ESCAMBIA HFA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Administration
Ms. Walls joined the ECHFA in December 2019. Prior to her joining ECHFA, Ms. Walls spent 12 years in banking and finance, including Bank of America Home Loans, University Lending Group and Crescent Bank & Trust. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with concentration in Finance and is currently pursuing her MBA in Project Management from Columbia Southern University. Ms. Walls is a member of the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, Government Finance Officers Association, Florida Government Finance Officers Association, and serves, on the Board for the Panhandle Chapter of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association. You can contact Amanda Walls at: amanda.walls@escambiahfa.com.
Ms. Martinez joined the ECHFA in September 2021. Prior to joining, she worked with Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, a regional CPA firm, for fourteen years. Ms. Martinez received a B.S.B.A. in Professional Accountancy from the University of West Florida. Ms. Martinez is a member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association, Panhandle Chapter of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association, Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, and National Association of Housing Finance Agencies. You can contact Diane Martinez at: diane.martinez@escambiahfa.com.
Ms. Jones joined the ECHFA in May 2006. Prior to joining, she worked as the office manager at an acoustical ceiling and drywall business in Pensacola, FL. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in accounting from the University of West Florida and an Associates of Arts degree from Pensacola Junior College. Ms. Jones is a member of the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, the National Association of Housing Finance Agencies, the Florida Government Finance Officers Association and the Florida Records Management Association. You can contact Fran Jones at: fran.jones@escambiahfa.com.
Mr. Gant, Esquire, has counseled and represented individuals, small businesses, numerous churches, and non-profits since 1984. He is a graduate of University of Florida and Howard University School of Law with degrees in Political Science and Juris Doctorate, respectively. He is also a member of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association and Charles Wilson Bar Association. Mr. Gant's term expires July 31, 2025. You may contact Mr. Gant at Fred.Gant@escambiahfa.com.
Ms. Johnson joined the ECHFA in June 2021. Prior to her service with the ECHFA, she worked at McSwain Engineering for 23 years. Ms. Johnson is a member of Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies. You can contact Kathy Johnson at: kathy.johnson@escambiahfa.com.
Ms. Bernau joined the ECHFA in September 2018 and became the Executive Director in October 2021. Prior to her service with the ECHFA, she worked in the Office of the General Counsel and UWF Business Enterprises, Inc., at the University of West Florida and in the Office of the Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. She earned her B.A. from the University of West Florida and her Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law. Ms. Bernau is a member of the Florida Bar, Florida Government Finance Officers Association, Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, Escambia/Santa Rosa Bar Association, Northwest Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Society for Human Resource Management, and IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay area. You can contact Lisa Bernau at: lisa.bernau@escambiahfa.com.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Vice - President of Commercial Real Estate Lending With Hancock National Bank
Mr. Maloy is Vice-President of Commercial Real Estate Lending with Hancock National Bank and has more than 28 years of experience in banking and finance. He is a graduate of the University of West Florida with degrees in management and marketing. Mr. Maloy has served on a number of community and professional organizations such as Foundation for Excellence in Education, NAIOP, Leadership Pensacola, Clean and Green and Escambia County Competency Board. He is also a member of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies and the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities. Mr. Maloy's term expires July 31, 2026. You can contact Robert Maloy at robert.maloy@escambiahfa.com.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair of the Board
Mr. Ward is a retired civil engineer with Southern Land Concepts, a firm he founded in 1976. Mr. Ward attended Pensacola Junior College and the University of South Alabama earning a B.S. in civil engineering. He is a licensed engineer in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida as well as a licensed surveyor in Alabama. He is a member of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors, the Alabama Pecan Growers Association and the American Coach Association. Mr. Ward's term expires July 31, 2024. You may contact Robert Ward at robert.ward@escambiahfa.com.
Ms. Ward has been a real estate broker since 1980. Ms. Ward created her own company in 1984. In addition to being a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), holding the designation of Community Association Management, she is also listed in Who's Who in International Business. She has been a member of the Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board since 1991, serving as chairman in 1997 and 1998. Professionally, she has been very active with the local and state Realtor's associations. She was chosen Realtor of the Year in 1993, and served as president of the Pensacola Association of Realtors in 1999. She served as chairman of the Florida Association of Realtors' Property Management Council and as vice president of the Association's District 9 in 2001. Ms. Ward is also a member of both the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies and the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities. Her Board term is for four years, and her term expires 2027. You may contact Sandra Ward at sandra.ward@escambiahfa.com.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Executive Director
- Member of the Board
Shirley Henderson is the Deputy Executive Director/ Director Social Services for Area Housing Commission (AHC), the local Public Housing Agency that house no to low income individuals and families. She has been affiliated with AHC for more than 15 years, as a Commissioner and Chairman of the Board. Mrs. Henderson has served on the board of several community and professional organizations. She is also a member of both the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies and the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities. She is a 1997 graduate of Leadership Pensacola. Her Board term is for four years, and her term expires 2027. You can contact Shirley Henderson at shirley.henderson@escambiahfa.com.