Celebrating the Legacy of Our CEO, Robert Newman, and Launching a Search for His Successor
As we look ahead to 2025, our organization is preparing for a significant transition. After a notable career dedicated to advancing affordable housing, our CEO, Robert Newman, has announced his retirement, set for April 2025. While we will deeply miss Bob's leadership and vision, this is also a time to celebrate his incredible legacy and begin the process of selecting a new leader to carry forward our mission.
Bob’s Impact: A Legacy of Leadership
For over 11 years, Bob has led our organization, guiding us through a period of remarkable growth and impact. His commitment to affordable housing goes beyond his time here, stretching across his entire career, where he has been a passionate advocate for increasing access to housing across Virginia and the broader region.
Under Bob’s leadership, our organization has achieved remarkable milestones, including:
Building a strong, resilient team of dedicated professionals who are deeply committed to our mission and the communities we serve.
Preserving or creating 5302 affordable homes, transforming the lives of countless individuals and families by providing them with safe, stable housing.
Launching the Mission Elevation program, which has empowered over 35 nonprofit organizations, strengthening their capacity and leadership. Through this initiative, we have successfully brought over $19 million into underserved communities, directly impacting local growth and sustainability.
Growing our financial position from $7,055,562 to $21,615,849 in consolidated net assets, ensuring long-term sustainability and increased impact across our programs.
Bob’s vision, dedication, and compassionate leadership have left an indelible mark not only on our organization but also on affordable housing policy and development efforts throughout Virginia and surrounding areas. He has made a real difference in the lives of countless families and individuals who now have a safe, stable place to call home.
The Search for Our Next CEO
As Bob prepares to step into retirement, we are taking the next steps to ensure a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition. We have engaged Fahrenheit Advisors, a highly regarded consulting firm, to lead the search for Bob’s successor. The process will begin in mid-September, and we are committed to finding a leader who shares our passion for affordable housing and can build on Bob’s incredible legacy.
We’ll be keeping you updated on the search progress over the coming months, and we invite you to follow along with us as we navigate this important transition.
Honoring Bob's Contributions
In the coming months, we’ll also be celebrating Bob’s many contributions with a special event. It will be an opportunity for all of us—staff, board members, partners, and community members—to come together and reflect on Bob’s accomplishments and the impact he has had on affordable housing across our state and region. At this celebration, we also expect to introduce our new CEO, setting the stage for a new chapter in our organization's leadership.
Looking Forward
While we are sad to see Bob step down, we are confident in the future of our organization. With a solid foundation built during his tenure and a dedicated search process underway, we are excited to welcome a new leader who will help us continue our mission of providing affordable housing solutions.
Stay tuned for more updates on our CEO search, upcoming events, and how we plan to honor Bob’s legacy. We are incredibly grateful for his years of service and look forward to celebrating his career with all of you. The staff of VCDC is very talented and committed to our mission, so we are well prepared for this transition.
Thank you, Bob, for everything you've done. Your impact will be felt for many years to come.