Board of Directors

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  Gilbert J. Winn

  Chief Executive Officer

  Gilbert J. Winn X

  

  Gilbert J. Winn - Chief Executive Officer

  Gilbert J. Winn is the Chief Executive Officer of the Boston-based WinnCompanies, which has acquired and developed real estate holdings in excess of $2.5 billion. The company’s management division, WinnResidential, is the 6th largest residential property management firm in the country operating more than 100,000 units across 22 states and the District of Columbia.
  
  Gilbert is responsible for overseeing WinnCompanies’ property management and investment activities, as well as the real estate development activities of the firm alongside WinnDevelopment partner Larry Curtis. He plays a leadership role in the creation, planning, implementation and integration of the strategic vision and growth of WinnCompanies. Among Mr. Winn’s recent focuses is the development of high-impact mixed-income and mixed-use environmentally sustainable redevelopment projects, many of which have received awards from city and state agencies as well as non-profits and industry associations for their impact on the community, design, sustainable features and/or historic preservation.

  Prior to joining WinnCompanies, Mr. Winn was an Associate at Related Capital Company, a full-service real estate investment company based in New York City, where he originated and implemented over $150 million of equity investments in various projects throughout the United States. Mr. Winn graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Arts studying History and Psychology. He resides in Boston with his wife and two children.

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  Lawrence H. Curtis

  President and Managing Partner, WinnDevelopment

  Lawrence H. Curtis X

  

  Lawrence H. Curtis - President and Managing Partner, WinnDevelopment

  Lawrence H. Curtis, the President and Managing Partner of WinnDevelopment and member of the Board of Directors, has led a full range of real estate development and acquisition activities for more than 30 years. He has been instrumental in helping the company grow from 3,000 units in 1986 to more than 100,000 units, which Winn currently has under management in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

  Mr. Curtis’ primary focus has been on the creation of affordable housing and historic rehabilitation developments. He is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC) and served as a past president of the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association (NH&RA). Mr. Curtis also served for nine years on the Board of Trustees for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and was a member of the Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). 

  Mr. Curtis served as the 2006 chairman of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB) and as a co-chair of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ annual campaign in 2008. He has also received numerous awards, including the Paul E. Tsongas Award from Preservation Massachusetts. In addition, Mr. Curtis co-founded New Lease, a non-profit based in Boston that provides a clearinghouse of affordable housing units for families staying in state-funded shelters and motels throughout Massachusetts.

  Mr. Curtis received a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York and a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Harvard University, where he is now a Lecturer on Urban Planning and Design. He is a licensed architect in Massachusetts, and resides in Boxford with his wife Marla and their four sons.

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  William W. Wollinger

  Chief Asset Officer

  William W. Wollinger X

  

  William W. Wollinger - Chief Asset Officer

  William W. Wollinger, Chief Asset Officer and member of the Board of Directors, has worked in the property management industry since 1971 and has served the Winn organization for more than 35 years. Collaborating with the board of directors and senior leaders, he helps to define the company’s vision; ensuring the implementation of the company’s objectives while delivering high-quality services to its clients and residents. During his tenure, Mr. Wollinger has helped expand the company to become one of the largest management organizations in the country.

  Prior to joining Winn, Mr. Wollinger served as an officer in the United States Army. He holds a BS degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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  Marvin M. Siflinger

  Board Member

  Marvin M. Siflinger X

  

  Marvin M. Siflinger - Board Member

  Marvin M. Siflinger, member of the Board of Directors, is a recognized national leader with 50 years of experience in housing and community development, as well as in public administration. He testified before Congress on several occasions, including in support of the preservation of multi-family government-assisted projects and to extend low-income housing tax credits. Mr. Siflinger joined WinnCompanies’ Board of Directors in 2012, where his expertise and guidance has become an integral part of the organization’s growth and success.

  Mr. Siflinger has served as Chairman of Housing Partners, Inc., a national affordable housing consulting firm, since 1995. His clients have included the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Harvard University and the City of Gulfport, Mississippi. From 1983 until 1995, Mr. Siflinger was Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) (now MassHousing). In this role, he was credited for reinventing MHFA as a nationally-acclaimed entrepreneurial organization recognized for its creativity and success.

