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.”
Original source can be found here.
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