Hilary draws on her experience in urban analytics and community development to inform urban planning solutions that center equity, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Prior to joining HR&A, Hilary supported energy and environment projects at Regional Plan Association, where she developed New York City’s first local climate resilience plan mapper, an interactive online mapping tool that highlights community-led climate resilience initiatives since Hurricane Sandy. In 2022, she was named an ANHD/Morgan Stanley Community Development Graduate Fellow, tasked with supporting Hope Community, Inc., an affordable housing nonprofit in East Harlem, to investigate the impact of Local Law 97 on the organization’s housing portfolio and develop a building decarbonization strategy for Hope’s properties. Prior to her graduate studies, Hilary was an Operations Associate at the Hudson Square Business Improvement District, where she oversaw public realm operations, green space maintenance, and the implementation of the Open Restaurants and Open Streets programs for the Hudson Square neighborhood.

Hilary holds a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University, where she received the Avery Scholarship and the Honor Award for Excellence in Urban Planning. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies (Honors) and English from Brown University, where she received the Excellence in Community Service Award.

Dominic supports infrastructure, transit-oriented development, and economic development projects across the country that make great places and create shared, sustainable growth.

Based in HR&A’s New York office, Dominic blends policy and market research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement to deeply understand the challenges clients face and find the best way to achieve their goals. Dominic has supported the creation of strategies to catalyze statewide, regional, and local transit-oriented development, and to support small business and overall economic vitality across the United States. He has also created funding and other implementation strategies for multimodal transportation infrastructure projects like regional trail networks and the redevelopment of transit hubs like New York Penn Station and Chicago Union Station.

Prior to HR&A, Dominic supported market analyses for private and non-profit clients at another consultancy, was the lead author of a white paper on the equity effects of New York City’s Covid-19 outdoor dining policy at New York University, and was a commercial litigation paralegal at a law firm specializing in real estate disputes. Dominic volunteers with Welcome to Chinatown, a nonprofit supporting Manhattan Chinatown’s small businesses.

Dominic holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Swarthmore College and a Master of Urban Planning from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. For his capstone project at New York University, Dominic led a team of graduate students in creating Greenway Connectivity Plan for the City of Jersey City. The plan, which recommends 16 new or upgraded pedestrian and cyclist paths that will transform Jersey City’s separate greenways into a citywide active transportation network, also laid a foundation for a feasibility study to convert a disused sunken railway into a new urban trail.

Rachael provides analytical support to HR&A’s Digital Equity and Broadband practice with experience in public policy analysis, economic development, human centered-design, and behavioral economics.

Prior to joining HR&A, Rachael worked as an economic development and public policy consultant based in North Carolina, working closely with local governments on projects ranging from housing to entrepreneurship. She also worked with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) to build the capacity of community organizations and local governments for digital workforce development in rural America. Most recently, she worked closely with the North Carolina Office of Digital Equity and Literacy to implement a human centered-design research project to inform equitable device distribution across North Carolina as part of her final Master’s Project. Rachael is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ukraine, ’18-20) and was a Paul D. Coverdell Fellow at Duke University.

Rachael has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Film/Media with Honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Masters of Public Policy from Duke University.

Shawn promotes digital equity through partnerships with governments, organizations, and the communities they serve.

Shawn is a Senior Program Manager in the Broadband and Digital Equity practice. Through her work with local and state governments, she strives to ensure that the plans and policies HR&A develops reflect the genuine needs of the communities we serve.

Before joining HR&A, Shawn led Government Relations for Human-I-T, a digital equity social enterprise where she managed engagement with federal, state, and municipal governments. She successfully obtained a contract to provide up to 3500 devices to low-income families in Los Angeles County and three CPUC CASF grants to support Human-I-T’s internet assistance work. She also secured the passage of the COVS Act in 2022. Shawn was also the Director of Operations for the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, where she worked to double its annual revenue and grow its membership by 20%. She also worked as a Senior Policy Associate at The Sheridan Group, a nonprofit public policy consultancy. She started her political career working for Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Shawn holds a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Lynn provides research and analytical support to projects ranging from equitable economic development to transit-oriented development.

