CHAM Executive Director

Julia Pierson’s career has focused on the sustainability of nonprofit organizations, building affordable housing at scale and strategic community development. Her experience with multifamily housing, homeownership, community building, community stabilization and social services was gained through direct practice in communities, training and technical assistance consulting with nonprofits and government, and project development of new initiatives.

The first part of her career Julia worked for housing and community development organizations in Baltimore City, with leadership roles in development, property management and resident services. She was executive director of Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation for 12 years and the lead developer of Stadium Place, the affordable retirement community and YMCA located on the site of the former Memorial Stadium. Ask her to tell you the story of how a small community-based organization won the development rights in a highly competitive and political process! Now over 500 seniors live at Stadium Place.

After the 2008-9 downturn, she worked as a HUD Technical Assistance provider for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and for the Multifamily Preservation programs through the Cloudburst Consulting Group. She was at NeighborWorks America from 2016 to 2019 as Special Projects Director and Interim VP of Operations for National Initiatives.

Julia first encountered CHAM in its early years and used it tools and training to manage an organization’s multifamily assets, and has been a fan ever since. She has her Asset Management Specialist designation, and like so many others, is waiting for the classes to be offered again in the Certificate for Housing Asset Management series.

Julia is a native Baltimorean and is involved locally with youth homelessness, racial justice, renters’ rights, and her community association. She is married to Robert, has 2 grown daughters, and parents in their 90s, so family is important. She works from her home with her dog Zoey keeping her company.

See Julia’s LinkedIn profile to get more details about her career.