Executive Director

www.riverton.org www.ballingerleafblad.com

Executive Director of Riverton Community Housing

Ballinger|Leafblad is pleased to conduct the search for Executive Director at Riverton Community Housing, a student housing cooperative in , Minnesota.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW Riverton Community Housing exists to assist in making the pursuit of student’s educational goals more accessible. With the trend on college campuses toward “luxury” apartment buildings with high rents, Riverton Community Housing is committed to providing a cooperative housing model to provide quality, affordable housing to students at the and other schools in the area.

Co-op housing is member-controlled housing. Residents who live here are members, not “tenants”. Every year the membership elects a board of directors that governs the co-op. The board makes decisions regarding budget planning and building improvements in addition to planning social and cultural events for co-op members. Everyone can participate!

As a premiere network of student housing cooperatives in North America, Riverton has a strong record of teaching and leading college students toward the housing cooperative model. As a nonprofit, Riverton provides both a hands-on educational experience for student leaders, and a financial model that offers attractive rental rates in well-maintained properties.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY In 1945, as soldiers returned to the University of Minnesota, 30 veterans sought to create a social venture where affordable meals would be served. This entity became known as the Chateau Co-op Dining Club. In addition to meals, the Club included a recreation room with table tennis and pool tables, a TV room and a reading lounge.

With shifting market conditions and the growing need for affordable housing in the late 1960’s – early 1970’s, the student-run board of directors worked with multiple public and private partners to replace the dining co-op with 127 apartments. Thus the 20-story Chateau Student Housing Cooperative was born; the first students moved in for the start of classes in the fall of 1973.

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The Chateau was so successful that there has been a waiting list ever since the doors opened. To expand the amount of member controlled affordable housing, the Chateau board formed a “parent” nonprofit organization. Four more housing cooperatives and a rental townhome community have been added since 1995, putting the current total number of units at 578. The nonprofit organization, known as Riverton Community Housing since 1972, has served many thousands of students of the University of Minnesota and nearby colleges.

Riverton is now growing in ways the original members of the Chateau board could only dream about and will continue to provide quality, affordable, democratic student housing for another 40 years and beyond!

Mission

To develop and maintain quality student-oriented housing communities operating on a nonprofit, democratic basis.

3 COMMUNITIES The co-op communities house students in the , Seward, Marcy Holmes, and Southeast Como neighborhoods of Minneapolis.

Brook Avenue Brook Avenue Housing Co-op is the newest Riverton Community Housing Co-op, opening August 2019. Brook Avenue is located in the Southeast Como neighborhood. It is a 95-unit property.

The Chateau The Chateau Student Housing Co-op is a 127-unit apartment complex located in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota’s East Bank. As the tallest building in Dinkytown, it boasts some of the best views in the University area.

Fourth Street Fourth Street Student Housing Co-op has a unique location on the corner of 4th Street and 13th Avenue SE in Dinkytown. It is modern student living including a computer lab and study rooms and a restaurant on the first floor.

Franklin Franklin Housing Co-op is located in the historic Seward neighborhood near the West Bank of the U of M campus and Augsburg College.

Marcy Park The Marcy Park Student Housing Co-op is made up of two separate buildings totaling 57 apartments. It is located near the East Bank about ¾ mile from the University of Minnesota campus.

4 Marshall Marshall Student Housing Co-op is a 16-unit apartment building. Located just two blocks from the U of M East Bank campus, the close proximity provides convenient access to Dinkytown restaurants and entertainment venues within walking distance.

Cole Townhomes Cole Townhomes is a 36-unit townhouse complex located just south of Como Avenue SE about one and a half miles from the U of M East Bank campus. The townhomes are large, three-level homes offering two or three bedrooms.

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THE POSITION…

Executive Director of Riverton Community Housing

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Executive Director is responsible for the successful overall management and operation of Riverton Community Housing (RCH) in accordance with its core mission and values, to include strategic planning, board relations, financial operations, human resources, leadership, supervision, managing daily operations, contracts and compliance, public relations, co-op governance support and other responsibilities related to effectively managing RCH property and operations.

This position is open due to the retirement of Gary Ellis. Under Gary’s leadership, Riverton has grown from a single 127-unit building to a $50 million enterprise of seven co-op communities.

Essential Responsibilities:

Strategic planning: • Take a lead role with the Board in proposing and/or developing current and long- term organizational goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures for RCH operations. • Create and implement action plans to achieve goals and ensure RCH’s long term- stability, organizational innovation and efficiency. • Develop and implement policies to ensure strategic objectives are met. • Ensure implementation of policies and programs to achieve optimum results.

