Meet our team

Chair – Anthony Montalto

Jaros Baum & Bolles

Anthony Montalto, PE, LEED AP, is an Associate Partner at Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B), a New York City consulting engineering firm. He has parlayed his technical expertise into managing projects for one of New York’s top medical center’s post-Sandy restoration, Weill Cornell Medical College’s Belfer Research Building, New York Stem Cell, Columbia University Medical Center, SUNY Cobleskill, in addition to numerous high-profile financial institutions. Anthony plays a leading role in his firm’s in-house professional development program, JB&B University, of which he is a PDH-accredited professor in the HVAC division. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York, a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), on whose Board of Governors he currently serves on the board and is a past president, and was recently honored as one of ENR New York’s 2017 Top Young Professionals. He has a longstanding history with Habitat for Humanity, having first volunteered in high school, and he was a key player on the design coordination of the Sydney House project.

Vice Chair – Diana Reyna

Diana Reyna Strategic Consulting

Diana Reyna is the founding principal at Diana Reyna Strategic Consulting, LLC. Diana Reyna offers an extensive and vast network, incredible experience in both the public sector and private sector. Diana Reyna brings a unique and innovative perspective to the clients she represents. She is driven by an ethical responsibility to not only the clients it serves, but to the communities her work may impact. Diana Reyna Strategic Consulting LLC’s success is based on conscientious results, striving for excellence to achieve client’s goals. Diana Reyna is the former Deputy Brooklyn Borough President for Brooklyn (2014-2017), and a former New York City Council Member for the 34th Council District (2001-2013), which includes Williamsburg and Bushwick as well as Ridgewood in Queens. For over twenty years, Diana Reyna had demonstrated an outstanding commitment to communities across Brooklyn and Queens through government service and advocacy. As a New York City Council Member representing the 34th Council District she garnered citywide attention for her efforts in championing affordable housing, economic development, improving equity in education, park space, waste and environmental justice as well as expanding youth and senior services. Diana Reyna holds a Bachelor’s degree from PACE University and was the first Dominican American woman elected to public office in New York State.

Secretary – Marian Zucker

Marian Zucker has devoted her over thirty year career to affordable housing finance. She was the Sector Lead for the USPF Housing Group at S&P Global Ratings, which includes Housing Finance Agencies, Public Housing Authorities, Community Development Financial Institutions and affordable multifamily housing transactions. Prior to joining S&P, she spent ten years with New York State Homes & Community Renewal and its component agencies, where she directed the multifamily, single family and capital markets activities. Under her leadership, HCR financed over 64,500 affordable rental units and 17,520 single-family homes. Ms. Zucker also managed the structuring, marketing and sale of all of the Agencies’ bond issues, totaling $21.8 billion. During her tenure, the Agencies were among the largest housing bond issuers in the nation. Ms. Zucker’s prior experience includes over 15 years on Wall Street financing affordable housing and affordable housing owners and in local government affordable housing positions at both Suffolk County and New York City.

Treasurer – Brian Smalley

Apple Bank

Brian Smalley is a Senior Vice President in Apple Bank’s Commercial Mortgage Division. Prior to Apple Bank, Brian was a Senior Vice President in charge of Amalgamated Bank’s Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Finance Division. Before joining Amalgamated in 2010, Brian worked as a commercial real estate Vice President at M&T Bank in New York City. Brian began his career at the NYC Housing Partnership promoting the development of affordable housing in New York City. Brian earned his bachelor’s degree at Hamilton College, and he received an M.B.A. from the Columbia Business School. He lives in Fairfield, CT with his wife and two sons.

Member at large – Peter J. Murray

Dolphin Property Services, LLC

Peter Murray is the founder and owner of Dolphin Property Services, LLC, a full service property management and consulting firm specializing in affordable housing. Prior to forming Dolphin Property Services, he was the development partner for Loewen Development. During his 20 years at Loewen, Mr. Murray completed 23 developments (mostly affordable) with over 1,800 housing units as well as ancillary commercial space. As the development partner, Mr. Murray oversaw acquisition, municipal approvals, financing, loan administration and marketing. Mr. Murray has a BA in Political Science and Urban Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and a JD from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Murray is admitted to the Florida and New York Bar and is an Executive Board Member of the New York State Association of Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH).

