Beyond the Resume

In this episode of Beyond the Resume, we welcome Carlina Rivera, President and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), for a conversation about affordable housing, public service, leadership, and community advocacy.Drawing on her experience as a New York City Council Member, tenant advocate, and legislative staffer, Carlina explores the challenges facing affordable housing development in New York. From rising construction and insurance costs to housing policy, public-private partnerships, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), she explains how NYSAFAH advocates for the production and preservation of affordable homes.Carlina also reflects on her upbringing in public housing and Section 8 housing on Manhattan's Lower East Side, her early experiences at the Marist Poll, and her involvement with the Essex Crossing development. She shares how these experiences shaped her commitment to public service and housing stability.Beyond policy, the conversation explores balancing family and leadership, expanding NYSAFAH's reach, mentoring future professionals, and why storytelling matters in affordable housing.CHAPTERS(00:20) Welcome and Introductions(01:34) NYSAFAH and New York's Affordable Housing Crisis(03:04) Rising Housing Costs and Policy Challenges(04:14) From City Council to Housing Advocacy(07:10) Journalism, Polling, and Early Career Lessons(11:44) Essex Crossing and Community Development(12:55) The Roots of Public Service(17:05) The Benefits of NYSAFAH Membership(18:52) A Day in the Life of NYSAFAH's CEO(21:00) Expanding Affordable Housing Advocacy(24:28) Transit-Oriented Development and Housing(26:45) Balancing Family and Leadership(28:16) The Hot Seat(32:01) Hiring, Storytelling, and Building Teams(33:42) Mentorship and Career LessonsYouTube: https://youtu.be/FfOgrhkbElgSpotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotifyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

What does it take to lead an affordable housing organization, build meaningful public-private partnerships, and turn financial expertise into lasting community impact?In this episode of Beyond the Resume, host Chris Papa sits down with Allison Smith, CEO of the Texas Housing Foundation, to explore her unconventional journey from accounting to executive leadership in affordable housing.Allison shares how her early nonprofit experience in Rwanda shaped her commitment to service, how an unexpected layoff led her into affordable housing, and why financial discipline is essential to sustaining a mission-driven organization. She explains how the Texas Housing Foundation partners with developers and local governments to create and preserve affordable housing through property tax exemptions, financing tools, and community partnerships.The conversation also explores Allison's leadership philosophy, the importance of mentorship, building strong teams, and the organization's evolving strategy to address housing needs across rural and suburban Texas. From navigating local government approvals to prioritizing community relationships, Allison offers valuable insights for aspiring leaders and professionals pursuing careers in affordable housing and nonprofit management.CHAPTERS00:15 – Meet Allison Smith and the Texas Housing Foundation02:13 – How Affordable Housing Partnerships Work in Texas04:29 – Property Tax Exemptions and Local Government Approvals06:44 – Asset Management and Accountability in Affordable Housing08:11 – From Accounting to a Career in Affordable Housing10:59 – An Unexpected Career Turning Point13:11 – Why Financial Discipline Matters in Mission-Driven Work16:51 – The Responsibilities of a CEO18:16 – Family Values, Mentorship, and a Commitment to Service22:35 – Life-Changing Lessons from Rwanda24:36 – The Future of Affordable Housing in Texas30:11 – The Hot Seat33:19 – What Allison Looks for When Hiring35:08 – Mentorship, Communication, and Building Strong TeamsYouTube: https://youtu.be/DJ52S6y_qjASpotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotifyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

What does success look like beyond a paycheck? In this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Lisa Flicker and Chris Papa welcome Bob Sessa to explore career development, institutional real estate investing, leadership, and finding purpose in professional life.From competitive swimming and public accounting to managing real estate investments for a public pension fund, Bob shares the experiences that shaped his career. He discusses turning down a banking opportunity offering three times the salary, choosing work-life balance over financial gain, and how volunteering transformed his perspective on success.Bob also offers valuable career advice on intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, mentorship, and the importance of resilience. Through personal stories and professional insights, he demonstrates why meaningful careers are built on more than technical expertise.Whether you're an aspiring real estate investor, young professional, or experienced leader, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on building a fulfilling career.CHAPTERS(01:15) Early Influences and Career Beginnings(04:00) Lessons from Public Accounting(05:20) Volunteering and Finding Purpose(09:25) Choosing Work-Life Balance Over Salary(11:50) Inside Institutional Real Estate Investing(16:00) Discipline, Resilience and Critical Thinking(18:30) The Hot Seat: Books and Personal Interests(20:50) Meditation and Staying Grounded(22:50) Hiring, Leadership and Intellectual Curiosity(24:35) Mentorship and Lessons for the Next GenerationYouTube: https://youtu.be/1oxQrqxOmjQ

