Yanet Garcia, a market leader in the real estate industry, is a Vice President at Related Midwest. Garcia is passionate about reimagining the way construction and development can benefit local communities and is recognized as a leader in creating transformative programs that provide opportunities for emerging businesses.
Underscoring her commitment to community-focused investment and engagement, Garcia is a key member of the team leading the AIA Award-winning rehabilitation of the historic Julia C. Lathrop Homes on Chicago’s North Side and the ongoing redevelopment of Roosevelt Square, a multiphase project that will ultimately bring 2,000 mixed-income units to Chicago’s Near West Side. She was also instrumental in the development of The Row, a 300-unit rental tower in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, and is actively leading transformative waterfront projects including 400 Lake Shore and 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
During her time at Related Midwest, Garcia has helped create a framework that champions representation at every level of the organization, fostering a culture in which all voices are heard and valued. She also co-leads Related Midwest’s small business mentoring program, which helps entrepreneurial companies develop skills and relationships that empower them to achieve new levels of success. She spearheads Curating Connections, a dynamic panel series designed to spark meaningful conversation around Chicago's real estate, architecture and construction landscape- bringing together leaders from firms of all sizes to share insights, challenges and ideas that drive the industry forward.
Garcia, a licensed architect with expertise in design, development and construction, was named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2024 Notable Latino Leaders. She graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in architectural studies and from Northwestern University with a Master of Science in executive management for design and construction.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Garcia is dedicated to community service and serves as an executive trustee for the National Museum of Mexican Art. She has also served on other boards including the Center for Changing Lives, City of Aurora CDBG and Society of Hispanic Professional Architects, and was previously Commissioner for the Aurora Housing Authority. Garcia is a founding member of Arquitina, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to increase the representation of Latina architects, who currently comprise just 1% of licensed architects in the U.S., and is an author in the award-winning anthology book “Latinas in Architecture.”
