Howard Cohen

Chairman of the Board

Howard oversees Beacon’s corporate strategy and growth.

Known for

• Founding Beacon Communities

Worked for

• Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo (partner)
• Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (general counsel)
• Cambridge Housing Authority (general counsel)
• Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (staff attorney)

Serves on

• Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation
• Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association of Greater Boston
• Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency Advisory Committee
• Department of Housing and Community Development Housing Preservation Advisory Committee

Studied at

• Harvard Law School (JD cum laude)
• Washington University of St. Louis (BA summa cum laude, economics)

Out of Office

• Past co-chair of the Board of Directors, Hebrew Senior Life
• Real estate committee of Hebrew Senior Life
• Chair of New Lease for Homeless Families
• Real estate committee of Hebrew College
• Chair of Jewish Arts Collaborative

Dara Kovel

Chief Executive Officer

Dara leads the company’s senior executive team and is responsible for the overall vision, culture, operation, growth and performance of the company consistent with the Beacon’s objectives and strategies.

Worked for

• Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA)
• Jonathan Rose Companies
• Mercy Housing California

Serves on

• Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center’s Workforce Housing Board
• The Home Connecticut Steering Committee

Studied at

• Yale University (MBA and BA)
• Is LEED accredited

Out of Office

• Focuses on her children
• Plays soccer and surfs
• Loves Sci Fi movies

Samuel Ross

Chief Operating Officer

Samuel is responsible for the company’s internal operating platform including asset management, finance and accounting, human resources and information technology.

Worked for

• Winn Companies (Chief Executive Officer 2000-2015; Chief Financial Officer 1993-2000)
• The Collaborative Companies and Kennedy-Wilson (Partner and Executive Vice President 1990-1993)

Studied at

• Harvard University (MBA)
• Boston University (BS)

Out of Office

• Avid sailor
• Travels across lands and through the pages of books
• Visits his children

Timothy Cowles

Chief Financial Officer

Tim guides Beacon Communities’ financial strategy, while overseeing accounting, financial reporting, treasury management, insurance, and taxes.

Worked for

• Realty Financial Partners (Chief Financial Officer)
• Ercolini & Company LLP, since acquired by CohnReznick LLP Tax Manager)

Serves as

• Member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs
• Licensed CPA

Studied at

• Northeastern University (BS, Business Administration)

Out of Office

• Spends time with his family
• Enjoys golf and skiing, season dependent
• Cheers for the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins

Prabin Kanel

Chief Information Officer

Prabin manages Beacon’s technology and information systems platforms, focusing on innovation, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and more.

Studied at

• University of Nebraska (BS, Computer Information Systems)
• University of Nebraska (MS, Management Information Systems)

Previously

• CIO Consultant at AESARA
• Chief Technology Officer at Framework Homeownership
• Vice President of Information Systems at Housing Partnership Network

Serves As

• Board Member at Aesara Foundation

Accolades

• Received a Webby award in 2009 for developing and launching NYCgo.com

Out of Office

• Enjoys watching soccer and coaching his kid’s soccer team
• Enjoys camping and traveling
• Volunteered as Board Member for Soccer Without Borders

Alessandra Quagliata De Vaca

Chief Human Resources Officer

Alessandra focuses on Beacon’s human resources processes including talent acquisition, employee relations, and learning and development.

Worked for

• Winn Companies (Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Training 2013-2019)
• Hebrew Senior Life (Chief Administrative Officer 2002-2013)
• Neighborhood Health Plan (Director, Human Resources 1998-2002)

Studied at

• Tufts University (BA)

Out of Office

• Spending time with her husband
• Perusing Cambridge Cafés
• Traveling
• Visiting her family

Nicole Clement

General Counsel

Nicole oversees Beacon’s legal function with primary responsibility for all legal, risk management, and governance matters.

Studied at

• Brown University (BA, Organizational Behavior and Management)
• Duke University School of Law (JD)

Previously

• RIHousing (General Counsel, 2016-2021)
• Klein Hornig LLP (Senior Counsel, 2013-2016; Associate, 2011-2013)
• Holland & Knight LLP (Senor Counsel, 2011; Associate, 2003-2010)

Accolades

• Stakeholder 100 Award/Stakeholder 100 Inaugural Academy (recognized as one of the top 100 performing associates of color across the country as identified by senior-level executives and general counsel from Fortune 500 companies)

Serves on

• Rhode Island Bar Association Nominating Committee
• Rhode Island Bar Association Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion
• Board of Directors of the Pawtucket (RI) Boys & Girls Club

Teaching

• Roger Williams University School of Law (Adjunct Professor, 2018-present)

Out of Office

• Committed to community service, civic engagement, and social justice
• Spends time with family and friends
• Loves to travel and explore new places

Josh Cohen

President, Beacon Communities Development

Josh leads the development team in the Boston office.  This group pursues acquisition and development opportunities across the Northeast.  

