Our Team
We are dreamers and doers, planners and thinkers. We are innovators and accountants, architects and investors, philanthropists and project managers. We are diverse by design—because we believe that to create spaces and places for everyone, you can’t be like everyone else.
Peter Cummings
Executive Chairman
Peter Cummings
Executive Chairman
Peter built a successful real estate development company, RAM Realty Services, which he nurtured with his son Casey for nearly 38 years. Just when he was about to trade in work for play, he had the unique opportunity to invest in a Detroit icon, the Fisher Building. It was then that he met Dietrich, and the two discovered a shared desire to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods with an inclusive, design-forward approach. “Rebuilding Detroit was something I really wanted to dedicate the next chapter of my life to. I’m driven to create spaces people remember, enjoy and love.”
Years of Experience: 40
Professional History
RAM Realty Services
Southern Realty Group
Accolades
The Detroit News Michiganian of the Year
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Golden Torah Award
Wayne State University Art Advocacy Award Winner
Education
Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Yale University
Master of Arts in English Literature, University of Toronto
Owner Management Program, Harvard Business School
Best part of the job
Continuing a family commitment to revitalizing Brightmoor
Favorite spot in Detroit
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he’s Chairman Emeritus
Dietrich Knoer
President & CEO
Dietrich Knoer
President & CEO
Dietrich was born and raised in Germany, before arriving in the United States for business school and subsequent work in Chicago. Nearly four years ago, he and his family moved to Detroit to explore a new opportunity in real estate. “I think what I love the most about Detroit is that it is so honest. You can’t escape it.” Dietrich sees his transition to Detroit as a pivotal point in his two-decade career. “I have been waiting my entire professional life to partner with someone of similar values and ideas about real estate and making difference in Detroit. Peter and I have a shared conviction in the resurgence of Detroit, with a focus on not only the city center but also the outlying neighborhoods.”
Years of Experience: 23
Professional History
Hines
JPMorgan
Higgins Development Partners
REDICO
Education
Bachelor of Economics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
Master of Business Administration, Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
Best part of the job
Teaching Detroiters the fundamentals of real estate development and contributing to the rebuilding of the city
Regular Detroit activity
Parishioner at Church of the Messiah in the Islandview neighborhood
Mike Hammon
Chief Development Officer
Mike Hammon
Chief Development Officer
Mike spent nearly three decades in Florida working on real estate development, including a variety of projects with Peter Cummings in Detroit such as the Ellington, Whole Foods, and Riverfront Towers. In 2015, he swapped the beach in Miami for the Boulevard in Detroit and bought a 100-year-old home in Detroit’s North End. Mike moved here because he was inspired by the Platform’s mission and the revitalization of Detroit. “The glass was half empty and emptying out in the early 2000s. Now it’s half full and filling up.”
Years of Experience: 29
Professional History
Ram Development Company
Related Group
Education
Bachelor of Science, Indiana University
Master of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley
Best part of the job
Mentoring young Detroit developers
Little-known talent
Left-handed volleyball serve
Karen Gerstenberger
Chief Financial Officer
Karen Gerstenberger
Chief Financial Officer
Karen keeps the wheels turning at The Platform by coordinating the accounting, human resources, risk management and IT functions. She was drawn to The Platform because: “We’re very thoughtful in how we impact the community. Not just in the city core, but in the neighborhoods. We’re building homes for people. It’s rewarding to have a positive effect on our city.”
Years of experience: 24
Professional history
The Hayman Company
Robert B. Aikens & Associates
Accolades
Certified Public Accountant
Member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
Member of the CFO Forum for Metro Detroit
2nd degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Central Michigan University
Best part of the job
Helping others learn and grow
Relaxation is…
Instructing others in the art of Tang Soo Do
Everard Findlay
Chief Innovation Officer
Everard Findlay
Chief Innovation Officer
Everard has spent more than two decades creating brand strategies for a broad range of industry leaders around the world, with the core value of creating opportunities for greater cross-disciplinary understanding and innovation. At The Platform, he focuses on merging art, music, design, technology and science with development to build community and to highlight the crux of what makes Detroit special. “We’re intent on answering questions like, ‘How can Detroit set the stage globally for the future of cities?’ and ‘How do we celebrate and create opportunity for the people who have stayed in Detroit through the ups and downs?’ We’re doing really innovative things here to create community among extremely varied groups of people.”