Board relations: Create and maintain a strong and effective working relationship with the Board to ensure organizational objectives are met. • Work with the Board to: o Develop and implement strategic plan in accordance with the RCH mission and values. o Ensure the fiscal accountability of the organization. • Identify, assess, and inform the Board of Directors of internal and external issues that affect RCH. o Provide and effectively explain RCH financial statements. o Communicate any staff issues requiring Board assistance.

6 • Serve as a professional advisor and resource to the Board of Director on all aspects of the organization's activities. • Assist the Board President in planning and organizing monthly Board meetings, ensure Board members are provided the financial and other information necessary for successful and productive meetings. • Work with the Board to identify and select qualified Board members. • Manage miscellaneous projects and complete various tasks as needed to effectively operate RHC and as requested by the Board of Directors.

Financial operations: Oversee all accounting functions including those necessary for auditing, budgeting, financial analysis, capital asset and property management and payroll. • Work with leadership team to create and monitor operating budgets for Riverton and each co-op property site. • Prepare annual budgets and capital improvement budgets and submit to Board for approval. o Evaluate the condition of the physical buildings, taking into consideration the length of life of buildings, roof, air conditioning, boilers and other physical aspects for short and long term budgeting purposes. • Monitor and analyze monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports. • Oversee the day-to-day accounting activities, to include: signing checks, evaluating and authorizing expenditures, payroll review, etc. • Address and resolve financial issues and questions on an on-going basis as well as for reports, annual audits, board communication, etc. • Interpret and explain budget considerations to the Board and to co-op members. • Sustain high occupancy rates in all properties.

Leadership, human resources, supervision and employee development: Responsible for all aspects of human resource management. • Oversee the human resource-related activities of all staff, including: legal compliance, employment, benefits, compensation, payroll, policies and procedures, employee handbook, performance management, job descriptions, employee relations, disciplinary action, and other employee-related activities. • Organize staff duties and responsibilities to fulfill the mission and strategic plan. • Create a positive, engaging work culture. • Directly hire and supervise RCH senior staff. • Provide leadership to all staff and work direction to staff as appropriate. • Ensure staff has the qualifications, education, training and skills to effectively achieve RCH goals.

7 • Oversee work plans and development plans for all employees in alignment with RCH budget and operating needs.

Daily operations: Ensure the proper management and maintenance or RCH property and assets. • Monitor the performance of each co-op and RCH, and take steps to maximize the efficiency of each property. • Oversee and coordinate all activities to ensure staff is appropriately handling housing occupancy and building/facility maintenance activities. o Oversee activities to ensure maximum occupancy. o Oversee activities to ensure proper upkeep and maintenance of all RCH premises. • Perform day-to-day operational tasks necessary to the smooth running of the organization. • Perform special projects and other research and other related activities.

Legal and regulatory contracts and compliance: Protect RCH’s legal interests and ensure that the legal obligations of RCH are achieved. • Stay current on all legal and regulatory issues and national trends relating to property management, housing laws, city and other regulations, fees, inspection requirements, etc. • Effectively manage relationships with city and state governmental agencies, inspectors, financial agents, and ensure that RCH and each property is in compliance with all statutory and contractual requirements. • Stay current on related financial and employment laws and practices. • Review, analyze, administer and negotiate all contracts for vendors, services, repairs, construction, etc. to include: monitor progress of agreements, maintain agreement documentation and ensure fulfillment of agreement terms.

Public relations: • Act as spokesperson for RCH with the media and serve as primary representative of the organization. • Develop strong, long-lasting relationships with community associations and leaders, to include connecting with local, city and state council representatives. • With the Director of Housing, maintain involvement and visibility within the local communities, to include attending local meetings and events. • Oversee the marketing activities of the RCH housing sites.

8 Co-op governance management and support: • Ensure that all RCH interactions with the co-op properties focus on the organization’s mission to build community. • Educate co-op boards regarding RCH’s mission and values and how to effectively govern the co-op and serve its residents. • Ensure that management is servicing, guiding and supporting the needs of each co-op board related to operations, maintenance, finances, etc.

Management Responsibilities The Executive Director reports to the President of the Board of Directors. Positions reporting to the Executive Director are Accountant, Director of Housing Services and Director of Facilities and Maintenance.

