Madie Burch
American Bank
Current job: Business Development Officer
Summary of your role in the company: Working with clients to secure commercial real estate financing.
How I chose my occupation: Crazy as it sounds – I love paperwork- as well as working with community businesses. My career path began as Human Resource Director to a small community bank in Charlotte over 20 years ago (The Scottish Bank) which developed into Branch Administrator. The path then took me to Deposit Officer then Commercial Real Estate Lender.
Years in the business: 20+ years.
My specialization is: Investment real estate funding.
A good lead for me is: An investor who is looking towards acquiring or refinancing a commercial property.
The most satisfying part of my job is: Being a part of a project from submitting an offer- to purchase contract to close – in a seamless manner. Working to align funding with the client’s overall business plan.
Best leadership advice I have been given: Do the right thing even when no one is looking.
Greatest professional achievement: Working with several clients in securing over $50m in CRE loans during the COVID lockdown year.
Number of years with CREW: Historically 4.
Place of birth/hometown: Rocky Mount, NC
Number of years in Charlotte: 50
Family: My daughter, Scout and her husband Ryan – along with many fun chosen family members!
My ideal vacation spot: Sitting on a beach.
Hobbies/Interests: Playing cards while drinking wine.
I wish I could: Dance without looking like Napoleon Dynamite.
Kelly Steele
STEELE Architecture
Current job: Founder and President of STEELE Architecture, PLLC
Summary of your role in the company: I’m the Architect, business development professional, receptionist, head of marketing, accounting, and custodial arts, AND reining Employee of the Month for 6 months straight!
How I chose my occupation: I got to watch my parents design and help build the house we moved into when I was eight. They collected photos and house plans for years, and my dad taught himself passive solar design so our home would be energy efficient back before that was even a buzzword. Watching them dream it up, sketch it out, and bring it to life, then troubleshoot the things that worked and didn’t work hooked me that early. This makes me sound really old, but when we got our first home computer the first thing I did was make myself business cards – luckily you don’t have to spell well to be an architect.
They saw a spark & encouraged it with birthday gifts of famous architect’s coffee table books and family trips to architectural landmarks like Biltmore, Monticello, and the monuments in D.C. I loved to draw, became obsessed with Victorian homes, and would try to figure out what the insides looked like just from the outside. Add in a love for Lincoln Logs, LEGO, and Tetris, and discovering in a family tree biology project that my family names were Steele – Beam and I guess you could say I was built for this career.
Years in the business: 20
My specialization is: Affordable Housing, multi-family, small commercial and community-centric projects
A good lead for me is: Developers working in the affordable housing realm, or non-profits looking to build, alter or expand their space.
The most satisfying part of my job is: Helping make a clients’ vision come to life. I love talking through their needs, helping to work through challenges, and seeing how the end result works for them (or what needs to be tweaked to make the next one better).
Best leadership advice I have been given: When I was moving into a role of managing a team, I asked my dad how he managed to be so beloved as a leader. He told me: “Use the work to develop the team, don’t just use the team to do the work.” Working in a deadline/deliverable driven field, that’s not something understand how to do very well and am still trying to figure out how to take that advice, but know it’s what the best leaders I’ve worked for did for me.
Greatest professional achievement: I had the opportunity to lead the design and construction of a new, high-performance shelter for Amy’s House domestic violence shelter in my hometown. My parents (both survivors of severe abuse) volunteered and served on the board for this shelter for over fifteen years. Being able to bring a team of CREW members together to help make Mama’s dream of a new, safer shelter come true was the most meaningful project of my career to date.
Number of years with CREW: 8
Most significant CREW connection: There are too many amazing connections to count, but the most impactful probably came through the Authentic Leadership Program.
