About DDC
Driving Development. Continuous Results.
DDC is a national initiative that connects aspiring, emerging, and experienced developers with the people, insights, and capital that move projects from vision to reality.
DDC’s programming includes the Emerging Developers Conference (EDC)—the flagship convening event—and the Deep Dive Workshop Series, a set of applied sessions held quarterly in partnership with trusted academic institutions and cultural landmarks such as the University of Chicago, Roosevelt University and the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
By creating spaces for collaboration and deal-making, DDC accelerates opportunity, fosters innovation, and shapes a more dynamic and resilient real-estate industry.
Our Mission
Our mission is to bridge financial, intellectual, and social capital—the essential ingredients of successful real estate development. Through conferences, workshops, and ongoing collaborations, DDC brings together developers, investors, lenders, architects, contractors, policymakers, and others across the ecosystem to exchange knowledge, spark partnerships, and advance market-ready solutions.
Our
Founding Story
Driving Development. Continuous Results.
Founded in 2023 by Katrina L. Malone in collaboration with Ashley Besic, Collette English Dixon, Dr. William W. Towns, Ciere Boatright, and Ariam Kesete, DDC began as a regional effort to strengthen the development ecosystem across the Midwest and has since expanded to attract participants from both coasts and markets nationwide.
Today, DDC advances research partnerships to generate data-driven insights and developer tools that inform decision-making and strengthen the entire development landscape.
