Jessica Schmidt is a senior vice president and head of Affordable Housing Development at Walker & Dunlop and is based in Calabasas, California. In this role, Schmidt leads the firm’s affordable development platform, overseeing financial and operational performance, including finance, accounting, human resources, and strategic execution across development initiatives. She has more than 20 years of experience across construction, development, hospitality, and property management industries.

Prior to her current role, Schmidt served as deputy chief financial officer at Alliant Capital, which was acquired by Walker & Dunlop, and then as chief financial officer of the affordable platform at Walker & Dunlop, where she supported financial strategy and operations across the affordable business lines. Before that, she served as chief financial officer at Hidrock Properties and SHVO, where she managed finance, accounting, human resources, and IT functions. Earlier in her career, she worked with Prism Capital Partners and Woodmont Properties, overseeing the financial and operational management of real estate portfolios and residential developments throughout New Jersey.

Schmidt earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland Global Campus.