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Biography

As a managing director in the industry consultants and advisors group, Frances is a seasoned leader in urban renewal and development and is recognized for her ability to take new public-private projects from nascent concepts into successful realities and add measurable value to the communities and organizations she serves. She is adept at connecting stakeholders, negotiating and identifying scarce resources for projects that involve multiple parties that often have competing interests. Frances’ work includes developing organizations, establishing governance, and building strategic partnerships. She advises her clients on public-private partnerships (P3s) that are large in scale and uniquely complex. She manages the funding sources and finds resources for all manners of P3 projects.

Frances has experience with large federal grant programs, Property Assessed Clean Energy, State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, New Market Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, American Rescue Plan Act regulations and eligibility and many more funding vehicles.

Frances provides consulting services for clients and does not act as a lawyer for or provide legal advice to clients.  

Frances's Relevant Experience

Consulting

Champion Paper | Hamilton, OH (International Paper) – Frances led the pre-development of the former headquarters of Champion Paper into what is now the second largest indoor sports complex in the U.S. with over 600,000 square feet. This transformational project has elevated the community in which it resides.

Dayton Arcade | Dayton, OH – Highly regarded as a pivotal transformational project, Frances managed the closing the financing. The 110M commercial project involved over twenty-five funding sources.

General Electric site (known as Electric Works) | Fort Wayne, IN – Frances led the facilities’ pre-development stage. The former General Electric campus includes 18 historic buildings and more than 1.2 million square feet of space for office, education, retail, residential, hospitality, and entertainment uses.

Starks Artist Loft | Louisville, KY – This 160M office tower conversion to residential is set to close in 2024. It will bring over 250 units of affordable housing to the central business district while reactivating a marquee building adjacent to Fourth Street Live.

Ohio River Way | OH, KY, IN – A three state public private partnership to build funding for a land and water trail from Portsmouth Ohio to Louisville, KY.

Monon South Trail | Indiana – The state of Indiana’s largest ever Next Level Trail award went to Monon South. This 60-mile rail trail conversion will connect rural Indiana to New Albany by developing recreational trails.

Other Info About Frances

Work History

Prior Work Experience

FBT Project Finance Advisors | Managing Director

Cross Street Partners (CSP) | Director for Strategic Partnerships

Education

Undergraduate School

Xavier University, B.A. Business Administration, 1999

Other Education

Cornell University, Certificate of Commercial Real Estate Development, 2020

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Urban Land Institute, Member

Ohio River Way, Board of Directors

6888 Kitchen (Dayton), Chair

Tri-State Trails, Treasurer

Presentations

Frances was invited to speak at the following events:

“Making the Most of Your ARPAtunity,” Guest Speaker, FBT Webinar, November 2021

“AFIRE Podcast #68: Shock Paddles for Cities,” Podcast Guest, AFIRE, July 2021

 

Major Publications

Frances is an author or contributor to the following publications:

Interviewee, “This is the Ohio: Life, Death, and Rebirth of the Beautiful River,” by Morgan Atkinson, NKY Tribune, March 2024

Co-author, “Weathering The Coming Fiscal Storm: An Emergency Proposal,” The New Localism, November 2023

Quoted, “ARPA Could Already Be Running Out Of Time To Bring ‘Transformative’ Change To The Affordable Housing Crisis,” Bisnow, April 2023

Co-author, “Downtown Disruption,” Summit Journal, Fall 2021

Co-author, “Re-Opening the Economy and the Complexities of Downtowns,” The New Localism, April 2020

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