Carole MacPhee

Audrey Robbins Employee of the Year

“Carole taught me everything I know.  She saw things in me I didn’t see,” says Columbia Housing Corporation Senior Property Manager and Vice President Lori Young.

Carole MacPhee’s career was built on the passionately held belief that professionally run affordable housing involves understanding that low income people are entitled to a high level of services.  Connected to that belief is the idea that the residents of these communities will grow and prosper beyond all expectations if they are given the resources and opportunities to do so.  She has implemented these beliefs through a career that involved 20 years with CHC.  Her legacy there includes a well-run operation, and saving the Community Housing property from potential development that would have significantly reduced Howard County’s affordable housing.

Equally importantly, while running an organization focused on housing, she provided job and learning opportunities to help residents become independent citizens of the community.  At CHC that included hiring and training residents to become rental agents, managers and maintenance technicians.  Lori Young, for example started with CHC in a summer job, was promoted to office manager, moved to human resources and then to her current positions.  Originally a community homes resident, she subsequently bought a home.

Carole has also held workshops and seminars that have resulted in residents moving out of subsidized housing and into home ownership. Her efforts have also focused on the needs of younger community members. 

            Notes community volunteer Chaya Kaplan, herself a professional social worker, “More than just the Executive Director and administrator Carole often played a social worker role.  She was always looking for opportunities and strengths and ways to build on them.”

Perhaps her most important legacy is the thousands of young people who have benefited from her involvement in the Community Based Learning Centers and Youth Development Coalition, developed by CHC in partnership with the Howard County Public School Systems Black Student Achievement Program.  Since 1996 this program has provided homework assistance, recreation and a safe and supportive after school environment., first at CHC’s properties, and later in other affordable housing community venues. Students attending the learning centers do as much as 40% better than those in the same neighborhood who do not attend. As colleague Tim Sosinski notes, “Carole is always looking for ways to make people’s lives better.”  She certainly has succeeded.