CommonBond's Acquisition and Development Team
Housing development and property management have been CommonBond’s primary business since 1971. The development staff is a core group of professionals who have worked collaboratively in the affordable housing industry for over ten years and who are seasoned professionals with many years of experience in all types of real estate development.
If you would like to partner with the CommonBond Acquisition and Development team, please contact us via our website or call us at (651) 310-9277.
Ellen Higgins, Vice President for Business Development
Ellen Higgins is the Vice President for Business Development, a position created in 2005 to maximize CommonBond’s access to affordable housing development opportunities and participate in new strategic initiatives. Prior to joining CommonBond’s management team, Ms. Higgins was president and principal owner of Heskin Group, Inc., a real estate development, investment and financial advisory firm with offices in New York, Denver and Minneapolis. She sold this company in 2005.
Ms. Higgins has twenty years’ experience in commercial real estate, more than ten years of Board leadership with CommonBond Communities and experience in affordable housing through her prior work as head of real estate development operations for the Wilder Foundation (1983-1986). In addition, she managed Heskin’s financial advisory projects for government entities, including most recently, HUD’s mark to market program for its Section 8 housing projects.
Ellen received her law degree from the University of Chicago and worked in private legal practice in real estate/foundation taxation until 1983. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, majoring in the Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs. Ellen has served on numerous nonprofit boards over the years, including the founding boards of the Family Housing Fund of Minnesota and the Women’s Economic Development Corporation (now WomenVenture).
Anne Peacock, Chief Operating Officer
Anne is a member within the Business Development team with a focus on the advancement of housing opportunities, relationships, and the development of key operational disciplines to successfully manage the growing portfolio. Anne served on the CommonBond Board of Directors for several years and is a long time advocate and tireless supporter of the mission and work of CommonBond. While on the Board of Directors she was a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Grand Gala event.
Anne brings over 25 years of financial services leadership experience to her role with specific capabilities in new business development, strategic planning and analysis, program and product development, communications, relationship management, and operations. Prior to joining CommonBond Anne held the position of SVP of Product Management and Business Strategy at GMAC ResCap where she was responsible for creating opportunities and driving profitability within the Capital Markets functions. She led multi-discipline programs to design and implement product and process offerings that resulted in revenue generation of over $125M or efficiency improvements of tenfold. She also held leadership positions at FBS Mortgage (now US Bank).
She is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato where she earned a degree in Business Administration – Finance with a minor concentration in Political Science. She is currently on the board of directors of VSA Arts of Minnesota.
Cynthia Lee, Associate Vice President of Housing Development
Cynthia Lee has 28 years experience working for the city of Minneapolis, Community Planning and Economic Development. As Manager of the Multifamily Housing Development Department from 2001 to 2007, she was responsible for the development and financing programs for multifamily rental and ownership housing project. Her department also administered the HOME, CDBG, ESG, NRP, EZ and tax increment funds; the multifamily housing revenue bond program; low income housing tax credits (as sub-allocator) and various other programs. In addition, her department was responsible for the administration of the Minneapolis Affordable Housing Policy and other ongoing policy initiatives. Cynthia’s extensive experience is valuable to CommonBond in her role as Associate Vice President of Housing Development.
Ms. Lee is a Carleton College graduate and has completed extensive coursework in real estate and economic development.
Amanda Cline Novak, Business Development and Investor Relations Manager
Amanda Novak’s responsibilities include the development and implementation of the comprehensive business development strategy that includes acquisitions of existing housing sites and development of new sites. Ms. Novak identifies new opportunities and responds to inquiries from communities requesting involvement in development and/or acquiring housing sites. In her investor relations role, Ms. Novak acts as the main contact for CommonBond’s banking, investor, and syndicator relationships.
Since joining CommonBond in 2005, Ms. Novak has had the opportunity to work closely with a variety of lending institutions, governmental agencies, private investors and philanthropic organizations to creatively structure project financing to meet the goals of all stakeholders. She has overseen all facets of the development process of new construction, acquisition/rehab and adaptive rehab projects across the Midwest.
Ms. Novak holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College and a Master of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa.
Andrew Michaelson, Senior Housing Development Manager
Andrew Michaelson’s responsibilities include the oversight and development of real estate projects and the acquisition of existing projects. He leads the planning, financing, and development of new affordable housing communities. He has national experience with federal, state, county, and local funding agencies and programs, including projects in California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. Many of his previous projects have included the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings into affordable housing and community spaces.
Prior to joining CommonBond, Mr. Michaelson was a Project Manager at Artspace Projects in Minneapolis. He received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 2007, and was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in October of the same year. He graduated cum laude from Hamline University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Forensic Science Certificate.
Jen Oscarson, Housing Development Manager
As the Developer Relations Manager and Senior Financial Analyst for nearly six years at a national syndicator of tax credits Ms. Oscarson has extensive knowledge in the development of affordable housing. Following developments from acquisition to completion, she have developed a comprehensive understanding of the importance of knowing the ins and outs of the market, the state QAP, trending analysis, identifying capital account issues (704b), rent structures, the limitations of market rate units, commercial space-infill housing, and qualified property management on the front end to the assurance of long-term feasibility of the development and the affordability of rents, along with increasing the desirability of debt and equity partners in today’s market. Ms. Oscarson also has extensive experience with political campaigns and advocacy work. Ms. Oscarson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in Political Science with a Minor in Speech Communications.
Bob Mueller, Construction Manager
Bob Mueller’s responsibility as Construction Project Manager within Acquisition and Development is to coordinate and supervise the construction process from pre-construction through project completion. Bob has over 29 years experience in construction management and 11 years of consulting to non-profit organizations, multi family, senior and commercial owners and developers, providing construction management, facility analysis, asset strategic planning and technical services to meet critical business and organizational needs. He has worked with non-profit assisted living and nursing home clients in the development of pioneering elderly care and hospice housing. Through his unique experience and good fortune he has been involved with clients of extraordinary vision, allowing him to work in the development execution of difficult and exceptionally progressive projects.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin Stout and post graduate studies in construction and business management.
Jennifer Wille, Senior Administrative Assistant
