People on the Move 6.2.25

Standard Communities Makes Key Appointment

Caitlin Gossens has been named head of capital markets for the low-income housing tax credit new construction division at Standard Communities, a leading developer and owner of affordable and mixed-income housing with over 27,000 units in its portfolio.

She will lead capital-raising efforts for the new construction portfolio, manage debt and investor relationships, and oversee all aspects of the financing process from project inception through construction, lease-up, and stabilized occupancy. Standard Communities has over 4,000 units in its acquisition and new construction pipelines.

Previously, Gossens was a senior banker in J.P. Morgan’s community development division. From 2020 to 2025, she originated over $1.5 billion of construction and permanent debt, supporting the development or preservation of more than 6,500 affordable housing units across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

The Michaels Organization Boosts Leadership Team

Genevieve Bauer has been named executive vice president of management operations at The Michaels Organization, a national leader in affordable housing and residential real estate.

Bauer is positioned to succeed Kimberlee Schreiber, who has announced her intention to retire in two years. Schreiber has been with Michaels for more than 15 years, the last 10 as president of Michaels Management.

Bauer’s appointment provides an opportunity for her to embark on a tour of Michaels’ extensive portfolio, which extends from coast to coast as well as Hawaii and the Caribbean. She will work with Schreiber and the other members of Schreiber’s executive leadership in all aspects of property operations, including financial management, resident services, compliance, and technology.

She joins Michaels from MAXX Properties, where she served as chief operating officer. Her prior experience also includes senior vice president roles at Balfour Beatty Communities and WinnCompanies.

Wallick Names SVP of Asset Management

Mike Dodge has been appointed senior vice president of asset management at Wallick, an Ohio-based firm that serves the affordable housing, workforce housing, and senior living markets.

Dodge has more than 24 years of experience in real estate finance and development, with extensive expertise in senior living, investor relations, and asset management strategy.

Previously, he served as vice president of finance and development for Continental Real Estate Cos., where he managed the capital needs, including debt and equity, of existing and future developments of various property types, such as office, retail, multifamily, and senior housing.

HousingPlus Appoints CEO

Karen Ford has been named CEO of HousingPlus, a nonprofit community-based housing and services provider based in Brooklyn, New York.

She brings more than 35 years of experience in housing and human services to the role. She most recently served as executive vice president for homeless and support services at CAMBA. Her other experience includes serving as the city of New York’s inaugural executive director for the Mayor’s Office for Nonprofit Services and chief operating officer at HELP USA.

Ford succeeds Rita Zimmer, who founded HousingPlus in 2002. Zimmer, who led the organization from its inception and through its first two decades, announced plans to retire earlier this year.

HousingPlus is hosting its Good Person Awards in Zimmer’s honor June 5. She will receive the inaugural Legacy Award in recognition of her more than 40 years of work in shelter, housing, and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness.

DCHA Adds to Team

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) has announced the hiring of three leaders.

Carolyn Kornegay Punter has been appointed senior vice president of property management operations (PMO), a top position overseeing the public housing program. She is returning to DCHA from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where she served as the regional director of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for the Mid-Atlantic. Over her nearly 30-year career, she held leadership roles in DCHA’s PMO and Housing Choice Voucher program, as well as multiple HUD positions that were focused on compliance.

Christal Williams has been named senior vice president of human resources and labor relations, supporting the revitalization of human resources. Prior to joining DCHA, she was the deputy chief human capital officer at the Architect of the Capitol.

Faith Rogers has been appointed senior adviser to the executive director, expanding the agency’s policy expertise. She joins DCHA from HUD, where she led operational strategy as chief operations officer, a presidential appointment. Rogers adds depth to DCHA policy matters and intergovernmental relations.

HPD Announces Promotions

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the largest municipal housing preservation and development agency in the nation, has promoted two in its Office of Legal Affairs.

Rajen Chauhan has been promoted to the newly created role of associate general counsel of asset management. He has served the city as an HPD attorney for over a decade. He started his legal career in May 2007 as an attorney in private practice working on real estate and immigration matters. Beginning in October 2014, Chauhan worked as an agency attorney with HPD, handling numerous complicated transactions and reviewing Mitchell-Lama contracts. He later moved to the executive agency counsel position to take on a dedicated role supporting asset management and related matters, including the review of certificates of completion, mortgage satisfactions, releases of HPD agreements, and more.

Aysha Randazzo has been promoted to executive agency counsel. She graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 2017, where she completed the rigorous two-year accelerated J.D. program with a focus on public interest issues. After earning her law degree, Randazzo initially focused her practice on private immigration law, helping her clients navigate the complex immigration legal landscape. Her passion for public service and social impact eventually led her to HPD, where she closes on construction and permanent financing for new construction and preservation deals, and in particular manages HPD’s Section 610 workstream and the city’s Housing Development Fund Corp. formation pipeline.

IMPACT Community Capital Elevates Zimmerman

Andrew Zimmerman has been promoted to managing director, investments, at IMPACT Community Capital, an investment manager with a 25-year track record in affordable housing debt.

He will oversee the firm’s investment strategy, deal sourcing, and execution, further positioning IMPACT as a premier platform for investors seeking competitive, risk-adjusted returns in the affordable housing credit sector.

Zimmerman joined IMPACT in 2014 and has been a driving force behind several of the firm’s most complex and successful initiatives. He’s played a key role in developing innovative vehicles that align with investor needs, including IMPACT’s collaboration with Freddie Mac on the first Q-Series issuance, bringing the liquidity of agency financing to a wider range of affordable multifamily lenders and properties.