Attend the 2025 Delaware Real Estate Summit!
Thursday, September 4 | 8:00 - 3:00
Del Tech Terry Campus, Del-One Center
Engage in insightful discussions, network with industry leaders, and gain valuable knowledge to understand the dynamic real estate landscape in Delaware. Click here to register.
$50/person includes breakfast and lunch. Detailed schedule coming soon.
Confirmed speakers (click name to scroll to biography):
Todd Culotta | Mayor, City of Milford
Karl Eckhart | VP, Intergovernmental Affairs, National Association of Home Builders
Michelle Freeman | President, Carl M. Freeman Companies
Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay | State of Delaware
Matthew Heckles | Delaware's Housing Cabinet Secretary and the Director of Delaware State Housing Authority
Senator Russ Huxtable* | Delaware's Sixth Senate District
Representative Kendra Johnson* | Delaware's Fifth Representative District
Todd Lawson | Administrator, Sussex County
Mike Riemann* | President, Home Builders Association of Delaware
Preston Schell* | President, Ocean Atlantic Companies
Rachel Stucker* | Executive Director, Housing Alliance Delaware
*indicates Affordable Housing Production Task Force participant
Speaker Biographies
Karl Eckhart | VP, Intergovernmental Affairs, National Association of Home Builders
Karl re-joined the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in 2017 and currently serves as Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this capacity Eckhart is proud to work with State and Local Associations and members of NAHB to ensure a strong real estate market in America. With his previous work at NAHB and the National Association of REALTORS Eckhart has nearly two decades experience in housing advocacy.
Eckhart has enjoyed a career in all aspects of government relations including service in the U.S. Senate, political campaigns, and various lobbying efforts.
In 2006 Eckhart completed a Master of Arts degree in public policy at George Mason University. In 2011 he published a grassroots campaign guide titled “Fifty Percent + One: The Fundamentals of Running a Successful Campaign”. He enjoys time with his wife and dog, scuba diving, and seeing his family in the Midwest.
Michelle Freeman | President, Carl M. Freeman Companies
Michelle DiFebo Freeman is the owner and CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, a Real Estate company established in 1947, that specializes in land acquisition, land planning, development and redevelopment, and the management of award-winning, amenity-rich residential communities, neighborhood shopping centers and commercial properties. Carl M. Freeman Companies also owns and operates two golf courses including, Bayside, an 18-hole, award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Fenwick Island, DE. Michelle is president and chairman of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, which has been giving grants to organizations where her employees live, work and play since 1960. She is the founding Chair of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, which honors her late husband Joshua Freeman by providing arts and arts education to create opportunities to elevate the human spirit. She was the visionary of the Foundation’s first program: The Freeman Arts Pavilion, a venue that provides diverse arts performances as well as arts access programs for local schools and the community at large which celebrated its 0ne millionth audience member in 2024. She has co-produced four documentaries including the 2022 Don’t Make Me Over, the story of Dionne Warwick’s life and career. Among the numerous awards for business and philanthropic leadership, Michelle received the 2024 Gordon & Llura Gund Lifetime Hero Award from the Athletes for Hope foundation. Michelle is a James Beard Foundation Trustee and sits on the Georgetown University Entrepreneurship Advisory Group at McDonough School of Business. Freeman is a minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns Capital One Arena and the Washington Capitals, Stanley Cup champions, as well as the Washington Wizards and the 2019 WNBA champions, the Washington Mystics. Freeman is also an investor in the Washington Spirit Soccer Team. She was a founding member of WE Capital, a group of female investors that invest in women-led businesses and initiatives. Freeman is most proud of her three children, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters.
Matthew Heckles | Delaware's Housing Cabinet Secretary and the Director of Delaware State Housing Authority
Longtime housing advocate Matthew Heckles became Delaware’s Housing Cabinet Director and the Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) on January 29, 2025.
As leader of the agency, he will work with the Governor’s Office, community partners and stakeholders to address Delaware’s growing housing affordability crisis and lead efforts to reduce costs, increase housing units, and combat homelessness and housing insecurity.
Director Heckles brings extensive experience to his new role, having previously served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). There, he oversaw the delivery of federal housing programs across six states, including Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Prior to his service at HUD, Matthew led the Community Development Administration in Maryland, overseeing a wide range of affordable housing and economic development programs.
This appointment marks a return to DSHA for Matthew, who first joined the housing authority as a legislative and policy advisor and then advanced to Director of Policy and Planning. During his past tenure, he helped pass legislation to protect survivors of domestic violence, reconstitute the Council on Housing and created the State Rental Assistance Program. Matthew also advocated for the landmark legislation that created the Downtown Development Districts (DDD) Rebate program.
