On September 8, 2026, Kamilia Lawson joined Next Step as its new senior vice president of programs responsible for developing and executing Next Step’s integrated programs strategy, encompassing housing production through Next Step Homes and the homeownership programs that prepare and support the families who buy those homes.
“Kamilia brings a valuable combination of real estate expertise, nonprofit leadership, and deep roots in sustainable homeownership that will help us scale our program offerings,” said Stacey Epperson, president and founder of Next Step.
Kamilia is a licensed real estate broker in Kentucky, bringing over 15 years of experience in real estate and community development including more than ten years in the nonprofit, affordable housing field.
Kamilia began her nonprofit work with Community Housing Partners (CHP), a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Virginia as a HUD Fellow. Upon earning a Master of Public Administration degree and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Virginia Tech in 2007, she became CHP’s Principal Broker and Director of Homeownership. In these roles, she managed and led the expansion of CHP’s homeownership program and realty division in multiple regions of Virginia and Florida, including homebuyer advising, lending, housing renovation and construction, realty and home sales. She’s been named one of Top 40 Under 40 in Housing by the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) and Virginia Housing Coalition (VHC).
Most recently, Kamilia served as Chief Operating Officer for Frontier Housing, Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Morehead, Kentucky. In her role as COO, she led operations and was responsible for oversight of the home construction, home repair, lending, and homebuyer counseling programs.
Kamilia is originally from Frenchburg, KY and currently resides in Jeffersonville, KY with her husband and three children where she enjoys being outside and gardening.