Thomas E Houston, III

Thomas E. Houston, III has a clear vision and strategy for reducing generational poverty in the black community by improving connections between housing and socioeconomic outcomes in underserved areas. Thomas describes his company, Medici Road, as a “community” development corporation rather than a real estate company. Medici Road takes a four-prong approach to problem-solving that includes research and evaluation, policy, program design, and product development to empower black people. 

Thomas has taken his rich background in marketing, and research and development and used it to reach into communities and identify issues that matter to the populations he serves. With that data, he creates systems that focus on education, public health, and housing & economic development to solve them. 

Through his housing and economic development arm, Thomas has two projects in the pipeline  that include a 100-door affordable rental ($45 million dollar acquisition and renovation) and a 24,000 sq. ft. mixed-use property being developed for housing-ownership with food-based commercial. The grocery store is part of a new model that will train select residents to operate the business while solving the food desert issue found in so many communities.

Thomas is a firm believer that people in need of affordable housing also deserve a safe and stable environment with ready access to retail options for food, entertainment, and health and wellness to obtain a fully realized living experience.

Prior to opening Medici Road in 2016, Houston held positions in D.C. with the Department of Behavioral Health and Public Schools. In Richmond, he performed research that led to the creation of the Office of Community Wealth Building. Under his former business, SecondSight Marketing, Houston handled multi-million dollar accounts for major brands like Dunkin Donuts, Exxon Mobil, and Michelin.

Houston holds a Master of Business Administration from the Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University. He is also a Fuse Corp Fellow.