Affordable Housing Finance is recognizing six individuals 40 and younger who share a passion and mission for creating affordable housing and serving low-income households across the nation.
This year’s Young Leaders include developers and finance providers dedicated to creating and ensuring the success of affordable housing.
Since 2008, AHF has been honoring young men and women who are helping to build organizations and finding innovative ways to deliver affordable housing. The Young Leader award was created as a way to celebrate and support the development of a new generation of leaders.
This year’s Young Leaders are:
Myia Batie: As coordinator of policy and programs at Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Batie has led the nonprofit organization’s philanthropic and community outreach strategies to align and leverage investment decisions as well as promote communities and their residents. In addition, she serves on the board of managers for the Ohio Poverty Law Center and on the board of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation.
Katherine Fleming: Vice president of portfolio at BRIDGE Housing, Fleming has been an industry leader on asset management. Fleming, along with her team, is responsible for the financial and physical health of the nonprofit’s portfolio of 112 properties and more than 12,000 units and counting in the West. She’s also been active in promoting the importance of strong asset management for the industry.
Heather Olson: Vice president at Walker & Dunlop, Olson is responsible for the origination of multifamily loans, specializing in affordable housing nationwide.Since 2010, she has assisted with the origination, underwriting, and funding of more than $800 million in multifamily housing. Olson’s an active member of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Atlanta and the Women’s Affordable Housing Network in Atlanta.
Alexander Russell: Russell is executive vice president of Many Mansions, a nonprofit developer, property manager, and service provider in Southern California, where he oversees the housing division. He has helped the nonprofit increase its housing units by over 30%, expand its geographic footprint, and serve new populations. Russell is also president of the boards of the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing and the Ventura County Housing Trust Fund.
Catalina Vielma: Vielma, senior vice president of equity production at Boston Financial Investment Management, originates tax credit investments across the West from Alaska to Nebraska. Based in Denver, she plays an active role in the affordable housing scene there with Mercy Loan Fund, Mental Health Center of Denver, and All-In-Denver.
Dan Wilson: As senior vice president of Atlantic Pacific Communities, Wilson has played a critical role in the development of over 50 affordable housing communities with over 3,800 units. He has also helped to expand the Florida-based company’s geographic footprint into Texas and Washington, D.C. He also is active with the Urban Land Institute, serving as a member of the Florida Product Council Executive Committee, and the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers.
The Young Leaders will be honored at AHF Live: The Affordable Housing Developers Summit, which will be held Nov. 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. You can read more about them in the October issue of the magazine and online at www.housingfinance.com.
