With more than two decades of experience, Dave Higgins has expertise across the life cycle of real estate development and investment. He previously worked on large-scale urban redevelopment and public-private partnership initiatives in Boston and New York City, including four years with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the real estate group of global law firm DLA Piper. Other prior roles include chief operating officer of Business Technology Partners in New York and vice president of development for both McGough and Roers Companies in Minnesota. Higgins holds a bachelor's degree in English from Colby College in Maine and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law.

Before co-founding Rhine Civic Partners, Adam Gelter served as Executive Vice President of Real Estate at Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), where he led all real estate development, property and parking management, and leasing activities. Over nearly two decades, Adam played a central role in the revitalization of Cincinnati’s urban core, directing more than $2.5 billion in real estate development.
His work included the strategic planning, financing, design oversight, and implementation of projects ranging from corporate headquarters and high-end hotels to affordable housing, homeless facilities, civic spaces, and retail environments. Under his leadership, 3CDC delivered 2,303 new residential units, 1.35 million square feet of commercial space, 1,056 hotel rooms, four comprehensive homeless service facilities, and over 6,000 structured parking spaces. Major civic projects included the redevelopment of 17 acres of public space, the $143 million renovation of Music Hall, and the transformation of Washington Park and Ziegler Park. Most recently, Adam oversaw the $750 million Convention District, including the renovation of the First Financial Convention Center and development of a new 800-room convention headquarters hotel.
Adam’s financial acumen spans the use of NMTC, LIHTC, HTC, TIF, bonds, and traditional lending. In addition to development, he managed a commercial portfolio generating over $48 million annually, with full responsibility for leasing, budgeting, and property operations.
Adam joined 3CDC as an intern in 2005 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming one of the region’s most respected urban development leaders. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Vanderbilt University, as well as a Master of Community Planning with a concentration in Economic Development from the University of Cincinnati.
Adam currently serves as Chair of the Board for Shelterhouse, Cincinnati’s largest homeless services provider. He also co-founded Generocity513, a street outreach initiative, and RepresentCincy, an effort to foster racial equity in Over-the- Rhine’s business district. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning.

Clare Healy is Director of Project Management for Rhine Civic Partners. She specializes in urban mixed-use projects that rely on complex capital stacks and public-private partnerships. She knows what it takes to bring a project from the initial opportunity stages through due diligence, finance closing, construction, leasing, and tenant fit-outs. She has worked for both private and nonprofit developers, mostly notably Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), where she worked on projects totaling $700 million in investment in Cincinnati’s convention district, including a renovated convention center, new convention headquarters hotel, and parking garage. She also led the transformation of two former downtown department stores in the heart of Cincinnati’s urban core into mixed-use properties anchored by creative Class A office spaces on upper floors and street-level commercial space, a collective $97 million investment.
Prior to 3CDC, Clare worked as a consultant at Bleakly Advisory Group (now KB Advisory Group) in Atlanta and at RCLCO in Washington, D.C., providing market analyses on large scale, mixed-use and multi-phase development opportunities across the Midwest and South for developers and economic development entities. She was also a fellow at Smart Growth America. Clare received master’s degrees in urban planning and real estate development from Georgia Tech and an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University.

Melissa Ferlaak is a strategic communications and marketing leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations through public relations, brand storytelling, community engagement, and audience development. She currently serves as Director of Communications for the Alliance, where she leads communications strategy, media relations, marketing initiatives, and storytelling efforts that support the vitality and growth of downtown Saint Paul. Her work focuses on elevating public visibility, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and championing the people, businesses, and experiences that shape the downtown community.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Melissa held senior leadership roles at some of Minnesota’s most respected arts/entertainment and nonprofit organizations, including Six Flags (Valleyfair), Children’s Theatre Company, Hennepin Theatre Trust, and the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Science in Music from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.