Our Team
Sara Barcan
Executive Director
Sara Barcan has worked in housing and community development since 1989, including as a developer of housing and commercial real estate at CDCs. From 2001-2022, Sara worked at the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), most recently as Director of Housing Development. Sara provided technical assistance as well as both early-stage and long-term, deferred payment financing to non-profit housing developers, resulting in the production and preservation of affordable homes for thousands of low and moderate income residents of Massachusetts. An expert in supportive housing, Sara has collaborated with housing developers, human service agencies, and state government to deploy capital to supportive housing developments. Deeply committed to talent development at CDCs, Sara served as a founding Steering Committee member of the Mel King Institute for Community Building. Sara holds a Master in City Planning from MIT and an AB in American History and Literature from Harvard.
Ana Berrio
Community Engagement Coordinator
Ana joined HRI in Spring 2023 as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Rivermark. She brings a wealth of experience working in Greater Boston with multicultural communities connecting them to healthcare resources and social services. Previously, Ana worked as a Human Services Assistant for the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) where she greeted program participants, screened them individually to connect them with the appropriate case manager and helped provide Spanish/English translation.
Before the DTA, Ana worked as a Community Service Coordinator at Riverside Community Care where she focused on early intervention service access for children and their families. Ana earned her Master in Education from Cambridge College. She enjoys working with diverse populations and highly prioritizes listening. As the Community Engagement Coordinator for Rivermark, Ana hopes to support residents on-site by building strong culturally sensitive rapport and using Cambridge resources to meet HRI’s community priorities.
Hien Burnham
Controller
Hien joined the HRI Finance team in May 2023 as our Controller, with general oversight of accounting and finance functions. She is a seasoned finance professional, with more than 20 years of accounting experience in commercial and retail businesses, non-profit and quasi-public organizations, and affordable housing. Hien comes to HRI from the Assabet Valley Collaborative, where she was the Finance Manager. Before AVC, Hien spent 15 years at the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), where she held progressively more advanced positions culminating in Accounting Manager.
Hien earned her MBA and her BS in Business Administration from Framingham State University and received a BS in Accounting and Auditing from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
Outside of work, Hien is a hockey mom who enjoys spending outdoor time with her family and is a passionate cook.
Joe Deignan
Director of Community Engagement
Joe oversees the ongoing management of HRI’s resident services programing. He works closely with residents, area nonprofits, community leaders and property management to ensure that HRI is providing services and supports that match the needs and interests of residents.
Prior to joining the HRI team in 2011, Joe worked in the human services and nonprofit field in the Greater Boston area. He served as an Organizational and Community Assistance Program volunteer in the US Peace Corps, Kazakhstan from 2007-2009. Joe holds a BA in History from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Lee DePietro
Director of Asset Management
Lee DePietro has worked in affordable housing for several decades, working for non-profit, for profit, and governmental organizations. She has easily moved between property management and asset management. From 2012-2018, Lee worked at TCAM as a Director of Asset Management. There she provided asset management services to a variety of clients. While she regularly oversaw stabilized portfolios, her skill set was best deployed repositioning troubled assets and portfolios as well as analyzing operations and trends on behalf of clients with multiple business lines. Her home base was Boston, but her work was national in scope.
Lee participated in the development of a Master Plan for the last Spanish Land Grant, a 540-acre parcel in Santa Fe. During COVID, she helped design an application process that allocated millions in small grants to local businesses and non-profit organizations throughout Santa Fe County.
Deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, Lee has regularly taught ESL from Boston to San Jose and volunteered in the therapeutic riding community working with children and adults with special needs. When she is not working, you can find her on a hiking trail or volunteering at her favorite dog rescue.
Jesse Edsell-Vetter
Director of Grants & Special Initiatives
Jesse Edsell-Vetter, HRI’s Director of Grants & Special Initiatives has 20 years of experience work in affordable housing. Jesse works with Director of Community Engagement, Joe Deignan, to ensure that HRI is providing services that match the needs and interests of residents, with the overall goal to improve residents’ quality of life and increase access to opportunities. Prior to joining the HRI team, Jesse developed a hoarding intervention programming serving sites throughout the United States.
Becky Eidelman
Project Associate
Becky joined HRI in 2021 as part of the 2021–2023 Kuehn Fellowship. She now works part time as a Project Associate on the Development team, supporting projects in various phases of development. Since joining HRI, Becky has worked on the rehabilitation of a triple decker in Cambridge (3 units), currently supports the retrofit of a 12-unit SRO building in North Cambridge, and is working on the future 4 Mellen Street new construction and historic renovation project (29 units).
She graduated from Tufts in 2021 with a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. In 2020, she researched and reported on resident services for the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development. From 2019 to 2021, she served on the board of the American Planning Association Massachusetts chapter. Prior to attending graduate school, Becky worked at Jobs for the Future in Boston on their Postsecondary Education team, coordinating a national network of community college service providers. Becky received her BA in English and Art from Wesleyan University.
Kate Gilmore
Director of Real Estate
With over a decade of experience, Kate Gilmore has worked in multiple areas of the affordable housing field in both the public and private sector. At HRI, Kate oversees the implementation of all real estate development activities.
