Meet the reSpace Team
reSpace is led by a powerhouse team of innovators who bring decades of combined experience across real estate, finance, entrepreneurship, and technology. Together, we’re redefining what ownership can look like by blending industry expertise with bold, forward-thinking solutions. Our team isn’t just building a product — we’re building a movement that makes homeownership more accessible, more equitable, and more achievable for the communities we serve.
reSpace Business Leadership
Katrina Romatowski
Founder and CEO
Katrina Romatowski brings over 25 years of experience in land development, assemblage, residential construction, and real estate investment. She is the Designated Broker of Washington’s first Social Purpose real estate firm and Co-Founder of LevelUpHome.org, a nonprofit housing and mentoring youth aging out of foster care or homelessness. Her work bridges purpose, profit, and place.
Bob O’Brien
COO and CTO
Bob O’Brien, Head of Innovation, brings four decades of leadership at Microsoft, AWS EC2 and other global tech firms. His expertise in product development and systems architecture gives reSpace® the technological foundation to scale sustainable housing solutions.
Richard Romatowski
Investor Relations & Finance
Rick Romatowski leads our business development and finance. With a Wharton MBA and several successful tech exits (SWYPE, Tegic, Open Interface), Rick also built a substantial residential portfolio. His dual lens ensures our model is both financially viable and mission-driven.
Brett Frank-Looney
Head of Compliance
Brett Frank-Looney manages compliance and property operations. A third-generation housing expert rooted in Seattle’s Central District, he brings a culturally responsive approach to development in historically excluded communities.
Anthony Avery
Housing Strategy
Anthony Avery guides the housing strategy behind reSpace’s co-homeownership model. With a background in affordable housing planning, mobility strategy, and program development across public-sector agencies, he brings a systems-level understanding of how people live and move. His expertise ensures reSpace grows in ways that are practical, equitable, and future-focused.
Kathy Burnaman
Operational Partnerships
Kathy Burnaman serves as a strategic consultant to reSpace, bringing deep expertise in public-private partnerships, funding strategy, and regulatory frameworks. With a background leading large-scale, sustainability-focused community development, she offers practical insight into entitlements, infrastructure, and complex civil planning—strengthening reSpace’s ability to build effective municipal and institutional collaborations.
reSpace Advisory Board
Contact the reSpace team today!
206-222-6322 or Info@reSpace.co
reSpace News and Updates
Join Us For ‘Shoulders of Giants: The Unfinished Work’ at Columbia Tower Club
From Incarceration to Impact and Innovation “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton Every opportunity available to us today exists beca
Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should.” Why Timing Has Become the Hardest Part of Buying a Home
“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should” is one of those sayings that has stood the test of time for a reason. Capacity and wisdom are not the same thing. Readiness is not only about acces
When People Give Up on Homeownership, Something Bigger Breaks
For most of the last century, homeownership was not just a housing outcome. It was a behavioral anchor. It shaped how people planned, saved, invested, and imagined their future. Owning a home signaled
Unlock Your Home’s Value Without Leaving the Place You Love
For many homeowners, the idea of selling comes with mixed emotions. You may want financial breathing room, relief from rising costs, or the ability to redirect equity toward other goals. But that does
Mel Dorman Spotlights reSpace in a Powerful New Video About Affordable Ownership
If you care about housing access, community wealth, and creating more inclusive paths to homeownership, you likely already know the work of Mel Dorman. She is a Financial Activist, Coach, TEDx Speaker
Thankful for Community: A Thanksgiving Reflection from reSpace
As we head into Thanksgiving week, the reSpace team has been reflecting on what truly fuels our work. At the center of everything we do is one word that shows up again and again: community. Community
Turning Co-Living Renters Into Co-Homeowners
You have likely covered co-living, micro-units, and fractional ownership models. What reSpace is launching next in Seattle is the next evolution of that movement. It is a patented, mortgage-based Co-H
Why First‑Time Homebuyers Are Getting Older. How reSpace Is Changing the Game
The traditional path into homeownership is shifting. According to recent data, the median age of first‑time homebuyers in the U.S. has reached 40 years , a record high. (Source: Bloomberg) What’s
Unlocking the Potential of Your Property: A Smarter Way to Build Wealth and Shape the Future
For many homeowners, their property is more than just a place to live—it’s their greatest financial asset and a gateway to future opportunities. But traditional real estate methods often limit hom