Smith & Henzy’s mission is to strengthen communities by creating sustainable, affordable housing that leaves residents with the comforting feeling of “home.” We are committed to producing and preserving affordable housing opportunities for every household to build the foundation of vibrant, lasting communities.
Smith & Henzy works with a wide range of partners to restructure and rebuild public housing—from non-profits focused on developing affordable, supportive housing to Public Housing Authorities using HUD’s Rental Assistance Administration (RAD) Program, Section 18 or Section 22 to rehabilitate and redevelop public housing.
At Smith & Henzy, our vision is to serve the greater good by developing communities that support a healthier, stronger, and more sustainable future. Our team expertly navigates the process of strengthening and developing the country’s supply of affordable housing to achieve our mission.
Darren and Tim met in 2013 when they were working together from different sides of the table on a bond deal in the Bronx, NY. Darren was the executing banker from Citi Community Capital and Tim was with Rockabill Advisors working as the developer’s consultant. Darren and Tim both worked tirelessly on the deal, each leading the development team to closing.
In working together, Darren and Tim recognized each other’s unique strengths and their ability to work collaboratively to bring developments to fruition. They struck up a friendship and realized their shared vision for creating their own company.
Darren and Tim formed Smith & Henzy in 2014. Growth for the company happened quickly as Darren and Tim put their skills and strengths to the test. What began as an affordable group has evolved into a successful development firm.
Each member of the Smith & Henzy team brings a unique perspective and passion to the work we do.
Darren leads Smith & Henzy’s Southeast and Midwest operations in all aspects of development. With over 30 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments in Florida, Darren has grown Smith & Henzy to one of the top affordable housing development firms in the State.
Tim leads the Northeast operations for Smith & Henzy development and consulting practices. Under his leadership the firm has created and preserved 6,000 units of affordable housing in New York and Florida totaling over $1.6 billion in development costs.
Jake identifies new sites, underwrites and analyzes various financial structures, and directs projects from inception through conversion of permanent financing.
Rick works primarily on Southeast developments from conception to stabilized operations. Rick’s depth of experience enables him to adroitly navigate the development process, while successfully leading a development team.
John joined the firm in 2022 and works on the Northeast team managing all aspects of the firm’s practices.
Celia works on developments in both the Northeast and Southeast ensuring timely completion and achievement of stabilized operations. Celia’s immense energy and attention to detail keeps the team and development running smoothly forward.
Matt has been in been involved in the Florida construction industry for nearly 15 years. As a Certified General Contractor, Matt oversees all aspects of Smith & Henzy’s construction projects from design concept, budget planning, cost management, construction quality control and execution.
Mike works primarily on Southeast developments ensuring timely completion and achievement of stabilized operations. Mike’s hands-on experience and familiarity with construction enables him to skillfully oversee a development’s progress and keep the entire team on schedule.
Drew graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Public Policy and a minor in Real Estate Development. Drew previously interned for Smith & Henzy Affordable Group for two years, prior to joining the team full time in May of 2021.
Based in the Smith & Henzy Southeast office, Guerby serves as a Development Manager at Smith & Henzy Affordable Group, Inc., His responsibility involves handling due diligence items, financial closings, and funding requests for multiple affordable housing developments.
Based in the Smith & Henzy Southeast Office, Kami serves as a Development Manager where she assists in all phases of development.
Based in Smith & Henzy’s Southeast office, Michael Marra serves as Development Manager where he currently assists in various aspects of the development process.
Jordan joined the Smith & Henzy Florida office in 2023 as a construction manager and owner’s representative. He is responsible for attending contractor meetings, conducting site visits, and overseeing change orders and construction schedules for various multimillion dollar projects.
Paula Mejia is a dedicated and results-driven Director of Asset Management at Smith & Henzy Affordable Group, where she oversees more than 3,000 affordable housing units. With over 13 years of experience in property management, Paula specializes in HUD and LIHTC programs, bringing in-depth knowledge of affordable housing to her role.
Patrick contributes to the successful planning and execution of community-focused projects.
We work in three different roles – as developer, owner, and consultant – to create affordable housing and build lasting communities. No matter the role, we bring our passion and expertise to every facet of our work.
As developer, Smith & Henzy collaborates with the entire development team to coordinate efforts towards achieving the development goal and exceeding expectations. We have had the honor to be selected as developer partner by several Public Housing Authorities and have worked through complex federal programs, including RAD, Section 18 and Section 22 conversion. We have also proudly worked alongside not-for-profit organizations as developer partner to help advance their admirable, inspiring visions for the community.
As an owner, Smith & Henzy is an engaged, proud, and respectful member of the community. Upon acquiring property, we work to identify the needs of residents, property management, neighbors, and other stakeholders , and then work in concert with our partners to execute a development plan that responds to these needs and ensures that the community will thrive for many years to come.
Smith & Henzy provides development and financial consulting services that are extensive and tailored to each client and each development. We bring our eye for detail, unmatched financial sophistication, and professional network to the table. We offer a range of consulting services including:
Craft preliminary financial models and initial discussions with industry partners including lenders, investors, and government agencies
Prepare and advise on development and operating budgets; coordinate meetings across entire development team; prepare and file all necessary applications; and manage and procure all due diligence
Monitor all requisitions to ensure the development is on schedule and budget
Coordinate documentation to convert construction financing to permanent mortgage; assist in securing all outstanding capital contributions from equity investor; advise on any final business issues related to stabilizing the development
