Wendy L. Hewlett-Betts' Biography

Wendy L. Hewlett-Betts started her career as the executive assistant to a local real estate developer who built affordable housing in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. While employed at this company, she learned about landlord-tenant issues, housing court/evictions and office management skills. She also learned how to handle maintenance repair issues and was introduced to different forms of construction. 

Wendy later accepted a position at the Enterprise Foundation as the program assistant for its Housing & Finance and Construction Departments. She learned the corporate side of development and the importance of community relations. 

Joining the development team of Shinda Management, Wendy applied her prior knowledge when creating ad hoc boards at development sites and building relationships with community-based organizations, local politicians and housing agencies. She enhanced her knowledge of construction terminology, requisitions, site walkthroughs and expeditions. She also specialized in site management control and relocation techniques. Wendy oversaw projects of over 1000 units in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.

When the recession hit in 2009, Wendy formed Lakshmi Management, a consulting company known for "cleaning up troubled projects.” Lakshmi focuses on tenant and community relations, relocation and project management. Lakshmi guarantees top-notch service to their clients and to the community it serves. Projects include:

• Marketing and leasing for a newly constructed 40-unit mixed building in Harlem
• Monitor the construction completion and sale of several homes within the HDFC (Housing Development Fund Corporation) program for four of 10 homes by two developers
• Allen AME tenant relations specialist, assisting with several troubled tenants
• Tenant recertification
• Representing building owners with tenants in court

Wendy received her bachelor's degree in criminal justice and her master's degree in Construction Administration from Columbia University. In 2012, she was appointed to Manhattan Community Board 11, during which time she served as Chair of the Housing Committee and Vice Chair of the Youth & Education and Licenses & Permits Committees. She resigned from the Board in 2016 but remains an active member of the Harlem Dowling West Side Center for Children & Family Services. She also currently serves the RWMJ (Reverend William M. James) HDFC Board as its Chair and as its Co-chair of the Governance Committee, first becoming a member in 2008. Since 2020, the RWMJ Board created the Urban Communities Initiative Corporation, which is a 501c organization designed with an advocacy mission in mind.

Wendy resides in Bronx Community Board 11 with her mom, aunt, husband, two children and their dog, Mia.