Our Staff

The Advisory Services staff work alongside ULI members to deliver our impactful panel program

Mary Beth Corrigan, Chief of Staff | Office of the CEO

Mary Beth Corrigan is ULI’s Chief of Staff.

Her responsibilities include supporting and furthering ULI’s governance processes, managing the Key Leaders Network, and overseeing the Advisory Services Program. She began at ULI as the director of Advisory Services and grew the program to more than 20 panels a year. She has supported panels addressing a wide variety of issues including urban regeneration, economic development, corridor revitalization, environmental preservation, and sustainable development.

Since joining ULI she also oversaw the Spring and Fall meetings, responsible for guiding ULI’s largest events and the top convenings of the real estate industry, and the Product Council program, working to integrate the content delivered at Product Council meetings into the broader ULI.

[email protected] 

Kelsey Steffen, Vice President, Advisory Services

Kelsey Steffen, AICP is the Vice President for the Advisory Services Program at the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Kelsey is an experienced urban planner having worked in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Before joining ULI, Kelsey managed comprehensive planning efforts as a Long-Range Planner for Arlington County, where she also managed the review and approval of form-based code redevelopment projects. Her previous experience also includes her work for the Reston Association as their land-use policy advocate and as an Associate Planner with Nelson Nygaard Consultants in Washington D.C., where she worked on a variety of comprehensive, multi-modal transportation strategies for communities across the country. Kelsey started her career as an environmental planner in California and has extensive experience with the application of the CEQA.

Kelsey holds a Master of City & Regional Planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She earned her B.A. in Art and Interior Design from California State University, Chico, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

[email protected] 

Lauren

Lauren McKim Callaghan, Senior Director, Advisory Services

Lauren McKim Callaghan is the Senior Director for the Advisory Services Program at the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

Prior to joining ULI, Lauren managed survey research projects for the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University for a range of clients from community organizations to state agencies. Lauren has also worked in more than 15 communities across the central and eastern United States as a market analyst and planner with RKG Associates, Inc., a real estate and economic planning consulting firm. While at RKG, she provided analysis and reports for a range of projects including economic development strategic plans, multi-neighborhood revitalization efforts and housing studies. Lauren’s professional experience also includes work in commercial property management and teaching.

Lauren holds a Master of City & Regional Planning from Rutgers University with an emphasis in housing and real estate. She has an undergraduate degree in history and psychology from the University of Kansas and is a native Midwesterner. Prior to joining ULI, she was an active member of the ULI Washington Young Leaders Group serving on and chairing several committees. Lauren has more than a decade of classical ballet training and performance experience and when not working cultivates her passion for the arts.

[email protected]

 

Barbra Gustis, CMP, Director, Advisory Services and Key Leaders

Barbra began working with the ULI advisory services team in December 2021, supporting the panel programs with their logistics planning. She launched her career training with Walt Disney World and Hyatt Hotels, then moved onto various roles in event and convention planning, exhibition sales, and educational programming and development with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and Destinations International. With over 20 years of experience in the business of the meetings industry, she brings her logistician and leadership skills to each program and event executed.

Having a strong interest in travel and connecting people in meaningful ways, she can leverage her career using her passions. A Peloton cycling enthusiast, she also belongs to outdoor road cycling clubs, enjoys golfing, hiking, snowboarding, spending time with family and friends, and experimenting with new cooking recipes at home. Barbra is credentialed as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), and holds undergrad and graduate degrees from East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA.

[email protected]

David Zehr, Manager, Advisory Services

David Zehr is the Manager for the Advisory Services program at the Urban Land Institute (ULI). 

David is experienced in project management, impact evaluation, and relationship building. His work with the Advisory Services program focuses on the intersection of commercial real estate, economic development, sustainability, and urban planning. Before joining ULI, David worked in the fields of international development and humanitarian assistance with Creative Associates International and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. 

David is an honors graduate of Goshen College with degrees in History and Interdisciplinary Studies. He originally hails from Elkhart, IN, and is now based in Washington, DC. 

[email protected]

Brittney Gilardian, Senior Associate, Advisory Services & Global Leadership

Brittney Gilardian is the Senior Associate with Advisory Services at the Urban Land Institute (ULI). 

Before joining ULI, Brittney has supported the executive branch of the federal government in areas of public and media affairs, global trade, information technology, and special programs. She has also supported county governments across the United States focusing on broader technology and has hosted educational webinars to county leaders with a focus on geospatial & geographic information systems. Brittney has also worked for a global law firm on the branding and design team, a health-information technology consulting firm, and real estate firm.

Brittney hails from Long Island, NY and earned her B.A. in Psychology and Communications with a focus on International Media from American University in Washington, DC.

[email protected]

 

Contact us