Equity Management Investor Access

John Potvin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in 1975. He also attended University College and received an Associate Degree in sociology in 1975. Mr. Potvin received his Professional Community Association manager (PCAM) designation from the Community Associations Institute in 1985. He was the president of the Property Management Association (PMA) in 1997, and a recipient of the Property Manager of the Year Award in 1995, the prestigious PMA President’s Award in 1996 and the Alvin L. Sussman Award, PMA’s highest award, in 1999. Mr. Potvin is currently a member of the Council of Fellows for PMA and has a C³P, C⁴P, C⁵P, C⁶P and C⁷P LIHTC designation issued from Spectrum Seminars, Inc. for low income housing tax credit communities.

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Potvin has managed condominiums, rental properties, office buildings, warehouses and shopping centers. His accomplishments have included project management of major renovations, including specialized work with HUD and urban renewal programs. He has worked for such notable firms as Harkins Builders, Legum and Norman, and Financial Service Group. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Potvin served as senior vice president of Legum and Norman, Inc., and was instrumental in its tremendously successful transformation into a major property management firm in Washington, DC.

From 1985 to 1987, Mr. Potvin, as president of Financial Service Equities, oversaw the property management functions of more than $60 million of commercial and residential real estate in the mid-Atlantic region. He refinanced most of the properties, conducted major renovation programs and condominium conversions.

Since then, Mr. Potvin has been with Equity Management supervising the overall operations of the company, including renovations, staff supervision, asset management and company direction.

Loretta Gaegler attended the University of Maryland. She holds the C3P, LIHTC designation through Spectrum Seminars, Inc. Ms. Gaegler is a graduating member of the PMA Business Leaders Forum, and is on the Board of Country Goes Pink, a charity devoted to assisting cancer patients.

EXPERIENCE
Ms. Gaegler began her career with Oliver Carr in 1984, in commercial management overseeing the Management Division, working closely with the Vice President of Operations. She then branched out into management of shopping centers and medical complexes in 1988 when she began her tenure as a Regional Manager for Sigal/Zuckerman. In 1991 Ms. Gaegler took the leap to multi-family management and found a new and exciting career path as a Regional Manager for H.G. Smithy managing apartment communities in D.C., Maryland & Virginia. Ms. Gaegler excelled, and in 1995 was promoted to Vice President of Operations overseeing all aspects of the day-to-day operations of over 3,000 apartment homes. After 13 years, H.G. Smithy was purchased by a REIT, and Ms. Gaegler was promoted to The Regional Vice President for the DC/Metro area.

In 2004 Ms. Gaegler joined the Equity team, overseeing new properties as Equity expanded into Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. In 2007 Ms. Gaegler was promoted to Regional Vice President, and was again promoted in 2010 to Vice President. Ms. Gaegler currently oversees operations on the corporate level assisting all departments within Equity with the day-to-day operations, and special projects.

Cindy DeFrancesco, Esq. earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History from Towson University in 1988. She then attended the University of Baltimore School of Law where she received her Juris Doctor (J.D) in 1997. Ms. DeFrancesco is a past President and long standing board member of the Maryland Multi Housing Association (MMHA) and is currently pursuing her CPM designation through IREM. She is also a member of the Maryland Bar Association.

EXPERIENCE
Ms. DeFrancesco began her career in 1990 as a leasing professional for a market-rate community managed by Continental Realty Corporation. Her drive to succeed earned her successive promotions to Property Manager, Regional Director, Vice President and finally Executive Vice President of the organization. From 2000 – 2011, Ms. DeFrancesco, as Executive Vice President of Continental Realty Corporation, oversaw all aspects of property management, personnel, capital improvement and compliance functions for over $500 million of residential multi-family assets in the Baltimore-Washington region. She also managed $75 million in construction projects at 28 residential communities and directed the recruitment, motivation and retention of over 175 supervisors and team members. In 2012, Ms. DeFrancesco joined the Equity team as Executive Vice President where she is responsible for strategic analysis and growth of third party client business and acquisitions including overseeing certain client relationships. She will also assist in supervising the operations of the company including talent leadership, asset growth and streamlining internal business processes.

