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Massachusetts
| Aaron Gornstein x108 Executive Director |
| Aaron Gornstein began working at CHAPA in 1988 and became its Executive Director in 1990. He is responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of the agency’s work. He previously worked at Tri-City Community Action Program and the City of Cambridge Community Development Department. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin—Madison and his master’s degree from Tufts University’s Department of Urban and Environmental Policy.
Click here for Aaron's full bio. |
| Karen Wiener x107 Deputy Director |
| Karen Wiener began working for CHAPA in 1990 and became Deputy Director in 2007. She works in several issue areas, including smart growth, planning and land use, and affordable housing awareness and education. Karen previously worked as a project manager for a CDC in Berkeley and as a tenant advocate for a community action program in Malden. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs from George Washington University and her Masters in City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley. |
| Sean Caron x103 Director of Public Policy |
| Sean Caron is the Director of Public Policy at CHAPA and began working for CHAPA in 2007. He is responsible for directing CHAPA’s state policy advocacy agenda. He previously worked as Counsel to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and Metro Mayors Coalition. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the George Washington University and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. Sean is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
| Ann Verrilli x102 Director of Research |
| Ann Verrilli is the Director of Research and joined CHAPA’s staff in 2007. She tracks affordable housing production and policy trends, research and federal housing legislation. She previously worked in New York City’s budget office, for a network of regional nonprofit housing agencies and for a municipal housing department. She has an undergraduate degree from Tufts University and a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University. |
| Dana LeWinter x106 Program Manager |
| Dana LeWinter is a Program Manager at CHAPA and began working for CHAPA in 2009. She is responsible for managing the Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative and CHAPA’s monitoring efforts for some Chapter 40B developments. She previously worked for the City of Somerville Housing Division. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Brandeis University and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University. |
| Carol Marine x114 Program Manager |
| Carol Marine joined CHAPA as a program manager in 2010. She is responsible for implementing CHAPA’s Affordable Housing Outreach Initiative. She previously worked for Just A Start Corporation, a community development corporation, in Cambridge. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Tufts University and a J. D. from Boston College Law School. She is member of both the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Bars. |
| Elizabeth Palma-Diaz x112 Program Manager |
| Elizabeth Palma-Diaz is a Program Manager at CHAPA and began working for the agency in 2009. She is responsible for CHAPA’s monitoring efforts for Chapter 40B developments. She was previously the Homeownership Program Director for the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, where she implemented a home buying education program and counseled over 200 potential homebuyers annually. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. |
| Geeta Rao x113 Program Manager |
| Geeta Rao is a program manager at CHAPA and began working for the agency in February 2009. She is responsible for managing CHAPA’s foreclosed properties initiative, which connects banks that own foreclosed properties with local organizations so they can purchase them for occupancy by low and moderate income families. She previously worked as Policy Director for the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California. She has a Bachelor of Science from Bates College and a Master of City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley |
| Katy Trudeau x105 Program Manager |
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Katy Trudeau is a Program Manager at CHAPA and began working for CHAPA in 2007. She is responsible for managing the New England HUD Housing Counseling Grant, the Mass Access Housing Registry, and CHAPA's website. She previously worked for a private urban planning and real estate firm in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Michigan and a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from Wayne State University.
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| Cindy Rowe x104 Director, New England Housing Network |
| Cindy Rowe, Esq. joined CHAPA as a consultant in 1995, and worked with housing advocacy and education organizations in our six state region to form the New England Housing Network. Cindy also works with the CHAPA Section 8 Tenant-Based Voucher Committee. Cindy is the principal of a consulting practice, Rowe Resources. Previously, she served as Chief of State to State Representative Marc Draisen and managed his campaign for Lieutenant Governor. She holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard College with a dual concentration in Government and English, and a law degree from Boston College Law School. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar. |
| Michael English Financial Consultant |
| Michael English provides financial management services and oversight to CHAPA on a part-time basis. Michael works with the accounting firm of Barrington Wright Associates and has been providing financial management services for CHAPA since 2000. Barrington Wright Associates is a professional services firm that provides outsourced accounting and management services to a variety of organizations both not-for profit and for-profit. Michael received his BSBA from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. |
| Leonarda Hall x110 Bookkeeper |
| Leonarda Hall is the Bookkeeper at CHAPA and began working at CHAPA in 2005. She previously worked at Citizens Bank for 33 years. Lee has an Associate Degree from Newbury College. |
| Joan Missick x101 Executive Assistant |
| Joan Missick is the Executive Assistant at CHAPA and began working for CHAPA in 1988. She is the office manager and membership coordinator. In addition, Joan handles event billing. |
| Odessa Walton-Peele x100 Administrative Assistant |
| Odessa Walton-Peele is the Administrative Assistant at CHAPA and began working for CHAPA in March of 2004. She is responsible for answering phones and directing calls to appropriate staff; mailing; data entry and assisting with other office duties as needed. She previously worked at CORE, a peer review analysis company, as an Administrative Assistant, Customer Service Representative, and Research Assistant for 6 years. |