Mitzi Lee - highlights of experience
Commercial real estate
I played a significant leadership role in the delivery of comprehensive services for VCU and its affiliated real estate foundation resulting in approximately $150 million in key real estate transactions and development projects. My experience spans more than three decades in the commercial real estate in the public sector, including higher education and state agencies. My profile and portfolio of real estate work are diverse, comprising innovative transactions and projects ranging from urban to rural to land conservation matters all over the state of Virginia.
Anchor institution philosophy
My experiences have taught me a deep understanding of how institutions, health, and civic organizations model as anchors in communities where they reside (anchor institutions). Principally, institutional real estate resources can be accessed and leveraged for the greater good of the community. There are opportunities for owners to embrace the responsibility their economic impact involves and expand their mission to grow into an anchor mission. Consciously combining long-term, place-based economic power with human and intellectual capital to serve their respective communities, institutions become critical anchors of stability at local, state, and national levels. My acute sense of community cross sections and vision lends to leveraging low hanging fruit that identify value-added real estate activities and programming.
Nonprofit and volunteer
I have contributed to and participated in various professional and nonprofit organizations focused on community engagement and development, including VCU’s Council for Community Engagement, Longwood University Foundation, Storefront for Community Design, Richmond District of the Urban Land Institute on the Management Committee, and the Association of University Real Estate Officials as an officer. My deep-rooted interests in “community and environment” led me to grass roots efforts, resulting in the founding of the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia. In 1997, I co-authored one of the first chapters addressing institutional real estate in the Association of Physical Plant Administrators’ manual for facilities management.
Education and personal
My B.S. was earned from Longwood University, and I received a Graduate Certificate in Public Management at VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs). I am also a proud graduate of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.
Virginia Real Estate Sales License, #0225240828
I occupy my personal time with family and in varietal gardening, including Virginia native plants and am a graduate of the Virginia Master Naturalist program.