Charles Hillman offers more than 25 years of experience in the real estate and housing industries and has made it his life’s work to collaborate with communities, residents, and investors in providing families with access to truly affordable housing and life-giving social services, resulting in revitalized neighborhoods and systemic change. Through leadership, partnerships, and a dogged approach to affordability, equality, and sustainability, Hillman is an innovative thought leader who knows that self-sufficiency, education, and community promote economic growth that fosters a robust quality of life.

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Hillman’s insights into the Central Ohio affordable housing crisis have proved critical in his leadership of the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) where he has served as President and CEO since 2010. With 54K residents spending more than half of their income on housing costs, Hillman is passionate about solutions that not only work but provide families with greater opportunities. Currently, CMHA leverages a $130M operating budget to house 15K+ families by administering 2,500 public housing units and providing 13,600+ Housing Choice Voucher rental subsidies to 3K+ private landlords. In a single decade, Hillman has completely rebuilt the agency’s housing portfolio leading to exceptional results that have included:

 

• Impacting 500+ families in 2019 by closing $53M in development deals including mixed-income acquisitions, new construction for special-needs populations, and the preservation of existing affordable housing developments.

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• Overcoming a $3M deficit through a tenacious commitment to fiscal responsibility and financial accountability, delivering 5 consecutive years of flawless independent audits and 10 consecutive years ranked as a SEMAP High Performer.

 

• Eliminating reliance on HUD funding and converting 100% of assets into Project-Based Voucher units leveraging strategic relationships with mission-vital partners, resulting in $45M of new development and expanded housing availability.

With a history of working in both the public and private sectors, Hillman’s work in the affordable housing and housing authority industries began in Cincinnati where he was a Development Manager for Nelson & Associates. Later, for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Hillman developed a quality control system that increased resident retention 25%. As the Assistant Director of Property Management for CMHA, he achieved 98%+ occupancy while maintaining delinquency rates below 3%. As the Senior VP for the Chicago Housing Authority, Hillman optimized a portfolio of 25K units and a $113M operating budget to spark innovative and industry-leading change to the third-largest Housing Authority in the nation.

 

With a strong commitment to professional development, Hillman has completed several training and certification programs including Rutgers’ Executive Director Education Program (EDEP). Hillman holds a BBA from Bowling Green State University and an MBA Management Certificate from Loyola University. He is a graduate of Harvard University’s Next-Generation Executive & Emerging Leader Program. An active community leader, Hillman serves on several boards including the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Council. Additionally, he is a Trustee of the YMCA of Central Ohio, the Franklin Park Conservatory, and the Bexley Public Library.

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Hillman has been recognized by Columbus Business First as a C-Suite Awards Honoree, and he received the Healthiest Employers of Central Ohio and Diversity in Business Award. He also received Columbus Urban League’s Honda Award of Excellence, Helping Hands’ Public Service Ambassador Award, RICOH’s New World of Work Award, and the YWCA’s Outstanding Community Partner Excellence in Service Award.