Collaboration among real estate developers, governmental entities, and community stakeholders is essential to successful neighborhoods. By working together, these groups can best support community growth and revitalization.
Landon Group principally provides financial structuring and project management services to affordable housing, mixed-use, and mixed-income developments.
Landon Group LLC is a certified Small, Women-Owned Business Enterprise (S/WBE), owned by Sarah Larson and Louise Zawojski.
The Team
Landon Group offers a comprehensive breadth of experience in development
Landon Group has years of experience in affordable housing and community development. Landon Group clients benefit from the skills, connections, and reputations of all members of our team, including:
Sarah Larson
Principal
Sarah Larson
Sarah Larson joined Landon Group in 2015, bringing over fifteen years of experience in, and a passion for, affordable housing. Sarah leads the Landon Group team in working with for-profit and nonprofit developers, both experienced and emerging, pursuing affordable housing, with a focus on supportive housing for Minnesota’s most vulnerable populations.
Sarah has an extensive background in affordable housing. She gained skills in project management, financing, and construction management over an eleven-year tenure at Project for Pride in Living and seven years at Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative. Sarah has completed new construction and rehabilitation developments throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Her projects have ranged in size from single family homes to multi-family rental buildings with budgets that exceed $50 million.
Sarah has successfully layered funding from multiple public sources including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Federal Home Loan Bank, HUD 202, HOME, CBDG, Metropolitan Council, Tax Increment Financing, and other state, local, and private sources. She has experience in all aspects of a development project, including initial feasibility, site selection, acquisition, entitlements, predevelopment funding, building design, environmental remediation, financial modeling, securing development financing, underwriting and closing, construction management and draws, and project closeout. She brings an extensive network of relationships and knowledge of resources across the housing industry to every project.
Sarah holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Architecture and Social Thought & Analysis from Washington University in St. Louis. She is certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional by Grow America (formerly known as the National Development Council).
Outside of the office Sarah is involved in political campaigns and community events, while also making time to renovate her house in Northeast Minneapolis. Sarah finds adventure in travel and exploring the newest breweries in town with her husband.
Louise Zawojski
Principal
Louise Zawojski
Louise Zawojski joined Landon Group in 2017 as a Development Associate and was named Principal in late 2022. Before joining Landon Group, Louise honed her skills in grant writing and editing, budget creation and management, communications, and team leading skills in the nonprofit world. Louise has a background in nonprofit management and social services as well as in both early-childhood and K-12 education. Before joining the Landon Group team, Louise’s background in nonprofit management, social services, early childhood and K-12 education included serving as Program Director at Turnquist Child Enrichment Center, a nonprofit focused on working with at-risk children and families.
At Landon Group Louise leads teams on projects all over Minnesota including new construction and rehabilitation projects from smaller projects (30–60 units) to developments with hundreds of units. Louise has also become an expert in supportive housing projects and the multitude of funding streams and complexities involved.
Louise has successfully layered funding from multiple public sources including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Federal Home Loan Bank, HUD 202, HOME, CBDG, Metropolitan Council, Tax Increment Financing, and other state, local, and private sources. She has extensive experience in all aspects of a development project, including site selection, acquisition, entitlements, predevelopment funding, building design, environmental remediation, financial modeling, securing financing, underwriting and closing, construction management and draws, and project closeout. Louise brings an extensive network of relationships and knowledge of resources across the housing industry to every project.
Louise holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota. She is certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional by Grow America (formerly known as the National Development Council).
Outside of the office Louise is active in community events and the PTA at her children’s school. She also enjoys running and training for local races.
Stephanie Karp
Senior Development Associate
Stephanie Karp
Stephanie Karp joined Landon Group in March 2024. Prior to joining Landon Group, Stephanie served as a Real Estate Project Manager at Aeon. She has experience managing all aspects of real estate transactions from the concept to initial financial feasibility, funding applications, due diligence, and closings. Stephanie works directly with funders, investors, and project design teams to successfully add affordable housing to the Minnesota market. Prior to her time at Aeon, Stephanie worked at Burnet Title bringing a unique skill set to the Landon Group team. Stephanie also has nonprofit experience including working on community development, finance, and grant writing. Stephanie’s career has been driven by her passion for real estate, focusing on affordable housing.
Because of her extensive experience in the affordable housing industry, Stephanie has been able to immediately begin working successfully with the team and our experienced and newer clients on all aspects of an affordable housing development, from the initial concept phase, financial structuring, the preparation of and submission of funding applications, underwriting and closing due diligence, the construction management and draw process, through project closeout.
Stephanie graduated from the University of Minnesota’s Housing Studies program where her coursework focused on finance, design, low-income housing, and special populations such as elderly, immigrants, and those experiencing homelessness. Stephanie approached her studies through the lens of how housing and housing policy impacts our broader society.
