2025 State of Housing in Charlotte Summit

Brian Bradley serves as Associate Director of Development at Grubb Properties, where he leads acquisition, entitlement and project execution for the company’s Link Apartments® platform across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. He played a key role in establishing Grubb’s presence in New York City by helping to oversee the entitlements, permitting and approvals for Link Apartments QPN in Queens and Link Apartments 8 Carlisle in Manhattan. Based in Charlotte, he led the development of the Link Apartments NoDa At 36^th communities as well as Link Apartments Cykel, one of Charlotte’s first car-free communities.

With more than 20 years of experience in real estate development and construction management, Brian has managed projects spanning multifamily, mixed-use, office, hospitality, historic renovation and retail sectors. He previously held leadership roles with CBRE and Thompson Thrift Retail Group, and operated his own development firm focused on adaptive reuse and urban infill projects.

Brian holds B.A.s in Political Science and Criminal Justice from UNC Charlotte, where he also served as Student Body President and on the Board of Trustees. He is the founder and owner of Wildhaven Farm and Forest Retreat, a regenerative farm and hospitality venue in Western North Carolina. He is also a founding member of the High Country Trails Alliance, a former board member of The Tarheel Trailblazers, and an advocate for land preservation through recreational access.

James Scruggs is a visionary real estate developer, civic leader, and social-impact entrepreneur dedicated to transforming communities and creating pathways for generational wealth through attainable homeownership. As President and CEO of Kingdom Development Partners (KDP), James leads a mission-driven real estate firm focused on developing mixed-income, for-sale, and build-for-rent communities that uplift neighborhoods and empower families. His work combines financial discipline with social purpose, leveraging public-private partnerships to ensure that prosperity and opportunity are accessible to all.

As Co-Founder of Ascension Community Development Corporation (Ascension CDC), James champions equitable housing and economic mobility through innovative programs that equip working families, teachers, and first responders with the tools to build sustainable wealth. Ascension’s flagship WealthPath Homeownership Program provides a holistic foundation — blending financial literacy, credit counseling, post-purchase support, and long-term wealth education. This approach reflects James’ conviction that homeownership is not only a milestone but a multiplier — one that can change the trajectory of entire generations.

With over two decades of experience spanning real estate, construction, and urban development, James has delivered projects ranging from single-family homes and multifamily developments to assisted living communities. His companies, Kingdom Development Partners and J.S. & Son’s Construction Company, embody his lifelong commitment to building not just properties, but people — fostering economic empowerment through ownership and opportunity.

Charisma Southerland served as president of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS in 2024 and was appointed by Canopy Realtor® Association’s Board of Directors to serve a second term in 2025.

Originally from Chicago, Charisma fell in love with Charlotte when she attended Johnson C. Smith University and UNC Charlotte.

After graduating, she made Charlotte her home. Seeing the city grow,
compelled her into real estate, where she has been a Realtor®/broker in
both North and South Carolina for more than 20 years now. She currently
works with Howard Hanna Allen Tate Company.

She has served the Association and MLS since 2006 in a number of capacities, most notably as a member of the Executive Committee (2020-2022); Canopy MLS Board of Directors (2017); Canopy Realtor® Association Board of Directors (2020-2021); NC Realtors® Board of Directors (2004, 2021, 2022); and National Association of Realtors®
(NAR) Board of Directors (2021-2022).