HOUSTON - Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today that he has selected Marvalette Hunter to be his new chief of staff. Hunter has more than 20 years of experience in public policy, project management, real estate development and finance. She is an architect and city planner with extensive knowledge of federal, state and local programs regarding housing, economic development, transportation and public infrastructure.

“I have worked with Marvalette for many years,” said Mayor Turner. “She is a go getter with a unique combination of experience in both the public and private sectors that will serve the city and my administration well. I am pleased to have her on my team and look forward to working with her as we continue to create a tomorrow for Houston that is better than today.”

Hunter previously served as president and chief executive officer at HuntJon, LLC and 3D Visions Planning Consultants, LLC, a real estate development company and project planning consulting firm specializing in tax credit and bond financed transactions, transportation infrastructure and long range planning projects. She was responsible for managing and supervising all planning, design, development, construction and assets management personnel for several multifamily and commercial projects.

Hunter’s public sector experience includes positions as chief operating officer for the Harris County Housing Authority, project manager at the Houston Housing and Community Development Department and planner for the Houston Planning and Development Department. She also worked as vice president of community lending for Washington Mutual and as executive director for Dominion Community Development Corporation and the Third Ward Redevelopment Council.

Hunter holds a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from Florida A and M University. She has served on the board of directors of the Near Northwest Management District, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the Texas Affordable Housing Task Force and Mayor Turner’s Transition Team. She is also the author of the “Faith Based Affordable Housing Development and Finance Resource Guide” published by the Fannie Mae Foundation.

Hunter started work in the mayor’s office today. She will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Alison Brock last month.