The Black Squirrel Economic Alliance was established to sustain and expand the impact of the RiSE Real Estate Accelerator. In response to growing demand, Black Squirrel launched the Alliance as a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit to lead the long-term growth of RiSE and related real estate initiatives. This strategic move strengthens the organization’s capacity to deliver the RiSE Accelerator, affordable housing programs, and land-use services—advancing its mission to create economic opportunity through community-driven real estate development.
Guided by a committed leadership team, the Alliance is led by Executive Director Thom Webster, a seasoned business leader and community investment strategist with decades of experience forging partnerships and expanding access to capital for underrepresented founders. Supporting this mission is a team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) specializing in training and curriculum design, accelerator development and management, program operations and community engagement, and administrative support to ensure seamless day-to-day execution.
Together, this team with its advisors blends deep expertise in community development, real estate, business sustainability and nonprofit management with an unwavering commitment to equitable growth.
Executive Director
Thom Webster, Executive Director, is a seasoned business leader, advisor, and entrepreneur with extensive experience across both the private and public sectors. As Co-Founder and former Chief Program Officer of Black Squirrel, he led the development, launch, and successful implementation of the RiSE Real Estate Accelerator—advancing its mission to equip and support emerging real estate professionals.
Thom has served as a senior advisor and business strategist for a wide range of organizations, from large institutions and local governments to high-growth startups. His collaborations include the University City Science Center’s Launch Lane Accelerator, the United Negro College Fund’s STEM Ventures & BIO-E Capstone Program, Backstage Capital Venture Fund, and Black & Brown Founders, among others.
Senior Program Consultant
Dr. Talmesha Richards serves as the Senior Program Manager for the Black Squirrel Economic Alliance, where she oversees the design and delivery of the RiSE Real Estate Accelerator. She brings more than a decade of experience leading national programs at the NIH, UNCF, and the GEM Consortium, along with coaching over 500 founder teams through the National Science Foundation’s Innovation-Corps (I-Corps). At BSEA, she manages cohort operations, training coordination, and partner engagement to ensure emerging developers and entrepreneurs have the resources they need to succeed.
In addition to program leadership, Dr. Richards directs BSEA’s data management and analytics strategy, tracking outcomes, generating performance dashboards, and using insights to strengthen impact reporting and continuous improvement. Her background as a scientist and strategist, combined with her passion for equity and inclusive leadership, allows her to translate complex systems into actionable pathways for community wealth-building. Through her work, she advances BSEA’s mission to create generational wealth, preserve homeownership, and expand equitable opportunities in real estate development.
Senior Business Development Consultant
Courtney is an accomplished banking and business development professional who brings deep expertise in underwriting, relationship management, and strategic growth to the Black Squirrel Economic Alliance. With a career spanning international banking, non-bank financial institutions, and nonprofit strategy, he has successfully guided complex projects from inception to completion while cultivating lasting partnerships that drive measurable outcomes.
At BSEA, Courtney leverages this experience to expand the organization’s funding base, secure mission-aligned partnerships, and strengthen the sustainability of the RiSE Real Estate Accelerator. His performance-driven approach focuses on identifying new revenue opportunities, building funder relationships, and aligning capital with BSEA’s mission to foster community-rooted real estate development, preserve homeowner equity, and create pathways for generational wealth.
Senior Operations Consultant
Dannica Smith brings a rare blend of discipline, strategy, and community-centered leadership to her role as Senior Administrative Lead at the Black Squirrel Economic Alliance (BSEA). With a foundation shaped by her military service, she excels in creating systems that ensure precision, accountability, and results. Her career spans nonprofit governance, where she strengthened organizational effectiveness, and corporate operations, where she drove business development and growth.
At BSEA, Dannica applies this breadth of expertise to streamline operations, manage administrative priorities, and support program execution with efficiency and care. Her leadership strengthens the infrastructure behind the RiSE Real Estate Accelerator and other BSEA initiatives, ensuring that staff, partners, and community stakeholders have the tools and support necessary to deliver impact.
Black Squirrel launched its RiSE Real Estate Accelerator to bridge the gap between underserved communities and emerging developers, providing the essential resources and support needed to build sustainable affordable housing and a thriving inclusive real estate ecosystem.
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