Studied at: 

• Yale University (BA) 

Out of Office: 

• Chases his three daughters, Ella, Valea, and Marion
• Hangs out with his wife, Margo
• Otherwise likes to be skiing, surfing, mountain biking, or reading The New Yorker 

Previously: 

• Starting in 2006, Associate Development Director, then Development Director, then Vice President of Development at Beacon Communities

Known for:

• Wearing ties when working from home
• Executing complicated development projects, particularly historic adaptive reuse developments
• Encouraging collaborative communication between departments at Beacon
• Being underdressed at the office before and after his bicycle commute

Mercedes Farrando

President, Beacon Concepts

Mercedes oversees and participates in all aspects of design at Beacon, working closely with the architecture, design, construction, and operations teams.

Known for

• Producing integrated designs that offer distinctive style and functionality while adhering to budget constraints
• Creating her inspired designs both from the “outside-in,” respecting a site’s context and history, as well as from the “inside-out,” focusing on the details of resident and management needs

Accolades

• Has won a wide range of awards in high-end kitchen and bathroom design
• Is a published architect and urban planner

Serves as

• A current board member of Preservation Massachusetts
• An Associate International Member of the American Institute of Architects
• An active member of Consejo Profesional de Arquitectura y Urbanismo of Buenos Aires

Studied at

• The Universidad de Buenos Aires (master’s degree in Architecture, Design, and Urban Planning)

Out of Office

• Seizes every opportunity to travel, seeking inspiration from all corners of the world
• Enjoys scuba diving and photography

David Greenblatt

Executive Vice President, Finance

David secures development and permanent debt and equity capital, and structures financing across Beacon’s development transactions. He also provides guidance to Development Directors regarding preparation of development budgets, government agency submissions and other financial and tax aspects of the development process.

Noted for

• Maintaining strong, positive relationships with financial partners
• Persistent negotiating style, structuring transactions that work for both sides

Worked for

• Cognetics Real Estate (Managing Director)
• Liberty Real Estate (Vice President of Acquisitions and Portfolio Management)
• Liberty Properties (Chief Financial Officer)

Serves as

• Board member of Caritas Communities
• Member of the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association Developer’s Council
• Member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Finance Association
• Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Studied at

• Boston University (MBA, Finance and Accounting)
• Yale University (BA, political science)

Out of Office

• Newsaholic, baseball and music fan, avid gardener
• Founding board member of the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, MA

Mary Corthell

Executive Vice President, Asset Management

Mary oversees traditional asset management, transactional asset management and strategic portfolio performance for approximately 18,000 apartments.

Known for

• Deep experience in affordable housing, regulatory oversight, and portfolio management
• Her integral role in the development and implementation of Beacon’s innovative social response programs

Worked for

• Stern Group (Director of Administration)

Serves as

• Member of the Board of Directors, National Leased Housing Association
• Vice Chair of the Executive Board, FPUU-Medfield

Out of Office

• Spends time with her family and friends
• Hikes and cycles

Nicole Ferreira

Executive Vice President, Development

Nicole leads Beacon’s New York Office in Albany and coordinates development efforts in NY, NJ, and CT.

Studied at

• New York University (BA, Political Science and Government)
• New York University, Schack Institute of Real Estate (MS, Real Estate)

Previously

• Senior Vice President of Multifamily Finance & Development at New York State Homes and Community Renewal
• Executive Vice President for Real Estate at The New York City Housing Authority
• Director of Acquisitions at the Workforce Housing Group

Serves on

• Member of the Association of Real Estate Women
• Member of the Association of Latino Professionals for America
• Adjunct Professor, Pratt Institute Graduate Real Estate Program

Honored as

• Recipient of the 2017 Citizen’s Housing & Planning Council Ibo Balton Community Planner Award
• Recipient of the 2020 New Destiny Housing Impact Award

Out of Office

• Loves to ski, hike, bike, paddle, and travel

Michael Polite

Senior Vice President, Development

Michael Polite leads the Beacon Pittsburgh development office and targets acquisition and development opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic.

Studied at

• Niagara University (BA)
• Carnegie Mellon University (MSPPM)

Previously

• Chairman and CEO of Catalyst Communities, now known as Beacon Pittsburgh

Serves on

• August Wilson African American Culture Center
• YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh Chair
• Energy Innovation Center Institute

Known for

• Preserving 1,005 family and senior housing apartments
• Consulting on economic development of low-income areas resulting in over $50 million of new investment
• Creating 968 apartments while serving as Chairman and CEO of Ralph A Falbo, Inc.

