About Us - Women Housing And Income Providers of Chicago

We’re here because we believe in the power of women supporting each other. Managing investment properties is no easy task, especially in this male dominated field. Every woman owned or managed property is a small business, and gives back to the communities we serve. Our environment fosters a space where women can come together to learn, grow, and network. We believe in staying on top of housing trends and laws, and we’re committed to empowering and promoting women in this field.

What makes us special is how we work together as a team – we really listen to each other, share ideas, and help each other out. When we unite, we create a tight-knit and uplifting community that supports every woman and drives us all towards success. Let’s rock it together!

WHIP is a member-based non-profit with the mission of promoting responsible property ownership and management, and supporting women in real estate investing. WHIP is also a part of the wider Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance (NBOA), helping to address common housing issues across all Chicago Area communities. WHIP’s multifaceted initiatives are focused around three key pillars:

Advocacy

At WHIP, we actively engage with policymakers to advocate for fair policies in Chicago. Our unique voices can help foster policies that enable housing providers to thrive while simultaneously benefiting their communities.

Education

Our organization is dedicated to providing comprehensive training and resources for women interested in pursuing careers in housing. Through mentorship and workshops, we aim to empower women to excel in these fields.

Community Outreach

WHIP is on the front lines, contributing to our community through volunteer efforts and support.

Through our generous sponsors, we are able to offer our growing number of members benefits such as a member directory, exclusive resources and connections, discounted entry to our quarterly educational and networking events, and so much more.

Our Amazing Sponsors

Board Member Bios

Alicia Algas

Silver Property Group

Alicia Algas lives for the excitement of overseeing the fulfillment of placing individuals into one of our 900 apartments. The apartment/property management industry is such an interesting reflection of the constant change that Chicago experiences. The people, the neighborhoods, the job market, the credit… oh the credit and of course the chase for the dreamers. I clearly love my job and love to talk about it.

Sonia Del Real

Inherent Homes

Born and raised in Chicago’s Southeast side, Ms. Del Real is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, the oldest of three siblings, and the parent of two adult children. She is a product of Chicago Public Schools and the first in her immediate family to graduate from college earning a BA in Business Leadership from DePaul University, and an MBA from Roosevelt University’s Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate. Ms. Del Real is the Founder and President of Third City Consulting, LLC, where she was previously retained by the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Foundation to spearhead the Foundation’s key strategic imperatives to achieve Latino parity/equity in areas of education, upward career mobility, and leadership development. She previously concluded a year-long engagement with the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement to pilot and support new and existing leadership programs and alumni execution strategies. Currently, she is serving as the Vice President of Sales and Economic Development for Inherent Homes L3C- a low profit mission driven developer who aims to transform lives, communities and generations through the power of homeownership. In this role, she focuses on developing and identifying social, environmental, and financial programs for Inherent’s developments. She is responsible for helping drive triple bottom line growth for local communities – including contributions to environmental health, social well-being, and just economies. Ms. Del Real first attained her Illinois real estate license in 2000 and currently serves as the managing broker for Inherent Homes LLC. She is a founding board member of the Latino Real Estate Investors Council (LREIC)- a nonprofit organization aimed at advocacy, education, and opportunity for Latino housing providers and investors. She firmly believes real estate is a vehicle to build generational wealth- particularly for minority groups, and seeks to bring an equitable distribution of rights for market rate and affordable housing providers and tenants. Ms. Del Real also serves as a board member on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Citizen Advisory Council. Her passion for community, real estate, and the upward mobility of underrepresented communities is demonstrated through her previous volunteer roles on nonprofit boards including, Mujeres de HACE Advisory Board, Prospanica Chicago, Corporate Real Estate Network (CORENet), the Real Estate Investment Association (REIA) and the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Public Policy Committee.

Bonita Harrison

KBM Realty

Bonita Harrison, a dedicated residential developer and North Kenwood resident, is on a mission to create noticeable change in South Side neighborhoods by focusing on affordable housing for people of color. As the owner of Sunshine Management, Bonita had built a portfolio of 68 units before the pandemic hit, but she was forced to sell most of them, leaving her with just 15 properties consisting of two-flats, four-flats, and single-family homes. Navigating the challenges of being a small business owner in the real estate industry, Bonita understands the financial constraints and tough decisions that come with it. Despite the setbacks, she remains resilient and committed to her goal of making a lasting impact in her community through real estate development.

