Our Philosophy
We believe that everyone deserves to live in safe, affordable, sustainable housing. We believe it’s our responsibility to carefully steward the resources entrusted to us by our funders, sponsors and partners. As a leader in the management of multifamily housing, we are committed to conducting business in an ethical, transparent and efficient manner and we expect to be held accountable. We strive to make this evident in how we interact with our network of residents, communities, board, co-sponsors, volunteers, investors, partners and each other.


Our Organization
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Columbus Property Management is comprised of an experienced team of dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds who oversee the marketing, leasing, compliance, resident services and operational management of the communities we serve.
Our parent organization, Mission First Housing Group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and maintaining, safe, affordable, environmentally sustainable housing for those in need. At Columbus Property Management we strive to support those same objectives in conjunction with producing strong financial outcomes through our management practices.
Click the link below to learn more about Mission First Housing Group.


Our Services
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Marketing
We provide comprehensive marketing services, which include employing targeted advertising and informational materials. Our efforts are tailored to maximizing exposure of our properties, optimizing their locations as well as their interior and exterior appeal. We also maintain a detailed website where potential residents are able to conveniently preview and inquire about our communities.
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Resident Management
Our comprehensive management services include all leasing functions, tenant selection and screening, move ins/move outs, inspections, rent and fee collection, management of legal concerns, property reports, maintenance of tenant and historical records, report generation, as well routine backups of all on-line systems.
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Financial Management
We provide complete oversight of all financial operations at our properties, ensuring that rent is properly collected and that mortgages, taxes, insurance premiums, payroll, and maintenance bills are paid on time. We maintain detailed documentation of payments and expenses via invoices and receipts; and produce scheduled financial statements and budgets.
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Maintenance
An experienced and dedicated in-house maintenance crew provides routine upkeep and repairs, as well as preventative maintenance services. 24 hour emergency repair services are available at all of our properties.
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Compliance
Our full-time in-house compliance department insures that our properties are operating in accordance with current local, state, and federal housing laws at all times and that no advertising, rental or management practices are discriminatory in any way. They perform regular, on-site audits and provide routine training and support to site staff.
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Resident Services
We employ a dedicated resident support services team of capable and compassionate professionals who act as a bridge between our communities and if appropriate, government and private agencies, to improve our residents’ quality of life. Services provided include in-house classes, workshops, activities, counseling and programs which help to involve, educate and inspire our residents to thrive in their communities.


Green Development
We are proud to partner with our parent company, Mission First Housing Group, to insure that green building features such as upgraded heating, cooling and ventilation systems, high efficiency lighting, low or no VOC materials, and ultra-low flow plumbing fixtures are incorporated and maintained in the properties we manage. This commitment to green building is not only good for the environment, it is also good for the health of our residents and decreases their energy costs.
Many CPM managed properties are built to meet Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, a cost-effective framework for developing green, affordable housing. The goal of this framework is to bring the improved health, economic and environmental benefits of sustainable construction practices to low-income families.
Columbus Property Management is also proud to manage 3 LEED certified projects – two of our projects have achieved LEED ® Gold status, and one has achieved LEED ® Platinum status.
Click the link below to learn more about our green building.
Leadership
Columbus Property Management has over 100 talented and hardworking individuals who are dedicated to the exceptional management of safe, affordable and sustainable housing. Our full-service team of professionals uses a collaborative approach to ensure that each property and resident receives the care and attention they deserve.
This team is headed by a management team with decades of experience in the development and management of affordable housing. Their contributions and leadership help ensure that the outcomes we produce are aligned with our philosophy as well as our commitments to the communities and people we serve.
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Alfredo de la Peña
Chief Executive Officer
Alfredo provides leadership to a staff of more than 150 individuals, and reports to the Board of Directors and works collaboratively with Executive and Director-level staff members in each of the respective entities to ensure the organization consistently achieves its mission and financial objectives. Alfredo oversees development and implementation of the strategic plan. His role is to ensure the organization effectively manages growth as a multi-state nonprofit affordable housing developer; assure the organization’s financial strength, balancing financial health and stability while advancing the mission; and to build the organization’s external identity in order to promote visibility, preserve and expand resources, and connect with other professionals and organizations.
