2025-2027 Candidate for NAHRO President: Sean Gilbert

Contact Information:

Sean Gilbert
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Housing Services
600 Sulphur Springs Road
Morristown TN 37815
Phone: 423 586-5115

Email: sgilbert@tvhstn.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sean.gilbert.10/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@HokieSean
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-gilbert-17aa62b4/

Campaign Statement

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth” by Muhammad Ali is the bedrock that I have tried to build my professional career on.  It is my duty as a housing professional to give back to an industry that has given so much to me.  I am honored to campaign for the position of NAHRO President.

I am a proven leader at the local, state, regional and national levels.  I understand the importance of the brick and mortar of our properties, but also that these properties create communities that have been underserved, underfunded and disenfranchised.  Whether it is working with the local community to bring educational opportunities to the kids in our communities or making sure that Pre-schools and day care are available on site I have placed an emphasis on providing opportunities to our families.

I grew up in a coal mining town in southern West Virginia on the Kentucky border. I quickly learned the values of hard work, faith, community and family.  This is where I learned the vision and values that are so important to me.  Together we will base my campaign on STEAM.  Steam was so important in the town where I was raised.  Steam was the energy that was used to power the trains that delivered the goods from and to this region.  Steam gives you energy, direction and power.  I plan to use this energy, direction and power to effectively lead NAHRO. 

Vision & Values Statement

Vision: 

NAHRO will achieve it’s Vision of “Thriving Communities with Affordable Homes for ALL” by utilizing the values below.  We will work collectively while utilizing our member knowledge to ensure that every community has access to the tools needed to grow and thrive.  Our steam will be used to build knowledge and capacity while engaging every stakeholder.

Values (STEAM):

Stewardship – To provide innovative development & management of human, technological & fiscal resources.

Transcending – To develop an affirming atmosphere for all NAHRO members that challenges our community to model respect, honesty and openness in a manner that values inclusion of everyone.

Engagement – To promote member involvement through the creation of educationally purposeful programs and experiences.

Advocate – To advocate for our organizations, partners & residents individually and collectively.

Member Development – To support the professional development of every NAHRO member

GET ON SEAN’(S)TEAM!!

Awards & Activities

Current NAHRO Senior Vice President

NAHRO Fellow

Co-Chair of NAHRO Conference Committee

Past President of SERC-NAHRO

Past President Kentucky Housing Association

Past Chair of SERC-NAHRO CR&D Committee

Five term member of NAHRO Board of Governors

Served on NAHRO Strategic Planning, BECT & Fellows Committees

Past NAHRO member of Housing America, LegNet, Member Services, Professional Development, CR&D, Conference Planning and Nominating & Election Committees.

Vice Chair of the TAHRA THARMT Board 2015- Present

Knoxville Knox County CAC Community Leadership 2016

East TN Foundation Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board 2013-2020

Area 3 Workforce Development Board 2015-2016

Named by HUD as Kentucky’s Outstanding Large Housing Agency in 2006

Member of the Kentucky Housing Association “Hall of Fame”

Winner of NAHRO’s 2017 Emerging Leader Award

Three-time Rotary Paul Harris Fellow

Morristown Hamblen Imagination Library Advisory Council

Hamblen County Ready By 6 Advisory Council

Endorsements

Regional Endorsements:

MARC NAHRO

NERC NAHRO

NCRC NAHRO

PNRC NAHRO

PSWRC NAHRO

SERC NAHRO

State Chapter Endorsements:
Tennessee Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (TAHRA)
Connecticut NAHRO (CONN-NAHRO)
Virginia Associations of Housing & Community Development Officials (VAHCDO)
Massachusetts NAHRO (MASS NAHRO)
Texas NAHRO