About Us

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 Tom has been with HCDI since 2009, significantly growing Home City’s portfolio and impact in his 15-year tenure. During that time, HCDI has renovated over 440 units with another 113 in development. HCDI has also added a Resident Engagement program the seeks to enhance the lives of those who live in this housing. Prior to his work at HCDI, Tom was a Senior Project Manager with The Community Builders, one of the largest non-profit, urban developers of affordable and mixed-income housing in the country. At TCB he managed several development projects in three states, totaling well over a thousand units.  Some of the programs included Section 236 decoupling, 4% and 9% LIHTC renovation and new construction, Title VI Preservation, HOPE VI and a mixed-income subdivision, among others.  During his early years, Tom organized food co-ops and volunteered with the Catholic Worker as a handyman in homeless shelters.  Tom received his Masters Degree in City Planning from MIT.

E tkegelman@homecitydevelopment.org

O 413-785-5312 Ext. 101

C 413-531-8144

Joesiah Gonzalez joined Home City Development the fall of 2023. He is charged with all fundraising and marketing strategy and execution.  Prior to joining Home City, Joesiah served as the Chief of Development & Programs at New North Citizens' Council, there he spearheaded the transformation of positive youth development and workforce development programs through a relentless pursuit of funding.   He joins Home City with several years of experience in the social impact sector, public administration and education.

Joesiah holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Fitchburg State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford. 

E jgonzalez@homecitydevelopment.org

C 413-306-7715

Tia Altman joined Home City Development in January 2020. She supports the executive director and implements human resources programs and policies for the team. Tia oversees daily administrative functions, manages staff, and helps develop strategic plans to improve processes and policies for the team. Tia has worked as the Executive Assistant at American International College, for the Executive V.P. as well as at Springfield College for a total of 15 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from American International College. Tia also graduated from the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts Leadership Institute for Political and Public lmpact(LIPPI). She is a commissioned notary public in the state of Massachusetts and serves as the Board Secretary of the Pesce Family Foundation. 

E  taltman@homecitydevelopment.org 

O 413-785-5312 ext 120

Peter joined Home City Development in the summer of 2019. Prior to joining Home City, Peter was a project manager in Real Estate Development at Way Finders for 10 years. There, he managed several major developments with complex funding structures throughout Western and Central Massachusetts. In family housing he managed three developments creating 125 units total. In senior housing he managed a project to re-finance and rehabilitate 40 units, and an adaptive re-use of a historic building to complete 28 units. He also managed the construction of 70 studio/one-bedroom apartments with 2,500 square feet of retail space. These projects were completed using a variety of private and public funding sources including: State and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); state and federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, USDA 515 funds, HUD 233(f) financing, and many others. From 2005-2008 Peter worked with The Community Builders as project manager primarily for a HOPE VI development of 127 rental apartments in Hartford, CT. 

A native of Springfield, MA, Peter lived in Brooklyn, NY for 19 years. Peter holds a Bachelor's Degree with Individual Concentration (International Development) from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

E pserafino@homecitydevelopment.org

O 413-785-5312 Ext. 102

C 413-387-8039

Before joining Home City Development in February 2024, Ms. Jennica Huff served as CEO of Better Community Neighborhoods, Inc. in New York, bringing over 20 years of experience in community development and urban planning. Her career includes roles at The Community Builders, Inc. as a Senior Project Manager and at Valley Community Development Corporation as an Assistant Project Manager. Huff is skilled in managing development projects from start to finish, including procurement, permitting, and financial oversight, with expertise in leveraging various funding mechanisms like Low Income Housing, Historic Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and Brownfields Tax Credits.   

E jhuff@homecitydevelopment.org

O 413-785-5312- Ext. 122

C 413-328-7212

Ramona joined us as the Resident Programs Director in March 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in community program development and management from both local and international non-profits. Her background includes serving as the Director of Program Development & Training at MassHire Holyoke's Reentry & Recovery Program since 2017, focusing on holistic work-readiness programs. Prior to that, she dedicated ten years to sustainable development and capacity-building in Guatemala, aiming to empower communities through health, education, and economic development programs. Ramona is passionate about collaborative, sustainable solutions for self-sufficiency. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts, concentrating on Democracy and Cultural Pluralism, from the New School University, including studies in Central America.  

E rkirschenman@homecitydevelopment.org

O 413-785-5312- Ext. 111

C 413-328-7212

 Kedrick joined the Home City Development team in August 2024 as a Project Manager, bringing a broad set of experiences from the real estate development and construction sectors. Prior to joining Home City, his career included roles with Dakota Partners as a Real Estate Development Project Manager and with WCS Construction as a Senior Project Engineer. He holds a Master of Real Estate Development degree from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Florida A&M University. 

E kthornton@homecitydevelopment.org

 Jessica Solana has recently joined Home City Development as a Resident Engagement Coordinator this Fall of 2024. With nearly twenty years of management experience and a strong background in housing services over recent years, Ms. Solana is well-prepared for her role. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and has a deep-seated passion for helping individuals and families, which drives her commitment in her new position. 

E jsolana@homecitydevelopment.org