Alfredo was promoted to CEO in July 2016 after serving the organization as Chief Operations Officer for 20 years where he oversaw the management operations for over $250 million in real estate, as well as managing cash flow for the $50 million budget.
Prior to joining Mission First in 1996, Alfredo worked as a consultant for the Resolution Trust Corporation where he oversaw the consolidation of troubled assets with a book value of $5 billion. Prior to that, he developed financial applications for mortgage systems. He also worked for several years in various aspects of residential and commercial real estate, performing financial analysis, budgeting, and cash flow analysis of development projects totaling $1.4 billion. Alfredo has over 34 years of experience in real estate and finance.
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Cecilia Loose, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Cecilia manages the accounting, human resource, and corporate back office operations for all CPM-owned and controlled entities, including annual and interim financial and cost certification reporting to all federal, state and local funding sources as well as to the limited partners in all tax credit limited partnerships. She also provides tax reporting and compliance for all owned and controlled entities.
Prior to joining Mission First in 2011, she worked for a regional public accounting firm where she specialized in accounting, auditing and consulting services for not-for-profit, real estate and distribution companies. Additionally, she served as Director of Finance for a commercial construction company in the Philadelphia area.
Cecilia graduated from Clarion University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and holds a certified public accounting license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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Chip Darling
Chief Operating Officer
Chip Darling is the Chief Operating Officer at Columbus Property Management. He is responsible for managing the real estate operations of CPM and oversight of the company’s real estate portfolio. Chip also coordinates with the senior executive team to implement the strategic vision of the Board and CEO.
Chip previously held the position of Director of Development, Philadelphia Region at Mission First Housing Group of which CPM is an affiliate. Prior to joining Mission First, Chip was Vice President of Developer Relations at Riverside Capital where he managed the company’s largest developer-client. Mr. Darling began working in affordable housing over 20 years ago as a community and economic development consultant.
Chip holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Heidi Bohn
Director of Property Management - District 1
Heidi is responsible for developing and overseeing the operations of Columbus Property Management’s portfolio in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. She also oversees the financial operations of Mission First’s low income housing tax credit projects in Philadelphia and Delaware, leasing operations in Montgomery County, PA, all activity related to Philadelphia Housing Authority receivables and tenant activity, the maintenance department and asset management of owned properties.
Prior to joining CPM in 2001, Heidi worked in commercial and residential property management as Assistant Controller for properties in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York.
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pierce College and a Master of Science in Business Management from Capella University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Non Profit Management and Leadership from Capella University, as well as a Certified Property Manager title through IREM and the Lean & Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from Rutgers University.
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John Bohn
District Manager, Facilities (PA/NJ/DE)
John joined Columbus Property Management in June 2013. He is responsible for daily maintenance operations for the District 1 section of the portfolio, including over 2000 units in PA, NJ, and DE. John has over 30 years of experience in the construction and property maintenance fields.
John holds certifications from Temple University Real Estate Institute, The Pennsylvania-Delaware Affordable Housing Management Association, IREM Institute of Real Estate, and OSHA. He also is currently enrolled in The American Home Inspection Training Institute.
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Christian Hobson
Resident Services Manager (PA/NJ/DE)
Christian oversees the Resident Services Department that directly empowers and impacts more than 350 individuals, veterans and families throughout the City of Philadelphia. His day to day responsibilities involve a variety of duties focused primary on our residents that provides them with high quality service and support to live independently, engage with their communities and achieve success.
Prior to joining Mission First in 2013, Christian worked in the fields of social work project management as a foster care worker and service coordinator working primarily with families & senior citizens living independently. With nearly 10 years of experience, Christian brings understanding, enthusiasm and patience to the people he serves through resources, education and workshops.
Christian graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
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Robert Kwait
Corporate Counsel
Rob provides in-house counsel on real estate development and financing, corporate structuring, landlord-tenant issues and general corporate oversight and communications. His responsibilities include oversight of all real estate, loan, low-income housing tax credit funding transactions, and related legal matters. Rob also serves as a corporate officer to Mission First Housing Group, CPM’s parent organization.
