Board of Directors

Directors

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors as provided by statute.

CHFA Board of Directors

Found: 17 matches Displaying: 1 - 17

Photo	Member
	Rolan J. Young - Chairperson Ms. Young is a Senior Partner in the law firm Berchem, Moses & Devlin, P.C., concentrating in the areas of municipal law, real estate, affordable housing, and economic and community development. Ms. Young has an extensive 24-year background in affordable housing, economic and community development with clients including large housing authorities, municipalities, the State of Connecticut, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, financial institutions and financial intermediaries. Her work in this area includes creation of special purpose development entities, securing tax-exempt 501( c ) status, the acquisition, sale and/or financing of multifamily housing, for-sale housing and commercial retail space, negotiated development agreements, option and purchase sale agreements, easements, licenses, commercial leases, and negotiated and closed both public and private financing and multi-layered financing transactions. Attorney Young presently advises the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport and the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven with respect to HUD statutes and regulations, public bidding and procurement, construction, real estate, open meetings, conflicts of interest, public records, freedom of information act requests, and similar matters. Ms. Young has been both a visiting lecturer in law and a tutor at the Yale Law School Clinic on Housing and Community Development. Ms. Young received a Juris Doctorate from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington DC in 1985, and received her AB from Dartmouth College in 1982. Ms. Young is admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut. Ms. Young is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing, the Connecticut Bar Association, the New Haven County Bar Association, and the National Bar Association. Ms. Young is Past President of the Board of First City Fund Corporation, a member of the Board of Governors of the University of New Haven and a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. In 1999, Ms. Young was named the Minority Business Person of the Year by Business New Haven, a regional business trade publication, and was also named one of Twenty Noteworthy Women by the New Haven Business Times.

	Orest T. Dubno - Vice Chairman Orest T. Dubno has spent more than 40 years in the field of Financial Management. Mr. Dubno has undertaken the financial management of large organizations including government, investment banking and real estate holding companies. In 1985, Mr. Dubno was appointed President and Executive Director of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and served in that capacity for seven years. Previous to that Mr. Dubno was appointed and served as Commissioner of Revenue Services for the State of Connecticut where he was responsible for the collection of all State revenues, compliance of tax issues, interpretation of tax issues and the management of central and regional office employees. During his extensive career Mr. Dubno has worked in a number of financial institutions where he has implemented sound financial policies, provided key organizational decisions and successfully managed investment income, corporate revenues and municipal bonds. Mr. Dubno is committed to his community and serves on many boards and commissions including the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Board where he has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1996. Mr. Dubno also serves as a Board Member Emeriti on the Board of Governors for the University of New Haven, is a board member of the Connecticut Maritime Coalition and is the New Haven Representative on the Policy Board for the South Central Regional Water Authority. Mr. Dubno received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from The University of New Haven. More recently The University of New Haven awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Law.

	Jeffrey Freiser Jeffrey Freiser is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition, a statewide network of over 250 community-based, affordable housing organizations. The Coalition is Connecticut’s leading membership organization dedicated to low and moderate income housing issues. Mr. Freiser has been with the Coalition since 1989, in a career that comprises over forty years of public interest and community service activities. He is a frequent testifier on housing issues before the Connecticut General Assembly. Under Mr. Freiser’s direction, the Connecticut Housing Coalition’s activities include an annual conference, training workshops, public policy advocacy, community education and membership services. Within the Coalition, its Community Developers Network works to build capacity and expand resources for nonprofit housing development organizations and their partners. The Coalition also sponsors the affiliated Public Housing Resident Network, an independent, resident-led organization that empowers residents for the improvement of public housing communities.

	Robert L. Genuario Robert L. Genuario of Norwalk was appointed Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) in January 2005. OPM is the Governor's staff agency and is responsible for all aspects of policy, planning, budgeting and management of state government. Prior to his appointment Secretary Genuario served for fourteen years (seven terms) as the State Senator from the 25th district, which includes the towns of Norwalk and Darien. Before his election to the State Senate, Genuario served as a member of the Norwalk Board of Education from 1981 to 1990 and as its chairman in 1982, 1983, and 1990. Secretary Genuario was a partner in the Norwalk law firm of Genuario & Conover. He received his B.A. from Villanova University in 1974, and was awarded his law degree from Villanova University's School of Law in 1977.

	J. Scott Guilmartin J. Scott Guilmartin is an independent developer of energy and real estate projects predominantly in the Northeast.

	Meghan K. Lowney Meghan Lowney, MSW, is Principal of Ripple Effect Consulting in Fairfield, Connecticut, a leadership and organizational development company specializing in services to enhance social impact. Engagements include leadership coaching and next generation leadership development, strategic action planning and organizational development with nonprofit organizations, foundations and individual leaders. Prior to opening her consultation business in 2006, Ms. Lowney served for ten years as the Executive Director of Operation Hope of Fairfield, a nonprofit providing innovative solutions to homelessness, including supportive housing, in Fairfield and the surrounding communities. She also serves on the Steering Committee of HOMEConnecticut, an affordable housing campaign of the Partnership for Strong Communities. Ms. Lowney earned her BA from Boston College and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.

	Michael Lyons Michael Lyons is the associate general counsel for Covidien, Surgical devises, a Fortune 100 Corporation in Norwalk, Connecticut. He has general corporate and litigation responsibilities and has managed the acquisition of several corporations where he had responsibility for M&A due diligence and preparation of contracts and closings in the range of $60 million to $425 million. While at Covidien, Mr. Lyons coordinated all legal aspects of a $300 million private placement of notes to finance the construction of the corporation’s major manufacturing facility. He also handled the completion of a $400 million syndicated banking agreement and a $450 million bank facility for acquisition financing. Mr. Lyons served as the Compliance Officer where he was responsible for company compliance with Federal and State Statutes, AdvaMed Code and related ethical codes. He also serves as the Chief Litigation Counsel, and manages all product liability and commercial litigation. Previous to joining Covidien, Mr. Lyons was the sole practitioner of the Law Offices of Michael Lyons where he specialized in real estate development and financing. Prior to that Mr. Lyons was a Partner at Lyons and Ryan, which was a general practice law firm with a focus on real estate closings, zoning, building permitting and construction, landlord-tenant matters, representation of municipal governments, estate planning, employment matters and general litigation. Mr. Lyons is currently a member of the Norwalk Board of Estimate and Taxation and the Advanced Medical Technology Association Legal Committee. Mr. Lyons has served on many other Boards including the Board of Editors, Connecticut Bar Journal, the Connecticut Law Revision Commission, the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Authority, the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, the Norwalk Zoning Commission, the Norwalk Common Council, the Norwalk Kiwanis Emergency Shelter, the SACIA Health Reform Task Force and the Legal Studies Advisory Council at Fairfield University Mr. Lyons received a J.D. from Boston College Law School, an M.B.A. from Boston College Graduate School of Management and a B.A. from Fairfield University. He has court admissions in Connecticut, Florida, the District of Columbia, New York, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

	Joan McDonald Joan McDonald was appointed Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) on May 9, 2007. Commissioner McDonald brings 25 years of experience in strategic planning, economic development, transportation policy and operations and public finance to her post in the lead state agency for business recruitment and retention, brownfield redevelopment, and housing and community development. As commissioner, she has been a driving force in Governor Rell’s responsible growth and brownfield redevelopment agendas. She is focused on coalition building and outreach in all aspects of the department’s work. Commissioner McDonald understands the challenges businesses face in today’s dynamic environment, and is strengthening programs that drive innovation to keep businesses and industries competitive in the global marketplace. Commissioner McDonald is the chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Innovations, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Development Authority, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Bradley Airport, and the University of Connecticut’s Board of Trustees.

