CDA Names Frank Martinez as Deputy Director

MILWAUKEE — (July 23, 2025) — The Community Development Alliance (CDA) named Frank (Francisco) Martinez its new deputy director. Martinez joined CDA in October 2024 as a consultant and project manager supporting homeownership initiatives with a focus on the Harambee and Amani neighborhoods.

Martinez is an attorney who has focused on economic development and affordable housing during the past 16 years. In his new role, he will collaborate with a broad range of allies to develop and implement new construction strategies for additional homeownership opportunities in Milwaukee.

“Frank brings a wealth of talent and experience working in economic development in Newark when U.S. Sen. Cory Booker was mayor and then working with nonprofit affordable housing builders throughout the Los Angeles region,” said Teig Whaley-Smith, CDA’s chief alliance officer. “His understanding of the complexities of creating public-private partnerships to build new, affordable homes makes us more effective, and the entire Milwaukee community benefits.”

A Milwaukee native, Martinez graduated from Swarthmore College and earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After working in private practice for two years, Martinez spent five years in Newark’s Department of Economic and Housing Development, where he became department chief of staff. He then moved cross country, joining Wells Fargo in San Francisco as a municipal finance analyst. Prior to returning to Milwaukee and joining CDA, he was policy director for the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH) for five years.

Martinez helped craft the recently-approved $2.85 million Tax Incremental District (TID) to build 59 homes on vacant city-owned lots in Harambee. He is involved in a similar project to build homes in the Amani neighborhood. He also has shown his patience and compassion for helping others through the homebuying process and by matching Early Childhood Educator (ECE) professionals with homeownership opportunities for new homes that are being completed now.

Martinez returned to his hometown from Los Angeles last summer. He and his wife have three young sons and the family is enjoying this Milwaukee summer by bicycling, exploring the lakefront, listening to Brewers games on the radio, and enjoying daily popsicles.

“In less than two years, our team has grown from two people to a staff of five,” added Whaley-Smith. “Frank is the right person to round out our team. While he’s got national experience in addressing affordable housing, Frank followed his heart and is working to create racial equity through homeownership in his hometown.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.