Visit our event page for more information and to register.

https://www.housingcolorado.org/page/covid19

Each month we profile a member volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding support for Housing Colorado's mission, either by serving on a committee or contributing their time and energy in other ways.

March 2020
Alison George

Alison George is the state director of housing serving the Colorado Division of Housing (DOH) in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), where she directs all DOH programs, ranging from statewide housing voucher programs and manufactured housing code and mobile home park regulatory oversight, to Federal and State funding for constructing new affordable housing. Alison brings more than 25 years of experience in affordable housing finance and development. Before joining DOH, Alison served Mercy Housing Colorado as its Regional Vice President of Multifamily Housing and the Michaels Development Company as its Vice President of Development overseeing housing development in Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

How did you end up working in affordable housing?

I started working in affordable housing over 20 years ago. I quickly found my passion was affordable housing while working for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) in Washington, D.C. analyzing mortgage data. It was during this time that I began understanding the significant impacts redlining has had historically in our country. The opportunities we have throughout life shape our lives. We pass this down to our children and to other people we have around us.

When I left Washington, D.C. and moved to Kansas City, I earned my Master’s degree and not long after, began working for the Michaels Development Company, the largest owner of affordable housing in the country. At the time, Michaels was developing a mixed income housing development, including public housing, in the suburbs of the city. It was highly controversial, and Michaels needed a local representative to meet and negotiate with the community. That was me. I met every other week for three years with neighbors. Although the frequent meetings were not without challenge, I continued to work on the project and now property values of the surrounding area have appreciated and the once vacant commercial buildings are filled and thriving with successful businesses. I even had a community member in KC apologize for giving me a hard time once he realized the development was an asset to their neighborhood.


What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love what I do; Not only do I enjoy seeing people have new opportunities, I love problem solving. I enjoy trying to make things better. The more efficiently we do things, the more people have a chance. In other words, if our, or our partners’, efficiencies can create five more units – that is five more families with an affordable home. Five more families not stressed about their next rental or mortgage payment. This creates opportunities that have a positive ripple effect.

At the Colorado Division of Housing, we administer federal and state funds for everything from emergency shelter assistance to down payment assistance. Last year we served more than 38,000 households. My most memorable experience was assisting a management company move people into a supportive housing development for people faced with homelessness. I assisted several ladies that had been homeless from two to 10 years. I was humbled to hear their stories of perseverance and resilience, and their joy to have a safe home with the support they needed to stay stably housed.


How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?

I attended my first Housing Colorado conference about 15 years ago. It was at that conference I saw a panel on Supportive Housing for people faced with homelessness. It was that panel that made me think – what a good idea, and I can do that. From there, I was able to start the development of two supportive housing developments while working for Mercy Housing.


How do you currently serve Housing Colorado, and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?

I joined Housing Colorado’s board in 2018, and I serve on its education and membership committees.


What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?

Wow. There is a lot going on, but it is needed. Colorado continues to grow and the affordable housing challenge is keeping pace. As we look to the future, two key priorities can have a positive ripple effect throughout Colorado’s housing market: 1. An immediate solution for lower-income households, and 2. Increase attainable homeownership that moves families from rental markets into homeownership. These priorities and corresponding solutions can only become reality through public/private partnerships, collaboration and leadership.


What website(s) do you find useful in your work?

I appreciate Housing Colorado’s legislative webpage that provides summaries of proposed bills and HC’s position. Beyond newspapers for current events, I rely heavily on several list serves that push out information on hot and new topics.


What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?

I am most proud of the dedicated staff at the Colorado Division of Housing and the work they do to meet the housing needs of Colorado’s communities. It is not about one project or one program. It is not just about rental housing or homeownership. The needs are too varied throughout the state, and each communities’ needs are unique in their own way. DOH staff are focused on serving Colorado’s most housing challenged and working with communities to achieve their affordable housing goals.


Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far, or who do you look up to?

Two mentors, Ava Goldman and Pat Coyle, were pivotal in my career. They were both my boss at different times. I worked for Ava at the Michaels Development Company. She was kind, incredibly tough and an expert at her job developing affordable housing. Pat was my mentor at the Colorado Division of Housing before he retired from State service. As a boss and mentor, he was funny, inspiring and absolutely driven to make a lasting impact in his work.

