June 14, 2023
By Dianna Dunne-Vecchio, Content Writer and Marketing Manager
Please join us in recognizing and celebrating 5 recent promotions within our team! Cheers to Alex Lawrence, Senior Associate, Rebecca Riddle and Monroe Roush, Senior Analysts, and Brice Wildemuth and Ethan Azad, Analysts. We asked each of them to reflect on their journey at RSG, including how they’ve grown and what energizes them to continue moving forward. Welcome to your new roles!
•Alex Lawrence, Senior Associate•
Alex is a familiar and friendly face at RSG, having worked here for 5 years with her experience spanning a broad array of services and clients. She strives to facilitate client growth and development that is fiscally responsible, sustainable, and equitable to help communities meet their goals. From her perspective, the opportunities for learning and problem solving are endless!
“I love many aspects of working at RSG, but my favorite would have to be the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects! In a single day, you can assist an agency with the disposition or acquisition of property, strategize deal points to facilitate an affordable housing project, provide relocation assistance to displaced tenants, perform a fiscal analysis, and more. Our team is also fantastic, and I consider myself lucky to work with such kind, funny, and smart individuals. I am excited to continue working with our clients to make a positive impact on the communities we serve in the years to come!”
•Rebecca Riddle, Senior Analyst•
Rebecca joined RSG in the summer of 2021. Since then, she has taken part in many impactful projects across the state of California, particularly in housing. In fact, complex housing topics, such as landlord and tenant relations, were what originally led her to RSG. During her first year here, she had the opportunity to help craft a long-term implementation plan of a city’s newly adopted Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinances.
“I’m passionate about improving equity within society through research, data analysis, and evidence-based recommendations. I firmly believe that the capacity building of local leaders and communities produces positive outcomes for community members. From my previous work experience assisting tenants and landlords through the legal process to being part of this RSG project that implemented tenant and landlord policies, I’m grateful to have this full-circle experience that will have a direct positive impact on the thousands of residents of our client.”
•Monroe Roush, Senior Analyst•
For almost 2 years, Monroe has been sharing and growing her knowledge at RSG. She attended the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (“CALAFCO”) conference this spring and helped the planning committee on a general session panel regarding Municipal Service Reviews. She met LAFCO staff from all over the state and learned about the innovative solutions happening to improve our communities. Monroe shared that her favorite part of working at RSG is knowing that our work has an impact on the communities we aim to serve. She feels so fulfilled to be a part of the policy process which strives to make the world a better place.
“I’ve gained so much confidence in my own work over the past year at RSG. I feel supported by my colleagues and managers to provide input about my own ideas and have been more independent on projects. Being in a project manager role will allow me to push myself professionally and take more ownership of my work at RSG, as well as allow me to provide more support to my teammates.”
•Brice Wildemuth, Analyst•
Brice has been on the RSG train for a year and a half, bringing his humor and enthusiasm to every client project and team interaction. He’s gained confidence in his analysis abilities, developed a deeper understanding of effective affordable housing administration, and honed his communication and coordination skills, allowing him to tackle complex projects like continuing disclosures and rent stabilization. He loves understanding what communities need and knowing that he has a role in finding solutions that maximize their resources, whether it’s through creating tools, providing recommendations, or fostering collaboration.
“One of my significant accomplishments was helping new staff members get a better grasp on rent and income limits. Training peers through informal knowledge transfers is not only rewarding but has helped me refine my own skills by having to explain specific concepts and methods to others. Looking ahead, I’m excited to take on new challenges and make a meaningful difference in the communities that we serve. I find fulfillment in continually implementing what I have learned from projects and striving to exceed expectations in my role.”
•Ethan Azad, Analyst•
Ethan’s 1-year work anniversary occurred this month! Since starting, he’s deepened his experience in housing initiatives and remained eager to learn more about real estate finance and development. What’s his favorite part about his job, you ask? It’s when working on something challenging and then that “light bulb” moment happens, and everything suddenly makes sense. What a feeling!
“In the time I’ve been at RSG, I’ve learned a lot about how cities work, specifically in tenant protections, and improved my own research and data analysis skills. Some recent accomplishments have been evaluating a large Bay Area city’s rent stabilization program as well as performing research and report writing to inform a potential Accessory Dwelling Unit amnesty program in southern California. Broadly speaking, my time at RSG has made me a more resourceful and knowledgeable problem solver.”