Our Professional Partners
Christina Marshall
Marketing & Membership Consultant
Coho Collab, Founder
Cohousing thrives on collaboration, drawing strength from both the skills within the community and the guidance of trusted advisors.
At Forest Glen at Highland Lake, we recognize that balancing our collective experience with the expertise of professional partners leads to a more successful and efficient community.
Our advisors bring invaluable knowledge from cohousing projects across the country, helping to shape our design, development, and governance. Their insight and support ensure that our community is built on a strong foundation of best practices and shared wisdom.
Christina Marshall is a graduate of Kathryn McCamant’s renowned 500 Communities Program and the founder of Coho Collab, where she helps forming cohousing communities grow their membership and marketing efforts. She brings strategic planning, digital outreach, and relationship-building expertise to groups navigating the complex journey from vision to reality.
With nearly 20 years of experience in sales and marketing—primarily in the senior living industry—Christina understands how to turn interest into commitment. She partners with cohousing groups to develop strong marketing strategies, build engaged communities, and attract & retain committed members. Passionate about fostering connection, she empowers communities to create spaces where people thrive together.
Alastair Townsend
Development Consultant
Township, Founder
After a successful architectural career across Europe and Asia, Alastair discovered his true passion for creating communities through real estate development. With a master’s degree in real estate, he managed $2 billion in U.S. projects for BGO.
Alastair’s journey led him to cohousing—a niche in real estate that emphasizes social connection and enriched living. He founded Township to build communities where residents thrive together.
As a member of the 500 Communities Program, Alastair is now serving as the development consultant for Forest Glen at Highland Lake, where he will ensure the successful completion of the project. Alastair’s expertise has been featured by CNN, WSJ, and NPR.
Diana Leafe Christian
Process Consultant
Author, Speaker, and Expert on Intentional Communities
Diana is an accomplished author, former editor of Communities magazine, and a nationwide speaker and workshop presenter on topics such as starting new villages, building communities, and sustainability. She has authored two insightful books to guide individuals interested in joining or creating their own intentional communities.
In Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities, Diana offers success stories, cautionary tales, and practical advice for launching these projects. In Finding Community: How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community, she shares essential steps for researching, visiting, and joining a community. Diana’s continuous learning has shaped crucial elements of our membership process.