Enterprise Announces Executive Promotions
Meaghan Vlkovic and Baaba Halm have been promoted to senior vice presidents of programs for Enterprise Community Partners’ Solutions division.
The group’s expansion comes on the heels of Enterprise’s landmark milestone of 1 million homes created and preserved. In their newly created roles, Vlkovic and Halm will lead continued expansion of the Solutions team, which oversees programmatic growth, prioritization, partner relations, stakeholder collaboration, and state and local policy advocacy across U.S. regions.
In her new role, Vlkovic will oversee and lead the Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Midwest markets as well as Enterprise’s resilience efforts. Vlkovic has spent the last 14 years as vice president and Southeast market leader, during which she elevated the Atlanta office's profile, funding, partnerships, and investing opportunities. Under her leadership, the Southeast market implemented programs such as the Enterprise’s Faith-Based Development Initiative—which leverages underutilized land owned by houses of worship for affordable housing—in Atlanta and South Florida, drove preservation and resilience programs, and advocated for a number of issues from tenant protections to affordable housing resources, warranty of habitability, and protections for those experiencing homelessness.
Halm will oversee the Mid-Atlantic, New York, California, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, tribal nations and rural markets and other national efforts. As vice president and New York market leader, Halm guided Enterprise New York’s advocacy efforts, establishing the organization as a leading voice on housing matters statewide. She launched essential initiatives, including weatherization and electrification pilot programs targeting affordable housing operators. She also spearheaded Asset Management University 2.0, offering learning and support to operators; Home 4 Good, an upstream eviction prevention pilot program leveraging an outcomes financing approach; and a home-sharing program to support new immigrants.
The Michaels Organization Announces Promotions
Matt Sullivan has been named chief operating officer (COO) and Michael Flanagan has been named chief investment officer (CIO) at The Michaels Organization.
Sullivan, who has been with Michaels since 2021, previously served as executive vice president, investment management. As COO, Sullivan has overarching responsibility for Michaels’ asset management operations, risk management, refinance and dispositions platforms, and the support functions of information technology, human resources, and corporate marketing.
Flanagan joined Michaels in 2019 as vice president of capital markets and was named president of development in 2022. As CIO, Flanagan will lead Michaels’ investment and development platforms. It is a newly created position on the firm’s senior executive leadership team.
Michaels is a national leader in affordable housing and residential real estate, offering full-service capabilities in development, property management, construction, and investment, and asset management. The firm has more than 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Hawkins Announces Departure from ONE Neighborhood Builders
Jennifer Hawkins has announced that she will step down as president and CEO of ONE Neighborhood Builders, one of Rhode Island’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developers and owners, at the end of September.
She has led the organization since May 2017 and has worked for the nonprofit for nearly 11 years, previously serving as associate executive director.
“Leading ONE Neighborhood Builders has been the most rewarding and enriching experience of my career. In addition to the transformative growth and impact of our work, I’m incredibly proud of the organizational infrastructure that has been built, including an exceptional executive leadership team, a skilled board of directors, and a highly competent staff that are all united in their commitment to our work,” said Hawkins in a statement. “I’m eager to take time off to reflect on my 25 years of experience within the housing and community development fields across Rhode Island, Boston, and New York, and consider how my next professional endeavor can best contribute to larger systems change and generate enduring housing justice.”
Bridge Partners is leading a search for the next leader.
Regions Adds to Affordable Housing Team
Allison Johnston has joined Regions Affordable Housing as vice president relationship manager.
She will lead the origination of affordable housing opportunities in key Southeastern growth markets, including cities across Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Johnston brings over 10 years of financial services and affordable housing experience to Regions. Most recently, she worked at Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments, where she oversaw the capital funding team in the asset management department.
Regions Affordable Housing is a national low-income housing tax credit investor, syndication firm, and leader in affordable housing.
Afsharipour Joins Wells Fargo
Ila Afsharipour has been named managing director at Wells Fargo, where he will head the real estate, securitization, and affordable housing team for public finance. In his new role, Afsharipour will be working closely with the Wells Fargo multifamily capital, community lending and investment, and commercial mortgage-backed securities teams within the corporate and investment bank.
Afsharipour, who has more than 20 years of experience in the public finance and affordable housing sectors, will be responsible for originating and executing affordable housing securitizations, workforce housing transactions, and government‑sponsored enterprise and other real estate-related financings.
He joins Wells Fargo from KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he was a managing director and oversaw the firm's public finance affordable housing, 501(c)(3), and higher education businesses. Before that, Afsharipour had similar roles as a senior banker at U.S. Bancorp and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Afsharipour has been involved in over $15 billion of financings, including private placements, third-party tender option bond programs, structured trades, and interest-rate derivatives.
MHIC Names Chief of Investment Programs
Leslie Reid has joined the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp. (MHIC) in the new role of chief of investment programs.
Part of the executive leadership team, she will focus on market growth and expansion, and new product and program development. Reid will also oversee all investment, as well as MHIC’s community impact program.
Prior to joining MHIC, Reid was CEO of Madison Park Development Corp., one of the largest community development corporations in Massachusetts. She has worked for the commonwealth of Massachusetts and brings housing and commercial lending and investment experience from her work as a loan officer with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund, Community Economic Development Assistance Corp., and as a principal consultant at Recap Advisors.
