Be Intentional . . .
Leadership
At AIREE (Aspiring Independent Real Estate Experts), we believe meaningful change begins with visionary leadership. Our Leadership and Advisory Boards are composed of dynamic, diverse professionals with decades of experience spanning real estate, technology, construction, education, financial services, historical housing redevelopment, and community development. Together, they share a unified commitment to empowering the next generation with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to thrive in an evolving real estate landscape.
Our leadership is anchored by three core pillars:
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Empowering future real estate professionals
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Advancing attainable housing solutions
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Leveraging technology as a catalyst for innovation and opportunity
With deep awareness of the accelerating impact of AI, smart infrastructure, and digital platforms, our leadership is driving strategic initiatives to ensure AIREE participants are prepared to lead in this dynamic environment. These efforts are not only reshaping careers—they are fueling economic growth and sustainable development in underserved communities.
AIREE’s ongoing search for innovative, mission-driven leaders ensures our work remains future-focused and aligned with the needs of a rapidly changing industry.
Board
BJ Hamilton-Harris
CEO & Executive Director
BJ brings more than 25 years of experience in real estate, mortgage financing, banking, and development. Her professional journey is grounded in a family legacy that bridges technology and real estate—shaped by her mother’s 30+ year career as a global technology programmer and her father’s leadership in Florida’s real estate and banking sectors. Raised in these intersecting fields, BJ developed a lifelong commitment to strategic thinking, innovation, and community impact. Her family’s contributions to transformative development in Louisiana and Florida—dating back to the mid-1700s—continue to guide her mission today.
As a third-generation licensed real estate professional with a background in mortgage finance and a fifth-generation developer, BJ’s career is defined by strategic execution, historic preservation, and sustainable economic growth. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies and led initiatives focused on making real estate more inclusive, accessible, and future-ready.
As CEO of AIREE (Aspiring Independent Real Estate Experts), BJ is leading the charge to integrate emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and smart infrastructure—into the real estate ecosystem. Her leadership is focused on expanding access to capital, streamlining real estate transactions, and providing under-resourced communities with the tools and training needed to thrive. Through a focus on mentorship, accessibility, and innovation, she is preparing the next generation to lead with purpose and transform the real estate industry for the better.
Sam Harris III
President
Sam Harris III brings over 30 years of experience in real estate, banking, and financial services, with a career rooted in advancing equitable development and expanding access to capital for underserved communities. As a licensed Managing Broker in both real estate and mortgage lending, Sam is a recognized leader in structuring and financing residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects throughout Florida and the Southeastern U.S.
His expertise spans the full real estate development lifecycle—including site selection, underwriting, entitlement, adaptive reuse, and asset disposition. During his tenure as President of the City of Tampa CRA – Central Park (2008–2013), Sam played a pivotal role in guiding a major redevelopment effort through public-private partnership negotiations, EPA Brownfield compliance, and long-term master planning. That project has now exceeded $1.3 billion in value and continues to grow in both scale and market impact.
Sam’s corporate background includes leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Travelers Insurance, USAA, and Bank of America, where he specialized in lending, portfolio management, and regulatory compliance. He also possesses deep expertise in capital structuring, including New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), HUD programs, Opportunity Zone (OZ) Funds, and private equity.
As President of AIREE, Sam drives the organization’s mission to empower the next generation of real estate professionals through education, access to capital, and innovative career pathways. A passionate advocate for technology integration, he champions the use of AI, blockchain, and digital asset platforms to increase financial inclusion and bridge the racial wealth gap in BIPOC communities.
Advisory
Jackie Ryans, Advisory Member
Jackie leverages her extensive financial expertise and accounting background to help drive impactful community development. Passionate about empowering underserved communities, her support, knowledge, and mentorship is vital to the mission of AIREE.
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