Jed Howbert

AB '98

Most recently, Jed co-founded Greatwater Opportunity Capital, a Detroit-based development firm. In six years Greatwater invested over $200MM into the rehab and construction of over 2,300 apartments in Detroit and Lansing, Michigan. Most of Greatwater’s units were “naturally occurring affordable housing” targeted at workforce tenants. Greatwater also launched a new construction single family for-sale business on infill sites in Detroit. Jed recently left Greatwater and is taking time with his wife and infant daughter before determining what opportunity to pursue next.

Prior to Greatwater, Jed served as the Group Executive for Planning, Housing and Development for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. He restructured the Planning and Housing Departments during Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy, and then oversaw those departments, managed the City’s work with the non-profit Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and launched the Office of Mobility Innovation. The economic development strategy designed and executed by Jed’s team has helped to achieve Detroit’s first year of population growth since 1957. Significant projects include launching neighborhood mixed-use and affordable housing funds, the redevelopment of the Michigan Central train station; the 29-mile Joe Louis Greenway; and completing the City’s riverfront development plan.

Jed previously served in senior roles at Tishman/AECOM, and in the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Jed served as a Senior Policy Advisor to Deputy Mayor Doctoroff in NYC’s Bloomberg Administration. In this role, Jed’s projects included the Hudson Yards, Moynihan Station, Governors Island, and the launch of the NYC ferry system. Jed started his career at the Boston Consulting Group in Boston and Melbourne, Australia. 

Jed earned an A.B. from Harvard, an M.B.A. from Wharton, and an M.A. from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins.