BOSTON— The Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), has appointed Ethan Handelman as its new executive director, effective June 1. He will succeed Roger Herzog, who is retiring this spring after 16 years leading the organization.
Following a national search led by executive firm DSG Koya, Handelman emerged as the unanimous choice of both the search committee and CEDAC’s Board of Directors.
“CEDAC is entering a new era of leadership at a time when the Healey-Driscoll Administration is doubling down on its commitment to making housing more affordable and accessible to all,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “With more than two decades of housing experience, Ethan Handelman is the ideal leader to carry that legacy forward and build upon CEDAC’s long history.”
Handelman, a recognized expert in affordable housing and finance, most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where he oversaw the $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofits Program. His previous roles include senior positions at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the National Housing Conference, and Recap Real Estate Advisors.
“Massachusetts is uniquely fortunate to have an organization like CEDAC that provides robust early-stage financing support that can be accessed by virtually any community development corporation across the Commonwealth,” said Handelman. “It’s a great honor to be selected for this role leading such a remarkable team and entrusted with carrying on Roger’s tremendous work.”
Roger Herzog, whose tenure at CEDAC spans over 25 years, praised the choice. “I’m delighted that the CEDAC Board has chosen Ethan as the agency’s next Executive Director,” Herzog said. “His impressive career history with HUD and FHFA, as well as with the National Housing Conference and other organizations, assures that CEDAC will remain well positioned as a crucial housing finance resource into the future.”
CEDAC, founded in 1978, continues to play a key role in financing and supporting community-based nonprofit organizations working to create and preserve affordable housing across Massachusetts.
