Susan Slingluff Hartmann

Executive Director

Mrs. Susan Slingluff Hartmann is a cross-sector specialist with 16 years of experience in urban planning, local economic development, multi-agency partnerships, public engagement, and neighborhood revitalization. She has developed technical proficiency in strategic and long-range planning, commercial revitalization, public sector consulting, facilitation, and program management. Most recently, she served as a Senior Program Director with Enterprise Advisors, the mission-driven consulting division of Enterprise Community Partners. In this capacity, she led initiatives to enhance cross-sector collective impact collaborations to achieve equitable outcomes in education, housing, and neighborhood development for students and families across the nation. Furthermore, she devised a comprehensive assessment and strategic planning framework to support cities in recovering equitably from the COVID-19 pandemic. Her contributions included providing technical assistance to cities and states addressing challenges related to economic decline, affordable housing, and neighborhood disinvestment.

David Varnado

Senior Program and Operations Manager

David Varnado, a College Park native, brings over a decade of experience in program management, community engagement, and strategic partnerships with a focus on STEM education. A proud HBCU graduate, he holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University in Nashville. Upon graduation, he returned home to serve his community. He dedicated his time to youth development as a Special Olympics coach and joined his local Boys and Girls as a coach and Executive Board Member. David brings a proven track record of successful programming from various large non-profit organizations and most recently held the position of Director at iCode Schools.

Orlando Velez

Director of Operations and Housing Initiatives

Orlando Velez is the Director of Operations & Housing Initiatives for the College Park City-University Partnership. Orlando leads the Partnership’s programs and operations, including the College Park Community Preservation Trust, innovative program focused on expanding affordable homeownership within the City of College Park.

Orlando is a community development professional with a background in architectural design, affordable housing, and technical assistance to local governments and nonprofits. He has held leadership roles at Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., Enterprise Community Partners, Fannie Mae, and The New School, working to advance equity, resilience, and housing access. A former Peace Corps Volunteer, Orlando brings heart, strategy, and just the right amount of Excel enthusiasm to everything he does. He lives in the DC suburbs with his wife and two daughters, serves on the board of the Latino Economic Development Center, and co-clerks the Parent Association at his kids’ school. Despite his best efforts, he still can’t grow tomatoes.

Zelshadai Solomon

Housing Program Manager

As Housing Program Manager for the Partnership, Zelshadai Solomon manages the day-to-day operations of the College Park Community Preservation Trust and Live+Work College Park. She supports programs that expand housing opportunities, strengthen neighborhoods, and advance equitable community development in College Park.

Zelshadai earned a Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and earned Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and International Relations from Boston University.

She brings a decade of experience supporting mission-driven organizations through program management, community engagement, fundraising, and organizational development. Before joining the Partnership, she held roles with the Maryland General Assembly, Partners In Health, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston. After living throughout the East Coast, she is excited to call Maryland home.