QUALIFICATIONS • B.A. or B.S. degree in business or related field; Masters Degree preferred. • 5 or more years of experience in property management or related experience. • Experience working with cooperative housing preferred; experience with governance approach to property management. • Experience working with co-op form of business and ownership preferred. • 5 or more years senior management/supervisory experience. • Experience working with volunteer boards and committees. • Experience in developing, monitoring and evaluating intricate organizational budgets.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Exceptional leadership, management, supervisory and motivational skills; functions well as part of the leadership team. • Able to work with and support board of directors. • Thorough knowledge and understanding of nonprofit organizations operations and administrative management. • Able to supervise employees, set objectives, give direction, delegate to, motivate employees and create team-oriented workplace. • Intelligent and articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization; excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking skills to be effective and persuasive in presenting RCH and its mission to various government agencies and the public. • Able to work and communicate successfully with a diverse population and build an environment of equity and inclusion in all matters. • Strong administrative, operations and organization skills.

9 • Strong mathematical and quantitative ability and experience with accounting/finance to create, analyze and manage budget, financial statements and projections. • Possess critical, analytical thinking to synthesize complex information and identify, evaluate, problem solve and give direction regarding problem resolution for individual and organization-wide issues. • Excellent negotiation skills with experience in contracts. • Knowledge of the physical/construction aspects of buildings and facilities. • Able to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. • Possess thorough, organized and detail-oriented approach to work. • Collaboration, networking and relationship-building skills. • Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS The salary range for the position is $140,000-160,000 and includes participation in the organization’s benefits plan including participation in a SEP pension plan.

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PRESENTING THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL

When the Twin Cities hosted the Super none of which will let you down. Bowl in 2018, it cast an international light on what the organizing committee According to the website WalletHub, dubbed “The Bold North.” It also gave Minneapolis ranks 12th in America for the world an up-close and personal cities with the most green space. Both view of what those of us who live here cities share a common root of being river already knew. Minnesota Nice is for towns, and the great outdoors is a major real. attraction for residents and visitors alike. In addition to the mighty Mississippi The Twin Cities of Saint Paul and River, there are more than 900 lakes in Minneapolis are a unique blend of the metro area and surrounding suburbs, small town and major cosmopolitan upwards of 300 parks, and miles of hub. Both urban cores boast a thriving biking and walking trails. business atmosphere. Saint Paul, as the state capitol, is home to state Nearly every weekend in the summer government and has a more historical there are several outdoor events for vibe. Minneapolis is the larger and participants and spectators—triathlons, more commercial of the two cities. biking races, running races, boat races, Outside of the central downtowns, water skiing competitions, cultural however, both cities have many celebrations, golf tournaments, and distinct neighborhoods, and residents more. identify more with their individual The summer highlight for many communities than with the larger city Minnesotans is the . as a whole. And the best news is One of the largest of its kind in the housing in most of our friendly country, ours is a world-class showcase neighborhoods is affordable and of Minnesota’s best in agriculture, welcoming. industry, arts and entertainment. The Twin Cities lives up to its Bold North tagline in every way. Residents enjoy four very distinct seasons,

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Held on a 320-acre parcel located Minnesota’s Somali community is one of between St. Paul and Minneapolis, it is the largest in the United States. St. Paul is a self- supported organization and has the heart of Minnesota’s Hmong been held on the Minnesota State community as well, and is home to the Fairgrounds every year since 1885. largest urban concentration of Hmong residents in the country. It is by design As summer turns to fall, the region that we’ve embraced such ethnic puts on a breathtaking autumn show uniqueness. Our multi-cultural that draws visitors from miles communities present us with diversity in around. While fall is a fleeting the workplace, a strong workforce and an spectacle, the active lifestyle of added bonus of getting to know the Minnesotans doesn't go dormant world, and coming to understand different during the winter either. Being hardy cultures on a more intimate scale right in every way, we take advantage the here at home. miles of cross-country skiing trails, downhill ski areas, ice skating, One of the best places to get a taste of our snowmobiling, sledding, and ice many blended cultures is Midtown Global fishing. Market on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Midtown Global Market is a welcoming In recent years Minneapolis and St. indoor market and meeting place Paul have become two of the most featuring an abundance of ethnic dishes, diverse cities in America. Almost six gifts and groceries, from Mexican and percent of the population identifies Middle Eastern to Vietnamese, Indian, as LGBTQ, with many Twin Cities’ Swedish and Italian. organizations in arts, politics, culture, advocacy and religious sectors serving the community.

