katie updike

Ms. Updike is the Managing Partner of Building Solutions LLC.

Joining Williams & Nichols, the predecessor company to Building Solutions in 1991 allowed Ms. Updike to combine her extensive financial background with a strong commitment to the development of healthy communities. She has been credited with accomplishing the impossible in bringing together two major non-profit organizations, the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and various other financial parties in order to build the first new affordable single room occupancy residence in downtown Chicago in over 50 years – with full neighborhood support. The firm also helped St. Louis preserve, master plan, and entitle the 1.3 million square feet of national historic buildings in the downtown Cupples Station area. A creative spirit and commitment to community has allowed Ms. Updike to found a charter school in Colorado, renovate several National Historic Register buildings, initiate a model job training program, and support several artistic growth initiatives. In addition to the development work, Ms. Updike has served as an advisor to numerous communities in the development of affordable housing policy and models and often serves on Urban Land Institute panels.

In Santa Fe, Ms. Updike has undertaken the comprehensive feasibility analysis of a public banking strategy, including the development of a “strawman” which would serve as a template for future implementation plans.  This effort has been complemented by time and effort devoted to developing an impact investing ethos and mentoring to start up enterprises.

Prior to Santa Fe, Ms. Updike dedicated time and effort to her hometown – El Paso where she led a 250 acre master development project of a Smart Code community in the region together with obtaining substantial tax incentives. Additionally, Ms. Updike helped a prestigious Mexican private school establish themselves with their first physical location outside of Mexico. She also provided a major study to the largest land owner in the region, documenting the advantages – both financial and social, of an alternative development pattern.

With extensive experience in the financial services industry, Ms. Updike innately integrates the means to achieve a project with the right financial structure. She led advisory and structuring, strategic planning, product development, and training in money center banks. She formed her own financial advisory firm after serving as Managing Director of Bankers Trust Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as well as Vice President and Division Head of First Chicago. She has been an invited lecturer on financial strategy and has led both in court and out of court restructuring – including real estate assets ranging from ranches to restaurants.

Ms. Updike served on the board of the Rotary Foundation of El Paso. She was on the founding board for the Medical Center for the Americas Foundation and was appointed to the El Paso City Plan Commission, serving as its Chair. As part of the Paso del Norte Group, Ms. Updike served as Chair of BiNational Health and was on the Binational Group which looks for regional strategies for excellence. She serves on the board of American Water Recycling, an El Paso start-up, and  previously on the board of SureBlock, a Chinese building materials company, and has been on numerous community and foundation boards in Chicago and Colorado.