Community TrailBlazers

Join In a lively discussion among five leaders of the CEO Circle regarding managing nonprofits for excellence and connecting people to opportunities across America. this episode, we feature members of the CEO Circle who …

Leonard Zax is the CEO of the Hamilton Partnership, a nonprofit organization that led the effort to create the Paterson Great Falls National Park in his hometown of Paterson New Jersey. He has degrees in law and city …

David Engel shares his successes and challenges working in affordable housing for decades and the concern he still expresses for the industry. He has a unique perspective since he worked in research at HUD, not …

As President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, Jeff Finkle is a recognized leader and authority on economic development. In …

Ep. 74 – Alison Gross weaves a fascinating story of handling global events in Monte Carlo to coordinating the Maccabi  games and a world sailing race in the U.S. She started a business during COVID and explains how the …

Lisa L. Walker has discovered the way to both succeed as an attorney while satisfying her other passion, impacting lives. Housing Development Law Institute, referred to as HDLI fills a unique need – a one-stop shop for …

As senior vice president for affordable housing initiatives at the Mortgage Bankers Association, Steve O’Connor is rolling out affordable housing …

Stanley Marcuss explains the negative effects of the adverse consequences of international trade. Listen to his story on Adlai Stevenson and why foreign corruption is still rampant in international marketplaces.

Key …

Top Takeaways:

• The importance of supporting your children’s passions which might become their lifelong careers
• The power of persistence and taking …

Michael Moskow is a manager personified. Mike’s professional accomplishments include service in both the public and private sectors, as well as higher education. During the course of his career, he has been confirmed by …

How do you turn around a dying town? What happens to small to medium-sized cities when their largest employer pulls out?  Shekar Narasimhan has been …

“Bill Lilley taught at Yale, worked for the federal government, worked at CBS in New York, and started a software company, which he sold,” said John …

Meet Alfred Dellibovi, President and CEO of the Federal Home Bank of New York and a nationally recognized authority on banking, the lending industry, housing, and public finance. He was United States Deputy Secretary of …

Lynne Sagalyn, an expert in real estate development and finance, gives us the theory and thinking behind how and why cities exist as they do today. …

Antonio Santaella, a very famous flamenco dancer referred to as the international flamenco maestro whose culture influence qualifies him to be a …

Robert Rozen, referred to as Bobby,  worked for many years in the U.S. Senate and was involved in the establishment of the Low Income Housing Tax …

Is fair housing fair? What is disparate impact and how can housing authorities and landlords determine the application of it?  What is reasonable accommodation? How is HUD conducting market testing to determine racial …

Referred to as Bill Kelly, he is the developer of a co-creation model to bring social change to affordable housing. He was a special assistant and executive assistant to the secretary of HUD Carla Hills from 1975 to …

Sarah Rosen Wartell: Elevate the Debate Ep. 60 - Sarah Rosen Wartell has articulated a strategy for Urban: elevate the debate. She is the public …

Meet Muriel Tillinghast, a human rights activist from the 1960’s to today! She takes us on a long but fascinating journey from the initial civil rights activities in the 1960’s through an extensive career in revenue …

Norm McLoughlin is a master of creative real estate financing in the public sector. Whether it is tax exempt bonds, tax credit, or federal, state or local funds, Norm has experience in all of them! As President of the …

Can you imagine managing a 500K+ subsidized housing unit program with 10,238 employees? How about 9.375 units plus 58,000 families in the Section 8 …

David Stevens believes in a better and diverse America, a country where the economic gap is less wide and both the majority and the minority have safe affordable places to call home. The only way to do that is to close …

Bryan Greene knows what discrimination looks like, especially in housing. But how do we end racial bias in housing so that housing is equally available to everyone?  Bryan handled many discrimination cases while he …

“It’s time to ensure that no American has to worry about where they and their families will sleep tonight.” James Stockard, referred to as Jim, feels …

Mark Willis’s life work is about stabilizing and revitalizing cities, with a strong focus on New York City, but creating theory and systems which …

Walk through a detector into a commercial building and be safe! Retrofit your house and be safe! Install an app that will let you know when someone with COVID is within your range. David Smith, the affordable housing …

Meet Gerald Benoit, referred to as Jerry, one of the icons from the 1970s and a member of the Academy of Housing and Communities. He started out by directing a Section 23 Leased Housing program for the department of HUD …

Meet DeLois Strum, referred to as DeeDee, a 40+ year entrepreneur, a public speaker, an affordable housing advocate, and is currently involved in …

What would it be like to be responsible for negotiating a trade agreement with China or Japan or any other world country? Imagine yourself about to …

Bruno Fulda is a Frenchman who is determined to bring real change on a global scale. He believes in regulated capitalism’s interface with climate …

Judith Hermanson, President and CEO of IHC Global, brings a Smart City. Just City initiative to increase inclusiveness and equity in cities across the globe. The Smart City. Just City. Initiative will develop and …

Shel Schreiberg considers himself very lucky for not experiencing any challenges during his career in the affordable housing sector. He is also very modest in all the projects he and his team members contributed to …

Meet John H. (“Jack”) Sullivan – if it’s part of his passion – watch out!  If he wants something enough, he’ll fight for it until he gets it!  He …

Marcia Blum is a retired social worker and mental health therapist whose professional career included pioneering open adoption, hospice care and grief programs. She has worked in the private, public, and non-profit …

Stockton Williams is Executive Director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. NCSHA’s state housing finance agency members have delivered nearly $500 billion in financing to make possible the purchase, …

Malcolm ‘Mike’ Peabody’s life has been founded on giving people the freedom of choice. He is known as the man who reinvented Public Housing. Working …

Joyce Cowin of New York City is a 90-year-old Fellow of the Academy going on 55. She never ceases to amaze those around her with her activities and …

One of the best storytellers ever, the 97-year-old activitist has had a fascinating life! Dwight Ink's government career serving seven Presidents is …

James Loewen's gripping retelling of American history as it should, and could, be taught, Lies My Teacher Told Me, has sold more than 1,500,000 …

Lyn Burton is President and Executive Director of Affordable Housing Connections, a nonprofit organization that provides training and education services to owners, managers, and tenants of affordable rental housing …

Stanley Newman is interviewed by Nan McKay on Community TrailBlazers Podcast (https://trailblazersimpact.com/community-trailblazers/). Mr. Newman has had a distinguished career in local and federal government since …

Helen Dunlap contrasts policy at HUD in problem-solving and practice in 1993 to today. She feels the layers of complexities have grown exponentially. …

Rod Solomon, a practicing attorney, has worked in the affordable housing and community development sectors for the last 4 decades as Deputy Assistant …

With his strong entrepreneurial spirit, James Hindman has spent most of his professional life leading companies, educating young people, and working towards helping others.
He has worked as a real estate developer, …

Arthur spent more than four decades practicing law in Washington DC where he was largely involved with housing clients and working for the Federal …

As an international studies major, Jane Katz came to Washington, D.C. with high ideals about the future. Yet like many who have had a non-linear career path, she found herself working in the housing arena, spending time …

John Koskinen's role as a fixer focused on dealing with a crisis without panicking the public. He has had a plethora of impactful jobs, most of them …

John Weicher is a senior Fellow and Director of the Hudson Institute. He also is a sought-after expert in housing policy and economics. He served …

After 15 years at HUD, Marion Mollegen McFadden felt she could make a bigger impact outside of the government. She now leads the public policy team …

Michael Bodaken knows it’s going to take serious innovation and creativity to turn around the nation's neglect of its affordable housing crisis. He’s worked directly on the issue for years, with a long tenure as head of …

 Barbara Adams is an influential leader in Pennsylvania for her tireless efforts to implement housing projects, help reduce poverty, and advocate for social justice issues. She spent nearly 30 years at a …

Bob Elliot has held significant roles in many of the critical decisions that shaped housing policy. He served as general counsel of HUD, a time he …

After starting his career as a journalist, Barry Zigas decided he wanted to do more than just report on policy — he wanted to help craft it. He has …

Harry Finger already had a distinguished career before he arrived at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1969. An aeronautical nuclear …

Sharon Wilson Geno was fresh out of law school and working for a firm when she realized it wasn’t the path she wanted. So she changed course, earning …

Larry Pearl spent nearly 40 years inside HUD and offers a first-hand account of how the agency battled discrimination, was forced to adapt to …

Local governments often know best when it comes to housing solutions for their community says says Rick Gentry, the president and CEO of the San …

Housing expert Chuck Edson knew just the moment when affordable housing would become a national issue — when people had to move in with their …

For Mayra Collazo, dance and the arts are vital for any culture. A lifelong performer and now professor of dance in Puerto Rico, she wants to expand …

Robert Embry has been a change agent in Baltimore, playing a pivotal role in shaping the area’s housing policy as Commissioner of the Department of …

The future of housing must change, according to Conrad Egan. With 20 years of service to HUD and ongoing work with housing agencies in Northern Virginia, he points to communities that are embracing greater density to …

Kent Colton is a sought-after voice in housing policy. As president of the Colton Housing Group and senior research fellow at the Harvard Joint …

Transportation policy is a path to understanding how U.S. cities were built and their role in shaping people’s lives. Emil Frankel has a …

Joe Schiff has been at the highest levels of HUD, responsible for housing millions of families and a continual voice for reforming the system. He deep dives into what is and isn’t working in public housing. He urges …

Joe Ventrone believes that HUD and federal housing policy need a radical realignment. After over 40 years of industry experience in the private …

William Gilmartin has led a life committed to public service. He spent over 44 years in Washington with the Army, Congressional offices, and reaching the level of Assistant Secretary of Congress and Intergovernmental …

Ann Schnare is an expert in housing and mortgage finance, with 20 years as president of her own consulting firm. With a Harvard Ph.D in economics, …

For too long, the issue wasn’t even on the national dialogue and inaction has only worsened the crisis.

Yet he’s optimistic about the new conversations amongst the current presidential candidates and the traction the …

Elisabette Calero is known as the high priestess of culture in Puerto Rico. At 14 she joined the Boston Ballet, the launch for a storied career …

Marshall Kaplan gives an excellent first-hand account of HUD's evolution and expectations and its ability to meet them. He discusses the difficulties …

Monica Sussman has been on both sides of the affordable housing sector, serving as a deputy general counsel with HUD and currently practicing at a …

David is a self-taught pioneer in affordable housing, building two successful companies including the Affordable Housing Institute which has worked …

Building housing in New York isn’t easy. There’s lots of red tape and high housing costs, but none of that detracted Carol Lamberg from pushing …

After 36 years in the affordable housing industry, Bob Moss has a clear vision for what must change.

He discusses that to meet the myriad of needs in housing, the U.S. needs to be more creative about finding sufficient …

John Mcllwain has been on the ground floor of the country’s affordable housing movement, becoming a trusted voice on Capitol Hill for his deep …

 Housing expert Denise Muha is a sought after expert in Washington for her insight on affordable housing policy. As Executive Director of the …

Kent Watkins and Nan McKay reflect on their decades of work in the affordable housing industry and analyze the many challenges on the horizon. They …