Recognized as a national leader in the fields of real estate and affordable housing, with over 40 years administering and participating in HUD multifamily programs and multifamily real estate financing and management, 28 years in the public sector at the Federal and State levels (15 years as a Federal employee at HUD), and since 1995 in the private sector.She has administered the full gamut of housing programs, brings a keen understanding of how these programs function from both the Federal and Stateperspective, and has had the opportunity to initiate innovative programs of subsidy, financing, asset management, diversity, organizational management, assisted living, and social services.She is an author of the Chapter 40R and 40S programs in Massachusetts.
EXPERIENCE HOUSING PARTNERS, INC., Watertown, MA 1995-Present PRESIDENT
President of a company incorporated in 1995 to provide (with partner, Marvin Siflinger):
- Consulting services to both public and private clients relative to (a) all types of affordable and public housing, including assisted living, and (b) the management of public, quasi-public and private non-profit organizations.
- Assistance with policy and program development relating to all types of housing.
- Public speakers on topics relating to affordable housing, inner-city revitalization and multifamily property asset management.
MASSACHUSETTS HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY (MHFA), Boston, MA 1983-1995 MHFA was during my tenure a $4.2 billion quasi-public real estate lender and asset manager.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE) (1986-1995), CHIEF OF OPERATIONS (1983-1995) Responsible for all housing development and management activities of MHFA for a multifamily portfolio totaling $3 billion (440 housing developments with over 51,000 housing units) and a single-family portfolio totaling $1 billion. As Co-Chief Executive 1986-95, supervised a diverse staff of 350 and managed an annual administrative budget of $24 million in 1995. Note: MHFA is a self-supporting entity which operates like a business and receives no public appropriation for operating costs. Significant accomplishments include:
- Doubled MHFA’s real estate portfolio from $2 billion to $4.2 billion, maintaining extremely low default rates, even in periods of real estate recession.
- Supervised initiation and expansion of MHFA’s Tenant Assistance Program to operate in over 42,000 housing units.
- Maintained MHFA’s top-tier bond rating from Standard & Poor’s in spite of serious economic downturn and state bond downgrading.
- Played lead role in three major and highly visible inner city rehabilitation efforts in Boston, totaling $350 million
- Significantly improved the diversity of Agency staff in terms of race, gender, and sexual orientation
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, Boston, MA 1970-1983
CHIEF, MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAMS BRANCH (FULL-TIME) AND ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (INTERMITTENT) (1974-1983) Responsible for the management of all HUD multifamily housing programs in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis upon fund allocation, meeting of production goals and supervision of a staff ranging from 10 to 85. Acted as FHA Chief Underwriter for periods of time.
- Cumulative housing production of over 60,000 units.
- In peak years, subsidy allocations of over $100 million per year, with clear audits each year.
- Suggested several program innovations that were adopted for national implementation.
SENIOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REPRESENTATIVE (1970-1974), PROGRAM ANALYST (1970)MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, 1969-1970 ASSISTANT COORDINATOR FOR HOUSING STUDIES
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, 1967-1969 FHA, Washington, D.C PROGRAM ANALYST, PROGRAM DIVISION
EDUCATION
M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration), 1975, Northeastern University, Boston, MA A.B., cum laude, American History and Literature, 1967, Harvard University (Radcliffe College), Cambridge, MA Loeb Fellowship in Advanced Environmental Studies, 1979, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS AND OFFICES HELD Citizens Housing and Planning Association, 1987-Present; Exec Comm, 1996-Present; Clerk, 1997-99; Member, Nom. Comm. 1998-02; Vice Pres. 2000-01; President-Elect 2001-02; President 2002-04 New England Women in Real Estate, 1990-93
Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, 1987-Present; President, 1989-1991; Chair, Housing Committee Real Estate Finance Association, 1993-2000; REFA Director to GBREB, 1997-98 Greater Boston Real Estate Board--1995-99, 2005-present; Asst.Treas., 1997-99; Treasurer 2000; Chairman-Elect, 2008 Assisted Living Facilities Association of America (Mass. chapter), 1995-2000; Co-Chair, Statewide Task Force on Affordability in Assisted Living, 1995-Present; Co-Chair MassALFA Advisory Council, 2000-2002 Board of Management, Radcliffe College Alumnae Association, 1993-96, 1999-2000:Treasurer, 1994-96; Member, Nominating Committee: member 1997-98, 2001-04, Chair, 1999-2000 Board of Corporators, Brookline Savings Bank, Brookline, MA 1996-2001 Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp., 1998-Present; member Audit Committee, 2004-present Massachusetts Housing Equity Fund, 2005-present CenterPoint Foundation, Board Member, 2000-2007 B’nai B’rith Realty Unit, Co-Pres., 2000-Present /VP, B’nai B’rith Housing New England, 2003-present Harvard Alumni Association, Elected Director, 2002-05; Vice-Chair Graduate Schools Committee—2003-2007; Member of the Board, Radcliffe SIG—2007 to the present Commonwealth Housing Task Force, Co-Chair, 2003 to the present American Jewish Committee, Executive Board, 2003-present; Sr.Vice President 2005-present; Black Jewish Economic Round Table, Nominating Committee; Chair, Starr Award Committee Rental Housing Association, Vice-Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee, 2005-2007 School of Social Sciences, Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, Board member, 2007-present Chair, Multifamily Housing Advisory Committee, MassHousing (appointed by Governor Deval Patrick), 2008-present
PERSONAL Married since 1967; three sons. Interests include lecturing and civic activities (see following)
