TRACEY SCOTT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
In 2020, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board appointed Tracey Scott as chief executive officer of the nation’s third largest housing authority, serving 64,000 families in Chicago. Under her leadership, CHA has closed $270 million in public housing rehabilitation projects and new mixed-income developments. With a vision of neighborhood revitalization as a goal, CHA has expanded education and employment services for residents to create more pathways for families to achieve economic independence.
Ms. Scott serves on the board of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and as President of the Moving to Work Collaborative. Before coming to CHA, Ms. Scott served in leadership positions with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Atlanta Housing, and AT&T. She has served in volunteer leadership roles with Partners for Home Atlanta, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ community advisory board, and Patelco Credit Union.
She holds degrees from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Emory University.
CHERYL BURNS, CHIEF HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER OFFICER
Cheryl Burns is the Chief Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority.
Ms. Burns is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly known as Section 8), the second-largest public housing voucher program in the United States with 47,000 vouchers. She also oversees the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure effective and efficient HCV operations.
Ms. Burns served as CHA’s Program Integrity Manager, Senior Director and Deputy Chief Housing Officer for Operations and Compliance in which she managed the HCV budget, audits and procurement of Contracts and Supplies. She developed and monitored annual operating budgets and oversaw administrative processes such as software transition and training for CHA’s systems of record.
Prior to joining CHA, Ms. Burns spent more than 10 years working in housing authority management, gaining extensive experience in program administration, evaluation, coaching, training and staff development. She served as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Park Forest’s HCV program and as Manager of Admissions and Occupancy for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, where she led the agency to a high-performer status on the SEMAP.
Ms. Burns holds a master’s degree in Communications and Training from Governor's State University and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Columbia College in Chicago.
ERIC GARRETT, Chief Property and Asset Management Officer
Eric Garrett has served as Chief Property and Asset Management Officer at the Chicago Housing Authority since 2019. He has more than 20 years of property and asset management experience at the agency. He is responsible for the maintenance and high quality of CHA’s housing stock.
Mr. Garrett oversees the departments of Asset Management and Operations, Building Operations, Housing Policy and Occupancy, Non-Residential Land and Space Management, and Safety and Security. He also supervises a team of Deputy Chiefs, Regional Directors, and Directors as well as other professional and support staff.
Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Garrett served as CHA’s Deputy Chief Property Officer, managing the portfolio of CHA’s traditional housing and RAD properties to ensure effective departmental operations and customer service. He also served as the agency’s Director of Asset Management, supervising a team of Asset Managers and Quality Control Analysts and working with property managers, resident leaders, community stakeholders, HUD officials, and CHA staff.
Mr. Garrett is a U.S. Army veteran. He holds degrees from Illinois School of Commerce, Maryland University, and City Colleges of Chicago.
MARY HOWARD, CHIEF RESIDENT SERVICES OFFICER
Ms. Howard currently serves as the Chief Resident Services Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority. She is responsible for implementing 2 Gen programs that foster economic independence, increase earning power, support academic achievement, and enhance housing stability and quality of life for residents.
Since joining CHA, Ms. Howard has developed and strengthened programming to include evidenced based models that have led to over 7,000 job placements for adults and more than 8,000 paid work experiences for youth; assisted in the creation and launch of CHA’s nonprofit affiliate, Springboard 2 Success, and has designed and implemented research based programming such as Housing Opportunities and Services Together (HOST) with the Urban Institute, and the groundbreaking advance earned income tax credit pilot. Ms. Howard is a board member of Springboard 2 Success and the Chicago Continuum of Care.
Ms. Howard has more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit and housing service industry including management, program design, evaluation, coaching, and training. She has worked on issues that impact vulnerable populations such as addiction, homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as implemented a variety of workforce development, housing, and anti-poverty programs.
Ms. Howard is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Capella University.
ANN MCKENZIE, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Ann McKenzie is the Chief Development Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority. She has more than 20 years of experience developing affordable housing, including public housing.
Ms. McKenzie joined the CHA as Senior Director of the Rental Assistance Demonstration program in October 2015. Before joining CHA, Ms. McKenzie served as Director of Development for The Habitat Company where she focused on affordable real estate development with an emphasis on mixed-income public housing in both Chicago and Detroit. Before that, she worked for Bethel New Life where her interest in affordable housing was sparked.
Ms. McKenzie earned her bachelor of science degree in speech (with an emphasis in economics) from Northwestern University and her law degree from DePaul University College of Law. Ms. McKenzie is active in Chicago volunteer roles. She has held various volunteer roles including PTA president, Local School Council chair/vice chair and co-chaired a capital campaign to restore a Chicago-landmarked church.
MICHAEL MORAN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Michael Moran is a financial professional with over 30 years of experience in developing and driving strategic goals with a focus on financial reporting and analysis, including consolidations, forecasting, capital and operating budgets, systems implementation, treasury functions, and risk management oversight. He has a record of developing and implementing innovative solutions utilizing a highly motivated team approach resulting in increased efficiency, internal control and overall performance for private, public and nonprofit organizations.
As Chief Finance Officer at CHA, Mr. Moran directs a staff of 62 and oversees the agency’s $1 billion operating budget. He manages the agency’s accounting and financial reporting function, along with multiple top tier audit firm relationships on the financial and compliance audits, to ensure proper policies, internal controls and reporting results are in place. He is also responsible for developing the operating and capital expenditure budgets and forecasts to ensure the agency’s needs are appropriately planned for and the associated reporting is shared with stakeholders. Mr. Moran serves as a member of CHA’s Investment Committee which establishes the policies and strategic oversight of the investment portfolio including decision-making relating to financing, debt strategy, and policy governance and sits on the Board of the Chicago Housing Authority Employees’ Retirement Plan. Additionally, he oversees the Risk Management group responsible for all property, liability, and healthcare coverages.
Prior to coming to CHA in 2012, where he first served as Budget Director and later as Deputy Chief Financial Officer before being named Chief Financial Officer in June 2017, Mr. Moran worked in the private and nonprofit sectors in a variety of industries as an accountant, treasurer and controller. He was the Treasurer/Director of Internal Reporting for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago where he was responsible for banking relationships, cash management, budgeting and served as an employee-member of the Investment Committee. Additionally, he served as the Controller at The Habitat Company, a major real estate development and management company headquartered in Chicago, where he was responsible for financial reporting, forecasting and directing annual audit and tax return preparation by multiple audit firms for over 100 real estate limited partnerships.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from the University of Illinois, Chicago and is a State of Illinois Certified Public Accountant.