Lizette A. Cantres

Retired Attorney

Lizette A. Cantres is a retired attorney who worked tirelessly in the public interest and regulatory law for more than thirty years. Growing up in the Bronx on Charlotte Street, Ms. Cantres’ life and career has given her a deep passion and understanding of issues in housing. Most recently, Ms. Cantres coordinated the effort to establish the Metro NY area division of Specialisterne, an international, non-profit organization that trains and places people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in IT and other fields that provide permanent jobs at market wages. She has worked in the health care industry, establishing Medicare HMO start-ups, working to expand opportunities for care in New York and Puerto Rico. Ms. Cantres also spent much of her career in public service, having served as counsel to the New York State Consumer Protection Board, the New York State Assembly Speaker, and the New York State Department of Education. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Spanish from Wesleyan University, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the New York University School of Law.

Farid Cardozo

Group PMX, LLC

Mr. Cardozo is the president and chief operating officer of Group PMX LLC. In this senior leadership role, he actively oversees all operations and project-related staff assignments while ensuring that the firm’s growth and marketing strategies are realized. Mr. Cardozo also establishes corporate financial goals and objectives, including communicating with analysts to review assets and financial metrics. Possessing 25 years of pre-construction, design, construction, and project and program management experience, he is frequently called upon to provide executive-level oversight of multidisciplinary project teams engaged in multibillion-dollar assignments throughout the New York metropolitan area. While serving as either principal in charge or project director, he has used his senior project management, project controls, and scheduling expertise during a variety of efforts for public- and private-sector clients across numerous market sectors, including healthcare, higher education, governmental/municipal facilities, criminal justice, residential and commercial developments, and transportation infrastructure. As the owner’s representative, he often represents clients’ interests on complex, time and cost-sensitive programs and projects. During his leadership on various assignments, Mr. Cardozo has proven that even the most challenging projects can be accomplished when the right project controls tools are used together with a proactive, collaborative team approach. 

Dena Faccio

Voya Financial

Dena Faccio is the SVP, Total Rewards, Employee Relations and Workforce Analytics at Voya Financial, Inc., a Fortune 500 financial services company whose mission is Retirement Readiness for all Americans. Dena is responsible for the Company’s executive and broad-based compensation strategies and long-term incentive plans; health, welfare, and retirement benefit strategies; employee relations; and HR analytics and insights. In this role, she also supports Voya’s Compensation, Benefits and Talent Management Committee of Voya’s Board of Directors in its oversight of the company’s compensation and benefits strategies; pay equity and pay transparency efforts; performance and talent management processes; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments.

Prior to joining Voya Financial, Dena spent over 12 years in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Global HR Solutions New York practice in the Retirement and Compensation consulting practices focused on the not-for-profit sector. She advised Compensation Committees and Boards of cultural institutions, foundations, and universities on a wide range of HR issues including attracting, retaining, motivating and rewarding human capital.

Dena earned her Bachelors of Science from Towson University concentrated in Actuarial Science and her MBA from NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Dena is a native New Yorker and currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, two children and their goldendoodle.

Rev. Deirdre Fisher-Kemp

New York State Affordable Housing Corporation

Deirdre Fisher-Kemp is an advocate for social justice and housing equality with over 20 years experience in the affordable housing industry. Deirdre believes housing is the foundation of every community and her passion and advocacy is effectuated by her exploring ways to assist local community development corporations, and faith-based organizations develop a successful housing program. In her current position as Senior Project Manager with the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation, a subsidiary of New York State Housing Finance Agency, Deirdre is responsible for reviewing and recommending applications for grant funding to facilitate the new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation and home improvement of affordable housing in the following regions of New York State: Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.

Deirdre is an ordained Minister at New Light Baptist Church and serves as the Director of the Prayer and Social Justice Ministries.

