Renee is the founder and managing member of The Catalyst Group, LLC, a national consulting firm, focused on urban revitalization, real estate development and community building; urban policy; and business transformation.

Renee served as the president and CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority for almost 20 years, until September 2013, during which she pioneered master-planned, mixed-use, mixed-income communities. During her tenure, the housing authority sponsored 16 master-planned, mixed-use, mixed-income communities, in partnership with private sector real estate developers and other investors, leveraging $300 million of federal funds into over $3 billion of private investment and economic impact.

She has been nationally recognized for her role in transforming U.S. urban policy. The mixed-use, mixed-income model (first conceptualized during the creation of Centennial Place) holistically addresses the needs for quality housing, excellent cradle to high school public education, transit access, employment and economic development. This model has been used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 1996 as a blueprint for holistic redevelopment in cities across the U.S.

Renee also transformed the housing authority from a chronically "troubled" agency on the verge of receivership by the federal government to a high-performing, nationally recognized and financially sound diversified real estate organization, with a public service-oriented mission and purpose.

In January 2016, Renee was elected to the board of directors of Fannie Mae Corporation. Renee was also elected to the board of directors of Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. in December 2015. Renee served on the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity International from November 2006 to November 2015, including serving as chair of the board of directors from November 2013 to November 2015. Renee served on the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from January 2009 to December 2014. Renee was appointed to the board of advisors of the University of Pennsylvania's Institute of Urban Research in June 2015.

Renee also served as a commissioner of the Bipartisan Policy Center Housing Commission from October 2011 to September 2014. The Commission was responsible for coming up with a set of bipartisan recommendations concerning federal housing policy and housing finance. Renee is currently a member of the advisory board for the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for Housing America's Families.