2024 Annual Luncheon

Former and Current President/CEO, The Fortune Society

For over five decades, The Fortune Society has stood as a beacon of hope, compassion, and transformation for justice-involved people, providing counseling, job training, and other services, all driven by an unshakeable belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. As the past and present leaders of this remarkable organization, JoAnne and Stanley have been not only resourceful problem-solvers but also architects of systemic change. One key innovation has been the expansion of The Fortune Society’s mission to include the creation of housing for their clients – because housing insecurity exacerbates the cycle of recidivism, and stable housing is the bedrock upon which individuals can lay the foundation for their futures.

EVP for Real Estate Development, NYCHA PACT Program

There are few housing challenges more significant than the sustenance and revitalization of New York City’s public housing. As NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development, Jonathan Gouveia has taken this challenge on directly, driving billions of dollars of investment through the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. Under Jonathan’s leadership, the Real Estate Development Department (REDD) has closed projects representing over $4.5 billion in investment, directed toward vastly improving quality of life for over 16,000 households across the city.

Assistant Commissioner, Housing Incentives, HPD

The past several years have been a period of unique strain on New York City’s public agencies, who rely on devoted public servants to keep programs and processes working in the face of often immense challenges. Tricia Dietz, Assistant Commissioner for Housing Incentives at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, embodies this dedication to the mission of public service, and the type of leadership needed to build the ranks of committed housing professionals within the city.

BFC Partners

The Bedford-Union Armory development is a shining example of how thoughtful investment can transform a void at the center of a neighborhood into a thriving, mixed-use hub that benefits not just its immediate occupants, but the broader community as well.

Centrally located in the dynamic neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, this development by BFC Partners adapted a vast historic building and breathed life into a site comprising nearly an entire city block. The development consists of three main components: the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Center and a pair of residential buildings at 1089 President Street and 1101 President Street (also known as The Arch). Together, they provide a 60,000-square-foot recreation facility, 25,000 square feet of non-profit space occupied by 10 local partners, and 415 apartments, 250 of which are affordable for households with annual incomes not exceeding $58,000.