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Biographical Sketch

Cathy M. Kleiman is a solutions oriented manager offering a strong balance between business savvy and creative capabilities with 25+ years of experience contributing to advanced performance, growth and profitability of diverse organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors. She is the CEO of Development Steps which provides donor strategy development, presentations, multiple project management, community relations, rapid resolution of problems/concerns, business, development and financing consulting services to private developers, non-profit organizations, investors, government agencies, financial institutions and individuals. Specialties include the development of small businesses, event planning, resource development and fund raising, creation of work force housing, affordable housing, and mixed income communities that feature sustainability, smart growth and green initiatives. Grant Writing and application packaging are provided when projects require multiple sources of funds to achieve economic feasibility for low and moderate income housing.  

With decades of experience in leading programs, creative solutions, partnership & negotiations, projects, companies, and working with the affordable housing industry, Ms. Kleiman’s expertise includes real estate finance, community revitalization, affordable housing development, program development, community outreach and education, policy development and sustainable growth.  In 1996, Ms. Kleiman co- founded the America Street Foundation with national performing artist, Edwin McCain, to raise funds through the entertainment and music industries to obtain financial resources to create affordable housing opportunities and related community development services for low and moderate income families.  

Ms. Kleiman, a SC real estate agent, participates actively with her land development clients in the sale and acquisition of real estate and offers organizational management expertise. Ms. Kleiman in responsible for the overall asset management and leadership of several LLC’s and manages all finances. She is a HUD Certified Housing Counselor and served as a consultant to The Daniel Island Company and Trammel Crow on their work force housing initiatives on Daniel Island.  Further information is available at www.developmentsteps.com.

She previously served as Executive Director of Charleston Affordable Housing, Inc., an award-winning nonprofit provider of well-designed and constructed quality affordable housing, and CEO of Development Works, Inc., a residential construction company. Under her direction, the organization developed more than 1,000 single family and multifamily housing units, creating both affordable homeownership and rental housing opportunities through new construction and the rehabilitation of vacant dilapidated properties. Developments have been located in traditional urban neighborhoods, historic districts, suburban areas, and in counties throughout South Carolina and North Carolina.  In the early 2000’s, Ms. Kleiman began focusing on providing workforce housing in small mixed income communities that facilitated smart growth and green building.


Ms. Kleiman served as Senior Vice President for, Douglas Elliman Gibbons and Ives, a large NYC full service real estate company prior to founding Charleston Affordable Housing, Inc.; the Director of Administration for Time Equities Inc. in NYC; the Director of Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation for New York City during the Koch administration; and, in DC as a visiting scholar for the Office of Policy Development and Research of the U.S. Department of HUD. While administering federal program funds for New York City, Ms. Kleiman created over 5600 units of affordable housing in all five boroughs of the City and developed the Sweat Equity Program while at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

She received her BA from Tulane University and Masters of Planning from UNC Chapel Hill with a concentration in housing and community investment. Numerous projects, created under Ms. Kleiman’s leadership, have received awards on the local and national levels ranging from Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement to the Fannie Mae Foundation’s Maxwell Awards of Excellence to the Metropolitan Life Foundations’ National Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing. In 2004, SKIRT Magazine selected Cathy as one of the ten top women of the decade in honor of their 10th anniversary. In 2005, Ms. Kleiman was the Charleston County Grants Administration Honoree of the Year. Ms. Kleiman served on the Advisory Committee of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta for six years and the SC State Fannie Mae Corporation Advisory Board. She has been given many honors and awards for her contributions to our cities and their communities ranging from the SC State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for design excellence to the Golden Eagle Award from SunTrust Bank for her commitment.

Ms. Kleiman is currently participating in private development projects in Charleston County; serving as a consultant for several major development companies in the tri-county area; developing a new business; serving as a Lead Park Angel for the Charleston Park Conservancy; providing consulting services to non-profit organizations; providing real estate sale services for sales and acquisitions as a registered real estate agent and, working hard in her garden. Her daughter, Jennifer, 23, graduated from the University of Colorado with BFA in Film and minor in Women’s studies. She is working in the film business and moving to LA. Her son, Robert, 19, attends American University in DC. 

Ms. Kleiman’s website is www.developmentsteps.com and e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .