8 — October 2024 — Women in Business — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
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W omen in B usiness President of The Community Preservation Corporation Sadie McKeown on affordable housing, climate change, and empowering communities
ell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in . I joined CPC in 1991 as an intern while in gradu- ate school studying Hu- man Service Administra- tion with a focus on hous- ing. I became interested in housing when I was volunteering in homeless shelters. I graduated from Fordham in the Bronx in 1986 and was motivated to do my part to support solutions to social prob- lems. CPC was a great organization because it married my deep interest and commitment with my business skills. I have al- ways believed that blend- ing private capital with public subsidy is the best way to scale solutions. What is your current position? I am the President of CPC. I oversee our Construction Lending, all of our Initia- tives, and our recently cre- ated CPC Climate Capital. Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today? I wanted to do my part T
and homelessness. I think about him all the time. W hat unique quali- ties and or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession? I am very driven and competitive, but I am also empathetic. I also have an excess of executive function. Do you feel being a woman is an advan- tage, disadvantage or no advantage in today’s business world? Why? Why not? I believe that being a successful woman is an ad- vantage in what is largely a business that is mostly men, especially at the ex- ecutive level. If you can fit in, excel and build your own brand, it’s easy to stand out and get noticed.
have helped me build and develop relationships in what is still largely a male- dominated industry. Who do you feel was most influential in your life when choosing this profession? My father was a very successful businessman and inspired me to work hard and have fun doing what you do. I have had an enormous amount of fun at CPC with an in- credible team of dedicated people over the last three- plus decades. What outside activi- ties do you enjoy dur- ing your free time? Pickleball and golf! What inspiring words of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of commercial real estate or your allied field? It is a business about people. Master the people and you will master the work. And always try to put yourself in the shoes of the other person and hear the message you are deliver- ing from their perspective. MAREJ
Sadie McKeown President The Community Preservation Corporation
Years with company/firm: 33 Years in field: 34 Years in real estate industry: 34 Real estate organizations/affiliations: New York State HFA Board
to address the homeless problem in New York City and State. What was your great- est professional accom- plishment in 2024? CPC is a coalition part- ner with Climate United, we were awarded a $7 billion grant in the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, $2.42 billion will come to our new subsid- iary, CPC Climate Capital to support decarbonization in affordable and multi- family housing. How do you manage the work/life balance? I put myself into the mo- ment I am in, so when I am working I am focused
and dedicated. The same is true for my family and my friends. When I am with them I am focused on them. I also make sure to stay ac- tive and healthy. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career?
Do you feel there are any differences in the way that men and wom- en develop business rela- tionships and if so, what activities or venues do you participate in? I play golf and basket- ball with men, I can talk sports, and I am not shy. These are all things that A formerly homeless volunteer in the shelter I worked in showed me how hard it is to get out of home- lessness and how critical having a stable apartment can be to recovery and sanity. A person cannot be successful without a home. He was a Vietnam vet- eran and he deserved the support he got to recover from his PTSD, addiction, Order your Women In Business plaque TODAY! Options: Wood, HD Metal Black & Lucinda Premium
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