President’s Message

At the request of the OCCH Board, Hal Keller returned to OCCH on October 12 as President and Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis through year end. Hal was a founder of OCCH and served as its president for 26 years.

OCCH is excited to announce that Catherine Cawthon has accepted an offer from the Board to become the next leader of the organization. After winding up her long tenure at Fifth Third Bank as President of its Community Development Corporation (CDC), Catherine will join staff as the incoming President and CEO, taking the reins on January 1, 2021.

As CDC President, Catherine was responsible for the complete investment process in low-income housing, historic and new market tax credit projects that support community revitalization. Cawthon has chaired the Affordable Housing Investors Council, the industry trade group for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit investors, and currently serves on the Board of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, the Ohio Housing Council, the Council for Rural Housing in Ohio’s Advisory Board, and the Joint Columbus and Franklin County Housing Advisory Board.

Hal will maintain his close relationship with OCCH well into the future, first as a consultant to support Catherine and staff, and then joining the OCCH Board as a fellow Director.

As you know, OCCH values its long-term relationships with development, investment, property management and affordable housing industry partners. This exciting move will both strengthen those relationships and help OCCH further its mission to expand affordable housing opportunities.

Thank you for your partnership with OCCH, as we move forward together!

Susan Weaver
Chair, OCCH Board of Directors