More than 20 years of experience in strategic data storytelling
We take a community-centric approach to our projects, working closely with you and your public- and private-sector stakeholders to understand your unique needs and develop effective programs to advance your key initiatives.
Our solutions include deep analysis and live deliverables with dynamic mapping technology that is updatable, so our engagements don’t end with a report that is outdated by the time it lands on your desk.
Our CAI Live platform combines economic and planning expertise with technology and innovation to give you a dynamic tool that helps you visualize and inform your development strategy and communicate impact to your stakeholders.
Chris Mefford
President & CEO
Memphis & Seattle
Chris founded Community Attributes Inc. in Seattle in 2005 as a community and economic development consulting firm. CAI facilitates economic development strategies, produces compelling economic impact stories and market studies, and builds custom technology tools. Chris is an expert in strategy development and facilitation, regional economic development, and economic and demographic analysis. He often speaks to audiences about regional economies and community development.
MARTIN ARPIN
Economics Analyst
Seattle
Martin brings extensive experience in financial analysis and market research on economic and demographic trends. Prior to joining CAI, Martin worked as an analyst in the finance and real estate industries in Seattle. His work included real estate valuations and market research on demographic and economic trends. Martin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Energy Policy.
Nicole Bachaud
Data Manager
Seattle
Nicole Bachaud is CAI’s Data Manager. She helps improve data accessibility and streamline data processes to support planning and economic development projects. With a background in economics and a specialization in housing, Nicole is passionate about leveraging data to inform growth and policy decisions. Prior to joining CAI, she was a Senior Housing Economist at Zillow, where she conducted nationally recognized research on housing affordability, racial disparities, and climate-related risks—work that influenced policy at both local and national levels. Nicole holds a MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy from MITx and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Development Economics and Global Development from Seattle Pacific University. She is dedicated to making data more accessible and actionable to drive informed decision-making and community resilience.
jo baldwin
Planning Analyst
Seattle
Jo joins CAI as a Planning Analyst in 2024, bringing a strong foundation in collaborative design and a deep commitment to sustainable development. Passionate about creating livable communities, Jo recently earned a master’s degree in urban planning and design from the University of Washington, specializing in equitable development and Indigenous planning principles. Before joining CAI, they worked with local transit agencies and non-profits on equitable transit development and affordable housing initiatives. Jo’s areas of focus include community engagement, land use planning, and cultural and historical context. Their dedication to enhancing public spaces and multi-modal transportation systems drives a commitment to fostering vibrant, inclusive communities.
Carly bednarski
GIS & Data Analyst
Denver
Carly brings her interests in socioeconomic analysis, public health matters, and geographic systems to her work at CAI. During her Master of Science in environmental health and GIS certificate program at the University of Washington, she became interested in utilizing GIS to help clients make informed decisions in environmental and public health settings. Before joining CAI, Carly worked as a GIS Intern at Locana where she used GIS data for reporting, analysis, and presentation purposes.
Brandon Bullard
Economics Analyst
Seattle
Brandon joins Community Attributes as an Economic Analyst with broad industry and academic experience. Before joining CAI, he developed business intelligence tools for decision making support and managed aerospace manufacturing schedules. As a student at Washington State University, he earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Economics. During this time, he also worked closely with a local transit agency to conduct research on predictive bus ridership. Brandon is dedicated to bringing out the best in his communities by solving similar community development, service, and land use problems.
CASSIE BYERLY
Project Manager
Seattle
Cassie brings a passion for equitable development and a diverse set of experiences helping individuals and communities through research, analysis, and policy development. Her recent work includes data analysis and interpretation for a variety of long-term strategic economic and planning policies and plans, and a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the financial impact, demographics, and efficiency of Pierce County’s volunteer board and commission system. Prior to CAI, she led a team of graduate students in developing an Inclusionary Housing Plan for the City of Huntington Woods, Michigan and analyzed housing and economic impacts of the A2Zero Carbon Neutrality Plan for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also spent five years as a legislative correspondent and press secretary for U.S. Senator Jon Tester.
JEFF CALLENDER
Technical Leader
Seattle
Jeff has over 25 years of experience working in a technology delivery capacity, leading complex client engagement across various companies and industries with a concentration on defining and executing organizational data strategies.
His data expertise includes planning, acquisition and management, governance, and visualizations. Before CAI, Jeff was at Doxo, leading and scaling a data-intensive organization.
KORTNEY CENA
Planning Analyst
Denver
Kortney is a Planning Analyst with a background in land use and economic development. She is passionate about uncovering the story behind the data to inform and empower communities. At Community Attributes, her work spans community engagement, housing needs assessments, market studies, and smart growth strategies—all grounded in an equity lens. Previously, she supported zoning and planning efforts at Code Studio and guided economic development strategy at Georgia Power in Atlanta. Kortney has shared insights at national and state conferences, highlighting the value of small commercial spaces and partnerships for affordable housing. A proud Colorado resident, Kortney is engaged in issues surrounding rural community planning, water conservation, and growth management, serving on the Colorado APA Legislative Committee where she helps shape policies that support local priorities.