Each month we profile a member volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding support for Housing Colorado's mission, either by serving on a committee or contributing their time and energy in other ways.

January 2020
2020 Board Chair – Shelley Marquez

Shelley Marquez is senior vice president and Community Relations Senior Manager at Wells Fargo, managing the community development and philanthropy teams across 11 states. Shelley and her team are responsible for community outreach, stakeholder engagement, charitable contributions, reputation activities and Underbanked Council work across Wells Fargo enterprise. She has 35 years of banking experience and has been with Wells Fargo for the last 25 years.

How did you end up working in affordable housing?

As a proud Colorado native, I grew up in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver. I have always been passionate about community and giving back. My love for community grew 17 years ago, when I took a position as the Community Development Manager covering the state of Colorado. This role gave me a greater understanding of the community needs and allowed me to further my impact not only in the Westwood Neighborhood but throughout Colorado.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I have been blessed to find a position that aligns with my personal interest and passion.  As the Community Relations Senior Manager, I get to work with a great team who is passionate about the community and focused on solving pressing problems around Affordable Housing, and Economic Development. This work has allowed me to lead a team and work in the communities that are near and dear to my heart. I love being able to make a difference and knowing the work I lead is making a difference.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?

I attended my first Housing Colorado conference in 2003. The following year, I became involved in the conference planning committee. This allowed me the opportunity to learn more about the work Housing Colorado was doing around quality affordable housing, and advocacy to build a strong economy and healthy communities. It was also a great way to connect with attendees and meet so many passionate people that had the same focus.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado, and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?

After being on the conference planning committee and finance committee, I joined the Housing Colorado board in 2015 and chaired the governance committee for the last 3 years. I enjoy giving back and working with other like-minded individuals to work on solving the affordable housing issues in Colorado.

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?

Currently we are in the process of implementing our new strategic philanthropy work locally and across the company. The work in community relations continues to evolve and how we are responding to grant request is changing.  Wells Fargo is looking to help solve societal problems and our focus areas are Housing Affordability, Financial Health and Small Business Growth. The Housing Affordability pillar aligns well with the work Housing Colorado is doing and this is also an opportunity for Wells Fargo to play a significant role in how we address housing issues nationally and in the local market. 

What website(s) do you find useful in your work?

One website I find very resourceful is LiveAffordabilitycolorado.org because it provides some key statistics on the need for housing. I also use the CHFA resources and Division of Housing and of course Google.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?

Every project has a special meaning because impact is created and the focus is helping our distressed communities, implementing resources, and creating safe and affordable housing. I think the work we have done with the NeighborhoodLIFT Program in 2014 and 2017 in Denver, Aurora and Arapahoe counties has had a significant impact in the most recent years, given the cost of housing is out of reach for many individuals in our community. Being able to provide down payment assistance is critical and knowing we are changing the life of each individual or family to realize their dream is priceless. In addition, the work we are doing to support nonprofit organizations in our local community that support capacity building or fund programs for low to moderate income individuals it is helping to meet our community needs.  

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far, or who do you look up to?

One person I look up to is my dad who served in the U.S. Marine Corp as a military policeman and is a disabled veteran. He worked at Red Rocks Community College as an automotive instructor for many years. He has always been very supportive of my career and he is the internal optimist who provides encouragement and support along the way. He has had to deal with a number of his own challenges from his injuries in the service and the loss of his son’s. No matter the struggle he remains faithful and has a positive outlook on life. He is one of my biggest supporters and has always reminded me to keep my head up and be proud of who I am. 

The 2020 Eagle Awards will take place on
Wednesday, May 6th at Le Méredien Denver Downtown

The nominee application form is now available!


Interested in sponsorship opportunities?
Download the sponsorship PDF
and email Rachel for more information


For more information and to register,
visit the Eagle Awards event page

Each month we profile a member volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding support for Housing Colorado's mission, either by serving on a committee or contributing their time and energy in other ways.

