PHADA President John T. Mahon.
I am honored that my colleagues on PHADA’s Board of Trustees elected me as the association’s President for the next two years. I appreciate the trust and confidence that members have placed in me and want to thank my predecessor, Mark Gillett (Oklahoma City, OK), for his great leadership. I am glad that Mark remains on our Executive Committee as Immediate Past President along with the rest of the talented team listed on the masthead of this edition.
My Background
I have been the Executive Director of the Bayonne Housing Authority (NJ) since 1995. The BHA has a portfolio that includes approximately 2,000 public housing, HCV and rent controlled units. I am proud that our agency oversees three award-winning redevelopment projects that provided first time home ownership opportunities to residents. BHA is also developing an approved LIHTC project for seniors and supportive services for the developmentally disabled.
Before becoming President, I was PHADA’s Vice President of Housing and have also been a long-time member of the Finance Committee. I was on the Board of Governors for NAHRO, Vice Chair of the Housing Committee, Regional President for MARC NAHRO, and am a past President of New Jersey NAHRO.
During the pandemic, I became an instructor for Rutgers University under the New Jersey mandated Executive Director and Commissioner courses, which is the model for PHADA’s national Executive Director Education Program (EDEP). I graduated from Rutgers University and earned an M.P.A. from what is now the Robert Wagner School for Public Service at New York University.
PHADA’s Recent Seattle Convention
My election as President occurred in conjunction with our 2025 Annual Convention & Exhibition in Seattle. The meeting was a success with almost 600 registrants, exhibitors, and sponsors. We are grateful to the Seattle Housing Authority led by Rod Brandon for all their support during our meeting. As our host, the agency provided volunteers, and they organized a tour of some of their impressive properties. We also want to thank the exhibitors who helped make the conference a success.
In Seattle, we conducted informative sessions on some timely topics including the federal budget situation, NSPIRE, HOTMA, and BABA, among others. PHADA leaders also discussed our positions on some key policy and budgetary issues.
As always, our number one legislative priority will be to ensure adequate appropriations of our core programs (operating, capital funding and Section 8 project and tenant-based assistance). We will vigorously oppose the Administration’s plan to block grant housing programs to the states and continue to press HUD on the need to streamline onerous regulations and provide well run HAs more local flexibility. Local discretion is even more essential considering the budget constraints we are now operating under in the Continuing Resolution.
As a member of NAHRO and the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), I recognize the importance and need to work with the other industry groups in furtherance of our policy objectives. We will continue the strong partnership with NAHRO, CLPHA and the MTW Collaborative that Mark Gillett and other prior PHADA leaders wisely pursued.
You Can Help Make a Difference
I became involved in PHADA because of the encouragement of others and because it provided a way for me to help effectuate change in the way we operate and serve residents. I am hoping many of you, especially those who may be new to our industry, will do the same.
PHADA wants—and needs—your input and participation. We are now in the process of reconstituting our committees prior to our September meeting in Washington. Please see the information here to learn how you can become more involved. The knowledge you obtain, the experience and ideas you bring, as well as your expertise to enhance PHADA, is invaluable.
PHADA—we are you and you are us. Communicate, Participate, Advocate. The more we hear from you, the better we can represent you!
Cindy Naber, York Housing Authority (NE).
Thank You, Cindy Naber
Lastly, I want to acknowledge the many contributions of one my predecessors. Cindy Naber, the longtime executive director of York Housing Authority (NE), recently retired and left PHADA’s Board of Trustees. Cindy served as PHADA’s Small PHA Committee Chair and ultimately rose to PHADA’s presidency in 2011–13. She was a dedicated leader of the association all through her tenure. Among other things, she was tireless in her efforts to win sensible deregulation and fairer assessment systems for small agencies. PHADA appreciates Cindy’s years of service and wishes her the best in retirement.