Neal Drobenare

Biography: June 2003 Experience 8/02-Present Mid-City Urban, Silver Spring, Maryland Chief of Staff Responsible for coordination of project managers and administrative staff to insure on-time and on budget delivery of development projects for real estate development company that specializes in the revitalization of urban areas. Currently the firm has 6,000 units under development9/01-8/02 Mayor's Office, District of ColumbiaSpecial Assistant to the Deputy Mayor. Responsible for the creation of new housing programs and negotiating large land development deals.6/2000-9/01 D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development Washington, D.C. Chief Operating Officer /Deputy Director Drafted from previous position to be a key member of Mayor William's turnaround team for one of Washington's most troubled agencies. § Responsible for operations of $110 million agency. This included all real estate financing for housing, commercial, and public facilities using Tax Credits, CDBG, HOME, and local funds. § Took agency from financing only 400 units of housing to financing 3400 units, and 9 community or commercial facilities (with closings scheduled to July, 2000). § Responsible for all sales and redevelopment of City owned lands and land acquisition for government purposes. This includes the development of Camp Simms (22 acre mixed use), Wax Museum Site (mixed use), D.C. Village (new town including commercial, residential, and recreational uses), Ft. Lincoln New Town (commercial and residential), Mathur Building, government centers acquisition, old school sales etc. § Redesigned underwriting process. § Re-organized including establishment of Asset Management and Land Disposition units. 7/98-6/00 D.C. Housing Finance Agency, Washington, D.C.Bond Finance Manager § Senior executive reporting directly to the Executive Director. Key member of team that secured an investment grade credit rating for the Agency before D.C. itself achieved an investment grade rating. Initial rating has been upgraded to A-. Although serving the smallest jurisdiction ranked, Affordable Housing Finance ranked DCHFA as one of the top 20 housing bond issuers in the nation. Previously, DCHFA was a scandal-ridden agency $16 million in debt. § DCHFA is an independent quasi-public entity that received no financial support from tax dollars but instead supported itself on the revenue that it generated. § Established multifamily finance department, hired staff, created products, designed and implement underwriting criteria and process. § Increased annual multifamily private activity new bond issues from $580,000 to $44 million in first year and to $112 Million in second year. Average revenue increase commensurate with volume increase. § Left Agency with of $217 million of projects on the way to closing. § Responsible for generating, underwriting, and closing multifamily bond and tax credit deals. § Structured enhanced and unenhanced bond deals. Directly placed bonds with investors. Provided enhancement / mortgage insurance for bonds. Allocated tax credits. § Established Agency as key player in all its deals by bringing all due diligence, underwriting, and third party report ordering in house for all deals. § Deals included both rehabilitation and new construction of HOPE VI redevelopments, HUD insured deals, and Fannie Mae enhanced deals as well as unenhanced deals. § Personally responsible for bringing in new business. Succeeded by convincing private developers that they could do business with the Agency, that it would act in a predictable, business like manner despite the reputation of the District of Columbia. 1998-1998 Albany, N.Y.Independent Consultant § Development, planning, and program design consultant to Housing Authorities, and non-profits. 1994-1998. City of Albany, Department of Housing and Community Development Albany, N.YDirector of Planning and Program Development § Senior executive with responsibility for strategic planning, program / product development, and regulatory compliance. § Lead Department's budget process included underwriting housing proposals. § Created Jobs Now! Collaborative, a public-private partnership that increased employment opportunities for homeless individuals by starting businesses and placing people in supported placements in private industry. § Received HUD's "National Blue Ribbon Best Practice" for creating and running the Albany Homelessness Working Group which involved government, non-profits, and businesses in devising a community wide response to homelessness1993-1994 Oliver & Oliver Albany N.Y.Associate Attorney § Litigated Environmental Quality Review Act determinations in real estate matters at trial and appellate levels.1992-1992 New York State Assembly Majority Leader Albany, N.Y. Legislative Counsel § Responsible for final technical review of bills prior to introduction on Assembly floor. § Represented the Majority Leader at the Real Property, Cities, Labor, and Governmental Operations Committee meetings. 1993-1998 Habitat for Humanity of the Capital District Albany, NYBoard Vice Chair and Development DirectorCreated and managed development team that took an organization with a $20,000 budget, no staff, and one completed home and turned it into an organization with a $1 million annual budget and 10 houses a year production. Interests EducationCommunity Activities 1988-1991 S.U.N.Y. Buffalo School of Law Buffalo, N.YJ.D. Cum Laude § Senior Member, Law Review1983-1987 S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook Stony Brook, N.Y.B.A. Political ScienceManaging Editor of Stony Brook Press Founder and President of Sports Association Freshman Class President Kayaking, Tennis, and American history