MEMBERSHIPS ON COMMISSIONS AND ADVISORY BOARDS Capital Formation and Asset Acquisition project, 1987; appointed by Massachusetts Secretary of Human Services Property Management Advisory Committee, Neighborhood Development Support Collaborative, 1991 MIT Center for Real Estate: Advisory Committee, 1991-95 Special Commission on Facilities Consolidation, 1991, appointed by Massachusetts Governor William Weld National Advisory Panel on Resident Initiatives in the Inner City, (LISC), 1991-92 Advisory Board, Judge Baker Children’s Center (Harvard Medical School) on Partnerships in Prevention, 1991 Advisory Committee to the New School for Social Research/Ford Foundation, 1993-94 City of Boston Housing Task Force, 1995, appointed by Mayor Thomas Menino HUD Working Group on Welfare Reform and Housing, 1996 Mayor's Housing Advisory Group, 2000-present (appointed by Mayor Thomas Menino) Fannie Mae Massachusetts Partnership Office Advisory Council, 2000-present International Leadership Committee, Eliot-Pearson School, Tufts University, 2001-present Co-Chair, Commonwealth Housing Task Force, 2003 to the present Chair, Boston Foundation’s Housing and Economic Development Policy Committee, 2004-present American Institute of Architects (AIA) Housing Committee Advisory Circle, 2004-2006 Chair, MassHousing Multifamily Housing Advisory Committee (appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick, 2008
OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC AFFILIATIONS National Association of Housing and Renewal Officials (NAHRO), 1971-Present Rental Housing Committee, Nat’l Council of State Hsg. Agencies (NCSHA), 1988-95 Harvard/Radcliffe Career Advisory Board, 1976-Present; and Radcliffe Mentor Program, various years The Boston Club, 1989-Present Co-Chair, Gift Committee, for the Harvard-Radcliffe 25th & 30th Reunions. Radcliffe College Alumnae Assoc.: Member, Public Policy Partners Comm. (1991-94); Member, Radcliffe College Fund Comm. (1991-Present); Chair, Undergrad. Relations .Comm. (1993-94); Treasurer (1994-96); Chair, Nominating Comm.1999-00 Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB): Assistant Treasurer, 1997-99; Treasurer, 2000, Chairman-elect, 2008 Real Estate Finance Association: Member of the Board, (1993-00); Co-Chair, REFA Membership Committee (1994-95); REFA designee to GBREB (1996-99); Member, Realtors Public Policy Committee (1996); REFA designee to the Mass. Assn. of Realtors’ Government Affairs Committee (1997) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Real Estate: Guest Lecturer (1995-1996) Urban Land Institute: Full Member, 1996 and appointed to National Policy Council (1996-98); Member, 2004-2007 National Trust for Historic Preservation: Member, 1998-present Harvard Univ Graduate School of Design Career Advisory Network, 2000-present Member, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Housing Task Force, 2001-present Senior Fellow, Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Northeastern Univ. 2001-present
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS HUD Special Achievement and/or Outstanding Performance Awards: at least annually, 1971-82 One of 12 fellows nationally selected for Harvard University Loeb Fellowship, 1978 Extensive lecturing at MIT, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard J. F. Kennedy School of Government, Tufts University, U. of Massachusetts/Boston, Northeastern University Council of State Housing Agencies National Award to MHFA for implementation of the SHARP Program, 1984 MHFA Executive Director commendation for negotiating Legislative Resolve on housing management issues, 1985 MHFA Executive Director commendation for role in coordinating the underwriting of the Columbia Point/Harbor Point ($170 million) development in Boston, 1985 B’nai B’rith Realty Lodge Recognition Award, 1987 Listed in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who of U.S. Executives, 2000 Notable American Women and World’s Who’s Who of Women, various editions Invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Subcomm. on Housing and Urban Affairs by Senator Alan Cranston, 1989 Awards for the MHFA Tenant Assistance Program: National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), 1984; National Association of Housing & Renewal Officials (NAHRO), 1989; Innovations Program Finalist (Harvard Kennedy School/Ford Foundation), 1991 Awards for the MHFA Inner City Task Force: Boston Fair Housing Commission, 1990; NAHRO, 1990; NCSHA, 1991; Innovations Program Semi-Finalist, 1991 Recipient of the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association Recognition Award for the alumna, “who by the quality of her life and spirit, exemplifies what a Liberal Arts education hopes to achieve”, 1992 Award for the MHFA YouthRAP Program: NCSHA, 1992 Commissioner’s Recognition Award from Mass. Department of Mental Health Commissioner Eileen Elias, 1992/3Recipient of the 1993 Community Service Award from Citizens Housing and Planning Association Award for Building Community Initiatives: NCSHA, 1993; Commissioner’s Award, U.S. Dept. of HUD, 1994; Innovations Program Finalist, 1994; Innovations Program, 1995. Community Service Award from Urban Edge Community Development Corporation, 1993 Commissioner’s Award for excellence in program administration: HUD Assistant Secretary Nicolas Retsinas, 1995 Award from Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans for contributing to successful policing in Boston, 1995 Award for the MHFA ElderCHOICE assisted living program, Innovations Program, 1995 (one of 10 awards out of 14,000 applications nationally) Named as one of 125 Leaders Making a Difference in the real estate industry in Massachusetts by Banker & Tradesman, 1997 and 1999. Recipient of first Public Service Award from New England Women in Real Estate, 1999 National Diversity Award from Fannie Mae and Working Mother Magazine, 2000 Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, 2001 Author, “The Commonwealth Housing Task Force: Boston, Massachusetts. A Successful Collaboration Of Diverse Interests”, chapter in NHC Affordable Housing Policy Review, vol.3, issue 2, published by The National Housing Conference, June, 2004 Recipient of the Boston Foundation Good City Civic Leadership Award, 2004 Recipient with Barry B. White of the American Jewish Committee Community Service Award, 2005 Recipient of HomeStart Keys to the House Award, 2006 Inducted into Academy of Women Achievers by Boston YWCA, 2007
