Industry Veteran Joins Pennrose


Pennrose has appointed Tricia Yarger to be the company’s first vice president of capital markets.

Tricia Yarger
Tricia Yarger

In her new role, Yarger will be responsible for managing external capital partner and investor relationships. She will also oversee land acquisitions as well as low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) and market-rate financing across the organization’s portfolio. Previously, Yarger served as head of capital markets with national real estate firm Fairstead, where she was responsible for structuring and securing debt and equity across the company’s entire capital stack, including bridge, construction, permanent, and mezzanine loans as well as LIHTC and conventional equity.

Yarger also held leadership positions with Centerline Capital Group and Citigroup, where she was a director with Citi Community Capital for more than a decade.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the affordable housing industry, Yarger has closed more than 200 multifamily affordable housing real estate transactions creating and renovating over 40,000 apartments totaling more than $5 billion of debt originations or placements.

NHP Foundation Names Director of Supportive Housing

Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk has joined The NHP Foundation (NHPF) in the newly created role of director of supportive housing.

Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk
Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk

This strategic addition to the team underscores NHPF's commitment to expanding its portfolio of permanent supportive housing, which follows a Housing First model designed to support chronically and formerly homeless individuals and families, said the nonprofit.

Thibaudeau-Graczyk is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience in supportive housing. Her career spans various facets of supportive housing, including street outreach, shelters, rapid rehousing, youth homelessness, and system design. Most recently, she served as CEO of Temenos Community Development in Houston, where she collaborated closely with nonprofit NHPF on the development of the Rasmus-Temenos Apartments.

In recognition of her contributions to the industry, Thibaudeau-Graczyk was honored with NHPF’s 2022 Industry Leader Award at the NHPF Symposium.

Mahoney Promoted to Partner at Dominium

Mark Mahoney
Mark Mahoney

Mark Mahoney has been named partner and senior vice president, dispositions and financial planning and analysis, at Dominium, a leading affordable housing developer and owner.

As partner, Mahoney leads a comprehensive finance organization providing data and analytics, financial reporting, and benchmarking in support of the firm’s development and construction business. He will also lead the strategic asset management for long-term value events in Dominium’s portfolio.

Mahoney was hired by Dominium in 2006. As an 18-year veteran of the company, he has held various roles such as chief of staff and senior vice president of financial planning and analysis, vice president of asset management, and corporate controller.

Larsen Joins Merchants Capital

Michael Larsen
Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen has been named chief financial officer at Merchants Capital, a leading financial services provider. Part of the executive leadership team, he will oversee the company’s accounting and finance platform.

The position was created in response to Merchants’ organizational growth and platform complexity with expansion in LIHTC syndications, multifamily and health care securitizations, and a growing agency platform.

Larsen brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the position. He most recently served as president and chief operating officer at Lument, a leading agency lender. In these roles, he provided executive leadership for all aspects of real estate lending and investment management for a platform with $16 billion in annual volume and $50 billion in assets under management. Prior to that role, he was chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Hunt Real Estate Capital and Centerline Capital Group.

McDowell Housing Partners Adds to Team

Cheryl Steigerwald, vice president of design and predevelopment, and Kenny Bowron Jr., director of acquisitions, have joined McDowell Housing Partners (MHP), an active real estate investment and development firm.

Cheryl Steigerwald
Cheryl Steigerwald

Steigerwald brings over 25 years of experience in real estate development and architectural design to the McDowell team. Previously, at The NRP Group, she oversaw vertical design on over 4,000 units and $1 billion in yearly development of both affordable and market-rate multifamily housing. Steigerwald’s background includes a successful career as a practicing architect specializing in large-scale commercial development for major U.S.-based REITs. At MHP, she leads the design management of third-party consultants, driving the growth of the affordable housing portfolio and supporting MHP’s expansion efforts.

Kenny Bowron Jr.
Kenny Bowron Jr.

Bowron plays a pivotal role at the front end of the development process. His focus includes analyzing qualified allocation plans and competitive funding solicitations, formulating site selection strategies, performing due diligence for site feasibility, cultivating community partnerships, and overseeing the funding application production process.

Prior to joining McDowell, Bowron led acquisitions and predevelopment for Beneficial Communities, where he sourced multiple developments comprising over 2,000 units from Florida to Washington state.

Apex Building Group Appoints Senior Development Director

Daniel Marks Cohen has been named senior director of development at Apex Building Group, where he will be responsible for sourcing and executing affordable and market-rate real estate development projects in the greater New York market as well as managing existing developments in the firm’s portfolio.

Daniel Marks Cohen
Daniel Marks Cohen

He previously served as director of redevelopment at Livcor, a Blackstone company. Bringing experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sector, Cohen has also worked for ING Clarion Partners, New York City Economic Development Corp., Community Preservation Corp., and Housing Partnership Development Corp.

A full-service general contracting, construction management, and real estate development company with 30 years of experience in new construction and gut rehabilitation of residential development, Apex has created or preserved more than 7,400 affordable housing units throughout New York and New Jersey.

WHEDA Announces Leadership Moves

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) has named three new members to its leadership team—Keene Marin, director of information technology; T.J. Cobb, director of research and data; and the promotion of Jon Searles to director of community and economic development.

Marin brings over 25 years of experience managing and leading diverse and effective teams delivering critical infrastructure and projects to various environments to his new role. He most recently served as senior manager of systems management for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Cobb will create WHEDA’s new research and data department, bringing her experience from various organizations, including Milwaukee County, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the city of Milwaukee, where she held key roles addressing complex social issues and environmental challenges.

Searles, a WHEDA community and economic development officer in the Northeast region of Wisconsin since 2021, will assume the role of director, overseeing a statewide team. The team encompasses community and economic development activities that spur housing, advance tribal relations, and support emerging businesses. Searles previously served as vice president of marketing at Enterprise Community Partners and held multiple positions at Fannie Mae.