As Community Development Manager at Steel Projects, Alex Ford brings unique skills to the property management team while building trust and connection between tenants, properties, and neighborhoods. From engaging with tenants and the surrounding community to design and branding projects, Alex works behind the scenes at Steel Projects to ensure every space is cared for, every detail is on-mission, and every voice is heard.

Alex is a North Carolina native, born and raised in the mountains of western NC. He graduated from North Carolina State University’s College of Design in 2006 and has called Raleigh home for over 20 years. A longtime downtown resident and advocate, Alex combines his background in design, marketing, and communications with a passion for community development and outreach.

Alex began his career at Calvert Holdings, where he built a foundation in branding, design management, and digital marketing—skills that continue to shape his ability to communicate with diverse audiences. He went on to serve as Marketing and Communications Manager at Jobs for Life, a global nonprofit equipping organizations and ministries to support individuals navigating unemployment and underemployment. There, he strengthened donor and community partnerships, spearheaded digital engagement strategies, and helped launch a virtual training platform to expand the organization’s reach.

More recently, Alex was actively involved with Neighbor to Neighbor and Neighbor Enterprises, a local nonprofit that supports families in Southeast Raleigh through mentorships and partnerships. Here, Alex focused on workforce development and second-chance employment, supporting individuals facing barriers to work while also ensuring clear communication with customers, employees, and community partners. His work emphasized building trust, providing mentorship, and creating inclusive systems that help people navigate complex challenges with dignity.

Alongside his professional work, Alex has stayed deeply connected to grassroots efforts in Southeast Raleigh through volunteer roles with Neighbor to Neighbor, where he has volunteered as a coach and mentor for over 2 decades, and the Raleigh Rescue Mission, where he serves as a resume coach and mentor for individuals experiencing homelessness. These experiences have given him a firsthand understanding of the systemic and personal barriers people face—and the importance of relationships, equity, and consistent support in helping communities thrive.

Alex lives with his wife and son in East Raleigh. Most days you can find him going on long runs through the city, playing outside with the neighborhood kids, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and taking photos of interesting bugs—his favorite insects are the praying mantis and the dragonfly.