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Parker retiring as head of Athens Housing Authority

Rick Parker is calling it a career, retiring as head of the Athens Housing Authority. It’s a post he’s held since 1989. The Athens Housing Authority says Connie Staudinger will take over as Parker’s replacement, stepping in in mid-February. Staudinger has worked in housing authority offices in Alexandria Virginia and Charlotte North Carolina.

From the Athens Housing Authority…

The Board of Directors of the Athens Housing Authority announced today that longtime CEO, Rick Parker, will step down in mid-February, and they have selected Connie Staudinger to succeed him as Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Staudinger has held executive level positions at the Alexandria (VA) Redevelopment & Housing Authority and INLIVIAN (formerly Charlotte Housing Authority). Mr. Parker will continue to serve as a special projects director for the North Downtown Athens Redevelopment project thru the month of June 2023.

“Rick Parker has been a tremendous leader for the Athens Housing Authority,” said board Chairman Valdon Daniel. “His leadership has taken us further than we ever imagined, including the vision for the new North Downtown Athens Redevelopment, collaborations with the University of Georgia, as well as many other projects too numerous to name. I want to acknowledge all of the great work he has done for the housing authority for more than three decades. His leadership will be greatly missed.”

An honors graduate of the University of Memphis, where he also obtained his MBA, Rick Parker has served as the CEO of the Athens Housing Authority since 1989. He came to Athens 34 years ago after having served as the director of the Housing Authority of Jackson TN.

Recent highlights during his tenure include the redevelopment of Jack R. Wells public housing into the national award-winning $60 million Columbia Brookside neighborhood; the partnership with Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and Clarke County School District to transform a local historic gym into the Elizabeth G. King Boys & Girls Club; and the ongoing North Downtown Athens project to transform an old Section 8 project-based apartment complex into a mixed-income, mixed-finance neighborhood in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Government.

“I have been privileged to work alongside some of the best professionals and staff anywhere,” stated Mr. Parker. “Our Board members have been supportive and courageous in their leadership.  The trust and participation of our residents has been both personally rewarding and another key element to our success. Finally, no leader succeeds without family support.  There has been no one more supportive of our community and affordable housing than my wife, Martha, for whom I am eternally grateful.”

Connie Staudinger named CEO

Beginning February 20, 2023, Connie Staudinger will assume her duties as CEO of the Athens Housing Authority. “In Connie Staudinger, we believe we have found the person that will fit in well with the organization, while also leading us to even greater heights as our CEO,” stated board Chairman Valdon Daniel. “She has the ability to enhance what Rick Parker and his incredible team have built over three decades – expanding on the vision of the housing authority to provide secure, affordable, quality housing for our community.”

With over 25 years in both the public and private sectors, Ms. Staudinger has a uniquely diversified background that includes exposure to all of the disciplines requisite to “speak the language” of the full complement of team members necessary to work through complicated mixed-use, mixed-income multi-family housing development projects.  She has developed more than $350 million in real estate projects throughout the Eastern US. She was a pioneer in the first generation of affordable housing mixed-finance deals and successfully orchestrated one of the first tax credit funded community buyouts in the nation.  The projects developed under her leadership have received multiple national, state, and industry awards. “I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners and the staff of the Athens Housing Authority in continuing our efforts to improve the quality of life for our customers.” added Ms. Staudinger.

About the Athens Housing Authority

The Athens Housing Authority (AHA) has 1291 public housing units and is engaged in redevelopment, homebuyer lending, new in-fill housing construction, and tax-exempt bonds. The AHA completed the first, true private mortgage on a HUD property in America and more than $400 million (~$220 million in original financing and $200 million in refinancing) in bond deals with the University of Georgia for student housing, dining, and parking. The AHA recently completed a $60 million three-phase project transforming one of its old neighborhoods into a new, master-planned, mixed-income community. The AHA is currently engaged in a major downtown revitalization project in concert with its development partners and local government for North Downtown Athens.

Tim Bryant

Tim Bryant

Tim Bryant hosts Classic City Today, 6-10 weekday mornings on 98.7FM & AM 1340 WGAU in Athens.

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