Cinmarc & Associates L.L.C. (“Cinmarc”) was established in 2018 with its headquarters in Puerto Rico and is a multi-faceted firm with a focus on working with public housing agencies and local governments that desire to repurpose existing public housing assets or create new affordable housing developments for the purpose of redeveloping mixed-income affordable housing communities utilizing a variety of public/private funding sources.
Cinmarc brings over 50 years of senior-level U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), local government, and public housing executive director experience to the project. Employing this combined experience, Cinmarc can assist clients to create and realize their long-term vision of developing affordable housing as part of the process to transform underserved communities into communities of choice.
(“HUD”), local government, and public housing executive director experience to the project. Employing this combined experience, Cinmarc can assist clients to create and realize their long-term vision of developing affordable housing as part of the process to transform underserved communities into communities of choice.
CEO
Cristina A. Colon, Esq. is an attorney and the CEO of Cinmarc. Ms. Colon was born and raised
in Puerto Rico and is a Public Communications graduate from American University in
Washington, DC and an attorney licensed to practice in Florida, Washington D.C., and the
federal courts of the United States. Ms. Colon joined the Cinmarc team to aid in disaster
recovery efforts in Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria and Irma & acquired the Company in 2021.
Ms. Colon participated in the implementation of the Puerto Rico Disaster Recovery Plan on
behalf of Puerto Rico Department of Housing through her consulting efforts. Through Cinmarc,
Ms. Colon has put together a team that provides consulting services to housing agencies
throughout the United States including the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Tennessee.
Lead Associate
MaryAnn Russ has over 50 years’ experience working in public and assisted housing, including as HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Assisted Housing, Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, Executive Director of the Wilmington (DE) Housing Agency, Director of Training at the National Center for Housing Management, Principal Associate for Abott Associates, Housing Choice Voucher Director at the Houston Housing Authority, and most recently as the CEO and President of the Dallas Housing Authority, the largest housing agency in Texas. She returned to consulting in 2016.
Ms. Russ is a nationally recognized expert in all aspects of Public Housing, the Housing Choice Voucher program, and HUD-assisted housing, with particular emphasis on civil and disability rights in Federal Housing, project-based operations, asset management, housing policy, demolition and disposition of public housing, strategic planning, operating subsidy, property management, occupancy, management assessment, and training and technical assistance. She continues to provide policy guidance to housing agency professional associations and has been the principal author of a number of HUD Guidebooks and regulations.
Lead Associate
Mr. Bregon has over four decades of hands-on experience in the housing, community, and economic development fields. He has worked in local city government, national not-for-profits and as a senior executive in the federal government for over 30 years. In his federal government participation, Mr. Bregón has been the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Chief Administration Officer (CAO), Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary in the Office of Field Policy and Management, General Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Block Grant Assistance, Senior Vice-President for Community-Based Securities in the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Director of the Office of Economic Development and Empowerment Services and Deputy Senior Director in the Office of Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG).
As the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in the Office of Administration it was Mr. Bregón’s mission to effectively delivered administrative support and customer service nationwide to assist HUD employees in its Headquarters facility and 65 Regional and Field Offices in fulfilling the Department’s mission to build a stronger HUD, to help secure quality housing, end homelessness, strengthen communities and to level the playing field for all Americans. As HUD’s CAO, he was responsible for the Office of Facilities Management Services, which mission is to develop, coordinate, and implement policies and procedures concerning the protection of HUD personnel and the security of property at all locations (field and satellite offices) under the charge and control of the Department.
As the Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary in the Office of Field Policy and Management of HUD, Mr. Bregón was responsible for providing direction and oversight to the Department’s 10 Regional and 55 Field Offices. From 2002 till 2010, Mr. Bregón was the General Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Community Planning and Development (“CPD”) responsible for administering grant programs that help communities plan and finance their growth and development, increase their capacity to govern, and provide shelter and service for homeless people. Mr. Bregón assisted with the management of approximately 800 employees in over 40 field offices nationwide. Prior to that, Mr. Bregón was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Block Grants. In that capacity, Mr. Bregón was responsible for the oversight of the Community Development Block Grant Program (“CDBG”), the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program, Disaster Supplemental Appropriations, the HOME Program and the Office of Environment and Viability.
