About Latonya Nelson

Latonya Nelson is a Chicago native, entrepreneur, and community investor who has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of housing, construction, and neighborhood revitalization on the West Side of Chicago.

Born and raised in West Garfield Park, Latonya’s connection to the community is deeply personal. 

"I was born in West Garfield on Hamlin Boulevard and spent much of my childhood moving around the West Side. After a while, I moved into the ABLA Homes housing projects, where I finally found some stability. Still, no matter where life took me - public housing, low income voucher housing - I always ended up back on Hamlin in West Garfield Park." - Latonya Nelson

Latonya experienced firsthand the instability that disinvestment and systemic inequities create for families. She began investing in West Side real estate in 2003, starting on South Hamlin Boulevard—returning again and again to the same blocks where her story began. Over time, she acquired and rehabilitated multiple adjacent properties, demonstrating a long‑term, place‑based commitment rather than speculative investment.

In 2013, Latonya founded PestPros Unlimited, a full‑service pest control company that evolved alongside growing demand for broader housing rehabilitation services. As the scope of work expanded, the company rebranded as Nelson’s Environmental Solutions (NES), offering home rehabilitation, roofing, and construction services with a focus on affordability and quality.

Today, Latonya is consolidating that experience under The Nelson's Group, a woman‑owned, woman‑led firm focused on home rehabilitation, real estate acquisition, and community‑centered development. Her approach combines technical expertise, cash‑purchase strategies, and deep neighborhood relationships to stabilize housing, prevent displacement, and build long‑term community resilience.

Latonya doesn’t view housing as a commodity—she sees it as a foundation for dignity, safety, and generational opportunity. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: the people most equipped to revitalize a neighborhood are the people who come from it, stay connected to it, and are invested in its future.