Management Team
Christopher Persons CEO
Christopher Persons brings over 20 years of senior nonprofit leadership experience to Capitol Hill Housing. Prior to joining CHH in 2007, Chris served as executive director and CEO of Inspiration Corporation, a non-profit agency serving homeless people in Chicago. Under his leadership, Inspiration Corporation grew from a neighborhood agency with a $415,000 budget to a city-wide, award-winning corporation with a budget of $2.8 million. Chris guided the organization through two mergers, started a housing program that has grown to over 100 units, and opened a full-service restaurant that doubles as a job training and employment center.
At CHH, Chris has led the organization's 2010 strategic planning efforts, and is now implementing a vision framework that will drive the organization through a changed affordable housing landscape. Chris oversaw the creation of the Capitol Hill Housing Foundation, which leads the development of resources to support CHH's mission. He has taken CHH outside the city limits for the first time to develop a 30-unit family building in partnership with local groups in White Center. Chris's oversight of property management has led to a dramatic increase in organizational revenues over the past two years.
Chris has a long-standing commitment to community development work and leadership. He is President of the Board of the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce and is active in the pressing issues that are setting the course for the future of the Capitol Hill community such as transit development and 12th Avenue growth. Chris serves on the board of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle and King County, and is a City Council appointment to the Seattle Planning Commission.
Jill Fleming Chief Financial Officer
Jill Fleming, CPA, is Chief Financial Officer at CHH. She oversees finance, human resources, and asset management. Jill came to CHH in 2006 after 19 years in public accounting, including 8 years as a partner with the firm Blume Loveridge. Jill has extensive experience working with developers, owners and managers of affordable housing, and is well-versed in finance, accounting and compliance using HUD, RD, LIHTC, NAHASDA and other federal and state programs. She has also worked in commercial banking and mortgage lending. Jill serves on the boards of the Affordable Housing Management Association of Washington and the Mt. Baker Housing Association. She has been a Desk Reviewer for the Washington State Board of Accountancy's Quality Assurance Review program since 1997. Jill holds an MBA from the University of Washington and a BA from The Evergreen State College.
Josephine Wong Chief Operating Officer
Josephine Wong, Chief Operating Officer, leads the Property Management Department, Leasing, Compliance, IT and Office Administration. She is responsible for CHH's portfolio operating budget of $9 million. Prior to joining CHH in 2008, she served for four years as Finance and Administration Manager at the Office of Housing for the City of Seattle. Josephine has over 20 years operational and management experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, combined with in-depth knowledge of affordable housing, strategic management, and asset and cost management. At CHH, Josephine has aligned technological infrastructure with CHH's growth, and streamlined systems in property management tracking, training, and compliance to create positive trends in vacancy rates and reporting accuracy. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the City Leadership Institute, and is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese. Josephine has been a resident of Capitol Hill since 2003, and is active in the Capitol Hill Community Council and volunteers at Greater Seattle Business Association.
Susan Cary Director of Asset Management
Susan Cary joined the CHH staff in 2000 as Director of Property Development, and transferred to Director of Asset Management in 2007. Her previous experience includes 10 years as development manager at South East Effective Development and 2 years in private development. She has also served on the Seattle Planning Commission (2 years as Chair) and as a member and chair of the Seattle Economic Development Commission. Sue currently serves on the Board of Directors for Common Ground, as President of the Board for the Northwest Association for Housing Affordability, and as a member of the loan committee for the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund. She holds a Master's degree from the University of Washington and certifications in real estate and affordable housing finance.
David Dologite Director of Real Estate and Sustainable Communities
David Dologite is CHH's Director of Real Estate and Sustainable Communities and is responsible for the organization's affordable housing & community facilities development work, as well as neighborhood planning, revitalization and sustainability programs. Prior to joining CHH in 2012, David served in real estate development roles for seven years with nonprofit affordable housing development organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most recently he was with Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation where he was senior project manager on $140 million in mixed-use development activities which includes over 360 units of affordable, market and workforce housing in downtown San Francisco, as well as managing the acquisition of a portfolio of low-income and supportive housing developments totaling over 500 units. He also served in development director and senior project management capacities with a community organization in Oakland where he managed the development of nearly 650 units of low-income housing and over 100,000 square feet of community-serving commercial facilities. Previously, he was a project manager for four years with a neighborhood-based community development corporation in Boston. David is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and a resident of Capitol Hill.
Michael Seiwerath Executive Director, Capitol Hill Housing Foundation
Michael Seiwerath is the Executive Director of the Capitol Hill Housing Foundation. Formed in 2010, the CHH Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization that directly supports CHH's work in building vibrant and engaged communities. Michael is a native of the Puget Sound region, and has fourteen years experience in the Seattle non-profit sector. Prior to joining CHH in 2008, he was the Executive Director of Northwest Film Forum, the nationally recognized Capitol Hill film arts organization. At NWFF, he grew the organization budget 40% , and led the capital campaign and renovation of the flagship cinemas at 12th and Pike. Michael serves on the Seattle Arts Commission, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance State Legislative Committee, and the Cal Anderson Park Alliance Advisory Council.