As we commemorate Women’s History Month, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the strides women have made in the professional sphere and the ongoing journey towards equality.
The workplace, once predominantly a man’s domain, has transformed into a vibrant landscape enriched by the diverse talents and perspectives of women across the globe. At Housing Visions, we are proud to have an executive leadership team that is primarily comprised of women. Of the nine positions of executive leaders, women hold six of these pivotal roles. In this blog post, we highlight each of these important women and celebrate the accomplishments that have helped drive the success of Housing Visions.
Rebecca Trevisani
Executive Vice President & COO
“As the Executive Vice President & COO, Becky Trevisani has never met a problem she did not want to solve or a regulation that she is unwilling to research. As a leader, Becky encourages her staff to reach their highest potential and provides the tools and support to make it happen. Always willing to pitch in where help is needed, Becky has worked in the field of both property management and construction. During Becky’s time as a leader within the organization she has participated in more than 35 tax credit developments that have resulted in nearly 1,700 apartments. Becky has a passion for affordable housing and achieving the Mission of Housing Visions.”
-Ben Lockwood
President & CEO
Diana Jakimoski
Vice President, Real Estate Development
“Diana is one of the hardest working people I have ever worked with. She is a tremendous leader, manager, and not afraid to get in the weeds and get things done for the benefit of the organization. She represents herself well and has earned tremendous respect both within our organization and with outside agencies that we work with to get our developments funded and built. When people here in the organization have trouble figuring something out, be it construction, accounting, development, etc., we typically hear ‘Let me ask Diana.’ We continue to eclipse previous milestones with her at the helm. She was instrumental in getting our largest development to date funded and constructed. Moyer Carriage Lofts in Syracuse, NY is 128 units and $58mm (our largest in company history in terms of number of units and total development costs). We are truly fortunate to have her running our development team.”
-Chris Trevisani
Vice President, Business Development
Jennifer Dennis
Director, Human Resources & Administration
“Jennifer Dennis, the Director of Human Resources & Administration has been with the organization for more than 16 years. Beginning as an Administrative Assistant and several other roles in Human Resources, Jenn excelled in every position. Jenn brings compassion and empathy to her position as the Director of HR and has excellent rapport with the staff. Jenn led a wage study and provided input that shaped our competitive pay and benefits. Jenn shined during Covid, and helped lead initiatives to ensure the health and safety of employees as well as securing vital Federal funding for our operations.”
-Ben Lockwood
President & CEO
Michelle Kosinski
Controller
“Michelle Kosinski joined Housing Visions in 2022 to take over the Accounting and Finance function. Michelle is a CPA, who spent over 10 years in public accounting managing audits for dozens of businesses in central New York. Michelle’s technical expertise in the accounting and finance field is integral to the success of the business, but it’s her natural leadership skills and demeanor that make her a uniquely perfect fit for the company. Michelle leads a lean, effective team of 7 accounting and finance professionals. Her accounting chops are absolutely necessary as Housing Visions is an organization made up of over 60 entities, including 501(c)3 non-profit main entities, rental property LLC partnerships, and a very unique non-profit construction company. There are over a half a billion dollars worth of assets under Housing Visions management, and over 50 CPA audits and tax returns. Accounting handles 100% of the cash receipts, accounts payable and disbursements, manages all of the budgets, and handles all of the preparation of all of the financial statements for all of those companies. Forecasting the Company’s financial and cash position is high priority function that Michelle performs. And Michelle and her team keep all of those books organized and accurate. This work is critical to the success of Housing Visions.
However, it’s Michelle’s positive personality and attitude that has had even a greater impact on Housing Visions in a relative short period of time. She brought to Housing Visions a history of community involvement, organization and participation in worthwhile community and charitable events. She has immediately broken down walls and created and promoted positive collaboration and communication between the various teams at Housing Visions. She readily and enthusiastically organized office employees participation in summer landscaping and maintenance support in Syracuse, as well as some social and fun activities. Michelle’s confidence and knowledge of Housing Vision’s mission and organization has earned the trust of Housing Visions various boards of directors and board committees. The future is bright at Housing Visions with Michelle as an integral member of our senior management team going forward.”
-Jim Quinn
Vice President, Financing
ALYSSA PERWITZ
Vice President, Property Management
“Alyssa Perwitz’ journey to Vice President of Property Management at Housing Visions exemplifies adaptability and dedication. Starting as a Property Manager and swiftly ascending into various corporate compliance positions showcased her versatility and ability to navigate complex funding programs and regulations.
Assuming the role of Director of Property Management during the challenging times of the Covid pandemic and the eviction moratorium speaks volumes about Alyssa’s resilience and capability to lead in times of adversity. Managing a significant team of over 80 employees across multiple locations and overseeing a scattered site portfolio of 1,700 units demonstrates her organizational skills and managerial prowess.
Alyssa’s talent for simplifying complex processes is invaluable, especially in an industry as multifaceted as property management. Her ability to streamline operations and ensure progress amidst obstacles is a testament to her leadership style, which undoubtedly inspires confidence and fosters success within her team. As Housing Visions continues to grow, Alyssa’s leadership will undoubtedly be instrumental in navigating future challenges and driving the organization towards continued success.”
-Rebecca Trevisani
Executive Vice President & COO
Liz Wierbinski
Director, Housing Services
“During her tenure with the organization, Liz Wierbinski, the Director of Housing Services at Housing Visions, has demonstrated exceptional skills in managing the relationships and partnerships that are necessary to successfully provide supportive housing programming. Her specialized knowledge in this area has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission of providing quality affordable housing.
Under Liz’s guidance over the last several years, the Housing Services department, newly rebranded as CONNECT, was created. Her vision and leadership have been instrumental in shaping this department and aligning it with the organization’s overarching goals. Liz’s background as a Licensed MSW, coupled with her experience in case management within human services organizations and the healthcare sector, uniquely position her to propel the department forward.
As Director of Housing Services, Liz will continue to be a driving force in enhancing the organization’s impact and furthering its commitment to providing comprehensive housing solutions and support services. Liz’s leadership, passion, and dedication will greatly help to bring about the offering of CONNECT portfolio-wide.”
-Rebecca Trevisani
Executive Vice President & COO
