Leadership

Northa Linzer serves as Vice President of Property Management Operations for GCHP Management LLC, overseeing strategy, compliance, and performance across 46 properties and more than 3,400 affordable housing units. With over a decade of experience in affordable housing, she brings deep expertise in HUD compliance, LIHTC programs, and regulatory oversight.

Prior to her current role, Ms. Linzer was a Regional Property Manager and HUD Specialist, where she led compliance reviews, budget planning, and financial reporting for complex, multilayered portfolios. She has also successfully navigated Fair Housing evaluations, VAWA grievances, and Reasonable Accommodation requests.

Ms. Linzer holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Beth Miles is President of GCHP Management LLC, where she leads a growing portfolio of affordable housing communities across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. Since joining GCHP Management in 2017, she has expanded operations from 27 properties with 1,172 units to 46 properties with over 3,400 units. Under her leadership, GCHP Management has introduced strategic initiatives including comprehensive staff training, performance-based incentives, and expanded third-party management services.

With 37 years in the multifamily housing industry, Ms. Miles brings deep expertise in asset management, regulatory compliance, and operational strategy. She began her career in Central New York and has held key leadership positions in Louisiana, including a regional executive role where she oversaw 4,500 units across four states.

Ms. Miles is a licensed real estate broker and holds multiple industry certifications.

Gretchen Edinburgh, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, has been with Gulf Coast Housing Partnership since March 2007. Before joining GCHP, Ms. Edinburgh worked for Freddie Mac as Expanding Markets Manager for the southeast region, responsible for developing new public-private opportunities for Freddie Mac customers in the Gulf Opportunity Zone. Prior to her work with Freddie Mac, Ms. Edinburgh served as the director of operations and compliance for The Finance Authority of New Orleans where she oversaw the origination of $350,000,000 in mortgage revenue bond programs that resulted in the purchase of over 5,000 affordable homes in New Orleans. Prior to her 10-year tenure at F.A.N.O., she worked in the banking industry in California and Louisiana.

Ms. Edinburgh has a degree in business management from Northwood University. She is also a graduate of the Residential Underwriting University and the School of Mortgage Banking – professional coursework operated by the Mortgage Bankers Association – and has real estate professional designations.

Kevin Krejci serves as Chief Capitalization Officer at GCHP. He has 23 years of experience in community development finance and deployment. As GCHP’s Chief Capitalization Officer, Mr. Krejci leads the corporate capital department, responsible for raising and deploying enterprise-level concessionary capital for mission-aligned transactions in low-income communities (LICs) that GCHP serves. Mr. Krejci oversees capital raising and lending activities for GCHP’s $39 million community loan fund, which provides flexible, low-cost financing for pre-development, acquisition, bridge, and permanent financing for high-impact projects in LICs.

Before joining GCHP in 2015, Mr. Krejci served as Deputy Director for Project Homecoming, Inc., a nonprofit rebuilding agency established following Hurricane Katrina. At Project Homecoming, he developed and led programs that expanded the agency’s impact, including initiatives for homeownership creation, workforce development, youth vocational construction training, and affordable rental housing. During his tenure, Project Homecoming rebuilt over 250 homes for low-income families in the New Orleans area.

Mr. Krejci holds a BS in Computer Science from Marquette University, a Graduate Certificate in Construction Management from the University of Washington, an MBA from Tulane University, and a Master of Finance from Tulane University.

Tom Champion joined the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership as the Director of Real Estate Development in April 2012. Prior to joining GCHP, Mr. Champion worked with Alabama based Summit Housing Partners, LLC as the Senior Development Officer and Colonial Commercial Development, LLC as the Director of Development. Mr. Champion’s expertise includes all facets of market rate and affordable multi-family development, finance and management. In addition to directly developing over 3,200 housing units, his professional background includes employment with Credit Suisse where he was responsible for structuring and closing over $125 million in tax credit equity investments for the development of affordable housing.

Mr. Champion holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communications from Auburn University and a Management Certificate from Auburn University Montgomery. He serves on the Montgomery YMCA Camp Chandler Board of Directors and was a past chair of the YMCA Partners with Youth Campaign. In addition, he has served on the Project Nehemiah Community Programs Board and First Baptist Church of Montgomery Finance Committee. Mr. Champion’s professional affiliations include the Alabama Affordable Housing Association, the Mississippi Association of Affordable Housing Providers and the Louisiana Association of Affordable Housing Providers.

Yvette Cola serves as Chief Administrative Officer of GCHP where she oversees the organization’s asset management, human resources, and administrative operations. Since joining GCHP in 2017, she has played a central role in managing internal systems, supporting executive leadership, and coordinating special projects and board activities.

Ms. Cola brings more than 25 years of experience in banking and asset management, having led commercial real estate relationships across Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Florida. Her expertise includes structuring transactions involving 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), along with a strong background in corporate banking, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations, residential mortgage lending, and community development finance.

She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Finance from the University of New Orleans. She also holds professional certifications in housing and asset management, with advanced training in community development finance and compliance

Yvette is dedicated to community service, is actively involved in local service organizations, and has served on a variety of boards

Kathleen(“Kathy”)F. LabordeAs Gulf Coast Housing Partnership’s President and CEO Kathy Laborde provides overall leadership to GCHP, overseeing the organization’s project pipeline, financing, construction, asset management, and property management activities. Over the course of her career, Ms. Laborde has developed more than 7,000 affordable and market-rate homes and commercial and community facilities both directly and in partnership with local non-profits, city and state government, and the private sector. Prior to joining Gulf Coast Housing Partnership in 2006, Ms. Laborde operated Kaliope, LLC, a real estate development and consulting company that she established in 1999. Previously, she was founder and executive director of the first bank-owned community development corporation in Louisiana. Before settling in Louisiana, Ms. Laborde held a variety of management positions with private-sector real estate developers in Missouri and North Carolina. Ms. Laborde holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and an MBA from Tulane University. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Housing Partnership Network, Louisiana Land Trust, Regional Community Finance, Mississippi Association of Affordable Housing Providers, the Louisiana Association of Affordable Housing Providers, and the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge. She is a 2018 recipient of JPMorgan Chase & Co’s 300 for 300 New Orleans Tricentennial “12 Icons for New Orleans” Award and a past recipient of the YWCA’s Role Model Award.