Meringoff Joins Fairstead
Brett Meringoff has been named senior vice president at Fairstead, a real estate investor, developer, owner, and operator specializing in affordable, mixed-income, and market-rate housing.
He will be based in Bethesda, Md., and will work on ground-up developments and acquisitions for both affordable and mixed-income projects across the country.
An industry veteran, Meringoff boosts Fairstead’s growing team and represents the latest step in the firm’s ongoing expansion strategy.
Meringoff most recently served as senior vice president for WinnCompanies, where he was responsible for the company’s Mid-Atlantic affordable housing development and asset management activities as well as its market-rate investments. Under his leadership, his team entitled, developed, and completed more than 4,900 units across 19 properties.
Prior to joining Winn, he founded BEM Cos. and BEM Consulting in 2009, a Virginia-based real estate organization that specializes in affordable housing development and consulting services. He earlier served as director of development for Coalco International, now operating as Corigin, a global real estate development and investment company, and began his career with the Related Cos. in New York City.
In 2019, Meringoff was appointed by Gov. Ralph Northam to the board of directors of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Ohio Housing Group Names Executive Director
Carlie J. Boos has been named the first full-time executive director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO).
She began her career in housing as a litigator, representing families impacted by the foreclosure crisis. Boos also spent six years with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, creating innovative housing and community development programs and directing statewide housing policy. Most recently, she served as economic development counsel at the Legal Aid Society of Columbus.
AHACO will continue being supported by strategic adviser Roberta Garber, who served as the executive director from 2017 to 2020.
The members of the alliance are 21 nonprofit and for-profit organizations that represent the full spectrum of affordable housing activities in Franklin County.
WNC Names SVP of Accounting and Finance
Camille Longino has been appointed senior vice president of accounting and finance at WNC.
She joins the company from Avanath Capital Management, where she served as COO, CFO, and senior vice president of asset management during her tenure. Previously, she spent 11 years with C-III Asset Management, where she was involved in the firm’s fund management services and served in various financial reporting, investor reporting, and asset management roles. Longino began her career as a CPA with Deloitte in 1980.
Irvine, Calif.-based WNC is a low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) syndicator and national investor in affordable housing and community development initiatives. The firm has acquired approximately $9.9 billion of assets totaling in excess of 1,400 properties in 47 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. WNC’s investor base exceeds 19,500 institutional and retail clients, including Fortune 500 companies, multinational banks, and insurance companies.
Merchants Capital Establishes Debt Strategies Group
Evan Gibson has joined mortgage banking company Merchants Capital as vice president of debt strategies.
He recently served as the head of a direct lending platform for a top Department of Housing and Urban Development lender, focusing on the health care and multifamily asset classes, which included both value-add and stabilized properties.
In his new position, he will lead Merchants Capital’s debt strategies group, which will focus on developing both bridge and permanent debt solutions outside of the typical balance sheet and agency landscape. Based in the company’s New York City office, Gibson, a Marine Corps veteran, will work collaboratively with Merchants’ originations, credit, and capital markets teams to roll out these new solutions to clients.
Merchants Capital is a leading lender for the refinance, acquisition, new construction, and substantial rehabilitation of multifamily, affordable, senior, and student housing.
Red Stone Equity Partners Expands Staff, Announces Promotions
Red Stone Equity Partners, a real estate finance and investment company specializing in multifamily residential funds and financings, has announced several key personnel moves.
Catalina “Cat” Vielma has joined the firm as senior vice president of acquisitions for the Mountain region. Based in Denver, she will focus on the origination, underwriting, and structuring of affordable housing investments primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains areas. She brings more than 10 years of LIHTC experience in equity origination and underwriting.
Michael Tayefeh has been named assistant vice president of investor relations. Based in New York, he is responsible for assisting in the origination and syndication of tax credit investments involving Red Stone Equity’s institutional investor clients. He has more than eight years of experience working in real estate and market research and five years of experience in LIHTC syndication and development.
These personnel changes will support the company’s continued growth in 2020 after a record-breaking 2019, when it raised $1.03 billion of LIHTC equity and surpassed $5.5 billion in tax credit equity raised and invested since the firm’s inception.
The company also announced the following managerial promotions:
Charlotte Banghart, based in the Boston office, has been promoted to managing director of portfolio management. She was previously a senior director of portfolio management and has been with the company for seven years.
Alyssa Thomas, most recently senior director of portfolio management, has been promoted to managing director of portfolio management. She is based in the Charlotte office and has been with the company for eight years.
Stephanie Kinsman, based in the New York office, has been promoted to managing director of investor relations. She was recently director of investor relations and has been with the company for over 10 years.
Matt Grosz, most recently director of acquisitions for the West, has been promoted to managing director. He joined the company in 2016 and is based in the San Diego office.
Darren Swanson, most recently director of acquisitions for the Southeast, has been promoted to managing director. He joined the company in 2016 and is based in the Charlotte office.
Chris Murray, based in the New York office, has been promoted to managing director. He was most recently director of acquisitions, Northeast, and has been with the company for 12 years.