Ben Phillips

Senior Vice President, Development

Ben originates new development and provides support to project management staff, with a focus on expansion in new markets, public housing redevelopment, and supportive housing.

Known for

• Sustained commitment to building private assets for public benefit
• Innovation in supported housing opportunities for homeless people
• Developed $1+ billion in assets in over 5,000 homes in 9 states coast-to-coast

Worked for

• Develop Detroit
• Mercy Housing
• Project New Hope
• Habitat for Humanity

Studied at

• University of Michigan (BA)
• Northern Illinois University (Music)
• Interlochen Center for the Arts

Serves on

• Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Regional Real Estate Development Leadership Council

Out of Office

• Chamber Musician
• Triathlete

Aviva Rothman-Shore

Senior Vice President, Community Engagement

Aviva is responsible for creating, aligning, and sustaining the vision and structure of community engagement work at Beacon, supporting best-in-class resident services, partnership development, and impactful outcomes across the portfolio.

Studied at

• Brown University (BA, Urban Studies)
• Brandeis University (MBA, Non-profit Management)

Previously

• Deputy Director of Program and Strategy at the Department of Housing and Community Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Community Life Program Director at The Community Builders, Inc.
• Program Manager at CLF Ventures

Serves on

• Homeowners Rehab Board Member

Championed

• Led a public information campaign about the Eviction Diversion Initiative for the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 pandemic

Out of Office

• Enjoys cooking and feeding family and friends
• Loves long walks

Sara Scarborough Graham

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Sara oversees marketing strategy, brand management, communications, and customer experience for Beacon Communities. She also champions new technologies impacting marketing and leasing operations.

Worked for

• The Dolben Company, Inc. (Head of Marketing, 2009 – 2021)
• Northland Investment Corporation (Director of Marketing, 2005 – 2009)

Serves on

• Vice Chair, Marketing Committee, National Multifamily Housing Council
• Zillow Multifamily Rental Advisory Board
• Multifamily Social Media Summit Advisory Board

Studied at

• Emerson College (MA, Integrated Marketing Communication)
• Colby College (BA, English)

Out of Office

• Loves to travel
• Hikes, bikes, and reads
• Spends time with family

Ellen Morreale

Senior Vice President, Controller

Ellen coordinates all property financial functions, including audits, investor services, insurance, budgets, and special projects, as well as overseeing financial statement preparation and accounting system administration.

Known for

• Beacon tenure spanning three decades
• Unparalleled expertise in financial accounting and reporting within the affordable housing industry

Studied at

• Suffolk University (MBA)
• Northern Arizona University (BSBA)

Out of Office

• Enjoys travel and music

Diana DiPreta

Senior Vice President, Finance

Diana focuses on coordinating overall capital raising efforts with Beacon’s financial partners. She structures debt and equity, negotiates term sheets and operating agreements, and implements finance transactions for the development and acquisition pipeline.

Studied at

• Binghamton University (BS, Philosophy Politics and Law)
• New York University (Certificate in Real Estate Finance and Investment)

Previously

• Senior Vice President, Head of Northeast Originations at WNC & Associates
• Senior Equity Originator, Senior Vice President at Bank of America
• Commercial Real Estate Underwriter, Vice President at Santander Bank

Achievements

• Completed the New York City Marathon in 2017

Served on

• Queens Community House Board Member
• Girls Educational & Mentoring Services’ Board Member & Finance Chair

Out of Office

• Loves to travel, explore New York City’s unique restaurants, and is an avid tennis enthusiast
• Spending time with her family, pup Ruthie, and friends

Frank Alvarez

Senior Vice President, Operations

Frank is responsible for establishing policies and procedures for Beacon’s Operations and Maintenance Division, providing capital planning support to management and development teams, and helping oversee major capital improvement projects.

Known for

• Extending the useful life of the physical components of the site and minimizing emergency repairs/replacements through preventative maintenance
• Creating a strong team atmosphere among maintenance teams—even across state lines
• Delivering high-quality cross-training, efficient resource allocation, and superior agency inspection scores
• Running energy management efforts, including projects, contracts, rate locks, and tracking, as well as water usage reduction and tracking

Previously

• Regional Director (The Community Builders)
• Property Manager (The Community Builders)
• Maintenance Supervisor/Director (The Community Builders)
• Owner, commercial building maintenance business

Studied at

• Northeastern University

Out of Office

• Runs the YouTube Channel Frank’s Fish Room
• Designs and builds hardscapes and landscapes
• Loves his dog

Andrea Orio

Senior Vice President, Administration and Compliance

Andrea heads up Beacon’s Administration and Compliance departments in contribution to Beacon’s high standards in business practices and strategic planning for management and compliance policies.

