President and CEO
Perry Ecton serves as President and CEO; Perry holds a Master’s Degree with distinctions in Community Development from North Park University in Chicago and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of San Francisco California. Mr. Ecton holds a Certified Residential Contractors license in the state of Florida #CRC1332240. Mr. Ecton has spent the last 40 years in the following industries, Non-profit, construction, and investment services. Mr. Ecton has managed organizations with up to 55 employees and annual budgets of 7.5 million and company net worth of up to 25 Million dollars. Mr. Ecton has strong organizational experiences that include real estate development, fundraising, and organizational capacity
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCES
Consultant for public housing agencies, a non-profit organization, and faith-based organizations, and developers for site acquisition, cost analysis, pre-development, construction and permanent financing, tax credit syndication, project management, marketing, and sales. · Managed both production staff and a support staff of up to 54 employees for the following industries: Non-Profit, Real Estate, and Health Care.
Sustainable Housing Inc. President/CEO (July 2017- Present) Established the company whose primary function is to act as an owner’s representative for real estate development such as building a new home, office building, or rehabilitation of a community center or church. We act on behalf of the owner to help them identify and retain the correct skilled trades to accomplish their goals. This can be anything from finding an architect for conceptual design to oversight of the actual construction activities. Clients include faith-based partners, non-profit organizations, public housing agencies, and municipalities located primarily in South Florida. In December 2018 Sustainable Housing Inc. obtained its Certified Residential Contractors License in the State of Florida and added residential contracting to our services.
Habitat for Humanity Broward: Executive Director (May 2012- February 2016) Directed the daily operations of a 31-year-old affiliate of Habitat of Humanity International whose mission is to provide housing for families whose income is 40-80% of Broward County medium. HFHBC annual budget for the fiscal year 2013-2014 is $7.5 million with a staff of 23 and will build 30 homes throughout Broward County. HFHBC operates a ReStore that generates $1,500,000 annually and utilizes unskilled volunteer labor to support the store and build homes. HFHBC services mortgage for 369 families at a 0% interest rate.
Habitat for Humanity Dane County: CEO (May 2008- April 2012) Directed the daily operations of a 24-year-old affiliate of Habitat of Humanity International whose mission is to provide housing for families whose income is 30-60% of Dane County medium. HFHDC annual budget for the fiscal year 2010-2011 is $4.5 million with a staff of 23 and will build 18 homes throughout Dane County. HFHDC operates a ReStore that generates $760,000 annually and utilizes unskilled volunteer labor to support the store and build homes. HFHDC services mortgage for 170 families at a 0% interest rate. HFHDC is currently working utilizing the Zero Percentage Mortgage Program, Rural Housing 502 loan program, and HFHI Flex Cap, along with CDBG, Home, SHOP and Section 8 Homeownership programs to support homeownership activities.
Edgewood College: Adjunct Faculty (August 2009- June 2011) Taught a class in the graduate school of business on the topic of Urban and Rural Economic Development. This is a 16-week course, which covers topics like defining economic development and community development. The course provides a basic understanding of economic developing financing structures like TIF, New Market Tax Credits, and low-income housing and historic tax credits. The goal of this 5-course program is to provide students an indebted understanding of the work and opportunities in the economic and community development field.
Creative Assistance Development Inc.: Executive Director (March 2000 – Feb 2008) Direct the daily operations of a Community Housing Development Organization that was started by the Elgin Housing Authority. CADI’S mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities to low and moderate-income families in Kane and western Cook Counties Illinois. Areas of concentration include acquisition, rehabilitation, and management of multi-family rental housing. Purchase and rehab of single-family homes for resale. Construction management of new housing developments. Administrative duties including accounting, fundraising, grant writing, and personnel management.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Elgin: Executive Director (June 1998 to Jan 00) Direct the daily operations of a non-profit development corporation, whose mission is to renew pride, restore confidence, promote reinvestment and revitalize Elgin neighborhoods. Areas of concentration include staff administration, community organizing, administration of a 1.4 million home improvement loan fund, maintain existing and establish new partnerships with banks, city, and corporate partners in the redevelopment of residential real estate, grant writing, fundraising, and personnel management.
