Jill Ferrari

Jill Ferrari is an adjunct practice instructor of urban and regional planning in the UofM Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Jill has 30 years of experience in private real estate development, legal practice, and consulting. The commercial real estate development company she co-founded, Renovare Development, was named the 2025 “Developer of the Year” by Michigan RE Journals. Renovare is a for-profit developer that focuses on attainable housing and mixed-use projects that serve a deep community need with over 100 million dollars in projects that are currently in development. 

Jill is also a Partner at Schenk & Bruetsch, PLC where she leads the Real Estate & Economic Development practice group for the firm. She has also co-launched the Elevate practice group within the firm, focused on legal and advisory services for female executives and founders. 

Jill is the 2025 Phoenix Award winner from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for her lifetime of work in brownfield redevelopment. She was named “Woman of the Year” by the Detroit Women’s Leadership Network in 2023, a Crain’s Detroit “Notable Executive in Real Estate” in 2021, a GlobeST Magazine “Woman of Influence” in 2021, a 2017 “Woman of Distinction” by the Wayne State University Council on the Status of Women and a 2016 winner of the Melvin Simon Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation. 

Jill is a member of the National Advisory Board for the Urban Land Institute Terwilliger Center for Housing. She is founding board member of the Women’s Sustainable Development Initiative, a nonprofit organization supporting emerging women developers working in low-income communities 

Jill holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Oakland University and a juris doctor degree from Wayne State University. She is a licensed member of the State Bar of Michigan.