As Director of Housing Finance, Heckles was responsible for all mortgage lending activities, multi-family bond financing, and foreclosure prevention programs. His leadership led to new partnerships with realtors, lenders, and other stakeholders, as well as innovative programs to support low- and moderate-income families.
Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Relations and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delaware. He lives in Wilmington with his wife and three sons.
Senator Russ Huxtable | Delaware's Sixth Senate District
Sen. Russell Huxtable represents the Sixth Senate District, which includes Milton, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach.
A graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Delaware. Throughout high school and college, Huxtable volunteered with the Appalachia Service Project, a home repair service ministry that operates in the Central Appalachia region.
After college, Huxtable spent two decades with local nonprofits committed to helping Delaware families find affordable housing, including stints as a self-help housing specialist at NCALL Research, director of homeownership programs at Interfaith Housing Alliance and most recently as vice president of the Milford Housing Development Corp. As a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing, he also has served as a member of the Delaware Governor’s Council on Housing and as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council.
Sen. Huxtable was elected to the Delaware Senate in 2022, becoming the first Democrat to represent Sussex County in the General Assembly’s upper chamber since 2015.
He currently serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, vice chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee, vice chair of the Senate Housing & Land Use Committee, and vice chair of the Legislative Oversight & Sunset committee. He is also a member of the Senate Executive, Senate House and Social Services, and Senate Veterans Affairs committees.
Sen. Huxtable lives outside Lewes with his wife Courtney and their two children, both of whom attend school in the Cape Henlopen School District.
Representative Kendra Johnson | Delaware's Sixth Representative District
Kendra L. Johnson has dedicated her entire career to serving individuals living with disadvantages and life challenges. Having been born and raised in the city of Chester in an extended family environment, it was through that experience where she learned the value of service to others. Those experiences were a catalyst that continue to drive her passion today.
Kendra earned a master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University. After graduation, Kendra assumed a role of Executive Director, for one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious nonprofit organizations in the United States. In that role she excelled with integrity and had the fiscal responsibility of managing and budgeting multimillion dollar contracts and was responsible for oversight of 21 programs in Delaware and Pennsylvania, serving over 1,100 individuals. Kendra has a history of being an active and engaged servant leader who was constantly in the trenches with her teams, leading by example by demonstrating the desired behaviors which enhanced the experiences of the vulnerable individuals that were served under her leadership.
Kendra is currently serving as Director of Community Relations for Conexio Care and CORAS Wellness & Behavioral Health, one of Delaware’s largest providers of human services supports.
Kendra is also serving on the board of The Ability Network of Delaware, an advocacy group focused on nonprofit providers of Human Services.
Kendra has been the state representative of the 5th district in Delaware since 2018.
Todd Lawson | Administrator, Sussex County
Todd F. Lawson is Sussex County Administrator, the manager for all the County government's departments. The administrator is appointed by the elected County Council, and is, by Delaware statute, the chief administrative officer of the county.
The County Administrator attends meetings of the County Council, prepares and submits an annual budget, and carries out the policies and laws set forth by the County Council. In total, it is the responsibility of the County Administrator to oversee the day-to-day operations of the government, which now serves an estimated 220,000 residents, as well as millions of tourists, vacationers and guests every year.
Mr. Lawson is Sussex County's sixth administrator - and the first Sussex County native to hold the post - since the Delaware General Assembly granted Sussex County home rule in the early 1970s, converting the old Levy Court into the current Sussex County Council. Mr. Lawson began his tenure as County Administrator on Jan. 1, 2012. During his tenure, and with the support of County Council and staff, Mr. Lawson has made it a priority to streamline County processes, update technology and facilities, and improve transparency in government. Mr. Lawson continues to focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of the County’s operations to ensure staff have the tools they need to provide superior customer service.
A native of the county, Mr. Lawson was born in Milford and raised on the family farm in Harbeson. In fact, his family has deep roots in Sussex County, with the family tracing its ancestry here back to the late 1600s. His family continues to live in the area, working in local schools and operating the family farm.
Mr. Lawson's journey to the top appointed position in County government came by way of Washington, D.C., where most recently he worked for the communications and marketing firm Russ Reid Co., serving as a government relations consultant who worked on Capitol Hill to advocate for non-profit and municipal clients.
Prior to working at Russ Reid, Mr. Lawson was Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he was a chief liaison to Congress, responsible for managing personnel and coordinating several of the agency's programs. Mr. Lawson got his start working for a member of Congress from Ohio and, in total, spent nearly 14 years working in the federal government arena.
