Our Team
Raheem Williams - Principal & Founder
Raheem Williams is the founder of American Mindtrust. His career has involved working with liberty-based academic research centers and think tanks, teaching Intro to Microeconomics at North Dakota State University, and leading multi-billion dollar pension reform projects in Florida, North Dakota, and North Carolina.
As a writer, Raheem focuses on tax and social policy, and his articles have been featured in various publications, including the Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Federalist, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Duluth News Tribune, The Advocate (Baton Rouge), The Center Square, and the Florida Times Union
Raheem possesses a diverse set of skills, including public speaking, digital marketing, data analysis, applied research, and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS. He has Responsible Conduct of Research, Conflicts of Interest Training, and Research Administration Training from The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program). He is also skilled in SPSS and has a strong foundation in Economic Theory and Economic Modeling, complemented by his knowledge of Accounting.
Raheem earned his B.A. in Economics from Florida International University and his M.A. in Financial Economics from the University of Detroit Mercy. Raheem is an MPA candidate at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dimitria Williams - Co-Founder
Dimitria Williams is co-founder of American Mindtrust. She is an accomplished real estate professional with a wealth of experience in development finance, media, and journalism. In addition to her work at AMT, she is a Development Project Manager at HRI Communities, LLC in New Orleans, LA, where she has been responsible for underwriting $150M of affordable and workforce housing developments. Her role involves preparing financial projections for properties reaching the end of their LIHTC compliance period, supporting negotiations on investor member exits, and collaborating with architects, contractors, consultants, and local government administrators to advance projects from pre-development through construction completion and stabilization.
Before starting AMT, Dimitria worked as a Real Estate Development Fellow at the Development Finance Initiative in Chapel Hill, NC, where she built detailed pro formas for $45M of multifamily and mixed-use ground-up developments in North Carolina and South Carolina. She also identified and modeled project funding sources, including senior debt, federal and state HTCs, and LIHTCs, and developed strategies to preserve 600 properties with expiring LIHTC subsidies.
Dimitria is also an experienced media professional, having contributed as a Real Estate Reporter to Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and The Washington Post. She also served as the Real Estate Managing Editor at Haute Living, a media company with lifestyle and real estate verticals.
Dimitria holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Science from the American University in Bulgaria.
Abir Mandal - Associate Economist & Data Specialist
Abir Mandal is currently an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Tillman School of Business at the University of Mount Olive. Prior to joining AMT, Abir taught at Kansas University, where he excelled in energy, tax, and GIS research. Abir has gained valuable hands-on experience in data analytics, having worked as a Data Analyst Intern at Clemson RESA-AIG Commercial Casualty and as a Summer Fellow at the Charles Koch Institute, where he leveraged advanced data analysis skills for strategic business and public policy decisions.
Abir is a natural leader and has demonstrated this in his role as General Manager (Research) at Indian Petro Group in Delhi, India, where he supervised research activities and contributed to policy development in the energy sector. He has also worked as a Market Research Analyst at the Center for the Study of Services in Washington, DC, and as a Statistical Programming Analyst at Johnson & Johnson.
Abir's academic journey includes a Ph.D. from Clemson University, an MBA from Holy Names University, an MS in Applied Economics from Illinois State University, and a BA in Economics with a minor in Computer Science from Coe College. He is fluent in Bengali, English, French, and Hindi, reflecting his diverse cultural background.
Abir's analytical skills are second to none, and he holds certifications in SAS Base 9 and is proficient in SPSS, R, and Tableau. His communication skills are also impressive, and he is able to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures with ease.
Truong Bui - Data Specialist & Finance Associate
Truong Bui stands out as a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in the fields of data strategy, analytics, and public finance. In addition to his work with AMT, Truong is the Director of Data Strategy and Analytics at the Reason Foundation. His responsibilities include leading the development and implementation of data-driven strategies.
Truong oversees data analytics, database management, and ensures data integrity across various divisions. His collaborative efforts have been vital in identifying data needs. Truong is also a web developer and data visualization expert skilled at creating compelling visualizations and web applications that effectively communicate data findings.
Truong is also the Managing Director of the Pension Integrity Project at the Reason Foundation. His leadership in this role is marked by his expertise in providing technical assistance and actuarial modeling. This work informs policymakers and has contributed to successful reforms in states like Arizona, Michigan, Texas, Florida, North Dakota, and Montana. He is skilled in developing in-house actuarial models and dashboards for policymakers and stakeholders using tools like R Shiny, Svelte, and D3.
Earlier in his career, Truong served as a Financial Analyst in Investment Banking at Thien Viet Securities JSC. His accomplishments during this period include authoring investment memoranda, crafting advanced financial models, and playing a key role in a major convertible bond issue.
Truong is highly skilled in Microsoft Excel and proficient in R, Python, and SQL for data management and analytics. He also has experience in Svelte, D3, and JavaScript. Bilingual in Vietnamese and English, Truong's diverse skill set and experience make him a valuable asset to AMT’s evolving landscape of data analytics and financial strategy.
He holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Finance from The Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from RMIT International University Vietnam.
Keifer Guizard - Finance Associate
Keifer Guizard is a highly skilled professional combining financial acumen with a strong commitment to optimizing operational efficiency and delivering high-quality client service.
Before joining AMT, Keifer served as a Senior Real-Time Analyst at SoFi, optimizing service levels by monitoring phone queues and managing agent skills based on business needs. He provided valuable morning outlooks, collaborated with business unit leaders to establish workload prioritization, and delivered performance reports to company and business unit leaders.
Before becoming a Senior Real-Time Analyst, Keifer was a Loan Reviewer at SoFi. His responsibilities included analyzing applicants' financial information, ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures, and reviewing the legitimacy of financial documents. Keifer's attention to detail was evident as he prepared loan summary templates for all processed loans.
Keifer also gained experience as an Invoicing Specialist at CoventBridge Group in Jacksonville, FL, where he ensured investigator reports met client specifications and composed client invoices using billing rates.
Keifer’s diverse professional journey includes being a Starbucks Barista and serving as a Maintenance and Logistics Specialist (E-4) in the U.S. Army. In the latter role, he conducted vehicle services, maintained routine maintenance records, and composed monthly reports.
Keifer has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida State University. He holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, showcasing his financial expertise. His computer proficiencies include Nice InContact, Jira Tickets, Instructure Bridge, Tableau, Slack, Zendesk, and Calabrio.
Gerardo “Jerry” Aguilera - Real Estate Analyst
Gerardo “Jerry” Aguilera is a young, multi-faceted professional with a rich educational and career background.
His experience at VMS Construction showcased his leadership abilities and problem-solving skills in a dynamic environment. Jerry honed his customer service and interpersonal skills at The Biltmore Hotel, ensuring guests received top-notch service. His tenure at District Cigar Lounge further reflects his versatility, where he balanced customer engagement with business development tasks.
Jerry brings a dynamic cultural perspective to his professional endeavors. His proficiency in communication, both in English and Spanish, is a testament to his ability to connect with diverse audiences.
Jerry's career path illustrates a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. His experiences in various sectors, from construction to hospitality, highlight his ability to adapt and excel in different settings. His problem-solving acumen and customer service expertise are recurring themes in his career, underlining his dedication to excellence in all his endeavors.
Jerry Aguilera stands out as a professional capable of navigating complex challenges with ease and confidence. His diverse experiences and skills make him a valuable asset in any business setting, ready to contribute positively and drive success. Jerry holds a Communication and Information Sciences degree from The University of Alabama, where he wrote for The Crimson White. He is currently an MBA student at Florida International University.