Mr. Bregón also served as the HUD’s Assistant Deputy Secretary for Disaster Policy and Response responsible for the oversight and coordination of the Department’s financial assistance team responsible for the recovery of Lower Manhattan – 911 Disaster, the Katrina, Rita and Wilma Hurricane Gulf Coast Disaster and the Midwest floods.
Lead Associate
Mr. Cintron retired from government service after a distinguished career in the field of housing and community development in which he served for close to forty years. During that time, Mr. Cintron held various senior executive level positions in federal, state, county, and city governments. In those roles, Mr. Cintron was afforded the opportunity to influence strategic public policy formulation at all levels. He was responsible for implementing said policies and producing impactful results for the constituencies he helped foster.
Mr. Cintron’s over 20-year HUD career concluded at the end of 2017, serving as the HUD lead for disaster relief efforts in Florida after Hurricane Irma caused a high level of damage in the state. Prior to that, he served as the Miami Field Office Director after being named to that post in March of 2015. Mr. Cintron’s other HUD service encompassed two years as the Regional Public Housing Director and an additional 14 years during which time he held positions as the Secretary’s Representative (Regional Director) for New York and New Jersey under the appointment of Secretary Henry Cisneros. Mr. Cintron also served as Field Office Director for the Florida State Office, Acting General Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing, Acting Director of Community Planning and Development of the Miami Field Office, and Development Coordinator for the Public and Indian Office of Miami. During this period, Mr. Cintron was appointed by Secretary Andrew Cuomo to serve as the “Change Agent” making Mr. Cintron the responsible party for the reorganization of the HUD’s Headquarters and field Office of Public Housing.
Prior to originally joining HUD, Mr. Cintron spent almost two decades working in the city of New York. During his time in New York, he always responded to many different challenges with commitment, creativity, and excellence.
Lead Associate
Marcus D. Goodson is a seasoned and experienced organizational leader, with over twenty years of chief executive and senior administrative leadership experience in the public sector. Mr. Goodson served in the dual roles of Executive Director of the City of Fort Myers, Florida Housing Authority from 2002 and as the Executive Director of the Lee County, North Fort Myers, Florida Housing Authority since 2010. Mr. Goodson currently serves on the Advisory Board of the BB&T and is a former board member of the Coalition of Affordable Housing and Redevelopment Officials.
Mr. Goodson began his career in government in 1990 as the City Planner for the City of Greenville, North Carolina. In 1993, he became the Community Development Administrator for the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. In 1997, Mr. Goodson assumed leadership of the Sanford, North Carolina Housing Authority as Executive Director, which he held until he became Executive Director in Fort Myers. Mr. Goodson served in the dual roles of Executive Director of the City of Fort Myers, Florida Housing Authority from 2002 and as the Executive Director of the Lee County, North Fort Myers, Florida Housing Authority since 2010.
Mr. Goodson managed government owned real estate assets of $100 million, annual budgets in excess of $32 million, and a staff of over 70 employees. Mr. Goodson used revolutionary thinking along with his understanding of government policy and rules and regulations, to navigate a challenging economic environment in his efforts to replace outdated housing units in the Fort Myers and Lee County area. Furthermore, Mr. Goodson completed new development projects in excess of $100 million.
Senior Associate
Gary Causey is the former HUD/Community Planning and Development (CPD) Jacksonville Field Office Director where he served in that capacity for thirteen years and CPD Program Manager for 14 years prior to becoming Director. Billions of federal dollars have been under his oversight through the Community Development Block Grant, HOME, Emergency Solutions Grants, Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS, homeless and special needs program, and disaster recovery funding over the past 27 years, benefitting many cities and counties across the State of Florida.
Throughout this period with HUD, he has also provided guidance and oversight to the State of Florida regarding funding received through HUD for the Small Cities CDBG, HOME, Disaster Recovery, and Neighborhood Stabilization programs and has resolved many challenges related to the unique aspects and nuances with associated with each of these programs, as well as numerous congressional appropriations of disaster and special/supplemental assistance.
Since leaving HUD, Mr. Causey has provided HUD technical assistance to entitlement grantees on CDBG, HOME, ESG and Disaster Recovery. More recently, he has also provided technical assistance related to CDBG and ESG COVID-19 program funding and helping grantees expeditiously allocate those critical pandemic relief funds. HUD has entrusted its CPD COVID-19 CARES Act FAQ website to Mr. Causey, who is responsible for making determinations regarding the questions on the use of CARES Act funding and waivers.