People:
Kevin Nowak
Kevin has been on the board or staff of CHN for over 10 years with his most recent role as director of strategic initiatives and general counsel. He was named executive director in 2019. Under his leadership, CHN was chosen as the administrator of the first of its kind Lead Safe Home Fund, an effort involving a wide coalition of community leaders, designed to support residents and landlords in preventing lead poisoning. As director of strategic initiatives, Kevin developed and led CHN’s leading-edge initiatives, including CHN’s effort to establish a community development financial institution to address mortgage deserts in low-income and minority communities throughout Northeast Ohio, CHN’s affiliation with NHS of Greater Cleveland and CHN’s growing role as a strategic partner to other nonprofits who need technical assistance to meet the housing needs of the communities they serve. Prior to CHN, Kevin was at KeyBank as the National Equity Investment Manager of Key Community Development Corporation, a national leader in community development investment. Earlier in his career, Kevin practiced at Thompson Hine LLP, where he focused on real estate law, corporate asset management and corporate law. Kevin is a frequent speaker on community development matters and serves on numerous local, regional and national community development advisory committees and boards. Kevin is a Detroit native, who now resides in Avon Lake, Ohio with his wife and two boys, and holds a bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Michigan.