Carrianne Cusack
Planning Analyst
Seattle
Carrianne joins Community Attributes as a Planning Analyst with an extensive background in real estate consulting and an academic background in Urban and Regional Planning. Before joining CAI, Carrianne worked as a location research consultant helping retailers big and small create a comprehensive real estate strategy and expand into new markets. Her work with clients emphasized the collaboration between local observations and statistical analysis to inform site selection. She also has experience in local real estate development and is dedicated to improving communities through incremental development, collaboration and local engagement. Carrianne holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University.
CONNOR HAYES
Economics Analyst
Denver
Connor joined CAI as an Economic Analyst in 2024. He brings with him a history of studying and working with local and regional governments and the impacts of their policy choices. Connor recently earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado, Denver, and specializes in adoption and family policy with a focus on equitable outcomes. Before joining CAI, he worked with local economic development professionals to catalogue and analyze the community assets Metro Denver has to offer. Connor’s areas of focus include economic impacts, community development, and government policy.
Michaela Jellicoe
Senior Economist
Seattle
Michaela Jellicoe brings a wide range of experience in economic, data and policy analysis. She has a passion for using data to tell complex stories and translating these stories int a narrative for a diverse range of audiences.
Previously, Michaela worked as a research assistant at Purdue University, conducting economic analysis, econometric modeling, data collection and visualization and extensive research. She honed her writing skills through prior experience as a communications professional. Michaela has an M.S. in agricultural economics from Purdue University, a B.A. in economics and political science from Western Washington University, with a minor in Spanish. In her studies at Purdue University Michaela conducted an extensive analysis on the value of externalities associated with underground natural gas storage.
In her free time Michaela enjoys playing her violin, and reacquainting herself with all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer after returning from Indiana.
BRYAN LOBEL, AICP
Senior Planner
Seattle
Bryan is a leader in economic analysis and development strategy with foundations in economic geography, urban industrial development and neighborhood planning and design. Trained as an urban planner, Bryan has led economic and community development planning for a number of towns, tribes, cities and counties in the region, and has contributed to statewide economic impact studies, as well as to economic recovery planning efforts. In Okanogan County, Bryan worked closely with small town, tribal, and rural communities to identify strategies for economic resiliency in the face of climate change-driven events. In Seattle, Bryan helped analyze the economic and social impacts of bridge alternatives for critical bridges in the heart of the City impacted by the Nisqually earthquake in 2001. And in the City of Bremerton, Bryan helped analyze and compare scenarios to improve parking, access, and traffic adjacent to Naval Base Kitsap.
Carter Long
Full Stack Developer
Denver
Carter Long builds both the front-end design and back-end development of interactive web applications. He is passionate about writing software that leads to a quality developer and user experience. Carter joins the team with a diverse background in software engineering, land management and environmental consulting. He previously worked as a software engineer for an open-source Software as a Service team, driving a redesign of the software architecture. Carter is experienced in TypeScript, JavaScript, SQL, React, Redux, Express, Next.js, HTML, and CSS. Carter received a Bachelor of Arts degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Tim Mcilhenny
Senior Data Systems Developer
Seattle
Tim McIlhenny builds both the front-end design and back-end development of CAI’s interactive web applications. Tim began his career more than 10 years ago as a software developer working on remote installation and project management software in Germany. He then returned to the U.S. to work with an advertising agency providing graphic and web design and product development for various medical and sports advertising campaigns. Tim most recently comes to CAI from ePropertyData/Xceligent where he utilized his design and web development skills on various commercial information exchange websites and a national commercial real estate platform. Tim is versed in Postgres, SQL, JavaScript, C#, HTML, CSS, PHP, Python and Ruby.
Tim holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, University College in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.
In his free time, Tim enjoys cycling, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and riding his motorcycle (yes, even in the rain!)
DOMINIC ROCHE
Economics Analyst
Denver
Dominic brings more than five years of commercial real estate experience. Before joining CAI, Dominic worked with local government and economic officials to conduct rental and vacancy performance surveys for prospective rehabilitation projects and researching and authoring comprehensive housing market studies for prospective affordable housing development. Dominic received a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Degree in Economics with a minor in Information Technology from Illinois State University.
ETHAN SCHMIDT
Economics Analyst
Seattle
As an economics analyst at CAI, Ethan provides his expertise on economic research, data analysis, and spreadsheet modeling. Since joining CAI, Ethan has supported multiple economic impact studies, including those for Washington State Agricultural Fairs, the Grant County Fairgrounds, Idaho Wine Commission, and the Washington Multifamily Housing Association. Prior to joining CAI, Ethan worked as a Senior Market Analyst for Zillow. His work there included analyzing local real estate data to approve competitive market analyses and underwriting for higher-risk potential purchases. Ethan studied at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he completed an MSc. in Economics.
Elliot Weiss
Project Manager
Denver
Elliot is an urban planner with a background in economic development plans. He brings expertise as a planning consultant with award-winning work in urban design and a track record of community engagement. His academic and professional background cultivates expertise in policy analysis, urban economics, financial modeling and fiscal impact analysis, land use planning and zoning analysis, placemaking and economic development, outreach and facilitation and project management.
At CAI, Elliot contributes his skills in land use planning, brownfield redevelopment and digital 3D modeling and rendering. He has a passion for urban issues and cities functioning as hubs for cultural exchange and socioeconomic transformation. He spent a year working for Americorps on projects involving energy-efficient affordable housing, community development and alternative transportation in under-served urban areas. Elliot earned B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in International Studies at the University of Iowa. He holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from the University of Michigan.