Deirdre is the New York Co-Founder of the Pembroke Taparelli Arts and Film Festival, which gives artists committed to social justice a platform.

Deirdre serves as County Committee Member for the 70th Assembly District in Central Harlem.

Deirdre also volunteers for Habitat for Humanity NYC, Red Cross, City Relief, and God’s Love We Deliver.

Deirdre is a Co-Founding member of Camp Chateau in Southern France, a camp founded by women for women rooted in the values of equity, sustainability and fun.

Deirdre is the mother of two sons, and the proud grandmother of a grandson. Deirdre is a lover of the arts and loves reading.

Ron D. Franklin

Proskauer Rose LLP

Ron Franklin is a partner at Proskauer Rose, LLP where he is co-head of the Global Finance Group. Ron advices clients across a broad spectrum of finance issues, including secured and unsecured lending transactions, domestic and cross-border acquisition financings, fund financings, project financings, workouts, restructurings and general banking concerns. He also counsels corporate clients regarding stock and asset acquisitions, contract negotiations and general corporate matters. Prior to joining Proskauer, Ron was a partner at Mayer Brown, LLP. He received a BA from Occidental College, an MBA from Columbia Business School and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School. Ron has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for over twelve years.

David Garner

Barclays

David Garner has over 15 years of experience in the financial world and is currently a Managing Director at Atlas SP Partners, a global investment firm. Previously, he was at Credit Suisse as Co-Head of Securitized Products Trading. He had held a variety of roles within the trading business across both residential and commercial mortgages. Before Credit Suisse, he was a trader at Merrill Lynch. Over the years, he has been involved with nonprofits in the education field. David holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.

Rick Gropper

Camber Property Group

Rick Gropper has nearly a decade of experience in real estate development throughout the 5 boroughs of NYC.  At CPG, Rick focuses on sourcing and structuring transactions using his deep relationships with various partners including investors, lenders, the community and government. Prior to co-founding CPG, Rick was Development Director at L+M Development Partners, one of the largest developers of multifamily housing in NYC. At L+M, Rick was responsible for the development and preservation of more than 5,000 units of housing totaling over $1 billion in total capitalization. Prior to joining L+M, Rick worked for a boutique adaptive reuse development firm based in New Haven, CT. He has an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and an MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. Rick serves on the boards of New Yorkers for Parks, NYSAFAH 2G and the CHPC Strategic Impact Fund.

Marc Heinrich

Office of Mayor of New York City

Marc has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity New York City for more than 10 years. He is the founder of the Dalton School’s campus chapter, one of Habitat NYC and Westchester’s first campus chapters. Since then he has participated in many builds in NYC and across the country. He currently serves as an advisor to Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and was formerly the Policy Director for Governor Bullock’s campaign for President and a Senior Policy Advisor on Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. Previously, he served as Director of Strategy for the Center on Rural Innovation – a nonprofit focused on rural economic development – and worked as a consultant at McKinsey and Company.

Adam Hellegers

L+M Development Partners

Co-General Counsel + Partner at L+M Development Partners and General Counsel for L+M Fund Management, Adam Hellegers is jointly responsible for the supervision of the legal staff with a dedicated focus on transactional activity. Adam joined L+M in 2010, and has previously held roles at L+M as a Development Co-Director of Preservation, as well as several legal positions. Prior to his L+M tenure, Adam worked within the real estate department at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), was an attorney at Michael, Levitt & Rubenstein LLC, captive firm of Related Companies, and began his career working with the New York City Parks Department. Adam holds a BA magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law, where he received an academic award for urban and federal housing policy research. Adam participated in Coro Leadership NY XVII, is a former Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Housing and Urban Development Committee and is the former chair and current board member of the Osborne Association.

Brian S. Lichter

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Brian S. Lichter is co-head of the Real Estate practice at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where he represents property owners, developers, funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and other financial institutions in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions. He concentrates on the acquisition, development and disposition of office, multifamily, single family rental portfolio, retail, hotel, and data center properties; joint ventures; commercial mortgage, mezzanine and construction financings; preferred equity investments; and debt restructurings.  Brian serves as a member of the board of directors of Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.  Brian has served in a number of roles at UJA‐Federation of New York, including formerly as a member of its board of directors, and currently serves on its Real Estate Executive Committee as well as various other committees, as does his wife Blair (who also serves on Habitat NYC and Westchester’s Leadership Council). Brian is also an associate trustee of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Brian and Blair live in Manhattan with their three young children.

