Our Principles
Veda Ramsay-Stamps, MPA Managing Partner/Co-founder
Ricardo Noguera - Director of Economic Development and Revitalization
Veda Ramsay-Stamps, MPA Managing Partner/Co-founder
Veda has conducted numerous studies, reports and strategic plans for governments, nonprofits, and private agencies.
A results-oriented leader with 30 years’ experience leading, planning, and implementing successful public policy and community enhancement initiatives. A high-energy collaborator with a proven track record of effectively mobilizing elected officials, community stakeholders, and community-based organizations to facilitate innovation during decision-making processes. Creative change-agent adept at connecting human and technological resources with measurable data to facilitate evidence-based fiscal accountability, systems change, and sound public policy.
Veda's unwavering commitment to understand and improve the community and social conditions in communities over the years has landed her in several leadership roles on boards, commissions, and committees. Veda has received numerous awards and recognition for her participation in community service and leadership, including Business Street Newspaper’s, Top Ten Influential Women in Business.
Her core competencies include the following:
• Public and Nonprofit Leadership
• Budgeting and Finance
• Strategic Planning
• Research and Data Analysis
• Public Policy Development and Analysis
• Program Evaluation
• Performance Management Systems
• Housing and Economic Development
Education
Doctorate of Education (Ed.D. Candidate)) Student, Global Education, (2023)
University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education, Los Angeles, California
Master of Public Administration (MPA),
University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy, Los Angeles, California
With Honors
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology
California State University, Fresno
Certifications
Certificate in City and County Management
Grant Writing
Darrell Stamps, MPA - Managing Partner/Co-founder
Ricardo Noguera - Director of Economic Development and Revitalization
Veda Ramsay-Stamps, MPA Managing Partner/Co-founder
For more than twenty-five years, Darrell has served as Managing Partner for the Ramsay Group. He is responsible for providing HUD-mandated strategic planning to more than 50 HUD entitlement cities. Darrell worked alongside City staff, nonprofits, and community residents in assessing, planning, and updating goals and policies relating to housing, and community development need for jurisdictions most needy citizens.
Darrell routinely works with the State of California’s Housing and Community Development Department and the U.S., Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington D.C.
Mr. Stamps has a broad planning and management background in both public and private sector organizations, giving him a well-rounded combination of experience in public policy while maintaining a “result-oriented” program administration.
Accomplishments:
- Planned housing, community, and economic programs ad facilities for more than 100 nonprofit and public agencies.
- Served as lead consultant in the development of a 36,000 sf. community facility using NMTC.
- Provided general development consulting for 15 Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO).
- Lead consultant in the rehabilitation and acquisition of 1800 units using tax-exempt bonds, low-income housing tax credits, and grant funding.
- Acquired equity funding for the acquisition and energy-efficient rehabilitation of bank-owned properties in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles County.
- Lead consultant in the new development of 140 multi-family affordable housing units using tax-exempt bonds, tax credits, AHP, and HOME funds in Fresno Ca.
- Lead consultant in the development of 132 multi-family affordable housing units using tax-exempt bonds, tax credits, AHP, and HOME funds in Fresno Ca.
Education
Master of Public Administration (MPA),
California State University, Fresno, California
With Honors
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science
California State University, Fresno
Ricardo Noguera - Director of Economic Development and Revitalization
Ricardo Noguera - Director of Economic Development and Revitalization
Ricardo Noguera - Director of Economic Development and Revitalization
Mr. Noguera oversees the firm's Economic Development and Revitalization projects. He has over 30 Years of Experience Delivering Economic Development Successes for cities in California, Florida and Washington State.
Mr. Noguera has extensive experience negotiating complex development agreements; real estate financing; international development; foreign direct investments; business recruitment, retention and expansion expertise; strategic planning; public speaking; media communications and marketing; and thorough knowledge of the entitlement process.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Repositioning Underutilized & Undeveloped City Assets. Recruiting developers to acquire and develop transformative projects on behalf of cities.
- Business Recruitment & Retention Strategies. Facilitate recruitment of national retailers and restaurants, industrial, office and corporate headquarters.
- Commercial Corridor Revitalization. Streetscape, retail recruitment and developer recruitment, land use/zoning recommendations, façade programs, etc.
- Project Management Services. Management of process from entitlement to build-out including the hiring of professional services (architects, engineers, surveyors, general contractors, etc.)