  Mr. Siflinger began his career at HUD in its New York and Boston offices, administering every major housing and community development program. During his last seven years there as Director of the Boston office, Mr. Siflinger oversaw HUD’s major programs in New England. During this period, he received the highest departmental commendation for excellence in housing and community development programs. His many other award recognitions include the National Public Service Award by the American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration, Distinguished Public Service Award from Northeastern University, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Distinguished Public Service Award from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board.

  Mr. Siflinger has also served two terms at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and is a past president of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the B’nai B’rith National Senior Housing Committee and on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Deposit Insurance Fund. Mr. Siflinger holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University and his Bachelor of Business.

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  Patrick M. Appleby

  President, WinnResidential

  Patrick M. Appleby X

  

  Patrick M. Appleby - President, WinnResidential

  Patrick M. Appleby, a veteran of WinnCompanies for more than two decades, serves as President of both WinnResidential and WinnResidential Military Housing Services. In this role, he is responsible for directing the property management operations for the 105,000 apartment homes in the company's owned and managed portfolio, including more than 41,000 homes managed under the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). 
  
  He assumed responsibility for all WinnResidential operations in 22 states and the District of Columbia after serving for 16 years as the executive in charge of the company’s privatized military housing affiliate, which operates through a joint venture with Lendlease. 
  
  As president of the two management companies, he oversees more than 3,600 team members.  
  
  A member of WinnCompanies senior leadership team and their Board of Directors, Mr. Appleby also has strong prior experience in the market rate, affordable and tax credit housing fields. Prior to joining WinnCompanies in 1999, Mr. Appleby was a Principal at Boston Financial/Lendlease Residential, where he was responsible for a diverse portfolio of apartment homes. 
  
  Mr. Appleby has served on the Military Housing Committee of the National Apartment Association (NAA) since its inception, as well as the NAA’s Apartment Careers Committee. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the NAA Educational Institute as well as a member of the NAA Investment Sub-Committee.  
  
  He is a Certified Property Manager with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), as well as a Certified Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM) with the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA). 
   

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  Susan H. Malatesta

  Chief Financial Officer

  Susan H. Malatesta X

  

  Susan H. Malatesta - Chief Financial Officer

  Susan Malatesta , has worked in the property management and real estate industry since 1985 and has served the Winn organization for more than 25 years. Ms. Malatesta is responsible for the asset management oversight of more than 85 assets. These responsibilities include audit, tax and investor reporting, sales, refinancing and acquisition activities. She also acts as a liaison between the property management and development teams to facilitate the financial reporting during the construction phase of new developments. In her role, Ms. Malatesta is also responsible for the oversight of the WinnResidential internal audit function and the WinnCompanies master budget.

  Prior to joining WinnCompanies, Ms. Malatesta worked for Laventhol & Horwath, a public accounting firm.

  Ms. Malatesta is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPA’s as a Certified Public Accountant. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

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  Lynne Chase

  Chief Accounting Officer
  
   

  Lynne Chase X

  

  Lynne Chase - Chief Accounting Officer

  Lynne Chase has excelled in the property management and real estate industry for thirty years, advancing within the Winn organization to her current position as Chief Accounting Officer for WinnResidential, WinnResidential Military Housing Services and WinnDevelopment which operates in 23 states and the District of Columbia. In her role, she is responsible for directing the accounting operations for the 105,000 apartment homes in the company's owned and managed portfolio, including more than 41,000 homes managed under the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI).

  As Chief Accounting Officer, she oversees 110 team members in four functional areas that include corporate accounting, property management accounting and financial reporting, treasury and cash management and accounts payable. She has assisted WinnCompanies’ growth to become the nation’s fifth largest firm in residential property management. This growth spans from market-rate, affordable, senior and mixed-income housing along with condominiums and homes for America’s military families.

  Ms. Chase is a member of WinnCompanies Executive Leadership Team, Diversity Committee and Treasurer of the Winn Employee Relief Fund. She is also a member of the Central Catholic High School Board of Directors and Treasurer of its Executive Committee.

  Ms. Chase received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Merrimack College and serves on the College Leadership Council.

