THE BUZZ >> PEOPLE

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE • FEBRUARY 2008

Clara Fox, an advocate for affordable housing and the founder of the Settlement Housing Fund, died Nov. 9, 2007, in New York City.

“Clara originated the idea of combining low and moderate-income housing with social programs,” said Conrad Egan, executive director of the National Housing Conference.

In 1969, she founded the Settlement Housing Fund, one of the first private nonprofit housing developers. The organization has created about 8,600 affordable apartments at more than 55 developments.

Fox also ran the first programs to train New York City renters to become homeowners and managers after their buildings converted to middle-income cooperative housing through the Mitchell-Lama program, said Egan.

Born in the Bronx in 1917, Fox worked as the director of a private nursery school and as the first coordinator of New York City’s Head Start pre-kindergarten education program prior to founding the Settlement Housing Fund.

Most recently, Fox served as co-chair of the New York Housing Conference, a regional affiliate of the National Housing Conference.

Matthew S. Greer has been named CEO of Carlisle Development Group, the largest multifamily affordable housing developer in Florida and one of the largest nationwide.

Lloyd Boggio was previously chairman and CEO of the company. He will remain with Carlisle as a principal and will handle governmental and partnership relations.

Greer joined Carlisle as an analyst in 2004 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2005.

After 25 years at Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition, President Fran Wagstaff has decided to retire as of July 1.

Under Wagstaff ’s leadership, Mid-Peninsula has become one of the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developers. During her tenure, the organization has built 94 affordable housing communities, accommodating more than 14,000 residents in seven Northern California counties.

Mid-Peninsula manages a $1 billion real estate portfolio and employs more than 300 staff members to carry out its development, property management, and resident-service operations.

A national search for a new president has begun.

Christine Hobbs has become director of Targeted Affordable Housing in the Multifamily Sourcing Division of Freddie Mac.

Her duties include oversight of the retail affordable debt program. Hobbs had been a key figure in the company’s low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) investment business.

Margaret Sacks will assume the responsibilities of director of the Community Development Investment Group, the LIHTC equity group.

Michael Torres has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of AmeriNational Community Service, Inc., which provides portfolio management services for housing agencies and municipal clients. It also specializes in servicing loans made by cities, counties, and other agencies under governmentsponsored affordable housing programs.

Torres had been executive vice president as well as COO. AmeriNational’s previous president, Adrienne Thorson, will remain CEO.

Joan F. Hoover has been named vice president of syndication of Conifer Realty, a leading affordable housing development and management company operating in the Northeast.

She will direct the company’s tax credit finance and syndication activities. Hoover was previously deputy commissioner for community development at the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

Robert Johnston has joined the National Equity Fund, Inc., as senior vice president for acquisitions. He will oversee the firm’s national affordable housing investment strategy.

Johnston joined the Chicago-based company from SunAmerica, where he was a senior vice president of acquisitions. During his seven years there, he was credited with the acquisition of numerous LIHTC developments nationwide.

Enterprise Community Investment, Inc., has appointed Raoul F. Moore as East regional vice president and Monika B. Elgert as West regional vice president in Enterprise’s tax credit syndication group.

The posts are newly created roles at the organization.

Moore will be responsible for Enterprise’s efforts to place LIHTC equity in the Eastern region. He will direct an acquisitions staff located primarily in New York City and Columbia, Md. Prior to joining Enterprise, he was a vice president at Boston Capital Corp.

Elgert will oversee a staff of five and will be responsible for LIHTC syndication in the West. Before joining Enterprise, she was a vice president with Bank of America.