Mark Ethridge ’06: ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

As a young leader working in the field of real estate finance, Mark garnered local and national attention for his innovative approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis in Charlotte. A partner at Ascent Real Estate Capital, Mark tapped into his genuine curiosity and deep desire to help people with a realistic and practical solution: Buy properties, fix them up, but keep the rents affordable through a 20-year deed restriction that places legal rules on how property can be used and priced. Mark pioneered partnerships with local organizations and former Country Day Trustees Erskine Bowles and Nelson Schwab to establish the Housing Impact Fund, dedicated to buying properties with affordable rents and preserving them as affordable housing. Since 2019, he has helped create 1,244 affordable, quality housing units for over 2,000 residents.

Mark with his wife, Jennifer, and parents Kay and Mark Ethridge III.

Mark also continues to make an impact in this critical work by serving on the boards of Roof Above, Housing Collaborative, Renaissance West Community Initiative, and Housing Impact Fund. Mark co-chaired the City of Charlotte’s Source of Income ad hoc Advisory Committee in 2021–22 and has served on a variety of multi-sector initiatives addressing housing affordability and homelessness.

“Mark brings extreme accountability to the team,” according to Jon Dixon ’98, managing partner at Ascent Real Estate Capital. “If he says he is going to do it, he does, and he does it well.”

Erskine Bowles added, “I can tell you as an old family member of Country Day, you could not have made a better selection for the Alumnus of the Year. Mark is extraordinary.”