Executive Team

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  Terri Benskin

  Chief Operating Officer
  
   

  Terri Benskin X

  

  Terri Benskin - Chief Operating Officer

  Terri Benskin serves as Chief Operating Officer for WinnResidential. In this role, she oversees all operations for the organization's residential management portfolio.
  
  Terri joined WinnCompanies in 2018 as an Executive Vice President and has more than 24 years of experience in all aspects of property management with a focus on operations. Prior to joining WinnCompanies, Terri held the title of Chief Operating Officer with Ledic Realty Company for more than eight years. Earlier in her career, she held positions at other property management companies, working closely with property assessments, appraisals and new construction.

  Ms. Benskin also served for six years in the United States Naval Reserves.

  Terri achieved her Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) through the National Association of Home Builders.

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  Lynn Bora

  Executive Vice President
  
   

  Lynn Bora X

  

  Lynn Bora - Executive Vice President

  As Executive Vice President, Lynn is responsible for directing property management operations for 70 properties in WinnResidential’s portfolio, totaling more than 14,000 apartment homes and 800,000 square feet of commercial space. Ms. Bora’s portfolio includes market rate communities, Section 42, Section 236, Section 8, HOME-financed properties and Public Housing.

  Prior to taking on this role, Ms. Bora served as Senior Vice President of Operations Support Services (OSS), overseeing Marketing, Resident Services, Compliance, Procurement and Quality Control for WinnResidential's entire management portfolio.

  Ms. Bora has extensive experience in multiple aspects of property management, including profitability, budget and forecast preparation, property operations, procurement, and marketing strategies. She has also spearheaded the development of best practices needed to recruit, retain, train and support employees at all levels.

  Prior to joining Winn she was employed by Equity Residential as Vice President overseeing a 10,000 unit portfolio of market rate and affordable units plus 350,000 square feet of commercial and retail space in New England. While at Equity, Ms. Bora was a charter member of their Women in Leadership and a member of their Diversity Council. Prior to Equity, Lynn was employed by AIMCO as Regional Vice President overseeing 14,000 units in New England, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

  Ms. Bora currently chairs the Virginia Tech Residential Property Management Advisory Board; National Apartment Association Regional Vice President representing New England, New York and New Jersey; Greater Boston Real Estate Board of Directors and MAA past president.

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  Oke Johnson

  Executive Vice President, WinnResidential
  
   

  Oke Johnson X

  

  Oke Johnson - Executive Vice President

  Oke Johnson, Executive Vice President of WinnResidential, joined WinnCompanies in 2020. He currently oversees all aspects of property management operations for a portfolio of 197 properties comprised of more than 17,000 apartment homes in Arizona, California, and Illinois. Mr. Johnson’s specialty is affordable housing programs including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Project Based Section 8, and Tax-Exempt Bonds.

  Prior to joining WinnCompanies, Mr. Johnson worked for Envolve Client Services Group and Kettler Management and has over 24 years of experience in property management.

  Mr. Johnson holds a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation through the National Association of Home Builders, and Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation through Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). He has also served as a past chair for the HCCP Board of Governors twice.

  He holds a Bachelors in Sociology and Economics from University of Virginia.

   

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  John Kuppens

  Executive Vice President, WinnResidential
  
   

  John Kuppens X

  

  John T. Kuppens - Executive Vice President

  John Kuppens, Executive Vice President of WinnResidential, has been a member of the Winn team for 20 years. He currently oversees all aspects of property management operations for a portfolio of 140 properties comprised of more than 8,000 apartment homes spanning the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Kuppens also works with his developer clients on acquisitions, new development and refinancing.

  Prior to joining WinnCompanies, Mr. Kuppens worked in the banking industry at both State Street Bank & Trust and the Boston Company.

  Mr. Kuppens is a certified Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM) and a National Affordable Housing Professional – Executive Level (NAHP-e). He holds a Master in Business Administration from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts.

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  Michael O'Brien

  Executive Vice President, WinnCompanies

  Michael O'Brien X

  

  Michael O'Brien - Executive Vice President, WinnCompanies

  Michael O’Brien, Executive Vice President, has been part of the Winn Executive Team since January 2014.

