Sheila's Blog

Management Team

As former public administrators and public servants, our team shares the vision that there is much work to be done in our communities; and we believe that, like our public sector counterparts, HCCG can have a direct, positive, and sustainable impact on the development and management of our communities by being a catalyst for implementing successful projects across the regions we serve – the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf Coast regions!

Sheila Hill-Christian, President/CEO

As company President/CEO, Ms. Hill-Christian balances the needs of clients with the capabilities of the firm’s professional associates to provide responsible and trustworthy consulting, relying on a solid track record of leadership and success! In addition to overall vision, executive leadership, and contract administration for all of the firm’s services, Ms. Hill-Christian provides direct input and technical expertise whenever “government and non-profit consulting services” are required.

Her background includes service as Executive Director of Virginia’s largest housing authority where she reshaped the entire organization by directing the creation and adoption of the agency’s Strategic Plan. She later returned to RRHA as a Board Member, where she served on the Real Estate Development Committee. In recent years, she has been an obvious choice for tough assignments in state and local government. More than 20 years of experience at the state and local levels have given her a high degree of knowledge and expertise in the areas of human resources management, strategic partnerships, public administration, economic advancement, and community and program development.

Ms. Hill-Christian was appointed to head two separate state agencies by two governors, one from each side of the aisle, and was tapped in 2007 by Richmond’s outgoing mayor (a former Governor) to serve as the City of Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer. She was hired by the current Mayor of Richmond to play a critical role as co-chairperson of a select team in charge of transitioning the City of Richmond’s incoming administration, which took office in January 2009; subsequently, she served as a trusted advisor to the City on matters such as leadership, mentoring, change management, executive transition, organizational restructuring, collaboration, and human resources. Her dedication to the future of our city and the nation’s cities is bolstered by a noteworthy and well-documented allegiance to public service.

Mark V. L. Walton, Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President (EVP), Mark is responsible for HCCG’s contract administration, business development, community planning and real estate development projects and works directly with the firms’ property management teams across the region.

He has an extensive and diverse background in community development, business development, and real estate development. As a former housing agency executive, Mr. Walton has managed multi-million dollar transactions, working almost exclusively in the community development arena, involving both commercial and residential properties and developments. Additionally, he had primary property management responsibilities for a commercial real estate portfolio of more than one million square feet, including an 110,000 square foot office building in a central business district and properties held for redevelopment (i.e., Performing Arts Center and Hilton Gardens, publically-owned parking facilities, and other property types).

Mr. Walton has planned, managed and coordinated transactions for numerous government and public/private economic projects worth tens of millions of dollars. As a City Planner and during his nearly 20 years of professional experience, Mr. Walton has personally directed major entitlement and land use initiatives for large urban medical, hospital, educational, and hospitality land uses, involving private and public land uses. Mr. Walton has also worked on both sides of the development table, having implemented the HOPE VI project in Cincinnati as part of a multi-disciplinary team where developer selection and other procurement responsibilities were provided; as a consultant on the HOPE VI project in Richmond, where he demonstrated superior bureaucratic navigation and contract administration skills; and as a former Deputy Director for Community Development, where he managed construction, redevelopment, homeownership, and commercial initiatives, for the public agency.

Chris Gibbons

Chris Gibbons is the firm’s principal consultant for financial matters. He possesses over 30 years of financial and community development experience, with subject matter expertise in all aspects of real estate redevelopment, finance, construction administration, tax credit syndication, debt and equity restructuring, and program management. Both Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Walton have worked as principals on HOPE VI projects in Cincinnati, as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Mr. Gibbons also worked on Richmond, Virginia’s HOPE VI as a consultant, providing essential financial capability to ensure the project’s feasibility and success.

Valerie Salaam

Valerie Salaam is the firm’s lead project manager, responsible for planning and coordinating each of the firm’s projects to ensure that the proper resources are allocated to each project, that critical timelines are met, and overall project success is achieved. Ms. Salaam has considerable knowledge of government operations with over twenty years of local and state government experience, serving in various analytical and management capacities. She has many years of budget analysis, management analysis, and policy analysis experience, managing multi-million dollar budgets, conducting studies to improve operational effectiveness and efficiencies, developing policy, and leading organizational change. She also has experience working in all levels of government, including at the top levels of both the executive and legislative branches. Ms. Salaam has been involved with the Project Management Institute for several years and has served as the Finance Director for the Central Virginia Southside Chapter. She has introduced a number of project management tools and techniques to departments, and has developed and presented project management training to both government and non-profit agencies. Ms. Salaam’s training experience also includes business process improvement, strategic planning, budget development, and performance-based budgeting. She has received training as a Six Sigma Green Belt. She is a graduate of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.

She received her B.S. degree in Business Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also holds the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential.