I’m Chip Fleming, and my journey has been anything but predictable.

THE FLAME THAT SPARKED MY PASSION

I grew up in the DC area, in a neighborhood where people took pride in their community and looked out for one another — it wasn’t just considerate, it was second nature. That deep sense of belonging shaped me, instilling a lifelong passion for creating environments where people feel connected and truly at home.

From an early age, I was a dreamer — always imagining, creating, and pushing boundaries. I loved to draw, paint, and bring ideas to life, but I also questioned the way things were. “That’s just how it is” was never good enough. If something didn’t make sense, I looked for a better way.

In high school, we were required to complete 60 hours of volunteer work, but for me, it wasn’t just a requirement — it was an opportunity to do something meaningful. Inspired by the selfless heroism of first responders on 9/11 — rushing toward danger to protect others — I knew exactly where I wanted to be. I chose the local firehouse.

From the moment I stepped inside, I was hooked. The camaraderie, the purpose, the ability to show up for people in their most vulnerable moments — it wasn’t just service, it was a privilege. What started as a 60-hour requirement quickly turned into something much bigger.

I became a volunteer firefighter, training alongside career professionals in a dual-system firehouse where, if you were certified and trained up, you ran calls. It wasn’t a ride-along or an observer role — it was the real thing, and I loved it. I was in the thick of it, responding to emergencies, facing high-pressure situations, and learning firsthand what it meant to be there when people needed you most.

When I left for college, my goal was simple: earn my degree and become a full-time firefighter. No Plan B. No backup. That was the dream.

BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS

I graduated in 2009, ready to serve, ready to start my career — but the world had come to a standstill. A massive hiring freeze swept across fire departments in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. For two years, I did everything I could. I took every class, earned every certification, applied everywhere, and waited. And waited. And waited.

Still, no counties were hiring.

At some point, I had to ask myself a tough question: What now?

Real estate had always been in my blood — much of my family built and developed properties — so I decided to lean into that world. I enrolled at Johns Hopkins Business School to study real estate and business, not knowing what to expect.

The transition wasn’t easy. On day one, I barely knew how to open Excel. By week two, I was expected to build complex financial models from scratch. It was a crash course in resilience. But just like in the firehouse, I thrived under pressure. I put in the work, embraced the challenge, and over the next two years, I gained the tools to navigate an entirely new world — one that, in ways I never could’ve imagined, would allow me to serve communities in a whole new way.

FROM BLACK ICE TO WARM SAND

As grad school was winding down, I felt like I had been in an all-out sprint for miles. I needed a reset. A change. A breath of fresh air.

So, almost on a whim, I packed up and moved across the country — from the fast-paced cold of DC to the sun-drenched coast of San Diego. The plan? A short break. Maybe a year or two. Just long enough to recharge before figuring out my next move.

Within weeks of arriving, I landed an incredible opportunity — working for the company redeveloping Liberty Station, a historic military base being transformed into what would become San Diego’s town square.

Almost immediately, I knew — I wasn’t leaving. The energy, the people, the lifestyle… it wasn’t just a vacation. It felt like home.

And then came the project that changed everything: Liberty Public Market — San Diego’s first food hall.

That was my lightbulb moment. This wasn’t just about real estate. It wasn’t just about buildings. It was about community, culture, and connection. It was about creating spaces that brought people together, that gave neighborhoods identity, that sparked something bigger than just a transaction.

For the first time, I saw what real estate could be. And from that moment on, I knew exactly what I wanted to build.

BRINGING A DREAM TO LIFE

After Liberty Public Market, I had a new sense of purpose. I had seen firsthand how real estate could do more than just fill space — it could create connection, spark culture, and bring communities to life. I was hungry for the next challenge, something that would allow me to keep building, keep innovating, keep making an impact.

That’s when I met the owner of a fast-growing multifamily startup. He had a bold, mission-driven vision but needed the right strategy and execution to turn it into reality. I saw more than just a chance to scale a company — I saw an opportunity to rethink how multifamily real estate could operate and truly serve its residents. I was all in.

This time, my role was completely different. I stepped into the world of revenue strategy, helping to develop and implement a fully automated pricing system that transformed the company’s approach to rent optimization. But beyond that, we went much deeper — we became obsessed with understanding our residents. What did they truly want? What did they need? How could we remove friction from their lives and create experiences, not just apartments?

It worked. We streamlined operations, built seamless systems, and ultimately, drove exponential growth. But more importantly, we began shifting the mindset of key industry leaders — redefining what it truly meant to serve residents.

After helping build and scale someone else’s dream, I knew it was time to build my own.

BRINGING MY DREAM TO LIFE

I knew real estate had the power to do more — to transform communities, spark creativity, and bring people together in meaningful ways. With that vision in mind, I co-founded CoActivate, a real estate development and operations company dedicated to turning underutilized spaces into vibrant, thriving destinations.

In just three years, we transformed five industrial warehouses into dynamic mixed-use hubs, developed one of San Diego’s first shipping container apartment projects, and managed a diverse portfolio of office, retail, and multifamily properties — all designed to foster connection and growth.

Our most ambitious project, The District-SD, set out to shape San Diego’s newest arts district — a place where culture, creativity, and community could thrive. Spanning 19th to 32nd Street in Logan Heights, we reimagined a series of properties into a creative playground, bringing new energy, collaboration, and innovation to the neighborhood.

We weren’t just developing properties — we were rethinking how real estate could serve people. By activating neighborhoods and designing meaningful experiences, we created spaces that inspired creativity and built stronger communities.

This project wasn’t just significant in a professional sense—it was life-changing on a personal level. While working on one of our properties, Commercial Street, I met my wife, Aly. It was a reminder from God that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

DRIVEN FOR GREATER IMPACT

As we were building out The District-SD, another need started to emerge.

Spending time in the community, I met many young people with incredible creative talent — but no real roadmap for turning their passion into a career. I saw myself in them. I remembered being that kid — full of ideas but unsure how to turn them into something real. I wished I had someone to guide and encourage me back then.

That’s where Creators Ignite was born.

It started with a simple idea: bring students into our spaces, introduce them to the artists and entrepreneurs shaping these creative hubs, and show them what’s possible.

But it quickly grew into something much more — a series of programs designed to equip underserved youth with the mindset and tools to think like entrepreneurs, turn their creativity into careers, and build futures filled with purpose and possibility.

It wasn’t just about inspiration — it was about creating real opportunities. Opportunities to enrich lives, strengthen communities from within, and empower the next generation to forge their own path to success and fulfillment through creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset.

WHERE I AM TODAY

Looking back, my path has been anything but predictable. From firefighting to real estate, from revitalizing spaces to empowering people — every step has been driven by a singular purpose: to create environments that bring people together, strengthen communities, and enable both individuals and businesses to thrive.

That’s not just what I do — it’s who I am. And I can’t wait to see what’s next.