Enterprise Names Top Community Development Professional M.A. Leonard to Lead Pacific Northwest Efforts

COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) today names M.A. Leonard the new Impact Market leader for the Pacific Northwest. In its Pacific Northwest market, which includes Washington and Oregon, Enterprise has invested more than $1 billion in community development in the past 20 years. Of that total, $800 million was invested in low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) for the creation of affordable rental properties.

"The Pacific Northwest is a very important market for Enterprise," said Paul Cummings, senior vice president and regional executive, Western Region, Enterprise Community Partners. "We are fortunate to work with strong partners that are innovative, mission-focused and driven to make a difference in the community. With M.A.'s extensive history in the region and in the field of community development, we are excited to have her on board to help drive our activities in Washington and Oregon."

Prior to joining Enterprise, Ms. Leonard worked as an independent consultant providing strategic assistance to various community development organizations on their work with affordable housing development in Oregon and Washington. Before her consultancy business, she held the position of regional vice president with the National Equity Fund (NEF), Inc., an affiliate of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC). Ms. Leonard opened the Northwest office of NEF in 1998, and during her 10-year tenure, she managed acquisition and portfolio activities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Alaska. Other professional highlights include serving as the founding director of the Washington Community Development Loan Fund, now Impact Capital, and working for the Seattle Housing Authority and the Lane County Housing and Community Services Agency in Eugene, Ore.

Currently, Ms. Leonard is a board member of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and the Washington Community Reinvestment Association. She also has served on the Bank of America Rural Advisory Committee, State of Washington Housing Trust Fund Policy Advisory Team, the Seattle Housing Levy Oversight Committee and Historic Seattle.

"Enterprise is a recognized and innovative affordable housing and community development leader in the Pacific Northwest," said Ms. Leonard. "I look forward to working with an organization that has a true commitment to and strong grasp on the unique housing needs in Oregon and Washington."

Enterprise has a national presence with a specific focus in eight impact markets. The markets include New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Ohio, the Gulf Coast, Northern California, Los Angeles and the Pacific Northwest.

Enterprise is a leading provider of the development capital and expertise it takes to create decent, affordable homes and rebuild communities. For more than 25 years, Enterprise has introduced neighborhood solutions through public-private partnerships with financial institutions, governments, community organizations and others that share our vision. Enterprise has raised and invested more than $10 billion in equity, grants and loans to help build or preserve more than 250,000 affordable rental and for-sale homes to create vital communities. Enterprise is currently investing in communities at a rate of $1 billion a year. Visit www.enterprisecommunity.org and www.enterprisecommunity.com to learn more about Enterprise's efforts to build communities and opportunity.

SOURCE Enterprise Community Partners