Dozier Appointed CEO of CLPHA

La Shelle Dozier has been named CEO of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), a national nonprofit that advocates for the resources and policies to preserve and improve public and affordable housing. She will join the organization Nov. 3.

She succeeds executive director Sunia Zaterman, who is stepping down after more than 30 years of service to CLPHA and the public housing industry.

Dozier has served as executive director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in California for 18 years. She also served as the vice president of CLPHA’s board of directors and as co-chair of the 10 Year Roadmap for Public Housing Sustainability, a broad-based coalition of stakeholders that will be producing a rigorous capital needs estimate for recapitalizing public housing and recommending financial tools to preserve the public housing portfolio for the next generation. 

Community Roots Names CEO

Colleen Echohawk has been appointed CEO of Community Roots Housing in Seattle. She takes over the top post following the retirement of longtime leader Christopher Persons.

Echohawk’s experience includes serving as executive director of Chief Seattle Club, a Native-led housing and human services agency, where she oversaw an effort to create nearly $100 million in new affordable housing in the city. She has also served as CEO of Eighth Generation, a Native-designed art and lifestyle brand. An established champion of Seattle’s Native and under-resourced populations, Echohawk is an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake.

In the next several months, Community Roots will complete Copperleaf Northgate, which is adjacent to the Northgate Link light-rail station in Seattle. This project will deliver 232 affordable apartments and a 10,000-square-foot day care center to the neighborhood. The organization also has other developments under construction.

Dixon Joins Advantage Capital

Affordable housing industry veteran Tom Dixon has joined Advantage Capital as senior vice president, federal low-income housing tax credit equity originations. In this role, he will help lead the firm’s recently launched LIHTC syndication platform.

Dixon brings more than 25 years of experience in originating and structuring LIHTC equity to Advantage Capital, where he will help expand its originations capacity.

Previously, he was a director, affordable housing production, at Lument, and senior vice president at Boston Capital.

Advantage Capital is a nationally recognized impact investment firm with a 30-plus year history of driving capital to communities throughout the country. It has invested over $4.4 billion in more than 1,000 companies. The firm’s approach is rooted in creating lasting economic impact through strategic investments in affordable housing, small business growth, and renewable energy solutions through investment and production tax credits.

Beacon Communities Announces SVP

Jennifer Steinberg has been elevated to senior vice president, development, at Beacon Communities. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s housing development operations throughout New York state. She will also join the company’s senior leadership team and play a role in the overall strategic direction of the company.

Linda Goodman, who has served as senior vice president of development for New York since 2022, will retire at the end year of the year after nine years with Beacon and a distinguished career in affordable housing.

Based in New York City, Steinberg has played a central role in expanding Beacon’s footprint across New York since joining the company in 2021. She manages pipeline growth and execution for 3,500 units of active projects, including Beacon’s first New York City initiative, a 952-unit New York City Housing Authority PACT (Permanent Affordability Commitment Together) project in the Bronx that will deliver comprehensive upgrades for more than 1,700 residents, including 600 seniors.

Steinberg’s recent accomplishments also include the award-winning 35 Broadway project in Menands, a fully electric community with 67 apartments, more than half reserved for formerly homeless veterans, with on-site support services. In Ulster County, she oversaw renovations across Birchwood Village, Chambers Senior Housing, and the Birches at Saugerties, preserving 212 affordable homes using an innovative financing structure that reduced pressure on scarce housing resources.

NEF Names Ferrara to Key Role

Tracey Ferrara has been appointed head of asset management and a member of the executive team at National Equity Fund (NEF)

She has been at NEF for 24 years, moving up on the asset management team. Earlier this year, she was promoted to senior vice president of asset management, leading and overseeing NEF’s core asset management and regional teams. Prior to that, Ferrara led the structured finance portfolio, playing a critical role in its rapid growth and contribution to NEF’s expanding suite of capital solutions.

In her new role, Ferrara will ensure development compliance and long-term viability by overseeing a national team of 70 asset managers, construction risk managers, and analysts. She is based in NEF’s Providence, Rhode Island, office.

In June, Ferrara was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Consortium for Housing & Asset Management.

Century Housing Announces Promotions

Century Housing, a Community Development Financial Institution that provides end-to-end financing for affordable housing throughout California, has announced several promotions.

Beulah Ku has been elevated to chief strategy officer from vice president, client relations. She leads Century’s enterprise growth strategy—identifying and advancing strategic partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions and mergers, and critical capital projects—and coordinates execution across divisions, with a particular focus on marketing and operations. Ku has been with Century since 2007. She serves on the board of the Los Angeles Business Council and on Housing California’s policy committee, and she is a former board member of the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing.

Oscar Alvarado has been promoted to senior vice president of Century Affordable Development from vice president, housing. He supervises Century’s real estate development team, which has more than 2,000 affordable homes in its pipeline, and manages relationships with lenders, investors, contractors, and public and private partners. He joined Century in 2014 and serves on the board of American Family Housing in Orange County, California.

Heather Sharp has been promoted to senior vice president, property operations, from vice president, property operations. She oversees Century’s internal and third-party-managed portfolio. She joined Century in 2022 and brings more than 20 years of experience in affordable housing. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Consortium for Housing and Asset Management.