Mr. Lawson holds a law degree from George Mason University, as well as a bachelor's of science degree in agriculture business management with a minor in political science from the University of Delaware, where he was also a member of the football team. He is a graduate of Sussex Central High School in Georgetown, where his father served as a teacher for many years and where his brother continues the family's education tradition today.
Mr. Lawson resides outside Harbeson with his wife, Stacy, and their children, Cooper and Grier. When he is away from the office, Mr. Lawson enjoys boating, skiing and spending time with his extended family, including his parents Bob and Diana, as well as his brother Clifford and his wife Meg and their three children.
Mike Riemann | President, Home Builders Association of Delaware
Mike’s journey with Becker Morgan Group is unique and could serve as a case study for the value and effectiveness of internships. Mike first joined the firm in 1997 as an intern while in high school and continued throughout his high school and college career. Upon graduating from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science / Civil Engineering degree in 2001, he joined the firm full time as a Civil Designer. Demonstrating strong technical competency and leadership skills throughout his tenure with Becker Morgan Group, Mike quickly ascended through the ranks. He advanced to Associate in 2006, Senior Associate/Stockholder in 2009, Associate Principal in 2016, and became a Principal of the firm in 2018.
Mike played a vital role in the opening of the firm’s newest office in Newark, DE. This expansion provided strategic geographic growth in New Castle County, Delaware and surrounding areas, further strengthening the firm’s statewide presence, experience, and diversity. He continues to focus on growing and expanding the Newark office engineering division, while also managing all civil engineering scheduling for the Delaware operations, and leading the firm’s Land Development market sector with Gregory Moore.
Frequently asked to represent HBA and ACEC in regulatory review matters related to land use regulations and zoning code ordinances throughout Delaware, Mike has demonstrated his ability to work with municipalities, counties, and state agencies toward successful resolutions. Having extensive experience across all three Delaware counties, his expertise lies within various market sectors including, commercial, retail, education, institutional, residential subdivision, and more. Mike specializes in navigating clients through the complicated approval process by gaining required permits and approvals quickly. He brings outstanding project management skills and a thorough understanding of government processes, and his reputation and integrity in the development community continue to grow.
Mike is actively involved in numerous professional and civic organizations. In 2019, Delaware Governor, John Carney appointed Mike to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Board. In 2018 he was named to the ENR Mid-Atlantic Top Young Professionals list and named the Delaware Council of Engineering Societies Young Engineer of the Year in 2015. He has been a longstanding member of ACEC Delaware, having served in various leadership positions, and currently serving as National Director. A Board Member of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Delaware since 2011, Mike was named Associate Member of the Year in 2013. Mike served as President of Downtown Dover Rotary from 2015-2016, was recognized as the 2014 Rotarian of the Year, and participated as a Rotary Interact Mentor from 2010-2014, which helps promote and encourage community service to students at the High School level.
Preston Schell | President, Ocean Atlantic Companies
Mr. Schell is co-founder and President of the Ocean Atlantic Companies, a diversified group of real estate development, management, construction and brokerage firms, including Ocean Atlantic Management (development mgmt.), Ocean Atlantic Sotheby’s (real estate brokerage), Schell Brothers (production homebuilder) and TVG Partners (self-storage and fitness centers). Mr. Schell serves as the Managing Member of approximately 50 limited liability companies engaged in OAC’s various real estate activities and development projects. Prior to starting Ocean Atlantic in 1997, Mr. Schell worked as an investment banker for Merrill Lynch in Chicago.
Mr. Schell is also involved in a number of not-for-profit entities. He co-founded in 2001 the Sussex County Land Trust, a public/private partnership between the real estate community and the County with the mission of preserving open space in Sussex County, and served as its Vice Chairman for over 10 years. Mr. Schell currently serves as the Chairman of the Delaware Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and is a leader in the formation, serving as the Chair of the site selection, design, and construction committees, of the Sussex Preparatory Academy charter school.
Mr. Schell graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College (1996) and he has an MBA from the Harvard Business School (2002). He resides in Rehoboth Beach, DE with his wife, Kathleen, and two teenage sons, Jack and Brady.
Rachel Stucker | Executive Director, Housing Alliance Delaware
Rachel Stucker is the Executive Director of Housing Alliance Delaware, a statewide non-profit organization that works to advance housing opportunities and end homelessness. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and has worked in youth services, community development and direct crisis services with the homeless. Rachel grew up in Delaware and earned her graduate degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy. She lives in New Castle County with her partner and their elementary schooler. She currently serves as the Chair of the New Castle County Housing Advisory Board.