The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) today appointed Sharon Wilson Géno as its president-elect, effective October 11, according to a press release.
Wilson Géno will become president following Doug Bibby, and assume the title at NMHC’s Annual Meeting in January 2023. Bibby will officially step down from this role then after 20 years at the organization and will work alongside Géno until then.
“It has been a true privilege to lead NMHC for the past 21 years,” said Bibby, in the statement. “I am incredibly proud of the work our team has done to help foster a vibrant industry and I’m confident that Sharon will continue to drive the industry forward, confronting challenges and seizing opportunities.”
Géno’s professional career spans 30 years in the housing industry. Before being named as the president-elect, she served as the executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Volunteers of America National Services, as per the release. She has also worked in “for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental entities on housing affordability, housing policy and related development and operational issues.”
“I am incredibly excited to join the stellar team at NMHC – the leading voice when it comes to advocating for sensible, successful housing policy,” said Wilson Géno in the statement. “Throughout my career, I’ve admired the work that NMHC has done and I am proud to be a part of its next great chapter.”
She says the housing affordability market in the U.S. is undergoing a “crisis” and that she can use her experience in housing policy and affordable housing to develop solutions. She noted that of the challenges the market is facing now are “legislative and regulatory barriers, and NIMBY opposition to new housing production.” In this regard, she noted a desire to advocate for increases in housing supply, across multiple housing types and price ranges.
“Sharon is the ideal person to continue to build on the great work Doug Bibby and the NMHC team have done to advance the multifamily industry,” said Ken Valach, CEO of Trammell Crow Residential and 2022-2024 Chair of NMHC, in the release. “And she has run a 3,100-employee organization with a gross consolidated revenue of $300 million annually.”
In other recent proptech news, Berkadia, a joint commercial real estate venture between Berkshire Hathaway and Jefferies Financial Group, signed a multiyear agreement with rental data reporting fintech Esusu. Walker & Dunlop, Inc., a commercial real estate service provider, expanded its affordable housing platform with a new investment sales team, to help clients “create, preserve and revitalize affordable communities.”