Dionne Nelson

Dionne Nelson is president and CEO of Laurel Street, a mixed-income housing development company experienced in providing residences for working families and seniors, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nelson establishes and manages the strategic direction, operations and growth of the company and has more than 25 years of experience in real estate development, finance and operations. Prior to founding Laurel Street, she served as senior vice president at Crosland and led the company’s affordable housing development and multi-family operations. She also previously managed investments at NewSchools Venture Fund and EARNEST Partners, and built her skills in strategy, organization and operations as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. She began her career in financial services at Salomon Brothers.

Nelson serves on the board of directors for Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). She is a trustee for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and a member of the National Advisory Board for the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing and ULI’s Affordable and Workforce Housing Council. She also serves on the Knight Foundation’s Charlotte Community Advisory Committee and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Childress Klein Center for Real Estate Advisory Board.

Nelson earned an MBA from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College.