BRISTOL, Va. – Lisa Porter, a 27-year veteran of the public housing industry, has been named executive director/CEO of the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority (BRHA) in Bristol, Virginia.
Porter comes to BRHA after serving for 15 years as deputy director for the Marion Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Marion, Virginia. Her experience also includes working as grant programs administrator for BRHA, community development coordinator for the Housing Authority of the City of Yuma in Yuma, Arizona, and grants coordinator for the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing Authority in Lebanon, Virginia.
A native of Wise, Virginia, Porter is BRHA’s seventh executive director/CEO and the first female to be selected for the position. She succeeds Dave Baldwin, who retired in December 2017 following a 14-year tenure.
“BRHA is highly regarded for being a well-respected, forward-thinking public housing agency, and I’m honored to have an opportunity to lead such a reputable organization,” Porter says. “I look forward to guiding BRHA as we continue to provide attractive, affordable housing and housing assistance for more than 600 families in the Bristol community.”
Porter’s background includes leadership positions with several industry organizations, including former president of the Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials (VAHCDO), and former president of the Little Ten Housing Authorities of Southwest Virginia, Inc. She currently serves as chair of the Southeast Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (SERC-NAHRO) Small Agency Task Force (SATF), and is a member of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) SATF, the Housing Virginia Board of Directors, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority Rental Advisory Board of Directors.
“Lisa’s proven expertise in understanding the needs of public housing agencies and her extensive leadership experience made her the ideal candidate to guide BRHA’s operations,” says Jerry Chorosevic, chairman of the BRHA Board of Commissioners. “She has demonstrated excellence in all facets of public housing management, from advocacy and grant proposal development to project implementation, budget reporting and program evaluation. We are proud to have someone of Lisa’s caliber at the helm of our organization.”
A NAHRO-certified Public Housing Manager and Section 8 Housing Manager, Porter received a business administration degree from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
About BRHA
Located at 809 Edmond St., BRHA is the designated public housing agency in the city of Bristol, Virginia. It is the second-oldest such authority in Virginia, having been founded in 1938 and housing 40 percent of low-income renter families in Bristol. Its mission is to provide safe, attractive, affordable housing and housing assistance, and the opportunity for families and individuals to achieve a higher standard of living. BRHA (www.brha.com) is governed by a five-member board of commissioners that is appointed by the mayor of Bristol, Virginia. The staff is comprised of an executive director and 28 employees. BRHA is a member of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (www.nahro.org).
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For more information, contact Lisa Porter,
executive director/CEO, BRHA, at 276-821-6255