Dr. Rodney S. Sampson
Managing Partner

Rodney S. Sampson is a co-founder and serves as Managing Partner of Sampson Development & Construction, LLC.  An international business dealer, developer, entrepreneurial innovator, thought leader and social economist, Sampson creates and advances world-class projects and high-impact initiatives that change and improve the way people learn, work, live and experience the world through technology, business, and entertainment.  Sampson has been involved in deal flow that has generated more than $1B dollars worldwide.  While developing several successful companies, Sampson has emerged as Black America’s expert on leadership, speaking to thousands each year.  Mentored by Dr. John Maxwell, Sampson has provided consultations and strategies to numerous political, business leaders, Fortune level companies, and global figures (examples include His Excellency Omar Bongo Ondimba, President of The Gabonese Republic, Price Waterhouse Coopers of Namibia, Mel Gibson and Disney).  For his contributions to humanity, Sampson was awarded The Phoenix Award - the City of Atlanta’s highest honor - by Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2004.  Sampson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Tulane University, an MBA from Keller Business School, and an Honorary Doctorate of Ministry Degree from The International Gospel Fellowship Theological Seminary in Greenville, SC.  Sampson also attended The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA.     

Through his leadership training and development company, Sampson has been a friend of Namibia for more than three years.  He has invested hundreds of thousands of Namibian Dollars in training thousands of Namibians in leadership, business and legacy. 

Marc Makebakken
Partner

Marc Makebakken is a partner in Sampson Development & Construction Partners. In addition, Marc is an owner in MS Development, LLC, a full service development company headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. Makebakken is a seasoned veteran of the real estate and construction industry, with experience directing all aspects of the business. Beginning his career as a general contractor specializing in retail construction, Marc offers a construction oriented approach to the real estate development process: a contractor’s logical approach with a developer’s creative “deal-structuring” ability. Makebakken has successfully constructed and developed over one million square feet of commercial real estate over the past 20 years, with a construction value of more than $100 million. Makebakken maintains a proven and fortified alliance with most major national and regional credit tenants, and these relationships are an integral part of SDCP’s ability to deliver.

As a global giver, Marc supports many NGO’s around the world including his support of the IRC’s lifesaving work in Darfur, Sudan and in neighboring Chad, where approximately 200,000 Sudanese refugees have fled. As a supporter of the IRC’s Darfur Relief Campaign, MS Development Holdings has helped provide critical health, water and sanitation, shelter, and protection services for the tens of thousands of women, children, and families who have taken flight in search of safety in the region.

Keith C. Brown
Vice President of Construction Management

Keith Brown is Vice President of Construction Management of Sampson Development & Construction, LLC. Mr. Brown is committed to the application of green building concepts which can yield savings during the construction process and can improve relations with the community and the building owner. Brown is a recognized business innovator who promotes the use of sustainable development concepts during the entire development process. With Design-Build projects becoming more commonplace, Brown believes the company is well positioned to create and manage diverse, experienced, and pro-active project teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to complete projects of various scale and scope. Prior to joining the company, from 1996 to 2006, Mr. Brown provided Project Controls, Scheduling and Planning at Halliburton (Kellogg Brown & Root), DMJM+Harris, & HAKS Engineers, P.C. Mr. Brown’s experience includes the successful completion of over $300 million dollars in construction management projects. Mr. Brown received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Howard University and Master of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Caroline DeLuca
Vice President, Project Management & Interior Design