Prior to joining CPM in 2003, Rob worked in private practice at Duane Morris, LLP and at Spector, Gadon & Rosen, P.C., concentrating in real estate, bankruptcy and reorganization and corporate law.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Economics and Housing from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.
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Becky Lang Staffieri
Communications Manager
Becky joined Mission First Housing Group, CPM’s parent company, in 2013 as Communications Manager. She is responsible for strategic planning and implementation of all corporate communication activities. She works closely with the executive team to ensure cohesiveness in all organizational messaging, including websites, newsletters, corporate sponsorships, marketing materials and all other company publications. She also plans all corporate events, including fundraisers and property openings.
Prior to joining Mission First, Becky worked in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations in all aspects of marketing from strategic planning to program implementation to marketing operations. She brings over 15 years of communications experience to her role at Mission First and CPM.
Becky has a Master of Arts in Public Relations from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with a specialization Public Relations, from Rowan University.
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Cathy Avery
Human Resources Manager
Cathy is responsible for the overall Human Resources function as it relates to all Mission First Housing Group staff, including employee relations, compensation, payroll and benefits administration, development, recruiting and staffing, implementation and administration of HR programs and employment policies, personnel record-keeping, workers compensation, training and workplace development, and compliance with HR laws and regulations. Cathy is also the Corporate Office Manager and supervises the Front Desk Coordinator.
Prior to joining Mission First in August 2011, Cathy worked as an HR Generalist at a national healthcare support services provider. In this role, Cathy identified and resolved employee-related matters provided guidance and mediation on staffing and management issues.
Cathy graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing and has a Certificate in Professional Human Resource Management from Villanova University.
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Sue McMichael
Director of Information Systems
Sue oversees the development, implementation, and use of the corporate accounting/compliance software, Yardi’s Voyager product. She works closely with all departments to assess and address departmental and employee needs relating to customization of the software or training.
Prior to joining CPM, Sue was a Computer Administrator and Legal Secretary at Campbell Soup Company, where she reported directly to the Corporate Secretary and performed troubleshooting for the Legal Department. Susan also served as liaison to the Management Information Services Department, performed in-house employee training, and evaluated all proposed software.
Sue is certified by National Affordable Housing Management Association as Specialist in Housing Credit Management as well as Certified Professional of Occupancy. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
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Thomas McCoy, Jr.
Information and Technology Director
Tommy manages for all of IT infrastructure and operations for CPM and its parent organization Mission First Housing Group. He is also responsible for all technology-related needs for the buildings in our Mid-Atlantic portfolio.
Tommy has held previous employment with the US Navy, Symtech Communications, the University of Pennsylvania, US Cable, and Hansen Properties INC.
Awards
- Property Management
- The Montgomery County Offices of Mental Health & Behavioral Health Recovery & Resiliency Award: 2016
- Resident Services
- Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s Best Practice Awards: 2014: Career & Education Fair and Girl Talk program
- Development
- House of Lebanon: The Committee of 100 on the Federal City: 2014 Vision Award; Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award for Best Senior Housing: 2015 Best Senior Housing DC Preservation League Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation Design & Construction: 2015
- Fells Point Station: Baltimore Heritage Historic Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse and Compatible Design: 2015
- Temple II: PACDC Blue Ribbon Awards: 2013
- Temple I: PACDC Blue Ribbon Awards: 2013
- Walnut Hill West: PACDC Blue Ribbon Awards: 2013
- The Severna: Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County, MD Architectural Design Awards Program: 2012
- Monument Mews: NAHRO Award of Excellence: 2006
- Parkside Preservation: Pennsylvania Affordable Housing Management Association Platinum Award for Outstanding Community: 2008, NAHRO Award of Excellence: 2005
- 1324 Walnut Street: NAHRO Award of Excellence: 1999
Employment Opportunities
Would you like to help us carry out our mission of providing quality housing? Do you enjoy working with people? Do you have experience in property management? To find out more about our employment opportunities and how to become a member of our team, please click below.