December 2019
Craig Maraschky

Craig Maraschky has served on the Board of Housing Colorado since 2017. He currently serves on the Governance Committee and Chairs the Legislative Committee. Craig has been the Executive Director of the Aurora Housing Authority (AHA) since 2008. AHA serves 10,000 individuals through a variety of housing and related programs including 2,000 Housing Choice Vouchers and 850 units of rental housing. Craig also serves on the Board of the Colorado Chapter of NAHRO and serves on two National NAHRO Committees.

How did you end up working in affordable housing?

I came to Denver in 1993 to start my Masters in City Planning at UCD and was fortunate enough to get an internship at the City and County of Denver in the Housing Programs Section, working on Denver’s Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS). Melissa Stirdivant hired me and now we work together at AHA. I guess the rest is history as they say. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Seeing things we talk about at the Housing Authority become reality. I’m very fortunate to work with an incredibly dedicated group of people, and they continue to amaze me.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?

The first conference I went to was in 1995, before the merger that resulted in the Housing Colorado we know today. Over time I just became more involved in things.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado, and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?

For some crazy reason they asked if I was interested in being on the Board a few years ago, and it has been a really great experience. There are a lot of smart people working in our field, so having more opportunities to engage with all of them is great.

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?

I’d have to say the new money that the General Assembly approved this past session is the most exciting thing I’ve seen in my years of working in affordable housing in Colorado. The infusion of money is so needed, and there are a lot of great agencies that are ready to put those funds into action. In Aurora, we are looking at some innovative ways to serve young adults coming out of foster care as well as homeless individuals with those funds.

What website(s) do you find useful in your work?

I wish I had some exciting answer, but sadly it’s Google.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?

Probably my first real, paid, full-time job in housing when I was a housing programs specialist in Arapahoe County in 1994. I developed and operated a homeownership and single family rehabilitation program. I enjoyed working directly with the families. I would go to the closings, and some of the families were so excited to buy their first home. It was really special to be a part of that process.

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far, or who do you look up to?

First my parents. I was the youngest of five kids, and my mother worked full-time night shifts at a hospital. How she kept it all together is beyond me. Also my father, in a very different way. He was a World War II combat Vet and served with the 82^nd Airborne in Europe. He suffered from post-traumatic stress but got up every day, went to work, and did the best he could. I got to see what dealing with mental illness is all about. Consequently, he is one of the people that motivates me to try and help people that might seem different on the outside but are really just trying to get by in the best way they can.

A lot of people have been so helpful to me professionally. I’d have to say Mark Welch has to be one of the smartest people I have had the pleasure of working with during my years in the business.

There are so many other friends in the industry that I call for help, including Don May, Elizabeth Gundlach Neufeld, and Tami Fischer. Those are just a few of a long list of friendships that I’ve made over the years.

Registration is now open for the
2019 Housing Colorado Now Annual Conference!

Join us in beautiful Keystone, Colorado this October 9th-11th as we tackle the big issues together and find ways to develop and preserve our state's housing.

Register today to enjoy the early bird discount: Registration and Lodging Information

And check out this year's full schedule!

Any questions? Contact us at (303) 863-0123 or info@housingcolorado.org

Registration opens for the Housing Colorado Now Conference soon, but there is still time to show your support for Housing Colorado by becoming a sponsor!

See the current list of remaining sponsorship opportunities here: https://www.housingcolorado.org/page/nowsponsorinfo

Each month we profile a member volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding support for Housing Colorado's mission, either by serving on a committee or contributing their time and energy in other ways.

May 2019
Jim Rieker

How did you end up working in affordable housing?  I stumbled into it just out of college and have been working in the industry ever since. I was working for a construction company that went bankrupt and through a friend, I found a job at the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA).  During my stay at NIFA, the Low-Income Housing Credit Program was created and I was charged with getting Nebraska’s program up and running.  Since then, I have always worked within the affordable housing industry, and with the LIHTC program.

