PHADA President Mark Gillett.
This is my final column as PHADA’s President. The time has passed by quickly, partly because so much has happened over the past two years. It has been rewarding to lead this association of dedicated housing professionals.
I must acknowledge those who helped me during my tenure. First, I want to express my appreciation to the Oklahoma City HA Board of Commissioners for helping to provide me with the opportunity and latitude to serve in this role. Thank you, Rocky Chavez, Annette Jacobi, Wayland Cubit and Yesica Gonzalez for your supportive leadership. I also appreciate the agency’s executive staff: Matt Mills, Thomas Henderson and Greg Shinn for ensuring OKC Housing Authority operated efficiently and effectively while I devoted extra time to PHADA.
Thanks to Past President David Northern and our incoming President John Mahon for their support. Special thanks to John for agreeing to step up and assume the presidency without the typical two-year preparation time as Senior Vice President. PHADA is in good stead with he and the rest of the new leadership team taking office for the 2025–27 term.
I also appreciated and enjoyed working with all our committee chairs, the Executive Committee, and the entire 50-member Board of Trustees. All of them are listed on the masthead to the left of this page. My sincere thanks to Executive Director Tim Kaiser and the talented PHADA staff: Jim Armstrong, Norma Bellew, Sara Patterson, Julie Piccolo, Blake Stenning, Michael Webb, David Weber, and Crystal Wojciechowski.
PHADA President Mark Gillett (4th from left), invited Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK, 3rd from left), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee to visit his agency. The Congressman’s office consults Gillett and PHADA for input on housing policy and budget matters.
During my time as President, I have had the opportunity to work with our local Representative Thomas Cole (R-OK), the Chairman of the full House Appropriations Committee, who has visited our agency and called on me for input. I was also honored that then-Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman and former HUD-PIH Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominique Blom asked me to be a part of HUD’s 50th anniversary celebration event at HUD headquarters in Washington.
I know the new PHADA leadership team will continue our constructive dialogue with the congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle and the Department. In fact, John Mahon and PHADA Trustee Terri Lee just recently met with the Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ben Hobbs at headquarters in Washington (see below).
Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman met with Gillett and members of the Executive Committee during PHADA’s 2024 Legislative Forum.
Reporting from an organizational standpoint, I am delighted that PHADA’s membership and financial condition remain strong. During my tenure, we have focused on the need for HUD to streamline and address problems with NSPIRE and NSPIRE-V, HOTMA-HIP, and BABA. PHADA will keep pushing to try to make all these initiatives more workable under a realistic timeline.
We will, of course, continue our effective partnership with close allies (CLPHA, NAHRO and the MTW Collaborative) on these and other critical issues. Special thanks to fellow presidents George Guy of NAHRO, Josh Meehan of the MTW Collaborative and Jeff Patterson, CLPHA.
Given the vast budget and political challenges facing the country, we need new policy approaches. I noted a few times in this column that there is already a successful model in place that the Trump Administration and Congress should look to—the original Moving to Work (MTW) program. Essential components include provisions that free HAs from burdensome regulations and red tape while still ensuring accountability to taxpayers. Also needed is the ability to use our funds flexibly with accountability and oversight protections. PHADA will continue advocating for these kinds of common-sense proposals.
Anne Smith, Central Illinois Services.
As I become past president, I look forward to maintaining an active role in PHADA working closely with the new leadership team. Again, thank you for providing me with the opportunity to lead this organization.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge another PHADA leader who is leaving our Board. Anne Smith has served on and chaired various PHADA committees, including Membership. Anne served at the Menard County Housing Authority since 1985. In 1993, she became the Executive Director.
While she is leaving our Board, she will remain the CEO for the HA’s nonprofit, Central Illinois Services, which administers hundreds of PBRA units and vouchers. Thank you, Anne, for your many contributions to PHADA.
PHADA Meets with HUD Leadership
PHADA VP and Incoming President John Mahon (Bayonne, NJ) and Trustee Terri Lee (Atlanta, GA) met with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ben Hobbs at HUD’s headquarters on May 1. Topics included the need for deregulation and local flexibility, among others. PHADA’s representatives appreciated the opportunity to meet with Hobbs and other Department staff during a lengthy visit to headquarters.