For the past 23 years, Mitzy Rowe, CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Bristol (BHA), has provided low-income housing and has created and promoted opportunities for self-sufficiency to more than 1,500 families.
She has fashioned the agency as a pace setter within the public housing industry. BHA is one of only 126 agencies chosen as a Moving to Work agency. This designation is reserved for the most innovative agencies nationwide.
She has planned and implemented major rehabilitation projects of almost 100% of the agency properties. The projects will secure approximately $90 million in private and public financing.
What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far?
I have maintained the agency’s high-performer designation by HUD for more than 10 years, created award-winning programs to aid residents in their efforts to gain employment, further their education, and become first-time homeowners. I’ve also mentored members of my staff who have become successful executives.
What’s the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally?
I am working to complete a workforce apartment project for working families. For this project, we have formed a partnership with Vesta Corp. and the City of Bristol to renovate a 113-year-old ex-factory building called the J. H. Sessions & Sons building.
What’s one of the biggest professional challenges you’ve overcome?
I had not previously gone through the process of procuring funding to rehabilitate a property. We partnered with a developer to renovate our first property and gained the “know-how” in the process. I assembled a team and went on to complete two projects and will close on two more this spring.
What are your keys to maintaining business success?
Focus on the agency vision and goals. Treat your team as you would want to be treated, train them so they understand the business, give them the best tools to do their jobs, show appreciation, allow networking activities and let them know that family comes first. Accept different personalities and opinions.