What do you enjoy most about your job?  I enjoy working with people—the people that put the deals together, the people we serve in low-income communities and the people who help to make it all happen. Seeing a deal come together and, most importantly, seeing what we do to help people, makes it all worthwhile.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?  With the passage of the state affordable housing credit, Advantage Capital became a member of Housing Colorado. Once I joined Advantage, I asked to be involved in Housing Colorado.  I saw all the great things that were being done and felt I could make a difference.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado, and what do you enjoy most about volunteering? I currently sit on the sponsorship committee and the workshop committee for the annual conference.  In addition, I work closely with those involved on legislation around the state affordable housing credit. The success of the annual conference and the changes we’ve been able to make on the state affordable housing credit have been fun to see.  Great people make great things happen and it has been exciting to be along for the ride.

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?  It was exciting to get a five-year extension, versus the normal three years, on the state affordable housing credit in 2018.  Now in 2019 we have doubled the size of the program.  Two great projects in the Denver area are currently under construction, Tammen Hall and Flats at Two Creeks.  Both are unique projects and encompass areas I am passionate about.  Tammen Hall is an historic project for elderly residents.  Saving historic structures is important to me and the closer I get to senior citizen status, well, the sooner I can move in when a project is complete.  The Flats at Two Creeks project, which helps homeless or near homeless veterans, is something I would like to do in every state I work in, over and over again.  Following the success we have seen in states like Colorado and others, which have strong affordable housing programs, watch for several potential new states to develop state affordable tax credit programs in 2019.  This is particularly exciting because it helps house that many more people in need.

What website(s) do you find useful in your work?  For all the states I work in, the Housing Finance Agencies’ websites are key.  The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) does a great job with keeping its site current and helpful.  I use Housing Colorado to help monitor legislative actions, as well as other state coalitions’ sites. Novogradac’s website has been helpful for data that’s needed when putting together deals.  Of course, development team websites are critical when underwriting a deal.  There are many others that are equally important in making deals work and bringing people together.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why? That is a tough one since I’ve been in affordable housing for more than 35 years.  In Colorado, the extension and expansion of the state affordable housing credit is one I’m proud to be a part of.  A lot of people worked to make that happen.  We now have the continuation and expansion of another tool to help house Coloradoans.  While not in Colorado, the redevelopment and expansion of the Open Door Mission Campus in Omaha, NE, has been a project I will always cherish.  The number of men, women and children the Open Door Mission has helped take off the streets, turn their lives around and become part of the community is tremendous, and it has served as a model for many similar projects around the country. Though it took three years to do the first phase, the second two phases were much easier, and now we’re looking at  phases 4 and 5. Being a part of the transformation of so many lives is something I can’t help but be thankful for.

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far, or who do you look up to?  My dad, who just turned 95 this spring, has always been an inspiration and taught me how to be a servient leader and hard worker.  The lessons he taught me have been invaluable in my career, though even though to this day, he really doesn’t understand exactly what I do. He knows I work to provide people with safe and affordable homes – creating positive and lasting impacts for people and the communities they call home – which is the most important part of my job. Aside from my dad, a former executive director at NIFA was key in my career.  I’ve always had a passion for people but he showed me the true value of people we are intended to serve and the difference we can make in their lives. I’ve never looked at affordable housing the same since that valuable lesson. Through his mentorship, while running my own company for 20 years, I coined the phrase, “if we worry about the people we are intended to serve, we will never have to worry about money because it will always be there.  However, if we worry about money first, we’ll never have enough.”

Each month we profile a member volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding support for Housing Colorado's mission, either by serving on a committee or contributing their time and energy in other ways.

April 2019
Kathryn Grosscup

Kathryn is a Senior Tax Credit Officer with Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA). She assists with the allocation of tax credits and provides expertise to developers, local governments, nonprofits, and housing authorities. Kathryn is also co-Chair of the Eagle Awards Committee for Housing Colorado. Over her career in housing, Kathryn has worked at the Colorado Division of Housing, a local housing authority, and HUD—the majority from Glenwood Springs on the Western Slope!

How did you end up working in affordable housing?

