We recently recognized client Superheroes at our 18th Annual Travois Conference! Since 2015, we’ve honored industry professionals doing amazing work in their communities. This year’s conference and awards luncheon was held in Marina del Rey, CA.
Francisco Carr, development director, and Melanie Keams, project manager, for the Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority (PAHA), were named Pillar Professionals of the Year!
Travois Design Architect Taylor Higgins presented Francisco and Melanie with the award and said: “Both have a great understanding of construction and place value on quality — quality of the job done and quality of homes they provide to their community members. Both of these individuals are instrumental to their team and work very hard coordinating with consultants, residents and contractors. This is well-deserved recognition.”
“To be recognized by Travois and housing community peers was a very humbling experience,” said Francisco. “It was a very big surprise to hear my name announced along with my co-worker and teammate, Melanie! I can honestly say we are not in this line of work to be recognized but to ensure quality homes are provided within our Native communities for many generations to come. We work for the community. We are all taught that home is where the heart is, where family is, where you are always welcomed, and that a home is always there to provide health, food and most of all love and comfort.”
Francisco and Melanie played critical roles in bringing a new 30-unit multi-family housing development (pictured below) to their community — PAHA’s first Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) development. The development includes a new community building, a picnic pavilion, a bike and walking path, a playground and recreation space, and a basketball court on the Acoma Indian Reservation in Pueblo of Acoma, NM.
“I am very thankful and amazed for receiving the recognition of Pillar Superhero by Travois,” said Melanie. “This construction project was a huge success, and I am grateful to have been a part of an awesome construction team (PAHA, Travois & Pavilion). Together we developed the beautiful Cedar Hills Community! I would like to thank everyone involved with this project and for assisting the PAHA to accomplish a professional goal of providing safe and affordable housing opportunities to the Pueblo of Acoma community.”
This dynamic duo’s days were also filled by managing a new infrastructure project, the regular maintenance of their existing housing stock, and they had several new single-family homes on the boards. Their proficiency and expertise shined while demonstrating how to manage a project, stretch a dollar, and battle the elements to deliver a quality product on time.
Francisco continued: “It has been a great honor to work with Travois, the numerous team members within Travois, and namely Taylor Higgins for the last three years on the Cedar Hills development. To be where I am today would not be possible without my PAHA teammates, my many mentors and most importantly of all, my wife and family who have supported me through the many long days put forth for the betterment of Native country — whether it was while I was working in tribal government (13 years) or in Indian housing (11 years). This recognition is for all of those who have gotten me where I am today because we cannot achieve anything in life alone.”
Congratulations to a great team! We’re thrilled to be partners with you!
Related news:
- Celebrating achievements: PAHA LIHTC Homes #1 ribbon-cutting
- Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority recognized for outstanding achievement, wins housing award
- PAHA: From planning to closing
- Q&A: Executive Director Floyd Tortalita shares LIHTC development experience
- Groundbreaking for Pueblo of Acoma!
- Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority adding new homes near North America’s oldest continually inhabited community
- Spotlight on 2017 Travois Superhero Awards winners: Floyd Tortalita (Part 3 of 5)