“Chase L. Cantrell is the Executive Director of Building Community Value (BCV). In this role, he leads a diverse team of experts in implementing BCV's training, technical assistance, and consulting programs. Chase is a critical voice in Detroit's policy making and revitalization efforts, playing a crucial role as an advocate for residents who work hard to restore and improve the physical infrastructure of Detroit's neighborhoods.

 

Observing a gap in Detroit's real estate ecosystem, Chase founded BCV in 2016 as a bridge between the resources accessible to traditional real estate actors and Detroit residents and nonprofits who wish to make a positive impact within their communities. He is active in all aspects of the organization's service offerings and has provided direct consulting support to local organizations like Grandmont-Rosedale Development Corporation, Eastside Community Network, Building the Engine of Community Development in Detroit, and Detroit Future City. He has positioned the organization to be laser-focused on providing meaningful technical assistance to small-scale developers.

 

Prior to founding BCV, Chase served as a Detroit-based transactional attorney at Dykema Gossett and Kotz Sangster. He built his career helping companies of all sizes (from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies) in matters related to real estate and corporate law. He is still a licensed member of the State Bar of Michigan and a member of the ACLU Lawyers Committee for Wayne County, Michigan.

 

Chase's leadership has been recognized in Detroit and nationally. Crain's Detroit Business honored Chase as "Best in Class: Real Estate - Young Gun of the Year," and he has participated in numerous national and international fellowships, including the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators, Next City Vanguard, NEI Detroit Innovation Fellowship, American Express Leadership Academy (Aspen Institute), Crain's Leadership Academy, BMe Vanguard Fellowship, Mackinac Future Leaders, and Harvard Business School's Young American Leader Program.

 

Chase serves on the boards of New Detroit, Inc. and Citizens Research Council. He also serves the State of Michigan as a governor-appointee to the Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

 

Chase has a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts."