Housing Visions Appoints CEO
Rebecca C. Newman has been named president and CEO of Housing Visions, a nonprofit neighborhood revitalization organization specializing in affordable housing development.
Headquartered in Syracuse, N.Y., Housing Visions owns 1,587 housing units throughout 15 communities in upstate New York and Pennsylvania and has a total community investment of more than $340 million.
Newman succeeds Kenyon Craig, who was one of the co-founders and has been leading the organization since its inception 27 years ago. Craig recommended Newman for the promotion because of her achievements at the firm.
Newman has served Housing Visions for over 10 years in various capacities, including the last four years as executive vice president and COO and has 15 years of affordable housing experience. She was most recently responsible for a successful restructuring of the organization’s construction division, which included an overhaul of staffing, bidding, and management processes. Newman is also credited with establishing Housing Visions as an Accredited Management Organization with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and extending Housing Visions’ footprint throughout upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
Housing Visions has completed nearly 50 housing projects across New York and Pennsylvania. It serves low- to moderate-income households, including special populations such as the physically handicapped, developmentally disabled, victims of domestic violence, veterans, and the homeless.
Housing Partnership Network Hires CFO
Eric Chatman has been named CFO of the Housing Partnership Network (HPN), a collaborative of 100 of the nation’s leading affordable housing and community development nonprofits.
As CFO, he will lead the financial strategy for Boston-based HPN and its various social enterprises. Chatman will be a member of the organization’s executive leadership team.
Prior to joining HPN, Chatman led an independent consulting business for housing finance organizations and served as president and executive director of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Past appointments also include roles as CFO and deputy director of the Iowa Finance Authority and treasurer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.
Vesta Adds to Team
Aaron Greenblatt has joined Vesta Corp., a leading real estate firm specializing in the redevelopment of distressed affordable housing communities, as legal counsel.
Greenblatt has been hired to serve as in-house, corporate counsel on various legal and strategic issues in the operation of Vesta’s business and related affiliates.
He joins his family in the business. His father, Arthur, is president and CEO, and his brother, Joshua, is executive vice president of Vesta.
Prior to joining the firm, Greenblatt practiced at a major Connecticut law firm representing lenders and borrowers, including Vesta, in various commercial transactions. He was involved with acquisition and construction financing, bond and tax credit transactions, and traditional mortgage financing.
Vesta owns and/or operates 44 affordable housing communities, with over 7,500 apartment homes in Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
CHW’S Wilson Receives Recognition
Anne B. Wilson, senior vice president of housing and real estate development for San Diego, Calif.–based Community HousingWorks (CHW), was recently named a “Community Hero” by public broadcasting station KPBS and the National Conflict Resolution Center.
She was honored for her longtime efforts to bring affordable housing to the region. Wilson joined CHW, a nonprofit responsible for creating or renovation nearly 3,000 affordable housing units, in 2002.
The Community Heroes program recognizes individuals who give selflessly to benefit the community.
