Chicago Housing Authority CEO and leadership

Anna Chen is a Deputy CIO at Chicago Housing Authority and is based in Chicago, Illinois. She has worked as team lead at FTD INC, Assistant Director at Chicago Housing Authority, and Director of Information Technology at Chicago Housing Authority. Anna attended Northwestern University between 2001 and 2004.

Senior executive with broad experience in finance, technology, human resources, and strategy. Performs $1 billion transactions. Leads growth strategies and spearheads cost control initiatives. CFO in real estate, media, education, and hospitality organizations..Expertise in change initiatives including development, merger integration and systems implementations.

Ann McKenzie is a Chief Development Officer at Chicago Housing Authority and is based in Chicago, Illinois. She has worked as General Counsel at Bethel New Life, Sr. RAD Director at Chicago Housing Authority, and Development Manager at The Habitat Company. Ann studied at DePaul University College of Law between 1987 and 1990 and Northwestern University between 1980 and 1984.

Cheryl Burns is the Chief Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority.

Ms. Burns is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly known as Section 8), the second-largest public housing voucher program in the United States with 47,000 vouchers. She also oversees the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure effective and efficient HCV operations.

Ms. Burns served as CHA’s Program Integrity Manager, Senior Director and Deputy Chief Housing Officer for Operations and Compliance in which she managed the HCV budget, audits and procurement of Contracts and Supplies. She developed and monitored annual operating budgets and oversaw administrative processes such as software transition and training for CHA’s systems of record.

Prior to joining CHA, Ms. Burns spent more than 10 years working in housing authority management, gaining extensive experience in program administration, evaluation, coaching, training and staff development. She served as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Park Forest’s HCV program and as Manager of Admissions and Occupancy for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, where she led the agency to a high-performer status on the SEMAP.

Ms. Burns holds a master’s degree in Communications and Training from Governor's State University and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Columbia College in Chicago.

Eric Garrett has served as Chief Property and Asset Management Officer at the Chicago Housing Authority since 2019. He has more than 20 years of property and asset management experience at the agency. He is responsible for the maintenance and high quality of CHA’s housing stock.

Mr. Garrett oversees the departments of Asset Management and Operations, Building Operations, Housing Policy and Occupancy, Non-Residential Land and Space Management, and Safety and Security. He also supervises a team of Deputy Chiefs, Regional Directors, and Directors as well as other professional and support staff.

Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Garrett served as CHA’s Deputy Chief Property Officer, managing the portfolio of CHA’s traditional housing and RAD properties to ensure effective departmental operations and customer service. He also served as the agency’s Director of Asset Management, supervising a team of Asset Managers and Quality Control Analysts and working with property managers, resident leaders, community stakeholders, HUD officials, and CHA staff.

Mr. Garrett is a U.S. Army veteran. He holds degrees from Illinois School of Commerce, Maryland University, and City Colleges of Chicago.

Patricia G. Rios is a Chief Administrative Officer at Chicago Housing Authority and is based in Chicago, Illinois. She has worked as Associate Vice President of Human Resources at Columbia College Chicago; Director of Finance at Public Building Commission of Chicago; and Auditor at Hill, Taylor. Patricia works or has worked as Board Member at Chicago Municipal Employees Credit Union, Pack 3926 - Treasurer at Boy Scouts of America, and Vice -Chair and Secretary at Turnstone Development Corporation. She studied at DePaul University.

Cheryl Colston is the Chief Legal Officer at the Chicago Housing Authority, and has more than 32 years of corporate, compliance, management, labor and litigation experience. She is responsible for all legal matters of the agency. Ms. Colston joined CHA in 2015 as Deputy Chief Legal Officer.

Before arriving at CHA, Ms. Colston served as First Deputy General Counsel for the Board of Education of the City of Chicago, where she advised the Board, Chief Executive Officer and senior leaders on contracts, policies and legislation, and directed a staff of 45 attorneys and 30 support staff. She was also Director of Employee Relations and Assistant General Counsel while at the Board of Education. Prior to that, she was an attorney in private practice. She began her career at the City of Chicago.

Ms. Colston’s trial experience includes obtaining favorable verdicts and rulings in state and federal court actions involving multi-million dollar liability exposure. She has negotiated historical five-year collective bargaining agreements between the Board of Education of Chicago and seven labor unions. She has also created and implemented effective investigative protocol for Title IX and Title VII investigations.

Ms. Colston received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law where she served on Law Review, and her bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at Buffalo. She won the 2011 Orchid Women of Vision award, and was a finalist for the 2009 Kathy Osterman Award. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association and BWLA of Greater Chicago.

Extensive background in State and County Government to include working as Chief of Staff to an Illinois State Representative, Executive Assistant to Cook County Recorder, Administrative Assistant to County Commissioner and Director of Public Relations for a City Alderman. In these positions, held responsibilities for constituent services, union contract negotiations, labor relations, human resources and serving as liaison for city, county and state agencies.Elected to State Central Committeewoman of the 7th Congressional District in March of 2002. In 2004 appointed Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In 2008 served as a Super Delegate for President-Elect Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.As an employee of the Cook County Sheriff's Office, appointed Union Contract Negotiator and elected by co-workers as union steward, lobbying members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in Washington D.C.As a volunteer, serves as Treasurer for Friends of Jesse White. Appointed Treasure for First Baptist Congregational Church, in addition to serving as a Deaconess. Served on the Advisory board for Union Park and Deborah’s Place in addition to the Board of Aids Care. A member of the 13th Police District Domestic Violence Sub Committee.

James L. Bebley is a COO at Chicago Housing Authority.

Cheryl Burns is the Chief Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority.

Ms. Burns is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly known as Section 8), the second-largest public housing voucher program in the United States with 47,000 vouchers. She also oversees the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure effective and efficient HCV operations.

Ms. Burns served as CHA’s Program Integrity Manager, Senior Director and Deputy Chief Housing Officer for Operations and Compliance in which she managed the HCV budget, audits and procurement of Contracts and Supplies. She developed and monitored annual operating budgets and oversaw administrative processes such as software transition and training for CHA’s systems of record.

Prior to joining CHA, Ms. Burns spent more than 10 years working in housing authority management, gaining extensive experience in program administration, evaluation, coaching, training and staff development. She served as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Park Forest’s HCV program and as Manager of Admissions and Occupancy for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, where she led the agency to a high-performer status on the SEMAP.

Ms. Burns holds a master’s degree in Communications and Training from Governor's State University and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Columbia College in Chicago.