BATON ROUGE, LA – In a unanimous vote this morning, the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) Board has chosen Joshua G. Hollins as their new Executive Director. The Search Committee narrowed the field of 93 candidates to three finalists for the position of Executive Director based upon the criteria established by the LHC Board with input from internal and external stakeholders. Mr. Hollins is currently the Vice President of Public Financing, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Baton Rouge.
Mr. Hollins brings to the LHC significant experience in personnel management, external affairs, finance and investment structures, and executive leadership. In his current role at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, he has completed a diverse number of municipal and housing bond transactions that total almost $1 billion. In his role as the Executive Counsel/ Chief of Staff at the Department of Transportation and Development, he oversaw the internal audit and innovative procurement efforts for the department, served as chief in-house counsel on the first transportation public-private partnership in Louisiana, and represented the department in legislative and administrative hearings.
Commenting on the appointment, LHC Board Chairman Anthony “AP” Marullo stated, “The selection of Joshua G. Hollins signifies our belief that he is the best person to lead the LHC going forward.” He continued, “From a policy and administrative perspective, Mr. Hollins brings to the LHC both a broad, practical experience with a variety of public, private, and non-profit organizations, and an in-depth expertise in finance and financial matters. He is highly respected across the state, and we look forward to working with him to develop and implement our strategic goals and help us to better fulfill our mission.”
Search Committee Chairman Steven Jackson noted, “Mr. Hollins is well-prepared for the position of Executive Director. His references describe him as a person of integrity and a respected leader who will work well with our board, our external stakeholders, and our staff. I look forward to working to ensure our new leader is prepared to address critical housing needs across the width and breadth of our great state.”
The LHC board authorized a nationwide search in January 2022. The purpose of the LHC is to substantially increase the availability of affordable, accessible, and safe residential housing in Louisiana, and the Executive Director is responsible for directing all administrative, financial, and programmatic activities of the organization. The Executive Director must develop and manage a large network of internal and external relationships including non-profit groups, developers, government agencies, and other housing industry experts to create sustainable affordable housing for Louisiana residents.
The LHC was created in 2011 when the Louisiana Legislature merged the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency with housing programs from other state agencies to streamline how the state addresses its housing needs, avoid duplication of efforts, and improve service to the general public.
The LHC administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of energy efficient and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families, drives housing policy for Louisiana, and oversees the state’s Disaster Housing Task Force. The ideal candidate will have several years of experience in supervisory and/or managerial experience in directing administrative functions or housing programs.
Hollins will officially begin his term once a final contract is approved. His start date is forthcoming. For additional information contact LHC's Office of Public Affairs at publicaffairs@lhc.la.gov.