Caroline DeLuca serves as Vice President of Project Management & Interior Design of Sampson Development & Construction, LLC. DeLuca has five years real estate and development experience handling the real estate needs (acquisitions & dispositions) of retail banks acting as both broker and agent and negotiating business terms for lease transactions. Her Clients included HSBC Bank, North Fork Bank, Independence Community Bank, Valley National Bank, and New York Community Bank, and her position has kept her in heavy contact with attorney’s, architects, and engineers through the entire lease and branch construction process. DeLuca also served as a Property Manager interfacing with New York City’s housing and development agencies and liaising with residential and commercial tenants on lease and building violation issues and billing of commercial tenants. DeLuca speaks fluent Chinese and conversational French, and is very involved in community projects in the New York area, including acting as co-chair of the Vendor Supply Management Subcommittee for the Playground Improvement Project of the New York Junior League. DeLuca also served on the Real Estate Board of New York and in the Asia Society. DeLuca earned her Bachelor of Science degrees (double majors) in Finance and Marketing at New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

 
Kelly Robinson
Vice President of Finance

Mr. Robinson has accumulated 18 years of corporate experience in the financial services sector. In addition, he is the Managing Partner of The Josephian Group which is a closed set of private investors who have collectively pooled and placed $33M of private equity in various ventures over the past 7 years. Prior to now, he served as a Senior Vice President, Group Manager at Wachovia Corporation, which during his employ merged with First Union, where he was responsible for strategic pricing and loan margin lift across its $7.3B portfolio of commercial real estate, business banking, regional corporate and large corporate accounts. In addition to corporate assignments, Mr. Robinson served associate partner level capacities at IXL and Sapient from the consulting-side serving American Century, JP Morgan, Hewlett-Packard as well as Delta Air Lines overseeing 8-figure engagements and mentoring consultants across 5 countries: U.S.A., Japan, England, Germany and Spain.

From a non-profit, he is a leader and advisory member at a 1,200 member, 5 year old, non-profit organization, Bronner Business Institute, with nurtures socio-economic entrepreneurship. Mr. Robinson sits on the board of an HR company as well as non-profit homeless prevention center. Mr. Robinson holds a M.S. in Management and B.B.A. in Marketing from Georgia State University. In addition, Mr. Robinson is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and is a prior graduate of the American Bankers Association Graduate School of Banking. In addition, he holds a Counseling and Ministerial Education certificate from World Changers Ministries School of Ministry.

Collette Ferguson
General Counsel
Molden Holley

Colette Y. Fergusson focuses her practice on corporate law. She represents clients at strategic junctures in their corporate development, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial law, venture capital financing issues, operational and organic contracts, contests for control, formation and dissolution of entities and emerging growth issues.
For her first four years in practice, Colette was associated with the New York City law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. She then moved to Atlanta and joined Alston & Bird, LLP where she practiced for six years. She has represented Fortune 100 companies in business deals ranging up to $174 million.

Colette attended Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania where she earned a B.A. in Economics with honors. She received her J.D. with a concentration in business law and regulation from Cornell Law School, where she was a Bench Brief Editor and Chief Judge for Moot Court Competitions.

Colette currently serves on the Service Delivery Board of the American Red Cross and is a member of the Atlanta Business League, as well as the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the New York Bar and the Atlanta Bar Association, where she serves as a director of the Small Firm Section. She has served as a Director of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, a Chair of the Board of Directors of the ATLAS Foundation, Inc., a member of the New York County Lawyers Association and the Andrew Silk Journalism award winner.

 
BOARD OF ADVISORS / STRATEGIC PARTNERS

SDCP is constantly surrounding itself with global influencers that impact the way people think, do business, and evolve their communities.  

§          Bill Howell, CEO, Howell Industries, New York, NY

§          Dennis Han, CEO, Han Capital & Construction Partners, Atlanta, GA

§          Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Founder & CEO, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Chicago & NYC

§          Rosa Whitaker, CEO, The Whitaker Group, Washington, DC

§          John Majors, Vice President, Finance, Harold A. Dawson Company, Inc. Atlanta, GA

§          Robert Goodwin, CEO, The Points of Light Foundation, Washington, DC

§          Bishop Paul S. Morton, Presiding Bishop, The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, Inc., New Orleans, LA

§          Mark Wilson, CEO, Ryla Teleservices, Atlanta, GA