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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 3, 2016
CONTACT: Elizabeth Harrington
                 (240) 627-9439
 

HOC Executive Director Honored by Two National Programs
Stacy L. Spann recognized for leadership and innovation

 
The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) is proud to announce that Executive Director Stacy L. Spann is being honored with the 2016 Maryland Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Real Estate Award and has been selected for the 10th class of Annie E. Casey Foundation 2016-2017 Children and Family Fellows.

The Colvin Institute’s 2016 Maryland Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Real Estate Awards recognize creative affordable housing solutions, imaginative planning, inventive design and the advancement of progressive, sustainable development. In 2015, HOC and Spann launched a new online-only affordable housing wait list portal for rental housing programs called HOC Housing Path. The HOC Housing Path uses technology to match people to affordable housing programs and will remain open indefinitely providing people an opportunity to apply for assistance anytime and it supplies a real-time snapshot of housing needs in Montgomery County. Spann will receive the award at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at the University of Maryland College Park.
 
The Annie E. Casey Foundation selected Spann for the 10th class of its Children and Family Fellowship. Spann was chosen for his leadership in the housing industry and successful efforts to improve the lives of HOC clients and their families. The Fellowship is a 16-month intensive executive program where outstanding human service and social change leaders from across the country will develop results-based leadership skills to build brighter futures for children and families. Spann will use the 16-month Fellowship to work toward specific, measurable improvements for children and families. The fellowship aligns with current HOC priorities and will equip the organization to maximize the work of the HOC Academy.
HOC Academy provides employment support and training programs for adults as well as educational enrichment programs for youth participating in HOC’s housing programs. The one year old initiative connects adults to trades and construction training programs as well as employment readiness and boot camp workshops with the help of local partners. Through these efforts, children received STEM and other enrichment opportunities. Recently, two students were selected from among hundreds of applicants to participate in the West Point Academy’s STEM Workshop in May 2016.
“This new class of Casey Fellows is poised to have a profound influence on how children and families fare in this country,” said Casey Foundation President and CEO Patrick McCarthy. “The Fellowship gives them the tools to achieve large-scale results and a powerful network to expand their reach.”
“I am honored to be recognized by the Colvin Institute and looking forward to the Fellowship’s challenge,” said Spann. “HOC’s mission is to provide better access to quality affordable housing and create programs that really offer families and children a pathway to success. These honors and opportunities are not about the work I have done as an individual, but the work HOC is doing every day for our community. This is a unique opportunity to call greater attention to our work. The University of Maryland’s Colvin Institute Award further highlights the importance of high quality affordable housing, in this wonderful county. And, the Annie E. Casey Fellowship program will give me the tools to create a larger vision for what comes next for HOC in support of the customers and community we serve.”