Founders Bio

Sydelle Marin Knepper
Founder and CEO

Sydelle Knepper is the founder and owner of SKA Marin. She has more than thirty years of experience in community and real estate development. Ms. Knepper brings to the development and construction process the practical knowledge acquired through hands-on experience; an understanding of the regulatory process in which today’s affordable housing developments are sited and go forward, and the leadership capable of managing multiple projects. In 2005, she was honored by the National and New York Housing Conferences for her contributions to housing development in New York.

Ms. Knepper’s experience includes both the private and public sectors. Her career in the private sector includes leadership positions as principal; project executive; managing partner and owner’s representative. Her project experience aggregates in excess of over one billion in total constructed value. She has expertise in all phases of development and construction management. SKA Marin has completed turn-key developments; multi-prime; Wick’s Law; design-build, fee development and ownership models.

Before starting SKA Marin, Ms. Knepper held positions as Assistant Commissioner for Development and Policy at the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, Director of Project Finance at the New York State Housing Finance Agency, Special Assistant at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Director of Local Legislation for Mayor Ed Koch. Her career in government began as a New York City Urban Fellow.

She has served on numerous Boards and Authorities including chairing the first municipal water authority on Long Island, the New York City Loft Board, the U.S. Department of Labor Construction Liaison Group, the New York City Council’s Legislative Advisory Commission on the Homeless, the Mayor’s Advisory Board for M/WBE programs, the New York City Council of Senior Centers and Services and as an elected Trustee of the Village of Kensington.

She has published in the housing and community development field and is a member of the New York and National Housing Conference Board of Directors.