	Michael P. Meotti Michael P. Meotti was appointed Commissioner of Higher Education in January 2008 by the Board of Governors for Higher Education. On behalf of the Board, he directs the Department of Higher Education and works closely with colleges and universities in coordinating and planning for the higher education system. Under his leadership, the agency has become increasingly engaged in collaborating with K-12 education leaders to increase the college readiness of high school graduates in addition to fulfilling its major statutory responsibilities for academic program approval, the Alternate Route to Certification, financial aid, fiscal planning and research and performance measurement. Commissioner Meotti co-chairs Connecticut’s P-20 Council and serves on the Federal Relations Committee of the State Higher Education Executive Officers association. Commissioner Meotti has an extensive background in public policy, having served as President of United Way of Connecticut and President of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council. He served eight years in the State Senate during which he was Assistant Majority Leader and vice chair of the Education Committee. Mr. Meotti earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

	Denise L. Nappier Denise Lynn Nappier, the 82nd Treasurer of the State of Connecticut, is the first African-American woman elected to serve as a State Treasurer in the United States and the first African-American woman elected to statewide office in Connecticut. Elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 and 2006, Treasurer Nappier is also the only woman to be elected Treasurer in Connecticut history. As Connecticut’s chief elected financial officer, Nappier oversees $50 billion in state funds, including the $22 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds. Treasurer Nappier is the architect of wide-ranging reforms to Connecticut’s system of pension fund governance. Her high standards and financial expertise brought integrity back to the Treasurer’s office and professionalism to the management of state resources, and Treasurer Nappier’s innovative and effective leadership has saved taxpayers and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars. Treasurer Nappier was the architect of the coalition of housing, business, community and municipal leaders who worked with legislators in 2005 to establish a $100 million Housing Trust Fund for Growth and Opportunity, aimed at increasing affordable housing for working families in Connecticut. She is one of the nation’s leading institutional investors working for corporate reform on issues including executive compensation, independence and diversity of board members, financial reporting and auditing, and disclosure of financial risks of climate change. Treasurer Nappier previously served as Hartford City Treasurer for nearly a decade. She holds a B.A. from Virginia State University and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati.

	Kimberly Neilson Ms. Neilson has been with McCue Mortgage since 1986 and currently serves as Executive Vice President. She started with the company in the Retail Production Department supervising the Processors and Underwriters. In 1994, she developed McCue's wholesale business channel. After 4 years in the Wholesale Department working with Brokers and Correspondents, Ms. Neilson became manager of the Retail Customer Service department and developed it into an Inside Sales department that produced over 60 million dollars in originations the first year. In 1999 Ms. Nielson took over the Secondary Marketing Department and implemented a hedging program. Ms. Neilson’s current responsibilities include pipeline management and daily assessment of pipeline risk position, analyzing mortgage sales to increase profit margins, exploring new loan programs with investors for increased market share opportunities, and ongoing review of current modeling used for posted rate and point structure to insure the pricing used is profitable yet competitive. In addition to Secondary, Ms. Neilson oversees the daily management of the Quality Control Department to maintain adequate internal audit and management control systems to assure that mortgages are originated, sold, and serviced in accordance with sound mortgage banking and ensure the company operates within local, State and Federal regulations. Ms. Neilson is currently the co-chair of the CMBA Secondary Marketing committee. She also has FHA Direct Endorsed underwriting status and has completed various MBA Correspondence courses throughout the years. Ms. Neilson served on the Fannie Mae Secondary Market Advisory Council from 2001-2003. Also in 2003 she completed and graduated from the MBA Futures Leaders program. Ms. Neilson has lived in Connecticut for most of her life and currently resides in Meriden with her husband, Kyle and two children.