Years of Experience: 21
Professional History
Everard Findlay, LLC
Country branding, Republic of Suriname
Region branding, Egi Province, Rivers State, Nigeria
ICE Institute at Dartmouth
Accolades
Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peacemaker’s Award
Education
Bachelor of Communications, University of Mount Olive
Best part of the job
Meeting and working with the incredibly heartfelt, perseverant and inspiring people of Detroit from every walk of life
Career highlight
Working with Suriname to designate 50% of the country as an old-growth rainforest preserve for future generations
Abir Ali
Director of Design & Culture
Abir Ali
Director of Design & Culture
Abir was born and raised in Detroit. She left for Toronto and eventually landed in Chicago, where she worked as an architect in affordable housing. She returned to Detroit in 2011, moving her design practice and family to the city while applying her skillset to the foundation world. “I came back to Detroit because it was always a magnet no matter where else I lived.” Abir has grown her career across architecture, furniture design, grantmaking, and now real estate development. Her interest is in architecture’s alignment with development and what we physically endow to a neighborhood and its people. “How is what we design and develop relevant? Is it going to be memorable or forgettable generations later?” Abir lives in a more than 100-year old home in Detroit’s Boston Edison.
Years of Experience: 14
Professional History
Ali Sandifer
New Economy Initiative (NEIdeas)
Hudson-Webber Foundation (7.2 SQ MI, Detroit Architecture Pilot)
Landon Bone Baker Architects
Site Unseen: Laneway Architecture & Urbanism in Toronto
Accolades
American Craft Rare Craft Finalist
German Marshall Memorial Fellow
Crain’s Detroit 40 Under 40
Richard H. Driehaus Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design
Wayne State University Detroit Revitalization Fellow
City of Toronto Architecture & Urban Design Vision & Master Plan Award
Education
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Michigan
Master of Architecture, University of Toronto
Best part of the job
Asking and finding answers for the questions “why?” and “what if?” across the portfolio
In another world
She designs big tables that bring people and food together
Patrick Meehan
Senior Project Manager
Patrick Meehan
Senior Project Manager
“I grew up in the Detroit suburbs, moved away for 15 years and came back because, it’s home.” Most of his time away, Patrick spent living and working in downtown Chicago, where he gained a deep interest in, and understanding of, unban living. He’s excited to see the unbelievable changes and new energy in Detroit. “It reminds me of how Chicago re-invented itself and came back stronger than ever after the Great Fire of the 1800s.”
Years of experience: 27
Professional history
Reit Management & Research
Hallwood Commercial Real Estate
Education
Bachelor of Science in Geophysics, Western Michigan University
Accreditations
LEED Accredited Professional
Best part of the job
Being an integral part of the rebirth of the Fisher building, while witnessing the almost daily improvements to the city
Interests
Art deco architecture, urban planning, mass-transit
Allen Weiss
Investment Manager
Allen Weiss
Investment Manager
Even though he didn’t grow up in the area, you could call Allen a de facto Michigander – thanks to two degrees from University of Michigan and a troupe of in-laws born and bred here. As an investment manager, Allen takes a long-term view on the Detroit market. “We're creating real value for Detroiters, not just taking advantage of trends.”
Years of Experience: 9
Professional History
Redico
Ally Financial (formerly GMAC)
Alidade Capital
Education
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics, University of Michigan
Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Real Estate, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
The opportunity to work with a strong, diverse team of real estate professionals
Saturday afternoon activity
Watching University of Michigan sports
Lindi Kanine
Chief of Staff
Lindi Kanine
Chief of Staff
With a background in social work and the management of human services, Lindi has previous experience empowering individuals in the Detroit community through various impact organizations. She transitioned to The Platform because she “was fascinated with the work the team was doing in Detroit. It was impossible not to experience a pull to be involved.” As the Chief of Staff for The Platform, she manages administrative duties as well as works closely with the Chief Innovation Officer to execute placemaking exercises to activate spaces in ways that serve and celebrate the history and revitalization of the city.
Years of Experience: 4
Professional History
Lovelight Foundation
Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health
Development Centers, Inc.
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Albion College
Master of Social Work, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
Celebrating Detroiters and learning about the city
Passionate about
Philanthropy, child welfare, early childhood development and education
Clarke Lewis
Development Manager
Clarke Lewis
Development Manager
Having grown up in Pittsburgh, Clarke always felt a connection to undervalued rust belt cities. When he decided to attend University of Michigan, he had never been to Detroit. Now, a two-year Detroit resident, he says, “Detroit is one of the most interesting ‘urban labs’ in the world. We need to keep raising the bar. Development needs to be thoughtful and connect everyone with everything.” His development career all started with a simple class project at the corner of Woodward and Baltimore. With his then classmates, now colleagues, the three put together the Baltimore Station project. “Our $1 million project proposed in in class, quickly turned into a $43.5 million, multi-phased development”
Years of Experience: 4
Professional History
Pivot Real Estate Services
Peter Allen & Associates
McIntosh Poris & Associates
Accolades
Crain’s Detroit 20 in their 20s
Education
Bachelor in Arts in Architecture, Kent State University
MA in Architecture, University of Michigan
Real Estate Development Certificate, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
The chance to work with a large cross section of people.