Following graduate school, I was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow in a two-year intensive introduction to federal employment where I worked at HUD in Denver and Washington, DC. This was a great introduction to my career in housing, and over time I have shifted from administration of federal assistance programs to housing finance and development work.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the range of creative and complex ideas for housing solutions across Colorado that I see every day. I am inspired by the significance and impact of housing tax credit programs on the development and preservation of homes for large numbers of individuals and families.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?

I have been attending the annual Housing Colorado conference for many years, proposing and participating in many workshops. It has always been a rewarding and eye-opening experience, and great fun with new and old colleagues.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado, and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?

About five years ago, I began volunteering with the Eagle Awards Committee to expand my knowledge of all the creative ideas and people in this field. This year I joined Tim Beal as co-Chair of the Committee. I enjoy making new connections and exploring what is happening in other areas and with other agencies.

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?

Currently, I am excited about the potential $5 million increase in state Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC) available for allocation that is under consideration by the Colorado General Assembly. Combined with other state resources and legislative actions, I anticipate the opportunity to support more developments and increase impact across many markets in Colorado.

What website(s) do you find useful in your work?

I use the CHFA website frequently in my work along with Novogradac and other tax credit websites.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?

I am proud of each development or program I have undertaken as they all meet needs of local areas – there is no easy way to pick just one! Similarly, in my previous positions, I am proud of both small and large programs that I supported on the Western Slope.

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far, or who do you look up to?

I frequently look up to housing professionals working in small or rural communities. We all appreciate the challenges of accomplishing housing outcomes, and I give a shout out to professionals who operate in all areas of the state.

Each month we profile a member volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding support for Housing Colorado's mission, either by serving on a committee or contributing their time and energy in other ways.

March 2019
Melinda Pasquini

Melinda is a Shareholder at Polsinelli PC, a national, full service law firm with over 800 attorneys in more than 20 locations throughout the country.  She represents developers, lenders, providers and investors in affordable housing and healthcare real estate transactions.

How did you end up working in affordable housing?

I worked on my first LIHTC transaction during law school while I was a summer associate at a law firm. From a professional perspective, I was instantly hooked and went on to take as many tax classes as possible during my last year of law school. From a personal perspective, I have always been very involved in my community and knew instantly that this was the way to make a difference on a daily basis while also satisfying my need to be intellectually challenged.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love working with amazing, smart and dedicated people while being constantly called upon to think outside of the box and find creative solutions to make a project feasible in a way that works for all stakeholders. The ultimate reward is knowing the difference a project has made in so many people’s lives once it is built and that I was part of the hard working team that made it possible.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?

I started by going to the annual Housing Colorado Conference. The Conference was so much fun! I made lasting friendships and professional connections, all the while learning something new about affordable housing and how to better build the communities we live in.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado, and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?

I am currently the Co-Chair of the Conference Workshop Committee and a member of the Legislative Committee. Staying up to date, educating others and being a part of shaping Colorado’s communities is something that satisfies this Colorado native like nothing else (except maybe spending time in the beautiful Colorado Mountains with my family).

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?

My other professional passion besides affordable housing is healthcare and I have always seen a strong synergy between housing and healthcare. This trend is finally starting to take shape and I am working on a number of affordable housing projects in Colorado and nationally that incorporate low-income health and dental clinics, pharmacies and addiction, mental health and behavioral services.

What website(s) do you find useful in your work?

With all of the exciting legislative activity, The Colorado General Assembly website is my most valuable resource during the Colorado legislative season. From a Federal perspective, I keep up to do date on legislative activity for affordable housing through ACTION. For information on affordable housing in other states, Novogradac is very helpful. And finally, the HUD and CHFA websites help me to stay up to date on specific technical issues.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?

There is no way I could choose just one. Each project I have worked on holds a special place in my heart. Each one has had its own unique challenges along the way but has ultimately gone on to serve so many people by providing much needed housing and services.

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far, or who do you look up to?

Generally, I look up to all my colleagues who choose affordable housing over more lucrative finance and development careers because they are committed to the outcome of their work. I could easily be accused of bias, but I truly believe that I work with the smartest, most creative and dedicated people who on their worst days run circles around the most sophisticated Wall Street dealmakers.
 

