Commissioner Brett Summers

Brett has been a Ward 1 resident since 2000 when he and his wife, Jamie, along with three children moved to Cambridge from the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC.  Brett has been actively engaged in community from the start.  He volunteered to coach for sports programs that his children participated – DLAX girls lacrosse, YMCA basketball and Dorchester County Parks and Recreation soccer.  In addition, he served on numerous non-profit boards – Cambridge Main Street, Christ Church Vestry, The Country School, CASA of the Midshore, and Midshore Community Foundation.  In an effort to revitalize the downtown historic district, Brett utilized his real estate development skills to acquire and renovate six mixed use historic buildings in downtown Cambridge. These buildings now provide market rate housing to approximately 50 residents and space for four restaurants and three retail businesses.  He and his wife own and operate Black Water Bakery in downtown Cambridge.  Black Water Bakery has approximately 20 employees serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, and baked goods to all.

Brett was raised in Columbia SC and graduated from Irmo High School in 1981.  He played varsity basketball, drove a school bus for spending money, and was Senior Class President.  He attended Duke University and graduated in 1985 with a double major in Economics and Public Policy Studies.  He began his professional career as a commercial real estate broker with CBRE’s Tysons Corner office. In 1993, Brett was recruited by Faison to market and lease Class A office buildings in Northern Virginia. Faison later merged with the Trammell Crow Companies. After the merger, Brett continued to participate in commercial real estate brokerage activities but started to acquire and manage multifamily properties in Washington, DC. Brett left Trammell Crow in 2000 and founded NOVO Properties. NOVO Properties now owns and manages approximately 2,000 multifamily units in DC, Chicago, and Cambridge.  Brett is currently focused on NOVO’s management and investment activities in Chicago and Cambridge.

While still active with NOVO as an Asset Manager, Brett sold his ownership interest in NOVO Properties in 2023 to allow more time to devote to family, friends, and community. As the Ward 1 Commissioner, he intends to put his experience to work on the issues facing Cambridge.