JFRE Legends & Leaders

Panelists: Tim Henkel, Kelvin Jeremiah, Milton Pratt
Moderator: Phil Balderston

About the Breakout: Experts will discuss strategies for developing and preserving housing that is accessible to low- and middle-income residents. The conversation will focus on overcoming financial, policy, and community challenges to create more equitable and sustainable housing solutions.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Tim Henkel

Timothy I. Henkel is the chief executive officer (CEO) and principal of Pennrose. As CEO, he provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for nearly 520 Pennrose employees who support development and management activities in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Henkel began his career at Pennrose in 1999, became a principal in 2008, and was named president in 2022.

Henkel currently serves on the boards of the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association and New Jersey Apartment Association. He is an alumni board member of the William E. Simon School of Business and serves on the board of Citizens Housing Planning Council in New York City. He previously served on the boards of Penn Reach and Triple C Housing, two nonprofits dedicated to helping people with special needs find homes and services. He holds a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Bucknell University and a M.B.A from William E. Simon School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester.

Kelvin Jeremiah

Since 2013, Kelvin A. Jeremiah has served as president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), the fourth largest housing authority in the country and the largest provider of affordable housing in Pennsylvania. 

His tenure at PHA has been marked by an intensive focus on preserving and expanding the supply of affordable housing, rebuilding Philadelphia’s distressed neighborhoods, and expanding jobs, educational opportunities, and services to neighborhood residents.

Jeremiah recently launched the $3.8 billion “Opening Doors” initiative with the goal of preserving or expanding 20,000 housing units across the City of Philadelphia.  He previously served as inspector general for the New York City Housing Authority and has held various positions in the public and private sectors. A native of Grenada, he emigrated to the United States as a teenager where he earned multiple degrees including a Master of Public Administration. Among his numerous honors are an honorary doctorate awarded by Cheyney University.

Milton Pratt

Milton R. Pratt, Jr. serves as executive vice president of development for The Michaels Organization. In this role, he focuses on pipeline growth and asset performance through relationships with various governmental and industry groups, and works closely with Michaels’ regional development teams to generate opportunities. Prior to joining the Michaels Organization in 2005, Pratt served as the Region Ill regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Pratt currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, the Board of Directors for Philabundence, and he is a past officer of The National Association of Housing and Rehabilitation Officials. He has served on the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Home Builders, Neighborhoods Now, and the Board of Trustees for West Chester University Foundation. Pratt earned his B.A. in public administration with a concentration in urban planning from West Chester University. He also received his Public Housing Managers Certification from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Phil Balderston

Philip Balderston is the founder and chief executive officer of Odin Properties, a diversified, regional real estate investment and management firm. Before founding Odin, Balderston was the director of acquisitions and finance at Philadelphia-based Tower Investments Inc., where he was responsible for financing various development projects and asset management. Before joining Tower, he was an acquisition and development analyst at The KOR Group in Los Angeles. He also held an analyst and asset management position at Amerimar Enterprises in Philadelphia.

Balderston has a profound understanding of real estate finance and economics, economic cycles and community development, having completed over $600 million of real estate transactions as a principal in his 20-plus-year career. Balderston is a graduate of the William Penn Charter School in East Falls and holds a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a degree in real estate finance and urban studies from the Wharton School.