Each month Housing Colorado profiles a member volunteer who serves on a committee or another volunteer opportunity. This profile features members who have shown great commitment to the mission of Housing Colorado.

January 2018
Adam Kopp

Adam joined Mercy Loan Fund in December 2012 as an Asset Manager.  He took on additional responsibility for underwriting loans and became a Loan Officer in October 2014.  Since then, he has progressed to Lending Manager.  As Lending Manager, Adam is responsible for originating, underwriting, and closing loans for affordable housing projects nationally.  Prior to Mercy Loan Fund, he worked at UDR, Inc. a multifamily real estate investment trust.  Adam has a BA in Political Science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA and a MS in Real Estate and Construction Management from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Adam serves as the Chair of Housing Colorado’s Education Committee.

How did you end up in affordable housing?
After working in market rate housing for several years, I wanted to make a change and applied to Mercy Housing.  I didn’t know much about the industry at the time, but over six years later I am still with Mercy and planning on making a career in affordable housing.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Although I know it sounds cliché, the people are certainly the best part.  That includes both my colleagues at Mercy Housing and people I work with throughout the industry.  It is great to see the passion behind affordable housing that drives everyone in this industry.  My favorite difference between affordable and market rate housing is the collaboration.  Instead of everyone being in competition with each other, everyone works together on the common goal of delivering affordable housing.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
Mercy Loan Fund lends nationally to both nonprofit and for profit developers.  Because of that, there is not a standard project or market that we see.  Each project requires a different loan structure and underwriting.  The diversity of the deals is also what I find most interesting about my position.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?
Mercy had a long relationship with Housing Colorado before I joined the organization.  Because of that, I was introduced to it pretty quickly.  I started as a conference attendee and then joined the Education Committee. 

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I joined the Education Committee in January 2015 and became the chair of the Committee in January 2018.  Additionally, I have presented at the Housing Now conference multiple times.  I enjoy working on the Education Committee because I believe one of the biggest benefits of Housing Colorado is the chance to learn from each other.  I am glad to be a part of organizing these monthly opportunities.   

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?
As interest rates and construction costs continue to rise, I believe that Community Development Financial Institutions (“CDFIs”), like Mercy Loan Fund, will be well positioned to help developers with the financial resources needed to continue developing and acquiring affordable housing.  We have been looking into new lending products such as mezzanine debt that could help during these market changes.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?
It is difficult to pick a single project/loan that I would be most proud of.  However, as a national lender, it always good to work on local projects.  I have recently worked on loans with Zocalo Development and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, both Housing Colorado members.  It will be great to see these projects provide affordable housing to Coloradans. 

What is the best career advice you have ever been given?
I think this might be more life advice than career advice, but one thing that stands out is a friend telling me not to associate your self-worth with your net-worth.  I think that is a good advice for keeping perspective on what is important in your career goals and priorities.

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career so far or who do you look up to?
My primary mentor in affordable housing has been Jason Battista, the President of Mercy Loan Fund.  Throughout my years working at Mercy Loan Fund, Jason has been great about imparting his affordable housing & finance knowledge and is an excellent example of a leader to look up to.

What website(s) do you find useful in your work?
The website I probably utilize the most is www.housingfinance.org.  It provides a lot of news and insight on affordable housing nationally.  For local information, I think Denverite does a good job covering affordable housing topics in the Denver metro.

If you were given the chance to go on a vacation to any place of your choosing, where would you go and what would you do?
Certainly, at the top of my list is a backpacking trip in the Patagonia region of South America.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Colorado?
The go-to restaurant for my wife and I is Ototo Den on South Pearl Street.  We both really enjoy the sashimi there.

What book are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?
I just finished Bad Blood by John Carreyrou.  It is about the build up and fall of Theranos, the blood testing company.  I would definitely recommend it.

 The nomination period will close on February 1st. As you reflect on 2018, are there amazing people, programs and projects that motivate and encourage you to soar to new heights?Nominees and award winners must be built in or serve the Colorado market. Construction projects must be completed to be eligible. Please download the nomination form below and email Rachel Massman.