Known for

• Over 20 years of affordable housing and compliance experience, with particular emphasis in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program
• Creating and conducting internal training programs and workshops
• Project management oversight for complex, large-scale LIHTC acquisition/rehab and new construction lease-up coordination

Studied at

• Bentley University (BS, Business Communication)

Out of Office

• Spends time with husband, Martin and daughter, Mimi
• Focuses on fitness by hiking, running, cycling, playing soccer and snow sports
• Enjoys seeing live music, consuming podcasts, and completing jigsaw puzzles

Gary Dufresne

Senior Vice President, Capital Planning and Management

Gary is responsible for evaluating capital improvement and physical infrastructure needs and requirements throughout Beacon’s portfolio.

Known for

• Empowering team members to reach innovative solutions for complex problems
• Motivating those around him to grow
• Passionate facilitator
• Using his customer-facing maintenance experience in strategic operations leadership

Worked for

• Archstone (Capital Improvements)
• AvalonBay (Engineering Manager – Capital Improvements Manager)

Serves as

• Volunteer instructor for MassWildlife

Out of Office

• Spends time with his family
• Surfcaster who builds custom fishing rods
• Explores the outdoors with his dog

Kristie Tafel Rizzo

Senior Vice President, Property Management

Kristie handles the daily and strategic operations as well as future development growth of Beacon’s portfolio throughout Connecticut and New York, currently including over 3,000 apartments across 20 communities.

Studied at

• The University of Connecticut (BS, Marketing)

Previously

• Started as an Administrative Assistant to the Beacon Development Department

Accolades

• National Affordable Housing Professional Executive by the National Affordable Housing Management Association
• Town Green Board of Commissioner Secretary and Member in New Haven, CT
• Accredited Residential Manager by the Institute of Real Estate Management
• Specialist in Housing Credit Management by the National Affordable Housing Management Association

Out of Office

• Enjoys dancing and playing with her daughters Evie and Daisy
• Practices yoga and meditation for peace and positivity
• Loves the beach, traveling, and closely connecting with family and friends

Brian Cole

Senior Vice President, Property Management

Brian is responsible for all aspects of the daily operations for more than 3,500 apartment homes, both market rate and affordable, both owned and third-party managed, in stabilized communities, acquisition rehabs and new construction.

Known for

• Focusing on employee engagement efforts to build effective teams and drive operational and financial performance, resulting in exceptional housing for Beacon’s residents

Honored as

• National Affordable Housing Professional Executive by the National Affordable Housing Management Association

Studied at

• Boston College (BS Business Administration)

Out of Office

Enjoys a wide range of activities with his family, including but not limited to

• building sand castles in the Caribbean
• eating tacos and guacamole at their favorite Mexican restaurant
• cheering on the Red Sox at Fenway Park
• having dance parties in their living room

Toya Irish

Senior Vice President, Property Management

Toya supervises the operations of over 6,000 apartments in the Greater Boston area.

Known for

• Providing leadership to some of Beacon’s most challenging projects
• Her vast knowledge of the Section 8 program, mixed income housing, elderly supportive services, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Project Based Voucher (PBV) Program, Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), Public Housing, Special Programs such as Section 811, New Lease, Chronically Homeless and Moving On Program with Home Start and market rate operations
• Her extensive experience working successfully with resident advisory boards, community groups, government agencies, and non-profit partners

Serves on

• Virginia Tech Property Management Program Advisory Board

Property Management Designations Held

• Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)
• C14P (Spectrum Enterprises)
• National Affordable Housing Professional Executive (NAHP-e)
• Accredited Residential Manager (ARM)

Studied at

• Regis College (BA)

Out of Office

• Enjoys cooking and spending time with her husband and two children
• Volunteers in community initiatives with a primary focus on families and Seniors
• Likes traveling, physical fitness and watching Law & Order
• Serves as a delegate for the Democratic party

Eric Fulmer

Senior Vice President, Property Management

Eric oversees operations stemming from Beacon’s satellite office located in Pittsburgh, which includes approximately 4,500 units across Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, and New York.

Known for

• Focusing on efficiency and quality control, to simplify redundant processes
• Ensuring the core focus of his staff is on creating a quality customer experience

Accolades

• Academic All American in the sport of wrestling

Studied at

• Mercyhurst University (BA, Management and Finance)

Out of Office

• Actively pursues projects designed to revitalize many Pittsburgh communities
• Frequents new, locally owned, Pittsburgh food establishments
• Coaches wrestling at his local high-school and inner-city youth programs
• Dog enthusiast