Mayor Nickels appoints Heyward Watson to vacant Board seat

Selected for commitment to low-income housing, experience in finance

SEATTLE—May 27, 2009—Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has appointed Heyward Watson to Seattle Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners, for a four-year term ending March 20, 2013.

The Mayor's appointment was confirmed by the City Council on Tuesday, May 26. Watson succeeds Katie Hong in an at-large position on the Board.

"Heyward Watson is recognized across the State as an experienced and passionate advocate for low-income housing," said Seattle Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Tierney. "He will be a terrific member of the Board of Commissioners and the community is fortunate to have him step into this role."

Watson joined Impact Capital in August 2006 as the organization's Chief Executive Officer. Impact Capital works to help transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones by providing early bridge financing for real estate projects.

He is the former Director of the Fannie Mae Washington State Partnership Office, where he was responsible for customer relations, community lending/community relations, and government relations under the company's "American Dream Commitment to Washington State" program, a $25 billion affordable housing investment plan.

Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Watson was the Director of Homeownership Programs for the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. He was responsible for policy and program development, as well as mortgage revenue bond issuance and program administration. Watson also has more than 25 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry.

He is a graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in Sociology. He received his Masters of Science in Business Management from Antioch University. He has participated in several executive management courses, including a course held at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Watson has also served as Chair of the Board of Habitat for Humanity Seattle/South King County and serves as a Governor appointee on the State's Affordable Housing Advisory Board, which he currently chairs.

 

The above was reprinted from the Seattle Housing Authority website.