Place of birth/hometown: Vale, NC
Number of years in Charlotte: 25
Family: I’m close with my extended family, but John & I happily embrace our roles of “Uncle John” and “Cool Aunt Kelly”
My ideal vacation spot: I love exploring new places, so ideal spot is somewhere I haven’t been yet that has incredible scenery (and a waterfall). Next on our list is Iceland, Thailand & Vietnam,
Hobbies/Interests: Volunteering with local charities, hiking, reading & enjoying good music
Other professional organizations I belong to: AIA, serve on the board for Lincoln County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCCADV – Amy’s House)
Heather Madden
Urban Design Partners
Current job: Civil Designer at Urban Design Partners & Owner of Heather Marie Studios
Summary of your role in the company: As a Civil Designer with Urban Design Partners, I work on a range of site development projects across the Charlotte region — from residential neighborhoods to commercial and mixed-use sites. My role combines technical design with creative problem-solving to help bring community-centered projects to life. I’m also the owner of Heather Marie Studios, a small art business where I create architectural-inspired artwork, take custom commissions, and teach art workshops around Charlotte.
How I chose my occupation: I’ve always loved both art and math, and civil engineering allows me to use both sides of my brain every day. My work in design and art both revolve around the same idea, shaping how people experience spaces and helping them feel connected to a place.
Years in the business: 5 years
My specialization is: Site design, and early-stage land planning that integrates urban design principles and creative thinking.
A good lead for me is: Developers, architects, or planners looking for thoughtful, collaborative engineering support or anyone seeking a custom art piece or creative workshop that celebrates architecture and place.
The most satisfying part of my job is: Seeing a project evolve from an idea on paper to a real, livable space.
Best leadership advice I have been given: “You don’t know what you’re capable of until you do it.” It’s a reminder to lean into challenges, trust your abilities, and keep growing beyond what feels comfortable.
Greatest professional achievement: Becoming a licensed Professional Engineer while growing my art business into a platform that connects creativity, community, and place.
Number of years with CREW: 2 years CREW Charlotte, 2 years CREW Richmond
Most significant CREW connection: Meeting other women who are equally passionate about shaping Charlotte’s future!
Place of birth/hometown: Greenwood, SC
Number of years in Charlotte: 2 years
Family: Coming from an entrepreneur and leadership coach mother and a banker as a father, I’ve carried both creativity and problem solving from them both.
My ideal vacation spot: Somewhere with beautiful scenery, local art, and good coffee like Colorado, Jackson Hole Wyoming, or a cozy coastal town.
Hobbies/Interests: Painting, teaching art workshops, exploring Charlotte’s creative scene, and spending weekends at local markets or live music events.
Other professional organizations I belong to:
I wish I could: Design a public art installation that merges art and engineering, something interactive that inspires people to see infrastructure as art.
Kimberly Mobley
Touchpoint Architects
Current job: Architect
Summary of your role in the company: Firm Owner
How I chose my occupation: My love for design and construction
Years in the business: 30+years
My specialization is: Full architectural services for clients with vision and a need for immediate solutions- typically commercial but not limited to.
A good lead for me is: A client with a need for dynamic change and practical solutions that enhance quality of function and experience of existing space or a vision for new.
The most satisfying part of my job is: Ushering the client from vision to fruition. Witnessing the vision unfold during construction.
Best leadership advice I have been given: Authenticity, Commitment, Integrity, and Humility are key characteristics to nurture and implement
Greatest professional achievement: The design and construction of a K-8 school facility in a historic area (Charleston, SC) for an underserved community. It became one of the district’s flagship educational facilities.
Number of years with CREW: 15 + years
Most significant CREW connection: My tenure has afforded so much value; but my connection with Nancy Olah to provide professional services to legally establish my architecture firm is the most significant.
Place of birth/hometown: Born on Fort Polk, La/ Call Blythewood and Columbia, SC hometown
Number of years in Charlotte: 30
Family: Husband-John Mobley, Jr. and son John Mobley, III ‘Trey’
My ideal vacation spot: The Beach!
Hobbies/Interests: Hand sketching/ foodie related activities
Other professional organizations I belong to: NOMA- National Organization for Minority Architects; AIA American Institute of Architects
I wish I could: Practice in the service aspect of Architecture and facilitate the transformation of underserved communities in manner that will be the key to dynamic change in our society.