Tony Ross, HCCP, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Leadership from Bellevue University. He has also earned an Associates of Applied Science in Occupational Studies/ Emergency and Disaster Management, from Thomas Edison State University, and is currently pursuing the Master of Arts in Professional Development (Human Behavior and Development) from Amberton University. He holds the Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the NAHP-e (National Affordable Housing Professional, Executive) through the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA), and the C7P, LIHTC designation through Spectrum Seminars, Inc.

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Ross began his career in 1988 as an Assistant Manager at a market-rate community managed by JBG Properties. As a property manager, his drive for success eventually led him to Edgewood Management Corporation in 1994, where he gained experience in multi-site management (residential and commercial), large renovation projects, systems software implementation and support, as well as several affordable housing programs. After being given increased levels of responsibility, he was later awarded the title of vice president where he worked closely with the top executives of the firm.

In 1999 Mr. Ross joined Equity Management as a regional director, seizing on an opportunity to contribute to the company’s development and growth. He was named a regional vice president in 2004 and was later promoted to senior vice president in 2008. Today, in addition to providing guidance and support to regional directors, he has assumed the role of REAC compliance officer, is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures, and oversees numerous operational issues related to compliance, training, affordable housing, and special projects. He also oversees certain client relationships within the overall management portfolio.

Sandra Kendall is a Certified Property Manager (CPM) through the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). She holds the C4P, LIHTC designation through Spectrum and HCCP (Housing Credit Certification Professional) from The National Association of Home Builders. Attended Burdett College and continued education at Robert Morris College and Anne Arundel Community College for Business Administration.

EXPERIENCE
Ms. Kendall began her career in property management with Corcoran, Mullins, Jennison, Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Kendall has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of property management, including positions such as rent-up coordinator for over five Section 8 developments through the Northeast Region. Once 100% occupancy was achieved, she became the on-site manager for both Section 8 and conventional properties learning the day to day operations including the financial, administrative and compliance. She was promoted to Regional Director and director of operations.

In the early 90’s, Ms. Kendall relocated to the Pittsburgh area where she was responsible for a portfolio that included affordable, conventional and commercial property for Mistick Management. Upon her return to Maryland, she rejoined Corcoran Jennsion as Regional Director for the mid-Atlantic. She was responsible for over 1700 mixed income and cooperative housing units specializing in conventional, tax credit, 236, Hope VI and other funding sources. As the company expanded , Ms. Kendall became the Director of Operations in Maryland, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, D.C., Texas, North Carolina and Georgia. Before joining Equity, Ms. Kendall worked for Landex Companies as the Compliance Director for over 4900 units and was promoted to the Director of Operations. She was responsible for the financial, administrative, staff development and capital planning decisions for the management of the company.

Ms. Kendall is the Vice President of Compliance and is responsible for the development, implementation and continued compliance for the affordable and LIHTC Properties. She is also responsible for all changes regarding fair housing, federal and state compliance regulations through HUD and the IRS.

Louis Sigalas, CPA received his dual Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Salisbury State University in 1995. Mr. Sigalas attained his certification as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Maryland in 1998. Mr. Sigalas is a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Sigalas worked in the government sector for two years out of college. He left government and took a position with Reznick Fedder & Silverman, a large regional real estate accounting firm. He worked there for five years, and specialized in many aspects of real estate projects. His time in the public accounting industry led him to work with such notable companies as The Whiting-Turner Company, Post Properties, Inc. and Struever Bros. Eccles and Rouse, Inc. His experience includes performing audits and cost certifications, with extensive knowledge of HUD and state regulated entities, preparing tax returns for market projects, historic tax credit projects and low-income housing tax credit projects.

Mr. Sigalas started with Equity Management in September 2002 as the company’s treasurer, with full directional and supervisory control of the accounting department. Mr. Sigalas is involved in the acquisition of projects.

Doug Brown received his degree in Electronics Engineering Technology in 1993 and has additional computer certifications, including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Brown began his career in Management Information Systems in 1990, providing consulting services as a senior systems engineer and technical services engineer to property management, commercial and medical-based clients for over 11 years.

Mr. Brown has been the Director of Information Technologies for Equity Management since August, 2005. Prior to his current position, Mr. Brown served as Equity Management’s Information Technologies consultant and has handled most computer related issues since 1999. Mr. Brown designed, built and currently oversees IT services for Equity Management and is responsible for all aspects of computer and peripheral equipment including networking, administration, implementation, maintenance, programming and troubleshooting, both at the corporate level and for the Equity Management portfolio of properties.