Alexandria, Va. – January 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) announces the winners of its annual Industry and AHMA Awards, which will be presented at its March 6-8 meeting in Washington, D.C.
The list of award winners includes both individuals and organizations whose professionalism, dedication and accomplishments in assuring quality housing for low-income Americans raises the standards of the multifamily affordable housing industry. The awards ceremony takes place March 7; more detailed descriptions of award winners will be provided in the March-April issue of NAHMA News.
NAHMA Industry Statesman Awards
Given annually to NAHMA Executive Council members who are either in or nearing retirement, in recognition of many years of outstanding leadership and service to NAHMA.
Daniel Murray is a licensed real estate broker with several industry designations a well as more than 40 years of experience in the field of affordable housing. He is a past president of NAHMA, and served on the board for many years. He recently retired from Celtic Property Management where he was executive director and acts as consultant one day per week while traveling throughout in his free time.
Prior to Celtic, Murray served as president of Corcoran Jennison Management Co. in Boston for many years.
Bill Wollinger has served on NAHMA’s board of directors for many years. He is past president of WinnResidential and currently serves as COO of WinnCompanies, in Boston. Over his more than 40 years in the property management industry, he has won several awards including NAHMA’s President’s Award in 2005, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Rental Housing Industry Excellence Award in 2009, the New England Affordable Housing Management Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and the 2011 National Apartment Association Education’s Institute’s Apartment Career and Education Award.
NAHMA Industry Achievement Award
Given annually to a NAHMA Executive Council member who has contributed significant or noteworthy leadership or other contributions to NAHMA within the past year or two.
Sandy Aldrich has worked in the affordable housing industry for more than 30 years, and recently retired from Danville Development in Utah. Aldrich is being recognized for her dedication of countless hours and more than five years of her life in writing and maintaining the content of the Basic HUD Occupancy course and the Advanced HUD Occupancy course for Rocky AHMA. She also served on the board of directors for Rocky AHMA for many years.
Industry Partner Award
Given annually to a government agency or other affordable housing organizational partner that has made a significant contribution to the cause of affordable housing in the previous year.
Francis Thomas is the director of contract administration for the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency. He is on the NJHMFA Management Task force and has made a significant difference in dealing with all the complex issues of not only HUD rules but also the ever-challenging new rules coming out of NJHFA. He has served as an advisor to JAHMA and has worked tirelessly on programs for the JAHMA Foundation.
AHMA of the Year
Given to local AHMAs using criteria such as size, number of members, success in membership recruitment, membership retention, education and training course attendance, financial stability and other factors.
Large: SAHMA—SAHMA’s success at member recruitment and retention, the introduction of new courses into its already expansive educational offerings, and its excellent organizational management and leadership, among many other factors, cause it to deserve this award.
Medium: JAHMA—An increase in membership, which helped bump the association from the small to the medium category, as well as offering more educational opportunities helped make JAHMA one of the top AHMAs this year.
Small: PennDel AHMA—The Pennsylvania-Delaware AHMA continues to see membership growth despite its geographic proximity to four neighboring AHMAs. Even though the association is small, PennDel boasts 48 COQ properties and four members that are COQ Corporate Partners. AHMA Communities of Quality Program Award
Given to AHMAs according to size that have a substantial number of COQ awards in their area, demonstrate support for the program, and introduce new or innovative activities.
Large: SAHMA—Through marketing efforts at meetings, on social media and on its website, SAHMA has 508 member properties in the COQ National Recognition Program including 72 that have been accepted into the program since the 2014 submission deadline.
AHMA Innovation Award
Given in recognition, by AHMA size, of a new program, service or activity that an AHMA began sometime in 2015.
Large: SAHMA—SAHMA increased its number of new volunteers through its Get Involved campaign, which provides easy, user-friendly access to volunteer opportunities. SAHMA was able to engage with members on a deeper level and inspire enthusiasm to Inform, Educate and Connect through the many programs and events it offers. SAHMA averaged more than 300 volunteers a year to help support programs and mission.
Medium: MAHMA and NEAHMA, co-winners
MAHMA—Midwest AHMA partnered with the Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) to expand the alliance’s Summer Feed program by targeting multifamily developments. Through the partnership, children at member properties have been able to have safe locations to receive a healthy lunch, spend some time with friends and take part in enrichment programs.
NEAHMA—New England AHMA explored several ways to increase revenue and fundraising efforts. One example was to introduce Wednesday Webinars as a way to increase training revenue with very low expense and tap into an area of training that was not being taken advantage of. The result was 24 webinars with an attendance of 10-35 people each and an additional $20,539 in revenue. The webinars also enhanced member benefits by providing another educational option without creating geographic or budgetary restraints.
NAHMA Affordable Housing Advocate of the Year
Given annually to recognize a NAHMA member who has demonstrated a strong commitment to advance NAHMA’s legislative priorities through public policy advocacy?based on data maintained by NAHMA staff.
Larry Sisson, president of TESCO Properties Inc., serves on the Leadership Council of SAHMA and is a past president of the organization. He is also a member of NAHMA’s board of directors. Sisson is being recognized for his outstanding leadership of NAHMA’s Regulatory Affairs Committee as vice chair, and then chair, over the past four years. He is a national instructor and is certified to teach NAHMA’s Fair Housing Compliance course and the Certified Professional of Occupancy course. He has also taught REAC inspection protocol on a national level.
NAHMA Communities of Quality Award
Given annually to a NAHMA Executive Council member who has the most properties and or most newly listed properties on the NAHMA National Recognition Program COQ Registry?based on data maintained by NAHMA staff.
Most new in 2015: Mansermar Inc., Duluth, Ga.
Most overall in the program at the close of 2015: National Church Residences, Columbus, Ohio, and WinnResidential, Boston, Mass., co-winners
NAHMA Presidents Award
Given annually by NAHMA’s President for outstanding leadership or other contribution to NAHMA and the affordable multifamily housing industry?to be named by NAHMA’s president at the March 7 ceremony.
NAHMA is the leading voice for affordable housing management, advocating on behalf of multifamily property managers and owners whose mission is to provide quality affordable housing. NAHMA supports legislative and regulatory policy that promotes the development and preservation of decent and safe affordable housing, is a vital resource for technical education and information and fosters strategic relations between government and industry. Founded in 1990, NAHMA’s membership today includes the industry’s most distinguished multifamily owners and management companies. Visit www.nahma.org for more information.
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Media Contact
Jennifer Jones, Manager of Communications and Public Relations
National Affordable Housing Management Association
703-683-8630, ext. 100
