Amy Anthony
President & CEO, Preservation of Affordable Housing
With a long list of accomplishments in public service and the private sector, Amy Anthony, inducted into the Affordable Housing Finance Hall of Fame in 2011, has built an impressive legacy in the industry.
After college, a job at a Massachusetts start-up that focused on demand-side subsidies stimulated her career, and she quickly found success in the field. In 1982, Anthony was selected by then–Gov. Mike Dukakis to serve as the secretary of the executive office of communities and development, which she credits with helping shape her career.
“He gave me responsibility and expected me to carry it out, and it was a wonderful level of trust that allowed me to grow a great deal,” Anthony recalls.
However, as Anthony moved from the government to industry, she found the level of respect didn’t necessarily transfer. “It was kind of a brutal shock,” she says. “I managed that bad situation by getting out; when I got out, I started my own consulting and development company, and I’ve never gone back.”
At Preservation of Affordable Housing, Anthony has helped provide homes for those in need and revitalize urban communities, overcoming limited resources and misconceptions about affordable housing along the way. She’s also worked to ensure that the company maintains a collaborative and positive culture, which is at the top of her mind as she plans to retire from POAH in June to become more involved in international housing projects.
“It really makes you think about the important values of the place, what you have worked to create, and that’s been very satisfying.”