Brian Call
Senior Development Associate
Brian Call
Brian joined Landon Group as a Development Associate in 2023, and was named Senior Development Associate in 2024. Prior to joining Landon Group, Brian worked at JLL as a Multifamily Asset Management Analyst tracking multifamily development performance, testing and implementing new financial review processes, and working with a national portfolio to ensure compliance with loan terms. While at JLL, Brian gained experience working with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and HUD products. While at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, Brian interned at the Metropolitan Council where he developed an interactive mapping application to explore place-based investments, amenities, and more across the Twin Cities region. At Landon Group Brian works with clients on affordable housing projects from the initial stages of development through project management to closing. Brian assists clients during the feasibility analysis stage, the preparation and submission of funding applications to Minnesota Housing and other agencies to secure financing, underwriting and closing due diligence, the construction draw process, and ultimately project closeout. Brian has experience with both small and large projects, including new construction and rehabilitation, and with both experienced and emerging developers. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Macalester College and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree with a concentration in Housing and Community Development from the University of Minnesota. Brian is working toward certification as a Housing Finance Professional through Grow America (formerly known as National Development Council), having successfully completed the first course, HD420 Rental Housing Development. Outside of work, Brian enjoys exploring the Twin Cities and experimenting in the kitchen.
Sydney Ohlendorf
Development Associate
Sydney Ohlendorf
Sydney Ohlendorf joined Landon Group in 2014 as the Office Manager, being named a Development Associate in 2021. In both these roles Sydney has grown in the affordable housing field to become a true asset to the team and our clients.
Sydney works with clients on affordable housing projects from the initial stages of development through project management, closing, and ultimately through closeout. Sydney assists clients at the feasibility study stage and in the preparation and submission of complicated funding applications to Minnesota Housing and other agencies. She successfully manages underwriting and closing due diligence, is an expert at the complicated construction draw process, and project closeout. Sydney has successfully worked on projects large and small, both new construction and rehabilitation, with both very experienced and emerging developers.
Sydney holds Bachelor of Arts degrees from Bethel University in Reconciliation Studies, Spanish, and Youth Ministry. Sydney is working toward certification as a Housing Finance Professional through Grow America (formerly known as National Development Council), having successfully completed the first course, HD420 Rental Housing Development.
Alyssa Ruis
Development Associate
Alyssa Ruis
Alyssa joined Landon Group as a Development Associate in February 2024. Prior to joining the Landon Group team, Alyssa was a Senior Commercial Appraiser at GTRE Commercial, a background which brings unique experience and perspective to the team. As a commercial appraiser Alyssa exercised a calculated and methodical approach to problem solving utilizing market research and financial analysis to determine the value of properties. Due to her 10 years of experience in real estate, Alyssa is able to tackle complicated real estate issues.
At Landon Group Alyssa has quickly become an asset to the team and our clients. Alyssa works directly with clients on numerous aspects of affordable housing development including applications for financing to public funders, underwriting and closing due diligence, and ultimately project closeout. Alyssa works on both new construction and rehabilitation projects, of varying sizes, with both experienced and emerging developers.
Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate from St. Cloud State University. She will begin working toward her certification as a Housing Finance Professional through Grow America (formerly National Development Council) later in 2024.
Adelheid Koski
Operations Manager & Development Associate
Adelheid Koski
Adelheid Koski joined Landon Group in 2021 in a temporary role to help bring capacity as an Operations Manager and Development Associate. In 2022 her position was made permanent. Prior to Landon Group, Adelheid held a variety of paid and unpaid roles with the Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association, various community organizations, and in the nonprofit world. Across those roles she gained experience in project management and coordination, stakeholder outreach and engagement, technical and grant writing and editing, nonprofit management, small area planning, land use, and housing and homelessness issues.
In addition to supporting the Landon Group team across all operations, Adelheid collaborates directly with other Landon Group staff and clients on numerous aspects of affordable housing development including the preparation of applications for financing to Minnesota Housing and other public and private funders, underwriting and closing due diligence coordination, the construction draw process, and project closeout. Adelheid has worked on a range of projects large and small, both new construction and rehabilitation, and with both experienced and emerging developers.
Adelheid holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Spanish, and Russian from the University of Minnesota. She has successfully completed the first course, HD420 Rental Housing Development, of the Housing Finance Professional certification program via Grow America (formerly known as National Development Council).
Becky Landon
Retired Principal
Becky Landon
The more things change, the more things stay (pretty much) the same.
For the last decade, the Landon Group, under the expert direction of its founder Becky Landon, has facilitated hundreds of affordable housing projects and created thousands of units in the process. But change is inevitable, and as of this January, Becky Landon will step away to pursue passions long-time and brand-new.
In a 30-year career creating affordable housing in the Midwest, Becky has had a constant impact, working to solve the ubiquitous lack of affordable housing in our communities with her deep understanding of the rules and regulations and creative problem-solving skills. Her “next act” will be international, working with small businesses and communities in developing countries.
While we will all miss Becky’s presence and expertise, the work of the Landon Group will continue on without a break. Developers should expect our continued guidance and expertise as we work together to preserve and increase the amount of quality affordable housing in our community. Sarah Larson, current Principal and a member of the team since 2016, will take over leadership. For those who have worked with Sarah, you know her commitment, expertise, and passion are unmatched, and that the Landon Group will be in very good hands.
To fill out the leadership, Louise Zawojski, Senior Project Manager and member of the team for the last five years, has been promoted to the position of Principal. For those of you who know Louise, you know she has extensive knowledge of the field and a passion for permanent supportive housing. Just since joining Landon, she has structured housing developments up to $30 million, secured $50 million in soft financing, and closed transactions involving both 9% and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HUD 202, MHFA, County and City financing. She will be a great asset to our work in this new role.
Sarah and Louise are honored to continue the work Becky began at Landon Group. Our entire team is committed to the values that Becky instilled: excellence, respect, knowledge, partnership, and growth. We look forward to what we can accomplish in the next decade, and beyond.