Prior to joining HRI, Kate was a Senior Director at Tishman Speyer where she oversaw Edgemere Commons, an 1,800-unit mixed-use development in Far Rockaway, Queens. From 2018 to 2021, Kate was the Director of Affordable Housing at Mega Contracting Group where she oversaw the acquisition and development of the affordable housing pipeline. Kate also previously worked at the New York City Housing Development Corporation where she closed over $250 million in senior debt financing for the new construction and rehabilitation of fifteen projects. Kate is a former board member of Fifth Avenue Committee, a fellow NeighborWorks organization based in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She holds her BA from Oberlin College and her MS in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
Kate grew up in the Boston metro area and is thrilled to return to the area after 20 years!
Nira Gurung
Administration & Development Associate
Nira arrived at HRI at the start of 2019 as a temp for the Administration & Development Coordinator position. She wears many hats and supports the various departments. After years of helping families raise kind and strong children as a childcare provider, Nira looks to hone her skills in the non-profit sector.
Jennifer Jonassaint
Program Manager
A natural connector of people, Jennifer always had a deep passion for community and charitable work. Her personal inspiration stems from her Caribbean roots and a deep resolve for community change through impact, all of which led her to work in community development. As a Program Manager with decades of experience in community lending, financial counseling, coaching, education and mortgage foreclosure, her main role is secondary mortgage lender. With varied interests, she is most happy spending her days in the sun, eating spicy food, dancing and volunteering. She earned a BS in Community Development.
Cindy Li
Senior Accountant
Cindy Li is a seasoned accountant with over 6 years of hands-on experience. At her previous job, she transitioned from Accounts Payable Specialist to the role of Accounting Supervisor in just 5 years. Known for her commitment to excellence, Cindy’s focus extends beyond numbers, ensuring meticulous internal control to safeguard the company's financial health. Cindy brings not only financial expertise but also a dedication to fostering a culture of excellence at HRI.
Eleni Macrakis
Senior Project Manager
Eleni joined HRI in Summer 2019 as part of the 2019-2021 Kuehn Fellowship. Since joining HRI, Eleni has helped with a variety of projects: the lottery and lease-up of Finch Cambridge (98 units), the rehabilitation of Matheson Apartments (70 units), the construction management of the rehabilitation of Rivermark (300 units), and the current pre-development processes for 4 Mellen and 30 Wendell.
Eleni received her Master in Urban Planning from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design with a concentration in Housing and Community Development and her BA in Science, Technology, and Society from Vassar College. Before graduate school, Eleni worked as a research assistant at Boston Medical Center for a group focused on public health interventions for low-income and minority families in the Greater Boston Area. She is a co-author of “A People’s Guide to Greater Boston" (UC Press, 2020).
Will Monson
Senior Project Manager
Will joined HRI as a Project Manager in July 2017 as part of the 2017-19 Kuehn Fellowship program. While at HRI, he has helped with several projects in Cambridge: the rehabilitation and financing of Auburn Park (60 units), the financing of Concord Highlands (98 units, new construction), and the financing and rehabilitation of 808 Memorial Drive (300 units).
Will received his Master in City Planning degree from MIT, focusing on Housing, Community, and Economic Development. He was involved in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Affordable Housing Development Competition, both as a participant in 2016 and a student coordinator in 2017. Prior to HRI and grad school, he worked as a research associate at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. and received his BA in Economics from Wesleyan University. He also plays saxophone in a band of urban planners.
Nadia Tefera
Community Engagement Coordinator
Nadia joined the HRI team in 2022 as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Inman Square and Putnam Square Apartments where she focuses on tenant relations, including conducting coffee hours, celebratory luncheons, musical performances, and other events. She also helps tenants who have coping issues and need assistance with day-to-day functions.
Before HRI, Nadia worked in the healthcare industry for many years as a Patient Care Assistant and Outpatient Administrative Assistant. She also previously worked as an Administrative Assistant and Resident Services Coordinator for a Boston-based property management company supporting residents with rental and financial assistance. Nadia looks forward to working with all the residents and the HRI team.
Susan Twomey
Director of Construction and Sustainability
Susan Twomey has worked throughout New England with experience as Architect, Clerk of the Works, and Owner’s Representative on both new and renovation construction projects. Susan holds a Master’s in Architecture, is a registered Architect in Massachusetts, and has taught as a faculty member at the Boston Architectural College. Driven by the idea that superior design and well-constructed buildings can improve the lives of residents and neighbors both locally and globally, her goal is to enrich the built environment. Susan works with the development team and the Home Improvement Program to ensure sustainable building solutions. She believes in continuing the HRI tradition of being on the forefront of improving energy efficiency and environmentally conscious practices in both existing buildings and new construction.
Originally from Illinois, Susan has adopted the Red Sox as her team (when they aren’t playing the Chicago Cubs).
Michael Wolfson
Construction Manager
Michael joined HRI in 2016, continuing his career in residential construction. Formerly as a General Contractor developing affordable home ownership opportunities on Cape Cod and later as a Project Manager remodeling in Metrowest, Michael has been involved in all phases of building homes. His responsibilities include inspecting properties, writing construction specifications, as well as active project construction management for the Home Improvement Program and HRI programs, as well as the HRI rental portfolio.
BOARD
President: Louise Elving
Vice President: Vincent O’Donnell
Clerk: John Hixson
Treasurer: George Beal
Member: Hector Acevedo
Member: Amy Walsh Farrell
Member: Debra Fox
Member: Angela Meehan
Member: Aviva Rothman-Shore
Member: Marilyn Soto
Member: Golnaz Tabatabai