We bring comprehensive solutions to communities that jumpstart housing, education, civic engagement, and neighborhood prosperity.
A Michaels neighborhood is a beautiful, bustling place to call home. It’s a launching pad for people to move to the next level of their lives.
Establishing an enduring legacy requires exceptional vision, inspired leadership, tremendous teamwork, constant innovation, and a corporate culture that nurtures aspirations in all of our people.
Michael J. Levitt founded Michaels in 1973. Back then it was a four-man operation developing subsidized housing. Today, Michaels is a national leader in residential real estate and the nation’s largest privately-held owner of affordable housing. In 1993, Mike established The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation, which administers scholarships to Michaels residents. Mike and his wife, Pat, match every private donation to the educational foundation two-for-one. Mike is a housing visionary, a philanthropist, a world-class angler, and a 2012 inductee into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame.
John provides strategic leadership and oversight to The Michaels Organization, nurturing a culture of empowerment and excellence among his executive team and 2,000+ employees. During his tenure, Michaels has more than doubled in size and entered new market niches, including military, student housing, and luxury living. John joined Michaels in 1998, and his prior roles include COO and CFO.
As Chief Operating Officer, Mark has overarching responsibility for Michaels’ management operations, our debt and equity platforms, and the support functions of Information Technology, Human Resources, and Corporate Marketing. Mark began his career as a property manager with Michaels over 30 years ago and in 2015 was appointed COO. His previous positions include serving as President of our Affordable Living management company.
As Chief Financial Officer, Joe has responsibility for the financial and accounting operations of all Michaels’ operating companies. He leads us in the structuring of transactions for Michaels’ developments and acquisitions and ensures the continued preservation and recapitalization of Michaels’ affordable portfolio. Joe serves on the Board of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition and as a Board Member for the 1260 Development Corporation.
As President of Michaels Management, Kimberlee has lead responsibility for Michaels property management portfolio, which includes affordable, workforce, military, student and market-rate communities from coast to coast. Michaels Management provide property management services to Michaels entire portfolio as well as fee-management services to other owners and nonprofit organizations. Kimberlee brings over 30 years of management experience to the Michaels team.
As Executive Vice President of Development, Kenneth Crawford co-leads Michaels Development—Affordable Living. Ken provides both leadership and support to Michaels’ development teams. This includes developing and implementing uniform processes and procedures for Michaels’ projects and ensuring that projects are efficiently executed from the time of initial funding commitments through the final hand-off to management. In addition, Ken identifies areas for systematic improvement in our business processes, giving particular emphasis to strategies that promote interaction among all our various disciplines – development, design, construction, management, leasing, and capital structuring.
As Executive Vice President of Development, Mr. Pratt co-leads Michaels Development—Affordable Living. Mr. Pratt focuses on pipeline growth and asset performance through relationships with various governmental and industry groups. He works closely with Michaels’ regional development teams to generate opportunities and works with Michaels’ management team regarding existing asset restructuring under HUD’s RAD/MTM or ACC programs.
As Executive Vice President of Michaels Construction, Joe has overarching responsibility for all of Michaels’ general contracting operations, including oversight of outside G.C.s for Michaels Construction. From gut rehabs to out-of-the-ground residential construction, Michaels Construction provides expertise in all aspects of construction services, while providing the flexibility to meet the ever-shifting demands of complicated projects while delivering the highest quality for the lowest deliverable cost.
As Executive Vice President for the development of our student and luxury area of expertise, Michael (Mick) oversees all development activity for Michaels student and luxury living communities. Mick formerly served as Michael’s VP of Capital Markets.
As Senior Vice President of Military Management, Sherri serves as an integral member of the leadership team of Michaels, managing military housing for The Michaels Organization as well as other private owners. Ms. Farris is also an active member of PHMA, the Institute of Real Estate Management, and the National Apartment Association.
As Executive Vice President of Affordable Operations, Mr. Williams has primary oversight responsibility for Michaels affordable portfolio, which includes affordable and workforce housing communities located in urban centers, the suburbs, and rural areas from Coast to Coast. He reports directly to the President and leads a team of Senior Vice Presidents and Regional Vice Presidents. He joined the Michaels team in 2004.
As Senior Vice President of Operations for Student Living, Cheree's responsibilities include developing operational efficiencies throughout the company's portfolio, including student, market-rate, and affordable housing. She directs the company's Regional Vice Presidents and Regional Property Managers in the process of acquisitions, dispositions, rehabs, lease-ups, maximizing income, expense control, and staff development.