Paul Salib joins Beyond the Resume to discuss a career spanning real estate investment, bridge lending, and affordable housing development. From learning the business at Redstone Partners to building and selling a substantial New York portfolio, Paul explains how changing market conditions pushed him to adapt, manage risk, and pursue new opportunities.Paul also shares how CRP Affordable Housing and Community Development expanded into California and why affordable housing has become such an important part of his work. He discusses serving populations including veterans, farmworkers, active military members, and young adults at risk of homelessness.The conversation also explores leadership, breaking into affordable housing, the value of strong partnerships, hiring for work ethic and attention to detail, and the mentors who shaped Paul’s career. His advice throughout is simple: start small, stay patient, build relationships, and be willing to adjust when the market changes.CHAPTERS(00:42) Building a Real Estate Business in New York(03:25) From Ownership to Bridge Lending(05:42) Returning to Affordable Housing(07:46) Developing Affordable Housing Across California(09:52) Knowing When to Pivot Your Strategy(11:28) How to Break Into Affordable Housing(13:49) What Does a CEO Actually Do?(14:59) From Sports Television to Real Estate(18:41) The Hot Seat(21:00) Routine and Staying Productive(24:20) Mentors Who Shaped His CareerYouTube: https://youtu.be/1wX65Jfcb-cSpotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotifyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

Andrea Kretchmer’s career was never supposed to lead to affordable housing development—and that is exactly what makes her story such a compelling fit for Beyond the Resume.Andrea, a principal and founder of Xenolith Partners LLC, joins Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker to trace a career that began in science. After studying geology and earning a master’s degree, Andrea worked as an environmental consultant conducting soil and groundwater investigations. She later stepped away from her career for a decade to raise her family, volunteer in her community, and develop skills she would eventually bring into an entirely different profession.When she was ready to return to work, Andrea approached her father, longtime real estate developer Jerry Kretchmer, about working together. Their search for an opportunity led them to affordable housing, where Andrea could combine real estate development with the community-focused work she had grown to value. Her earliest projects included successful New York City RFPs in Coney Island and East New York—but the 2008 recession dramatically altered their plans and taught Andrea just how much patience development can require.Andrea also explains how she and Terry Belkas Mitchell founded Xenolith in 2016 and built a company around partnerships, complementary skill sets, and affordable and supportive housing development. She discusses the importance of earning credibility with lenders and investors, expanding into Connecticut, collaborating with nonprofit organizations, and maintaining what she calls a “pleasantly persistent” approach to the business.The conversation also explores Andrea’s strength as a connector: networking, mentoring younger professionals, participating in industry organizations, and helping others gain access to relationships and knowledge that benefited her earlier in her own career.Andrea closes by reflecting on returning to work after ten years away, recognizing life experience as legitimate professional experience, building teams with people whose skills complement her own, and acknowledging the mentors and partners who helped make her career possible.CHAPTERS(01:02) Building affordable and supportive housing through partnerships(03:31) From geology to environmental consulting(05:55) Stepping away from work to raise a family(07:26) Returning to work and discovering affordable housing(08:47) Winning Andrea’s first New York City development projects(12:06) Why affordable housing became the right career(16:59) Breaking into development and learning the business(19:50) Growing Xenolith beyond New York City(24:23) Networking, mentorship and the “people business”(28:25) What’s next for Xenolith(33:19) Returning to the workforce after a 10-year career break(36:05) The Beyond the Resume Hot Seat(38:44) What Andrea looks for in partners and colleagues(40:11) The people who helped shape Andrea’s careerYouTube: https://youtu.be/g29vTeErK7I?si=nLAxxF93CSbvaL2eSpotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotifyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9