Christine McGuinness

ArentFox Schiff

Christine McGuinness is a business lawyer, combining knowledge of real property and other commercial assets with on-the-ground experience. She is a Partner and member of the Executive Committee at ArentFox Schiff, a national law firm with over 600 attorneys in nine offices. She represents real estate developers and lenders in all aspects of commercial real estate, as well as individuals and corporations in the acquisition, leasing and financing of corporate jets and fractional aircraft interests. She is also committed to several important pro bono causes. She previously served as board member of Habitat for Humanity NYC from 2008-2015, rejoining the Board in 2017. She also currently provides guidance and representation at the Leviticus Fund in connection with the financing of low-income housing.

Kenneth Morrison

Lemor Realty Corporation

Mr. Morrison launched his real estate career while a sophomore at Howard University, when he joined his family’s blossoming brokerage business. While the decision to postpone his studies was difficult, he subsequently became an integral part of the family business. As a result of his efforts combined with those of other principals at Lemor Realty, the firm’s initial focus on the sale and rental of property in the Harlem community shifted. From 1988 to 1993, Lemor Realty experienced tremendous growth, which resulted in the establishment of a property management division in 1993. This division quickly grew to manage over 250-300 units in New York City. In partnership with Harrison Rayford, III, Lemor Development was formed in 2012, and has become a real estate development force. As a result of strong partnership engagements, such as Enterprise NEF (LISC), Mr. Morrison has brought a wealth of knowledge to the team while providing great insight into asset management. Mr. Morrison serves on several boards including the New York Theological Seminary; Greater Harlem: Bradhurst Merchants Association and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. He holds a BA in Science and Entrepreneurship from the University of Phoenix.

Doug Morse

North Lake Capital

Douglas Morse is a private investor with extensive experience in real estate and asset management, and is the Managing Member of North Lake Capital. His professional career began in real estate, at Colliers/ABR, focussing on commercial office leasing and management. He later joined his family real estate firm, where he was active in mortgage financing and acquisitions. In 1997, he shifted his career into investment management, becoming a Vice President of Alliance Capital Management’s Hedge Fund Group. More recently, Mr. Morse was Chief Investment Officer of Duet Alternative Investments – US, where he served as Senior Portfolio Manager, overseeing several hedge fund of fund portfolios. Mr. Morse is Treasurer of the Morse Family Foundation and is currently a Trustee of Young Audiences/NY, one of New York’s oldest and largest arts education organizations. He received his B.A. in Economics from Trinity College, Hartford.

Claudia Schrader

Interim President, York College

Dr. Claudia V. Schrader took the helm as president of Kingsborough Community College (KCC) of The City University of New York (CUNY) in September 2018. She is the College’s 7th president, and she holds the distinction of being the first African-American in the College’s history to hold that office.

Education has served as a vehicle for Dr. Schrader. She was born and raised on St. Croix, the largest of the United States Virgin Islands. She earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and her Master of Arts, Master of Education, and Doctorate of Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. Dr. Schrader also obtained a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

Prior to becoming president at Kingsborough, she served as provost and senior vice president at Bronx Community College, CUNY; as associate provost at William Paterson University of New Jersey; and as associate provost at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, where she also held faculty rank with tenure. Dr. Schrader also taught as an adjunct at Teachers College, Columbia University, Bank Street College, and the College of New Rochelle. Her professional service includes serving as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; membership on the American Association of Community College’s (AACC) National Council for Black American Affairs; and a 3-year term on the AACC Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.