- Preparation & Implementation of Plans. Economic Development Strategic Plans, Market & Feasibility Studies, etc.Mr. Bensley stays current on economic development and affordable housing issues and genuinely enjoys helping to improve communities through the planning process.
HONORS/AWARDS
- National League of Cities Technical Advisor on Equity & Economic Development: February 2017 (Houston, TX.)
- Urban Land Institute Daniel Rose Fellow (Tacoma, WA.) 2012-13
- Proclamation from City of East Palo Alto for leading the City’s Redevelopment Agency
through successful projects for 3 years: 2002 - Certificate of Achievement “All American City Award”; Union City: 1999
- Certificate of Honor for Public Service in 1995: S.F. Board of Supervisors
- Certificate of Honor for Public Services in 1992: S.F. Board of Supervisors
Education
Masters in City & Regional Planning, U.C. Berkeley
Melody B. Frederick, MSW (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Jena Hencin, Senior Project Manager (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Melody B. Frederick, MSW (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Melody has over 15 years of experience in affordable housing, community development, grant administration and neighborhood planning initiatives. She has extensive experience in Federal grant programs, including CDBG, HOME, ESG, NSP and special HUD allocations from the CARES ACT. Melody is well versed in the regulations and guidance HUD provides for each grant program. This experience was gained while serving as the Compliance Officer for the Seminole County Community Services Department. Melody also was responsible for managing the development of Consolidated Plans and Annual Action Plans, and various accomplishment reports over the years. Known as a problem solver, researcher, and facilitator, she is passionate about helping communities and stakeholders outline and implement programs or grants to accomplish their goals.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Criminology - Florida State University
Master of Science in Urban Planning - Florida State University
Master of Social Work- University of Southern California.
Marcia Wynn, Senior Project Manager (NonProfit Services)
Jena Hencin, Senior Project Manager (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Melody B. Frederick, MSW (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Marcia is an energetic, experienced, and accomplished professional whose career is characterized by more than 16 years of academic success in administrative, leadership, and teaching roles. She also has more than 9 years of experience in the nonprofit arena in leadership, grant writing, grant reviewing, grant management, and individual and corporate major gifts at community, educational, faith-based, and medical entities. Over the span of her experience, she has secured more than $30 million in grant funding.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (2005): Human Services
Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
Master of Arts (2002): Human Behavior & Conflict Management
Columbia College, Columbia, SC
Bachelor of Arts (1995): Public Affairs
Columbia College, Columbia, SC
Certificates
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate (University of South Florida — Muma College of Business) Racial Reconciliation and Healing Certificate (American Association of Christian Counselors)
Jena Hencin, Senior Project Manager (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Jena Hencin, Senior Project Manager (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Jena Hencin, Senior Project Manager (Government and Nonprofit Services)
Before joining the Ramsay Group, Jena was a Community Development Specialist for McHenry County, Il, for over five years, where she managed CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships, CoC, ESG and Lead Safe Homes HUD grants. Jena has extensive knowledge of Special Needs Assistance Programs and affordable housing. She was the HMIS administrator for McHenry County, authored the McHenry County Strategic Plan to End Homelessness, and wrote the first successful application for United Funding Agency (UFA) status approved by HUD in Illinois, and 14th in the nation. Her practical skill includes management of Environmental Reviews; HEROs, publications, SHPO and Tribal Consultation, and Tiered Reviews. She has extensive experience in all applications of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; 24 CFR 58 (Environmental Review); 24 CFR 570 (Community Development Block Grants); 24 CFR 578 (Continuum of Care Program); 24 CFR 91 (Consolidated Submissions for Community Planning and Development Programs); 24 CFR 92 (HOME Investments Partnership Program); and 24 CFR 35 (Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention). She has worked with the homeless population for over 13 years; serving as a clinician and development director for a homeless shelter and Advancement Director for Depaul USA, the American affiliate of Depaul International, a world-wide homeless service organization created by DePaul University and the Vincentian Order. Jena brings a comprehensive knowledge of HUD regulations, strategic planning, operations, grant writing, and fundraising to The Ramsay Group.
Education
Masters in Public Service Management from DePaul University, Chicago, IL in 2014,
Bachelor of Arts (1995):
Bachelors in English from Northern Illinois University in 2003.