This year's Eagle Awards Ceremony will take place on May 9th at the Four Seasons in Denver. Registration is now open. Get your tickets here. We also have opportunities for sponsorship and  table sponsors, who are able to fill a table of 10 seats. (Nominees will receive two complimentary tickets to the event). 

Download the Nomination Form

We hope you join us for another great year. Read last year's recap, or see past winners.

Each month Housing Colorado profiles a member volunteer who serves on a committee or another volunteer opportunity. This profile features members who have shown great commitment to the mission of Housing Colorado.

December 2018
Amy Case

Amy Case is honored to serve as Housing Colorado’s Board Chair for 2019. In her 5 years on the Board, she has been a member of the Conference, Education, Editorial, Membership, Governance, and Finance committees and held the offices of Secretary and Chair Elect. As Controller at the Grand Junction Housing Authority, she manages the Finance and Accounting functions of an actively developing agency with 1200 housing vouchers, 700 affordable apartments, and several supportive service programs. Amy has been an active volunteer in her community on several non-profit Boards.

How did you end up in affordable housing? 
After working for many years in the consumer and mortgage lending industry, I was looking for a change and was drawn to an available position with the Grand Junction Housing Authority as a Homeownership Program Coordinator. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 
Too hard to pick just one thing I enjoy most, so I’ll give you a list- working in a strong and growing agency, the ability to participate at the strategic level with our Board and Executive Team, all of the professional development opportunities I’ve been given, and knowing (and seeing!) the impact of our work in our community.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
Let’s face it, Finance and Accounting work can get pretty repetitive and tedious.  You can only stare at spreadsheets for so long, so creating some variety day to day is really important to me.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado? 
My CEO, Jody Kole, is a former Housing Colorado Board Chair, so our agency has a long history of involvement with HC.  I started out as a Conference attendee, then Conference committee member, and was eventually nominated for a position on the Board.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I am more than honored to currently serve as the Chair of the Housing Colorado Board of Directors.  In any position I have volunteered in with Housing Colorado, and there have been many, the part I always enjoy most is having the opportunity work with dedicated, passionate, thoughtful industry colleagues who always challenge and inspire me.

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work? 
So many. GJHA is currently completing construction on Phase 2 of a 9% senior property, rehabbing an older senior property, and doing pre-development work on a new family LIHTC property.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why? 
As I said before, I started at GJHA as Homeownership Program Coordinator. With the support of my agency’s leadership, we were able to grow that program from just me doing down payment assistance to a HUD-approved housing counseling program also providing Homebuyer Ed, Foreclosure Counseling, and Reverse Mortgage Counseling. At its peak during the foreclosure crisis, we served 7 counties with five employees and assisted many hundreds of households over the programs’ most active years.

What is the best career advice you have ever been given? 
How about I answer this with a great quote, “Easy luck always turns bad. You want the kind of luck you have to earn.”- Dean Koontz.

What website(s) do you find useful in your work? 
 www.nahro.org, The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials offers in depth analysis of issues effecting public housing authorities and the community development industry, as well as valuable educational opportunities.

If you were given the chance to go on a vacation to any place of your choosing, where would you go and what would you do? 
I’ve wanted to go to Croatia for years.  The Dalmation Coast looks incredibly beautiful and so different from anything I’ve ever seen.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Colorado?
As a plug for the Western Slope, I have to say that Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction is amazing! Best cheeseburger ever!

What book are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?
I love a good thriller and am always in the middle of one.  However, my new indulgence is Podcasts- loving the true crime ones!  I’ve also found that Podcasts are great for passing the time on drives to/from Denver for Housing Colorado events!

Each month Housing Colorado profiles a member volunteer who serves on a committee or another volunteer opportunity. This profile features members who have shown great commitment to the mission of Housing Colorado.