Kenya Hawkins

Kenya S. Hawkins inherited her passion for real estate from her grandparents Alexander James and Ruby Rose Harris, both of whom were well respected in the Hyde Park neighborhood for their keen real estate investments. Her vision is to educate and ensure each client is equipped with knowledge and resources to achieve home ownership and more importantly generational wealth by way of investing in property. As a lifelong resident of Chicago, she is uniquely suited to finding you the right investment you may also call home. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Alcorn State University in Mississippi as well as dual masters degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University. Becoming a Real Estate Broker with Coldwell Banker Realty is aligned with her dedication to Health/Wellness, Charity/Community, Personal Finance, and of course…Real Estate. Kenya’s mission is to apply more than fifteen years of experience in Customer Service, Counseling, and Business Management to provide you with a memorable and insightful home ownership journey. Kenya is an advocate of mental health and continues to dedicate her career to mentoring and counseling youth in underserved communities throughout Chicago. Fun Fact: Kenya is also the Founder and Executive Director of Kollage, LLC– a startup podcast, blog and website media entity promoting African American women’s professional and personal journey with Mental Health. She’s passionate about homeownership and your property journey. Her goal is to get you prepared and ready to embark on your path to a better future. If that includes selling a property, her marketing expertise from years of entrepreneurship will be a perfect fit. Let her passion and eagerness as a Realtor provide you and your family with financial freedom for generations to come. and continue to grow possible revenue paths. She continues to be very hands on, managing all the apartment leasing, renovations, and acquisitions for new investments.

Rachel Bierma-Leigh

Silver Key Associates

Rachel has been in the real estate industry for over 15 years. She started as a paralegal for a real estate attorney, processing short sales, foreclosures, and dealing with closings. The next few years were focused on residential brokerage helping represent buyers and sellers while starting to manage a small investment portfolio of multifamily properties. Eventually, she obtained a Managing Broker License to be able to expand and have more control over the investment properties, acquisitions, and leasing of the rental properties. Her most recent advance was to get a General Contractors license to have control over larger renovation projects and continue to grow possible revenue paths. She continues to be very hands on, managing all the apartment leasing, renovations, and acquisitions for new investments.

Katie LeGrand

Kiser Group

Meet Katie, an experienced Advisor at Kiser Group specializing in multifamily property acquisition and disposition along Chicago’s north side. With 14 years of diverse industry experience, Katie’s client-focused approach has consistently delivered exceptional results. As a top-producing Realtor, she brings grit, integrity, and a passion for helping clients achieve their goals. Katie’s expertise in the vibrant neighborhoods of Edgewater, Uptown, and Andersonville ensures a seamless and successful real estate experience.

Elizabeth Pyle

Compass

Elizabeth Pyle is a Top 1% Ranked, Chicago Realtor with 500+ sales, has 11+ years in real estate sales and is a Team Leader of The RELUX Group team at Compass. Additionally, her resume includes having managed 100+ rentals and currently is the owner/manager of a Chicago rental portfolio of 30 units. Elizabeth brings extensive real estate knowledge, logical decision making and thoughtful real estate consultation to the table. Elizabeth is a Missouri native and Mizzou Alumni but has called Chicago home for over a decade with her husband and business partner, Santiago Valdez.

Tracy Scanlon

Edge and Up

Tracy is one of the founders of Edge and Up property management. They specialize in helping those owners who have been managing their own properties and want to pick and choose the services they need. She handles everything from renovation to marketing, leasing and managing. Edge and Up also takes care of renovations and maintenance, making it a one stop shop for owners. Tracy’s love of real estate began with a disaster – a condo she couldn’t sell during the 2008 housing crash. Instead, she found a tenant and a passion for property management.

Jaimie Steinher

Origin Investments

Meet Jaimie, a dynamic member of Origin Investments’ Investor Relations team. With a proven track record in real estate sales, Jaimie has facilitated over $425 million in investment property transactions, including 2,500+ apartments. Her expertise spans capital raising, maintaining client relationships, and strategic deal structures. Jaimie’s dedication extends beyond work, as she actively supports Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education and the Albany Park Community Center. A graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, Jaimie brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every endeavor.

Lori Wyatt

Real Estate Growth Partners

Introducing a Business Development Strategist with a knack for injecting big-picture perspective into multi-million dollar projects. With a solid background in managing escrows, assessing market data, and facilitating real estate transactions, I ensure goal achievement and customer satisfaction. Known for increasing property values and lease rates while minimizing vacancies, I excel at multitasking, organization, and communication. My expertise lies in forging strategic partnerships, personalized marketing, and overseeing the home buying/selling process. With a track record as a top producer and extensive experience in value-added services, client service, and market trends, I bring innovation and success to every endeavor.