Providence St-Mel Development Corp: Executive Director (June 1997 to June 1998) Directed the daily operations of a non-profit development corporation whose main focus is to build affordable housing in the East Garfield Park area of Chicago’s West Side. Areas of concentration included site acquisition, cost analysis, arranging pre-development, and construction financing. Annual reporting to Illinois Housing Development Authority, National Equity Fund, and City of Chicago Department of Housing on a 25-unit tax credit apartment building.
Real Estate Development Specialist: Consultant-California (July 1992 to June 1997) Financial project manager for developers, general contractors, non-profit organizations, along with developing personal projects. Those areas of concentration include job cost analysis, cash flow management, and tax credit syndication. Acted as site construction superintendent and builder when needed. Arranged construction and permanent financing.
National Medical Services Inc.: President (August 1990 to July 1992) A medical transcription company serving several Oakland California based hospitals. Responsibilities included administration, contract negotiations, marketing, and personnel management. The company produced over $1.4 million in annual revenue.
Ecton @ Company Inc.: President (January 1988 to August 1990) A N.A.S.D. Broker-Dealer firm specializing in investment management. The managed asset base of $15 Million. Filed N.A.S.D. focus reports, S.E.C. reports for sales, and operational compliance. Self-clearing of mutual funds and insurance products. Cleared on a fully disclosed basis, through Board Corp Capital, a whole owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch. Held a series 7, 24, 27, and 63 licenses along with a life and variable annuities license.
Merrill Lynch: Account Executive (December 1986 to January 1988) Sold investment instruments including equities, municipal bonds, mutual funds, and variable annuities. Managed an asset base of $10 million for individuals and small business clients.
EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL LICENSE, AND CERTIFICATION
Florida Certified Residential Contractor License #1332240
North Park University, Chicago Illinois Masters of Arts with distinction in Community Development
University of San Francisco, San Francisco California. Bachelor of Science, Major: Applied Economics Minor: Real Estate
Wisconsin Dept. of Commerce: Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification (residential home builder’s qualification to obtain building permits for residential construction)
Habitat for Humanity International ACCESS Program at North Carolina State University. (September 2011- March 2012) This is a seven-month distance learning program with 22 Habitat for Humanity affiliate executive directors and senior staff in the areas of affiliate capacity, community capacity, and professional development.
Habitat for Humanity National Conference: Taught classes in finance opportunities for 3 Habitat for Humanity National Conferences. The areas included understanding CDBG, HOME, TIF, Rural Housing 502 loan program, and an HFHI Zero Percentage Mortgage Program. I also served as a panelist on a discussion about volunteer recruitment and retention.
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Training Institute, course work in cost estimating, spec writing, project management software, community leadership, employer-assisted housing, and grant writing.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Former District Representative for the Habitat for Humanity of Florida state support organization- representing district 7 (South Palm Beach to Key West Florida) - elected by Florida members.
Former Member of the Finance and Resource development committee of Habitat for Humanity International, appointed by HFHI, US council members.
A former member of the Madison Downtown Rotary Club. · United Way of Dane County- Member of the Board of Directors, Madison, Wisconsin
Former committee member of Third Sector- a group of local non-profit housing providers whose mission is to collaborate and find common ground for meeting the affordable housing needs of the community.
Former Board member of the Masters of Arts in Community Development Advisory Board of Directors. Alumni advisory member.
Past Chairman of Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Community Development Committee, the receiving agency for CDBG Block Grants, Home funds, Emergency Shelter funds, and Section 8 vouchers. Appointed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in April 1999
List of previous projects
1) Acquired land and applied and received approval for a 78 unit development for rezoning, site plan and flex zoning on a 9.09-acre site in Pompano Beach Florida for a previous employer
2) Rehabilitation of a church in Pompano Beach Florida- This was a complete rehab of an existing church from new mechanical, electrical, plumbing to windows, doors, and floor coverings, for a client.
3) Management of a non-profit organization that built over 300 residential housing units for sale to first-time homebuyers in three states Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois for previous employers.
4) Purchased and rehabilitated and sold or rented over 200 housing units in Kane County Illinois for both clients and me.
5) Developed a 9-unit condo project on Chicago West Side along with management of a 25 unit section 42 tax credit project for a previous employer.
6) Developed over 400 units of housing in Northern California. These projects included the acquisition of the land, site improvements, construction and marketing, and sales. These projects were from building a new subdivision to the rehabilitation of a historic Victorian home. These projects were for both clients and me.