November 2018
Cathy Alderman

How did you end up in affordable housing?
My career has been largely focused on social justice issues and when the opportunity to join the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) became available, I knew it would give me a chance to work on a broad number of issues related to economic and social justice including housing.  Housing is at the cornerstone of people’s stability.  Without it, it is difficult to obtain an education or employment, manage physical and mental healthcare issues, engage meaningfully in civic and community endeavors, etc.  I wanted to work in a space supporting policies that provide stability to people of all backgrounds so that we can have a more just community in Colorado.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I work with some of the most engaged and caring people I have ever known, and they inspire me every day.  I want to make their jobs easier, so they can serve more people and help provide better stability to more individuals and families.  And, I enjoy engaging in thoughtful conversations about making systems and policy changes that help connect people to the resources, the support systems, and the housing they need to be successful.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
The fear that we might be doing too little too late or that we won’t be able to adequately address the issue of homelessness and housing instability for our friends and neighbors in Colorado.  I remain optimistic that we can build the support within the community to do the right thing, but I am worried about apathy, NIMBY-ism, complacency, and resistance from communities that are not impacted by economic and social justice issues or feel like it is not their responsibility to build strong communities together.

How did you get involved with Housing Colorado?
When I started at CCH in 2015, I was told that much of the housing policy work for the state was being discussed at the Housing Colorado Policy Committee, so I decided I needed to become a member quickly.

How do you currently serve Housing Colorado and what do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I have served on the Policy Committee for 3 years now and this year, I served on the Conference Committee.  The Policy Committee provides such a good space to discuss legislative housing proposals and the opportunity to hear from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.  The Conference Committee was a good opportunity to learn more about Housing Colorado members and to help shape relevant content for the Housing NOW Conference.

What are some exciting progressions or projects currently going on in your work?
We are launching a statewide public education campaign in January to get feedback on people’s understanding of the connections between housing and health and their perceptions of homelessness.  The goal is to garner statewide input and support for a permanent dedicated funding source for housing in Colorado.  If we can build the right level of community relationships and provide the right learning opportunity throughout Colorado, considering differing needs of different communities, I think we can make a much better sell to the Colorado General Assembly that the State must invest in housing and homelessness now if it is ever going to solve the crisis.

What project, program or undertaking are you most proud of and why?
I’m proud of some of the innovative work that CCH has been able to do and that I get to tell elected officials and the community about.  My team is responsible for public engagement and outreach including providing tours to our buildings – last year we reached over 1200 people in this work! One of CCH’s unique programs in the Ft Lyon Residential Recovery Community in Las Animas, Colorado where we provide people experiencing homelessness and suffering from a substance use disorder the opportunity to recover from their addiction, improve life stability, and re-integrate into their community of choice. It’s inspiring to see how impactful that is on people’s lives.  I am also really proud of our Social Impact Bond work where we house chronically homeless individuals that are high utilizers of emergency services to help provide cost savings to the City of Denver.  These programs offer evaluations and data on the benefits of housing people rather than allowing them to suffer in homelessness and sometimes I think it’s the data that could move people.

What is the best career advice you have ever been given?
Advocacy is about relationships, not just being right.

Who has been an instrumental mentor through your career? Who do you look up to?
I take a lot of inspiration from women leaders – especially those that paved their way in male-dominated fields like housing.  I’ve really looked up to our female US Supreme Court Justices for their intellect, perspective, and patience. 

What website(s) do you find useful in your work? 
I am constantly using housing data compiled by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, www.nlihc.org for state specific information on housing costs and availability.  I also think the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has some great housing data and resources, https://www.cbpp.org/.  The Center for Community Change has great Housing Trust Fund resources which is the direction that we believe Colorado needs to go in: https://communitychange.org/campaign/housing-trust-fund-project/

If you were given the chance to go on a vacation to any place of your choosing, where would you go and what would you do? 
New Zealand is definitely on my bucket list. I’d want to do the full experience and visit both islands, so I can hike in the “Lord of The Rings” mountains and enjoy some time on the beautiful beaches.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Colorado?
 This is a tough question because the restaurant environment is changing all the time!  If I had guests coming in town tonight, I would probably suggest Bar Dough or Root Down. 

What book are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?
I’ve been trying to read more fiction and give my brain a break from news and politics.  I just cracked the bind on Unsheltered, a new book by Barbara Kingsolver who is one of my favorite authors.  She has a unique ability to address timely, relevant issues through compelling narrative and historical story-telling.  Oddly enough, this book is about two families living generations apart and experiencing some sort of housing instability.