The people at the core of BRicK Partners bring decades of experience in public policy, finance, government relations and community engagement to their work. Whoever the lead on a client assignment, BRicK Partners ensures that the range of everyone’s skillsets are deployed.
Robin Snyderman, Principal and Co-Founder
A national industry expert, Robin has been providing leadership in the housing and community development policy arena for over 25 years. Known for pioneering innovations in Illinois and nationally, Robin continues to enjoy the process of innovating needed solutions with and for BRicK’s clients.
Other key places worked: Metropolitan Planning Council, San Francisco’s Mission Housing Development Corporation
Click here to see Robin Snyderman’s full bio
Beth Dever, Senior Project Manager
Beth has contributed her vast knowledge of housing and community development to BRicK since its inception, including her first-hand understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the Chicago area’s 273 elected officials and communities. At BRicK, Beth plays a key role in managing client relationships, producing written work, and assisting with funder outreach and stakeholder engagements.
Other key places worked: Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Ford Foundation
Click here to see Beth Dever’s full bio
Jane Hornstein, Principal
Jane Hornstein recently joined BRicK as a Principal, after retiring from HUD, where she supervised HUD’s public housing repositioning work and guided thousands of public housing authorities around the country to leverage the investment and capacity of private sector partners. In that capacity, since 2017, she supported the renovation or rebuilding of public housing around the country.
Prior to her work at HUD, from 2011 to 2016, Jane directed the housing work (including use of its HOME and CDBG and other federal dollars) for Cook County.
Jane also worked with Robin on Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) at MPC before that, spearheaded MPC’s EAH work in the City of Chicago, linking EAH to needed redevelopment and broader City marketing efforts.
Prior to MPC, Jane had worked with the National Equity Fund, underwriting investments using LIHTC, and also worked with the CHA in the very early days of HOPE VI and The Plan for Transformation.
Karen Muchin, Co-founder
Specializing in affordable housing finance with over 25 years of experience, Karen is known for being a strategic thinker with a passion for leveraging private capital to impact public good. Additionally, Karen has a Master in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Other key places worked: Affordable Housing Investors Council, JPMorgan Chase, IFF
Click here to see Karen Muchin’s full bio
Colin Goss, Associate
As BRicK’s newest team member, Colin brings a unique historical perspective to housing planning, drawing on his background in urban history from the University of Illinois Chicago, where he also minored in Urban Studies and GIS. A native of the Western Suburbs and the son of two southsiders, Colin also draws on a personal relationship and deep understanding of the Chicago region to inform his work. In his first year with BRicK, he has applied this lens to research, data analysis, and writing that informs equitable housing strategies. His ability to synthesize complex information—from zoning histories to historical demographic trends to current housing challenges—strengthens BRicK’s internal planning processes and client relationships. Whether at community meetings or behind the data, Colin is committed to shaping housing solutions rooted in historical context and community need.
Inoa Batista, Associate
Providing her talents on a part-time basis, Inoa is delighted to infuse her assignments with lessons learned from her educational work in Anthropology, a double-major in cross-cultural relations and visual studies, as well as her experience in grassroots community building around social justice and cultural identity in Hartford, Connecticut, Valparaiso (Chile) and her original home town of Oaxaca (Mexico). Utilizing her interest in art and education to create beautiful and professional presentations, Inoa has supported BRicK’s work for a number of clients — including the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and Illinois’ Office of the Attorney General — and recognizes the role of housing within a holistic approach to planning and community development.
Michelle Merritt, Project Manager
Known for her patience under pressure, Michelle has had over 15 years of community and economic development experience with a unique talent for collaborating and engaging diverse communities and neighborhood stakeholders.
Other key places worked: Related Midwest
Click here to see Michelle Merritt’s full bio
Interns
BRicK’s college and graduate school interns are a valuable part of our team…