Lynn is an Analyst based in HR&A’s New York City office, where she provides research and analytic support for the firm’s economic/workforce development, sustainable infrastructure, and real estate advisory practices. She advises both private and public sector clients on effective policymaking, program design, stakeholder outreach, and funding strategy decisions utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Prior to HR&A, Lynn supported regional and municipal economic development planning initiatives, in addition to working in parks and public realm design.

Lynn holds a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Public Policy and Anthropology from the University of Chicago.

Mackenna drives HR&A’s approach to business development by integrating operational and analytical frameworks that build, measure, and expand the company’s pipeline of new work while spearheading strategic initiatives that expand our impact, such as Growth Areas.

Prior to joining HR&A, Mackenna worked as a Sr. Project Manager for the Walt Disney Company Studios. In this role as a project manager, Mackenna combined tactical execution, process improvement, and enterprise-wide alignment to increase team throughput and quantify impact. She also worked as a strategy, management, and technology consultant for Point B and PricewaterhouseCoopers. During her consulting career, she delivered multi-faceted analysis across a breadth of industries including: non-profits, media & entertainment, retail, financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare. Mackenna sold consulting services, led account relations, and codified selling behaviors for customers in the New York metropolitan area.

In addition to her consulting work, Mackenna served on a team of resource managers, where she partnered with sales leadership to prioritize inbound opportunities with available talent. Mackenna sits as a co-chair of The Bowery Mission’s Associate Board. She is responsible for fundraising, member relations, external engagement, and contribution measurement.

Mackenna holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems and Labor Management Relations from McGill University. She is human-centered design certified from the Luma Institute. Part time, Mackenna pursues her Master of Urban Planning at New York University.

Ryan harnesses data through analysis and visualization to help clients tackle major challenges and seize policy opportunities in housing and urban development.

As the lead data scientist on the HR&A Labs team, based in HR&A’s New York office, Ryan designs and manages dashboards, interactive tools, and compelling visual narratives to equip decision-makers and advocates with the evidence needed to drive impactful change.

Prior to joining HR&A, Ryan worked for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ housing policy initiative, conducting research on housing development and home financing. His interest in urban planning grew out of his years working for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where he facilitated multiple strategic public health initiatives and where his data management tools supported field teams and a call center.

Ryan holds a dual Master of City Planning and Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science in the Biology of Global Health from Georgetown University.

Sierra is driven by a passion for the built environment, community, and sustainable economic development.

Sierra has spent her time with HR&A focused on governance, the knowledge economy, and transit-oriented development across the Southeast. Prior to joining HR&A, Sierra worked for the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP, identifying infrastructural gaps between policy and application. Focusing on energy, watersheds, and waste management, she created a database tracking sustainable legislation in these sectors. Additionally, she paired municipal projects related to adapting and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events with funding sources. She co-produced a report that was subsequently published, identifying almost 150 plans from 38 cities across 12 Southeastern states, and created an appendix identifying 71 funding sources.

In her urban design studio at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she was on a team that partnered with the Georgia Conservancy to create a growth management plan. For this project she created a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program for a rural county and redesigned the county’s zoning map in order to encourage development along industrial corridors.

Sierra has a Bachelor of Science in Music Management and an Urban Studies Minor from the Georgia State University, and a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Nick Alexander is a strategic thinker in commercial real estate development and asset management, specializing in analytical and advisory services that advance inclusive, purpose-driven investment strategies.

As a Senior Analyst in HR&A’s growing Knowledge Economy Practice in Atlanta, he applies his expertise to lead initiatives that drive community revitalization and sustainable development. He works closely with stakeholders to develop innovative strategies that align economic growth with inclusive urban planning solutions.

Previously, Nick served as an Asset Manager with Trimont, where he excelled in commercial real estate loan servicing and construction administration. His cross-functional role on the Credit Administration and Asset Management Team was pivotal in completing transitional projects and spearheading community revitalization efforts both in the Atlanta market and nationwide. Before joining Trimont, Nick was a Senior Associate at SitusAMC, where he provided market research and analysis, financial modeling and analytics, and reporting and compliance services for a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets.

Nick is dedicated to lifelong learning and continuously expanding his expertise in commercial real estate and urban planning. He actively seeks to enhance his professional network by joining several industry organizations, where he contributes to the advancement of best practices and innovation in real estate. Nick holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University, with a degree in finance from the Robinson College of Business.