Kathleen Beeton | Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Office of the Director

Kathleen Beeton has been named the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of DOB after having served twelve years as the Deputy Zoning Administrator for the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), our predecessor agency. Kathleen, an American Institute Certified Planner, previously worked for twelve years at the Department of Planning and Zoning for the City of Alexandria, VA, working her way up to serve as the Division Chief for Neighborhood Planning and Community Development.

Originally from Royal Oak, Michigan, Kathleen earned her Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) from Rutgers University. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in French and Urban Studies from Albion College.  She is a twenty-five year resident of the District of Columbia, where she is raising her two children.

Philip Bender | Chief Information Officer
Office of the Director

Phil Bender is thrilled to become DOB's Chief Information Officer. As a longtime resident of the District of Columbia, he looks forward to serving in the essential role of CIO for DOB to maintain and improve the quality of life for District residents, businesses, and visitors.

For several years, Phil has contributed as a contractor on projects for District government agencies, including the Board of Elections and Ethics (BOEE), Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), and our predecessor agency, DCRA.

Before joining District government, Phil developed deep technical expertise in systems integration, web development, applied statistics, market research, reporting and data visualization. He worked for – and with - some of the most forward-thinking companies in the world, including The Nielsen Company, AT&T, BMW, Citicorp, DirecTV, Edward Jones, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), H&R Block, the Hollywood Stock Exchange (HSX), Liberty Mutual Insurance, Macy’s Department Stores, Rite Aid, Starbucks, T-Mobile, Toyota, Verizon Communications, Volkswagen, and Walmart.

Prior to joining the workforce, Phil completed coursework at Wesleyan University and the University of Notre Dame. He has raised a family in the District, living for many years in Capitol Hill, Columbia Heights, and Kalorama Heights. In his free time, Phil enjoys his time on the diamond, where he served more than a decade of coaching kids and supporting parents in the Capitol Hill Little League (CHLL).

Erik Cox | Deputy General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel

Erik Cox joins DOB as an experienced attorney who has worked for the Law Offices of Plato Cacheris and Baker & McKenzie LLP. Erik also founded his own law office, which he ran for 15 years. 

Erik completed his Juris Doctor at the George Washington University Law School.  In his spare time, he enjoys running, photography, and learning guitar.  

Paul Goldstein | Program Analyst
Office of Zoning Administration

Paul Goldstein joins DOB with extensive experience in zoning, planning, and development. He most recently directed a development company focused on residential building in Delaware.

Earlier in his career, Paul held several roles in local government in the greater Washington, DC area area, including positions as a Development Review Supervisor for the City of Rockville, an Attorney for the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, a Program Analyst for DCRA, and a Development Review Specialist for the Office of Planning.

Paul earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia, a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan. Paul lives in the District with his wife and two children. In his free time, Paul enjoys hiking and biking.

Jamie Hackett | Program Support Specialist
Office of the Director

Jamie Hackett joins DOB as a Program Support Specialist. She is a native of the District of Columbia, and has a passion for serving the residents and visitors at a high level. She previously worked within the DC Health, District public charter schools, and nonprofit organizations in various positions.

Jamie has a passion for relentlessly optimizing processes and a love for data and analytics. She brings nearly 20 years of valuable expertise and skills in forwarding company objectives. During her career, she has successfully led projects and executed them with diligence.

 In her free time, she loves to read, listen to music, and spend time with her two dogs.

Stephanie Hemsley | Human Resources Specialist
Office of the Director

Stephanie Hemsley joins DOB as a Human Resources Specialist. She has over 10 years of experience working in human resources in multiple roles at the Department of Human Resources (DCHR), the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Services Department (FEMS), and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). 

Born in the District, Stephanie earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Development and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Bowie State University. She is also a proud graduate of the Partnership for Public Service Emerging HR Leaders Forum. 

James Moeller| Assistant General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel

James Moeller brings a wealth of high-level legal experience to DOB. He most recently served as the General Counsel to the District of Columbia Office of Zoning (DCOZ), where he managed the Office of Zoning Legal Division. Prior to this, he specialized in public utility regulation both in private practice and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). James has gained considerable experience in administrative procedure and litigation throughout his career.

He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University, and prior, earned his Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. His undergraduate time was spent earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Lake Forest College. A Chicago native, James moved to the DC area following law school. He lives in American University Park with his wife Pascale and his dog, Wrigley.

Colleen Smythe | Assistant General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel

Colleen Smythe is a new Assistant General Counsel for DOB, having previously served for two years as a Staff Attorney at the Children's Law Center, where she represented District parents in education and housing conditions cases. She also spent time as a Fellow at the National Center for Youth Law.

Colleen earned her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science degrees in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Colleen's hobbies include running, cross-stitching, and hanging out with her pet greyhound.

Ezgi Soylu|Government Information Specialist
Office of the Director

Joining DOB, as a Government Information Specialist fulfilling requests under the Freedom of Information Act, Ezgi was previously a Paralegal Specialist at the Department of Employment Services (DOES) and was admitted to the Bursa Bar Association in 2019.

Ezgi graduated from law school at Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey in 2018, is fluent in Turkish, and is pursuing a Master in Laws degree in International and Comparative Law at George Washington University. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and hiking.

Craighton Spence| Building Code Inspector
Office of Construction and Building Standards

Craighton Spence joins DOB as a Building Code Inspector with previous experience as a Code Compliance Project Manager for ECS MID-ATLANTIC, LLC. Earlier in his career, Craig worked as an building inspector for Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, DCRA, and the City of Atlanta. His expertise includes construction inspections including alteration or repair of commercial, industrial and residential buildings and other structures. He is well-versed in evaluating the quality of materials and work relative to applicable local and national building codes, ordinances and regulations, as well as issuing notices to identify corrections required for compliance or to stop work on projects.

Originally from Jamaica, Craig relocated to Columbia, MD, where he attended high school before joining the United States Army where he served for four years. Outside of work, Craig enjoys spending time with his two kids, traveling, and boating.

Jamal Upshaw| Code Compliance Specialist (Elevator)
Office of Construction and Building Standards

Jamal Upshaw joins DOB with experience as an Elevator Code Compliance Specialist. Earlier in his career, he was also a third-party elevator inspector performing various inspections ensuring code complaince.

Originally from Laurel, MD, Jamal now resides in the District. He enjoys spending time with family and reading books.

Jason Williamson| Account Manager
Office of the Director

Jason Williamson brings a wealth of experience in account and client management garnered over 20 years in positions in local government and the private sector.  Jason most recently worked for District Relocators, where he provided relocation management and resident support services for redevelopment projects, and oversaw moves for District and federal government agencies. Prior to this, Jason worked at Serve DC - the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism - as the Emergency Preparedness Programs Manager, where he oversaw a portfolio of community-based emergency preparedness programs.  

Jason graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He is a native of Oakland California, but has resided in the District since attending college. Jason loves being a married father of four children, and enjoys spending time reading, gardening, watching movies, or creating Barbie videos with his youngest children.