Gilbert Winn has been named CEO of WinnCompanies, a Boston-based developer and property management firm.
He has been with the company since 2003, recently serving as managing principal.
Founded by his father, Arthur Winn, in 1971, the firm is among the most-active affordable housing developers and one of the largest residential property managers in the nation, with operations in 23 states and more than 3,000 employees. It has acquired and developed real estate holdings valued in excess of $2.5 billion.
“As long as we can remain on the forefront, I will have done my job,” says the younger Winn.
The majority of the company’s recent developments have been mixed-income communities. Winn points to the recent development of Voke Lofts in Worcester, Mass. The company’s development arm, WinnDevelopment, transformed a historic school building into 84 apartments. Half are affordable, and half are market-rate.
“We think mixed-income is where the industry is headed,” Winn says. “It’s more sustainable.”
Voke Lofts is also an example of the company’s work in reusing older buildings. In recent years, the firm has converted more than a dozen historic mills into residential and commercial spaces.
In his new role, Winn will oversee the activities of WinnDevelopment, alongside his partner, Larry Curtis. He will also be responsible for overseeing the company’s management and investment activities.
He hopes to expand the firm’s property management activities to include more units across the country. “We’re currently in 23 states,” Winn says. “I feel we can expand in those states and add new territories.”
WinnCompanies was No. 15 on the AHF 50 list of affordable housing owners and No. 49 on the AHF 50 developers list last year. It was also No. 6 on the Multifamily Executive/National Multifamily Housing Council list of Top 50 managers last year, but a merger of two other companies brings WinnCompanies up to No. 5.
Gilbert succeeds former CEO Samuel Ross, who after 21 years at WinnCompanies announced his retirement at the end of 2014.
The firm also made several other leadership changes. William Wollinger will move from president of WinnResidential to COO of WinnCompanies; Deirdre Kuring, formerly COO of WinnResidential, will become president of WinnResidential; and Patrick Appleby, formerly COO of WinnMilitary, will take over as president of WinnMilitary. Cynthia Tanner has joined as CFO of WinnResidential. She was formerly the chief accounting officer at The Bozzuto Group.
Connect with Donna Kimura, deputy editor of Affordable Housing Finance, on Twitter @DKimura_AHF.