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Many Hmong and Vietnamese Since the early 1960s, the Guthrie Theater restaurants and shops are located in has staged outstanding shows from the the Frogtown neighborhood as well, classical to the modern. Popular national on and around University and shows and performers also tour through Lexington avenues. Hmongtown the Twin Cities year-round at stages in Marketplace on Como Avenue and both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and at Hmong Village on Johnson Parkway on the University of Minnesota. St. Paul’s East Side feature a wide variety of traditional foods, clothing, If you are a theatre-goer in the Twin Cities fabrics and crafts, as well as farmers you’ll never have a dull moment. markets. According to the Western States Arts Federation, Minneapolis ranks as the fifth- There are countless arts and culture most “creatively vital” city in the country, offerings in the Twin Cities. The right after D.C., LA, NYC and Boston. The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul is the Orchestra has a reputation as one of country’s oldest African American theater. the top orchestras in the world. The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is also We boast more than 40 venues with a regarded as one of the finest chamber variety that even the most seasoned orchestras in the world. thespian would notice.

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There are the magnificent musicals that The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts play on the State, Orpheum, and Pantages has been recognized as one of America’s stages and lots of local talent making a leading not-for-profit performing arts statement on stages such as the Southern centers, and is home to a wide variety of Theater, New Century, and Illusion. performances throughout the year Hamilton, Les Miserables and West Side providing the finest in musical theater, Story are a few examples of productions music, dance, and vocal artists in its Music that have played here. Theater is also a Theater and Concert Hall. In addition, each large component of life in Saint Paul. The year the Ordway presents its Flint Hills gorgeous 1000-seat Fitzgerald Theatre Family Festival, serving more than 50,000 acts as Minnesota Public Radio’s largest children and adults through its Ordway broadcast studio. Staged productions Education programs. commission authors, artists and radio hosts to create programming for the Dance companies such as James Sewell public radio community. The Fitzgerald Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Theater is St. Paul’s oldest theater and Ragamala, Zenon Dance Company and TU celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. Dance perform at an array of venues including the renovated Cowles Center.

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For the museum-goer, there are more than 60 museums in the metro area. The Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Children's Museum are interactive learning facilities and fun experiences for the entire family. The African American Heritage Museum and Gallery and the Minnesota History Center are museum for all ages with permanent and changing exhibits, lectures and events.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has a collection of more than 100,000 pieces. The Walker Art Center has been called “possibly the best contemporary art museum in the U.S.” by Newsweek, and has over 11,000 and USBank Stadium, a brand new, pieces. The University of Minnesota's enclosed stadium where the Minnesota is also a Vikings host their NFL games. Additionally, contemporary art destination. the stadium hosts early season college baseball games of the University of The Somali Museum of Minnesota on . East Lake Street features hundreds of traditional Somali artworks and Popular music abounds, from the Grammy- artifacts as well as educational winning Sounds of Blackness to programs. Atmosphere. Outdoor concerts and festivals such as the For those who prefer activity of the and Rock the Garden are a common and spectator variety, the Twin Cities is popular activity. After all, artists from Bob home to the , Dylan to Prince have called the Twin Cities , home. and the . We are also the home of the four-time WNBA Champion and the Minnesota United soccer team. We host in some of the best sporting facilities in the county, including , home of the Minnesota Twins,

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The Twin Cities offer award-winning Networking groups in technology, restaurants (several chefs have been manufacturing, healthcare and regional James Beard Award winners). education support their professions. In addition to the popular Mall of Active Chambers of commerce further America, there are plenty of unique business interests and First Fridays Twin shopping districts in both cities and in Cities celebrates African American the suburbs. excellence.

Beyond sports, the great outdoors, The Twin Cities is a vibrant, richly entertainment, and culture, perhaps the diverse Midwestern community where biggest attraction for the Twin Cities is Minnesota Nice is alive and well. We are the lifestyle. Forbes hailed Saint Paul the perfect blend of small town/big city and Minneapolis as one of the nation's and our residents pride themselves on healthiest metros and USA Today their warm and welcoming ways. There named Saint Paul as North America's is a reason Business Insider ranked “Most Romantic City.” Minneapolis/St. Paul number nine on its Top 50 Places to Live in America. We Minneapolis/St. Paul is also proud to really are all that and more! have a world-class international airport. In fact, the Airports Council International named MSP the 2017 Best Airport in North America in its size category, with more than 25 million passengers a year.

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BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD WELCOMES YOU TO CONTACT US PRESENTING THE TWINFOR CITIES MORE OF INFORMATION: MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL

Lars Leafblad, MBA Marcia Ballinger, PhD Co-Founder/Principal Co-Founder/Principal 612-598-7547 651-341-4840 [email protected] [email protected]

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