The Howard County Housing Commission is governed by a seven member board appointed by the Howard County Executive and confirmed by the Howard County Council. Each Commissioner serves a five-year term. The Board represents a broad spectrum of housing industry expertise and community interests.
Elizabeth S. Homan, Chairperson: September 2026
Elizabeth S. Homan, Vice Chairperson, Commissioner, was appointed to the Board of Commissioners on December 5, 2016. Ms. Homan is the Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Howard Community College. She formerly served on the board of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, and currently serves on the board of Camp Attaway, a Howard County-based summer camp for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. She formerly served as the Director of Communications of Montgomery College.
Jacqueline Alexander, Vice Chairperson: September 2027
Jacqueline Alexander, Commissioner, Jacqueline Alexander serves as the director of development for The Community Builders, Inc. Mid-Atlantic region, a position she has held since March 2014. Alexander directs the real estate development activities and manages the project management staff within the Mid-Atlantic region. Alexander holds a Master of Science degree in urban policy analysis and management from the Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at the New School in New York City. She also received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University in New York. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards within the community development and social services fields.
Paul Casey: September 2023
Paul K. Casey, was appointed to the Board of Commissioners on May 4, 2020. He is a retired partner of the law firm Ballard Spahr LLP where he was Co-Leader of the firm’s Housing Practice Group. During his 23 years at Ballard, Mr. Casey concentrated his practice on real estate finance and public finance transactions, with an emphasis on affordable housing, public housing law, and federal housing programs. Much of his practice was in the area of mixed-finance public housing development and he was actively involved in negotiating and closing hundreds of such transactions across the country. Additionally, Mr. Casey previously served as President of the Columbia Downtown Housing Corporation, a member of the Howard County Housing and Community Development Board, and as Principal Counsel to the Maryland Department of Economic and Community Development.
Donzella Curtis: September 2020*
Donzella Curtis, Commissioner, was re-appointed to the Board of Commissioners on October 5, 2015. Ms. Curtis has operated as a Learning Disability Consultant in Maryland for 17 years. Before working as an event planner and motivational speaker, she served as Program Coordinator for Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. For two years, Ms. Curtis also served as President of the Ellicott City Community Empowerment Association.
Bert Hash: September 2026
Bert Hash, Commissioner, was appointed to the Board of Commissioners on December 6, 2021. Mr. Hash is the retired President and CEO of the Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore (MECU). Mr. Hash was a seasoned financial services executive with over 44 years of experience in managing various aspects of banking and financial services. Before retiring from MECU, Bert worked for Equitable Bank for 15 years and Provident Bank of Maryland for 12 years.
Ian Kennedy: September 2023
Ian Kennedy, Commissioner, was re-appointed to the Board of Commissioners on October 7, 2013. Mr. Kennedy previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, shaping and influencing governmental policy, and communications plans, as well as the development and implementation of a digital communications strategy. He now serves as Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission. He headed up communications for The Horizon Foundation from 2012 to 2015.
Patricia Warr Marshall: September 2025
Patricia Warr Marshall, was appointed to the Board of Commissioners on March 2, 2020. Ms. Marshall possesses over 25 years of experience in banking, education, and real estate. She has held various positions with large commercial banks, including NationsBank and Bank of America. Additionally, Ms. Marshall has worked for the Howard County Public School System and is currently a Business Advisor with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and a Financial Well Being Coach with a national non-profit organization.
*Serving until appointment of successor.