	Howard Pitkin Howard F. Pitkin was appointed Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Banking by Governor M. Jodi Rell in September 2006 after a 30 year career with the Department. As Banking Commissioner, Mr. Pitkin has jurisdiction over Connecticut’s laws pertaining to commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, consumer credit, broker-dealers, investment advisers, securities, tender offers and business opportunities. In his capacity as Banking Commissioner, Mr. Pitkin serves as an Ex officio Member of the Board of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Economic Development Fund Foundation and as a member of the Connecticut Economic Conference Board and is a member of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), a professional association of state banking regulators.

	Diane Randall Diane Randall is the Executive Director of the Partnership for Strong Communities, a Connecticut non-profit organization that engages civic and political support to solve homelessness, create affordable housing and develop strong, vibrant communities. The Partnership promotes knowledge, forges networks, applies innovation and inspires action to establish communities where anyone would want to live and work. The Partnership oversees operations of The Lyceum Resource and Conference Center and coordinates strategic housing policy through two statewide campaigns, Reaching Home and HOMEConnecticut. Diane serves on the Boards of Directors of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United Way of Connecticut and the Advisory Committees of the Corporation for Supportive Housing Southern New England Program and the Federal Home Loan Bank, Boston Affordable Housing Committee. She resides in West Hartford, Connecticut with her family.

	Philip L. Smith - Delegate Philip L. Smith of Bridgeport was appointed Under Secretary of Policy and Management on March 17, 2003. His areas of responsibility include housing, transportation and economic development. Under Secretary Smith was named as the Secretary of OPM’s designee to the CHFA Board in May 2003. He was appointed chairman of the CHFA Finance and Audit Committee in December 2007. Before being named to his current position he held policy and planning positions in the Departments of Labor and Economic and Community Development.

	Alan J. Cicchetti - Delegate Alan J. Cicchetti was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Banking in 1999. As Deputy Commissioner, his primary responsibility is the management of the Consumer Credit Division, which includes licensing, examination and enforcement activities relating to non-depository institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department. Non-depository institutions include mortgage lenders, brokers and originators, check cashers and money transmitters, debt adjusters and negotiators, consumer collection agencies, small loan lenders and sales finance companies. Prior to his position with the State of Connecticut, Mr. Cicchetti held senior management positions, in the areas of mortgage production and regional bank branch management with Centerbank Mortgage Company and the Shawmut National Corporation and its precursors. Deputy Commissioner Cicchetti earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Bryant University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut. He also served as a member of the adjunct faculty of the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business.

	Howard Rifkin - Delegate Deputy Treasurer for the State Treasurer since January 1999, Howard has spent more than twenty-five years working to improve public policy in Connecticut. As Deputy Treasurer he represents Treasurer Nappier on several quasi-public agency boards, including the Connecticut Development Authority, Housing Finance Authority, and the Connecticut Health and Education Financing Authority. He also represents Treasurer Nappier on the Board of Directors of CERES (Investors and Environmentalists for Sustainable Prosperity) and is the co-chair of the Investor Network on Climate Risk. He previously served two years as Deputy Secretary of the State in Connecticut and General Counsel to that Constitutional Office. Howard taught in the Masters of Public Affairs Program and was Director of the Institute for Public Service at the University of Connecticut from 1991-1997. In the 1980's, Howard was general counsel to former Connecticut Governor William A. O'Neill as well as Deputy Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the state’s budget and policy office. Howard has also participated in a year-long leadership development program (the American Leadership Forum) and served as co-chair of the Hartford Vision Project in the 1980’s. He has a B.A. from the University of Connecticut in Political Science, a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, and attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government program on State and Local Government.

	Michael C. Santoro - Delegate Michael C. Santoro, a graduate of Western New England College in nearby Springfield, MA, has more than 24 years of experience in the housing, economic and community development arena, with an emphasis on program implementation, planning, policy development and the anaylsis of the impacts of state programs for the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Most recently, he has taken on the responsibility for the administration of the Office of Housing Development and Finance for DECD. In addition to certifications in both housing and economic development finance, he is a certified municipal assessor and has provided services as such for more than 18 years.
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Found: 17 matches Displaying: 1 - 17