  In his role, Mr. O’Brien is responsible for corporate management, strategic planning, and financial and client relationships at WinnDevelopment and WinnResidential.

  Prior to joining Winn, Mr. O’Brien spent nine years as the City Manager of Worcester. During that time, Mr. O’Brien successfully implemented multiple programs to spur economic development and improve neighborhoods. As a result, Worcester is currently rated one of the safest communities in the country, among cities with a population of 100,000 or more, and is experiencing more than $1.3 billion in planned or current economic development activity.

  Additionally, Mr. O’Brien spearheaded "Buy Worcester Now," a new private-public partnership between the city, banks, lending institutions, local companies, non-profit agencies, realtors and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to generate new market demand for all available housing options in Worcester and to assist qualified, responsible buyers in purchasing a home. He also established five Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas, each focused specifically on issues relative to housing, code enforcement, commercial storefront improvements and job training.

  Mr. O'Brien received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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  Choni Wilcox

  Executive Vice President, WinnResidential
  
   

  Choni Wilcox X

  

  Choni Wilcox - Executive Vice President, WinnResidential

  Choni joins the team as Executive Vice President in the Mid-Atlantic region of the WinnResidential portfolio.

  She brings more than three decades of experience with her, as she previously oversaw operations as Executive Vice President with Edgewood Management and Vantage Management and spent fourteen years in a variety of positions at Bozzuto Group.

  Choni holds the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation with Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation with the National Association of Home Builders.

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  Daniel E. Willert

  General Counsel

  Daniel E. Willert X

  

  Daniel E. Willert - General Counsel

  Daniel E. Willert has served as General Counsel, Chief Ethics Officer for WinnCompanies, and has been a member of the WinnCompanies Executive Team since 2010. He brings 30 years of experience, working with and advising businesses and individuals in a wide variety of corporate and real estate matters. In his role, Mr. Willert is responsible for all legal affairs concerning the company, including compliance with various legal and regulatory requirements. Working with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team, he helps to ensure the implementation of the company’s business objectives, including delivering high-quality services to its clients.

  Mr. Willert is a member of the Massachusetts and California Bar Associations. He holds his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University.

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  Lorraine Witunski

  Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Learning and Development

  Lorraine Witunski X

  

  Lorraine Witunski - Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Learning and Development

  Lorraine Witunski is an HR executive with over 30 years of experience working in diverse industries including property management, senior living, health care, technology, and professional services.

  As Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Training, Lorraine is responsible for the management of all aspects of human resources and training, including payroll, employee relations, compensation and benefits, talent acquisition and retention, as well as performance management, for approximately 3,700 Winn employees across 23 states and the District of Columbia. She is a member of WinnCompanies senior leadership team, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Winn Employee Relief Fund.

  Lorraine received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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  Trevor Samios

  Senior Vice President, Connected Communities
  
   

  Trevor Samios X

  

  Trevor Samios - Senior Vice President, Connected Communities

  Trevor Samios has worked at the intersection of community development and collective impact for more than a decade. As Senior Vice President of Connected Communities at WinnResidential, he is responsible for the growth and sustainability of WinnResidential’s high-impact resident services platform, with a mission to create Communities of Opportunity across WinnCompanies’ growing portfolio.

  Prior to joining WinnCompanies, he was the Director of Community Impact for Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), a Boston-based, national non-profit affordable housing policy, development and management organization. While there, Mr. Samios led Community Impact, POAH’s outcomes-based partnership development and services department charged with the design, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive strategy to support the growing needs of POAH’s residential communities. He has led projects including POAH’s 85-community Outcomes Initiative, the implementation of HUD’s first Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Multifamily program and the community development strategies on multiple HUD Choice Neighborhoods grants.

  Mr. Samios also served as Senior Operations Manager for The Community Builders, Inc., (TCB) a Boston-based national non-profit affordable and mixed-income housing developer. There he helped to launch Community Life, a place-based initiative that utilizes stable housing as a platform for residents and neighborhoods to achieve greater economic stability. Trevor oversaw the support and assessments of protocol, policy and innovative implementation strategies to assist residents of mixed-income housing.