Favorite hobbies
Drawing, landscape and travel
Dang Duong
Development Manager
Dang Duong
Development Manager
Dang founded his own real estate business in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in rental single-family residential homes. He now focuses his real estate investments in mixed-use, multi-unit developments in Detroit where he currently resides. Dang earned dual degrees in law and business from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and while still a graduate student, founded a real estate development firm, Pivot Real Estate Services. He previously served in the U.S. Navy as a submarine officer.
Years of Experience: 3
Professional History
Pivot Real Estate Service LLC
U.S. Navy
Education
Bachelor of Science in Physics, United States Naval Academy
Master of Science in Applied Physics, Naval Postgraduate School
Master of Business Administration, University of Michigan
Juris Doctor, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
Creating something in what once was a vacant lot
Little-known talent
He can tell what foreign language people are speaking in even though he may not understand the language
Myles Hamby
Development Manager
Myles Hamby
Development Manager
For his final project as a University of Michigan graduate student, Myles and two of his classmates developed a real-life proposal to transform two vacant commercial buildings in Detroit into new retail and residential space. His former professor like the idea so much, he joined them in the venture. So did The Platform, where Myles and his former classmates are now full-time development managers. Before transitioning to The Platform, Myles spent three years working on food access issues in Detroit neighborhoods in his role at Eastern Market Corporation. His community engagement experience provides an asset to The Platform’s team.
Years of experience: 3
Professional History
Pivot Real Estate Services LLC
Eastern Market Corporation
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
Master of Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
“I’m proud to be part of a company that partners with the communities we’re serving and seeks to make a positive impact with each project.”
On living in Detroit
“My wife and I purchased a duplex on Detroit’s Westside when we were in grad school. We discovered that proximity is the best teacher, learning as much from living here as we did from the classroom.”
Brandon Hodges
Development Manager
Brandon Hodges
Development Manager
As an MBA student at the University of Michigan, Brandon regularly visited Detroit to explore and check out the city. “There was a newness about the ideas reinvigorating the city and I wanted to be a part of that.” He’s interested in how development can be a catalyst for bringing people together with their physsical surroundings. At The Platform, Brandon coordinates the firm’s retail strategy and manages alternative financing for non-traditional projects. On any given day, he can be found talking to small business owners about their space needs or with local banks about financing opportunities.
Years of Experience: 9
Professional History
Bank of America
Merrill Lynch
Prudential Mortgage Capital Company
Accolades
Member of the International Council of Shopping Centers
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Master of Business Administration, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
Building community through physical assets and human talent
Right-brain interests
Painting and design
Monique Becker
Development Associate
Monique Becker
Development Associate
Monique was born in the westside of Detroit, but raised in the suburbs. Upon graduating college, she moved to Detroit to teach a group of 31 awesome second graders. Now the proud Detroit homeowner of a lovely 1922 brick duplex in LaSalle Gardens, Monique is inspired by the changes taking place in the city. Her desire to learn about the industry that is so rapidly transforming the Detroit landscape motivated her to take the real estate essentials course at the University of Michigan Detroit Center. Monique looks to history and the wisdom of the community to guide her approach, always asking herself, “how can we rebuild the city, this time more intelligently?”
Years of Experience: 2
Professional History
Teach For America
Detroit Edison Public School Academy
Education
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish, University of Michigan
Best part of the job
Talking about Detroit – its past and future – with Detroiters
Hobbies
Books, furniture, jewelry, clothes and trinkets
Andrew Sherman
Development Associate
Andrew Sherman
Development Associate
“Real estate development to me is about creating amazing places for people to enjoy life and thrive.” Working at The Platform allows Andrew to play a part in that in Detroit. After living in Philadelphia, Chicago and Hong Kong, he returned to his native Michigan to be a part of the resurgence of our city. “It’s a dream to be able to work in the city, I’ve always had a love for Detroit.”
Years of Experience: 7
Professional History
Wave Digital Media
4Seasons Global
Homedics
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, University of Pennsylvania
Master of Science in Finance, Walsh College
Best part of the job
Imagining new places from the ground up
Second job
Keeping up with his new son, Bo
