirk
Finance and Operations Manager
Kelly has over 30 years of experience assisting both non-profit and for-profit entities in an array of different industries. As Tapestry’s Finance and Operations Manager, Kelly oversees all aspects of operations including financial administration, operations management, payroll and human resources. Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia.
Kim Hasty
Remote Administrative Assistant and HUD Specialist
Kim is a seasoned business associate specializing in housing, with over 24 years of experience in various aspects of Community Development programs across different localities. In 2015, she expanded her expertise to include the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, where she provided support to the RAD Collaborative and assisted consultants working with Housing Authorities nationwide. Kim is highly skilled in managing the RAD Resource Desk, resolving technical issues related to RAD applications, and ensuring the timely submission of Financing Plans. Her expertise also extends to implementing and overseeing CDBG and HOME programs, conducting Part 58 Environmental Reviews. Additionally, she has been a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator since 2012.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Tapestry Development Group is comprised of innovative leaders in the community with diverse expertise and backgrounds. They each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide Tapestry’s efforts to fulfill its mission.
James Winston
Project Executive, AHS Residential, Vice Chair, Executive Committee, Investment Committee
James works with AHS’s development team to oversee the construction of approximately 2,000 multifamily housing units in Metro Atlanta. He has 17 years of experience in real estate development.
Previously, James managed construction and design of multi-family developments for RangeWater Real Estate (formerly PollackShores Real Estate Group). James worked on the development and construction of more than 2,500 multi-family units throughout the Southeast. His experience also includes development and construction management roles with a variety of product types including retail, hospitality, educational, municipal, and mixed-use projects.
Prior to Pollack Shores, James served as Principal of Roark Management Group (RMG). At RMG he provided consulting services to asset management groups for retail and residential projects as well as construction management services for commercial and non-profit development groups. Before RMG, James worked with Lane Investment and Development, LLC as a construction manager where he also managed the construction and design of multi-family development projects. At Lane James was responsible for construction activity that represented $250 million of investments in Atlanta, Alabama, and South Florida. James is able to provide insight on project schedules, budgets, constructability and is effective at coordinating with Architects, Engineers, and municipal organizations.
James received a degree in Economics from Morehouse College and a Masters in Real Estate Development from Auburn University.
Howard L. Robinson, Jr.
Board Chair, Founding Partner, Horo Global Strategic Partnership, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Executive Committee, Investment Committee
Howard is Founding Partner at Horo Global Strategic Partnership (formerly Redclay-Hill), a service provider that creates opportunities for individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
In addition, Howard operates &O&O (“So-and-So”; formerly RedclayHill), a creative services and artist management company. In these roles, his clients include National Black Prosecutors Association, Westside Future Fund, Emmaus House, Truly Living Well Center for Urban Agriculture, The City of Atlanta’s Department of City Planning, and the Construction Education Foundation, as well as political campaigns, artistic projects, startup businesses, and community organizing projects. Most recently, Howard founded ZAGA, an Atlanta-based production company that delivers live and recorded experiences to audiences across diverse platforms and cultures.
Previously, Howard worked as Digital Media and Organizing Director for the State of Georgia at Obama for America (subsequently: Organizing for Action). He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board at ATL: Advance The Lives, a charitable trust founded by Matt and Sarah Ryan in 2020 with the mission to alleviate structural barriers to success for Black youth and their families; Chair of the Board of Directors at K.I.N.G.S. (Knowledge Influencing the Next Generation’s Success), an afterschool-centered enrichment program for K-12 students; and as a volunteer with other youth- and community-centered efforts in Atlanta and beyond.
Kathleen Brownlee
Executive Committee, Investment Committee, Realtor
Kathleen Brownlee is an experienced realtor with Coldwell Banker and has expertise in helping sellers, buyers, and renters. She is certified as a Senior Real Estate Specialist and much more.
Prior she was affiliated with Purpose Built Communities since its inception in 2009, Kathleen Brownlee has extensive experience in affordable real estate financing, development, and asset management. For two years prior to joining Purpose Built Communities, she led the C.F. Foundation’s real estate initiatives in Atlanta, focusing primarily on planning and developing mixed-use, mixed-income developments in and around the East Lake community.
Before joining the C.F. Foundation, Kathleen was the first President of Mercy Housing Southeast, a subsidiary of Mercy Housing, Inc., a national not-for-profit affordable housing developer and manager, and lender to affordable housing initiatives. She initiated and administered a community development information program to introduce the Mercy Housing System in the southeastern region, the first such venture by the corporation east of the Mississippi. She led a team of developers, and in less than five years, successfully secured the financing for over $40 million in affordable housing for low-income families and seniors.
Before her appointment as President of Mercy Housing Southeast, Kathleen served as Mercy Housing, Inc.’s Director of Portfolio Risk Management. She was responsible for underwriting housing developments and portfolio asset management for the entire Mercy Housing system. Additionally, she supervised Mercy Housing’ audit and tax management services, responsible for insurance oversight of corporate assets in excess of $500 million.
Kathleen chairs the Tapestry Development Group Board and serves on the Board of Hope Atlanta and the Low Income Investment Fund’s New Market Tax Credit Advisory. She is a member of CREW Atlanta, has served on boards of several community and national organizations. Kathleen graduated with honors from Agnes Scott College.
Ryan Fleming
Senior Loan Officer, Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Investment Committee
Ryan is a Senior Loan Officer at Enterprise Community Loan Fund (ECLF), a Community Development Financial Institution which meets the critical capital needs of communities across the country. ECLF provides community developers access to financing, which may otherwise be unavailable for local projects such as affordable housing (both multifamily and single family), charter schools and community health centers. In this role, Ryan underwrites loans for the acquisition and construction of affordable housing and community development initiatives, with a focus on development opportunities in the Southeast region.
Prior to joining ECLF, Ryan worked as the Director of the Office of Housing Finance at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, administering the state’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (LIHTC) along with other HUD-funded programs such as HOME, NHTF, TCAP, CDBG-DR. The 30-person team which he managed reviewed all 9% and 4% LIHTC applications in Georgia.
Ryan was selected as one of the 30 National Housing Conference (NHC) Emerging Leaders in 2019 and received his Masters of City & Regional Planning (MCRP) from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2017.
Jim Wehner
Principal, Trellis Consulting Group, Treasurer, Investment Committee
Jim Wehner is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning retail management, community development, and spiritual leadership. As the President of Focused Community Strategies (FCS), Jim led strategic initiatives aimed at neighborhood revitalization and community empowerment. His leadership at FCS was characterized by innovative approaches to addressing issues of poverty and inequity, working alongside residents to create sustainable solutions that fostered community ownership and pride. During his 17-year tenure with FCS, Jim oversaw significant expansion of programs and services that continue to make a lasting impact in the neighborhoods that FCS serves.
Jim is also deeply committed to supporting multiple organizations at the board level, lending his expertise and insight to further their missions. Through his work at Trellis Consulting Group, he provides executive coaching, strategic planning, and program design services to non-profit organizations operating both domestically and internationally. His consulting approach draws on his diverse professional experiences to help organizations clarify their vision, strengthen their operational frameworks, and maximize their community impact. Jim’s clients value his unique perspective that combines practical business acumen with a deep understanding of community dynamics and organizational development.