In 2021, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program selected her as one of 25 leaders for the 2021-2022 class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship. Dr. Schrader currently serves on the Boards of ITHAKA and the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS). Dr. Schrader was recognized as one of three recipients of the 2022 AAC&U-Cengage Inclusion Scholarship. Awarded by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and education technology company Cengage, the scholarship is awarded to currently serving campus presidents in recognition of their outstanding leadership to advance equitable liberal education. In 2021, she inducted into the Rutgers African American Alliance Hall of Fame and was recently named as part of the Power Women of Brooklyn an honor for women who make Brooklyn the thriving and vibrant place it is to work, live and do business.

Dr. Schrader believes strongly in giving back to her to both her local and global community. Recognizing that incoming students were missing out on the excitement of beginning their college experience on campus, in 2020 she created the KCC Welcome Wagon. Dr. Schrader traveled around Brooklyn and throughout NYC’s other boroughs to meet incoming students at their homes and jobs to welcome them to KCC and assure them that they would find KCC and its President accessible, available, and ready to support their success. Her efforts have been featured in the NY Daily News, InsideHigherEd.com, Forbes, Positive Community Magazine and in number of other local newspapers. Dr. Schrader is a Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® and is an active member of the Eta Omega Omega chapter in the Bronx, where she has served as Recording Secretary, co-chair of the Rites of Passage Program for Teenage Girls and chair of the Leadership Committee. Since 2006, she has served her global community as a volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity Global Village program, building 21 homes throughout countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and Southeast Asia.

Sean Sasso

Coast at Compass

Sean Sasso is a distinguished real estate advisor with over a decade of experience in the highly competitive New York market, having facilitated over a quarter billion dollar in transactions across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Westchester, NY. Leveraging a lifelong career in sales, Sean navigated his way into luxury fashion after relocating to New York from Albany. Through grit and determination, Sean earned the opportunity to work with prestigious brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, and Bergdorf Goodman. Sean brings a unique, high-style approach to real estate, combining sophisticated marketing strategies with the latest in technology to deliver exceptional client experiences.

As the founder of COAST, a New York-based real estate advisory group, Sean leads a team of 20 professionals operating under the Compass umbrella. His leadership extends beyond real estate brokerage services and has lead to the completion of numerous successful luxury modular development projects in The Hamptons and the Catskills, with an emphasis on sustainable materials, and affordable housing projects in Harlem and The Bronx.

Sean is a passionate advocate for community development and service. He previously served as a member of Habitat Young Professionals (HYP) where he completed his first community build in 2019. He currently acts as a real estate advisor and liaison for Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens, NY. His global humanitarian efforts through The Legacy Center have taken him to Africa, South America, Mexico, and Eastern Europe, where he contributed to various infrastructure and development projects.

Born and raised in the Bronx, just a few blocks from Sydney House, Sean’s connection to his community is both personal and professional. His dedication to empowering others and improving neighborhoods mirrors his commitment to excellence in real estate, making him a trusted advisor to clients and a leader in the industry. Sean currently lives in Westchester with his incredible wife Tabitha, a STEAM Director in Scarsdale High School, and their lovely girls, Cecilia and Josephin and their Labradoodle, Sophie.

Kirsten Sibilia

Dattner Architects

Kirsten Sibilia, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, is a Managing Principal at Dattner Architects, a New York based architecture firm with a civic and community centered approach. A vocal advocate for the value of design, Kirsten is committed to improving public life through the creation of resilient and sustainable urban density. Her enthusiasm for supporting architectural practice manifests in involvement with several leading industry organizations, including the Beverly Willis Architectural Foundation, ULI NY’s Mixed-Use Council and Design Awards Committee, the New York Building Congress’ Architects Leadership Council, and ACEC-NY’s Design-Build Committee. Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts from the New School and lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.

David Stein

Adobe

Dave Stein has been an avid volunteer for and supporter of Habitat for Humanity for nearly 20 years. He started with local builds in college, joined spring break trips, and eventually did a few Global Village trips. Dave is currently a senior engineering manager at Adobe. He was the first engineer at Behance, which was acquired by Adobe in late 2012. Dave currently serves as the Chair of Governance on the board of Chess in the Schools. He also has been on the Kings County Democratic Committee since 2018, fighting for a more transparent organization.