Alison Badgett became Executive Director of NYSAFAH in January 2010. Prior to joining NYSAFAH, Alison was Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor of New Jersey, where she focused on housing, land use and redevelopment issues. Previously, she was Executive Director of Homes for New Jersey, a coalition of developers, nonprofits and corporations promoting the production and preservation of affordable housing in New Jersey. She has also served as Executive Director of the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonprofit consortium of public and private leaders working to end homelessness in the Trenton, New Jersey area through public education and policy reform. Alison has a bachelor’s degree in Politics from Princeton University.

Tom Coté became NYSAFAH’s Assistant Director in June of 2011.  Tom joins NYSAFAH after holding the position of Director of Government Relations for the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, where he worked closely with legislators on policy issues for infrastructure and transportation development, as well as funding, construction, procurement, and small business matters.  Prior to that, Tom worked for the New York State Assembly in the office of Jonathan Bing as a Legislative Director, working with lobbyists, not-for-profits, trade associations and policy makers on issues of healthcare, housing and social reforms.  Tom has also held several posts on political campaigns for New York State Assembly and Senate, as well as United States Congress.  Tom holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric & Communication and Sociology from The University at Albany, as well as a Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a concentration in Not-For-Profit Management from The College of Saint Rose.

Elizabeth Rossi joined NYSAFAH as the Manager of Events and Membership in November 2003. Previously, she was an Acquisitions Associate at First Sterling Financial in Manhasset, New York. Prior to that, Elizabeth was the financial director of a residential and commercial real estate appraisal firm - Piccoli Coyle & Associates - where she reviewed commercial appraisals for banks, attorneys, and mortgage companies for end valuation determination. Elizabeth has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Finance and Banking from Adelphi University where she finished her final year after her tenure at SUNY Albany.

Alexandra Hanson joined NYSAFAH in November 2011 as Policy Associate. Her prior experience includes serving as Project Coordinator for the New York Public Interest Research Group, where she coordinated advocacy campaigns and lobbied for the organization’s legislative agenda.  She has also worked with the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club supporting capital planning efforts for the organization’s four East Village facilities and the CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities, where she developed a range of urban sustainability programs. Alexandra has a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Master of Urban Planning from Hunter College.

Barbara Gratz joined NYSAFAH as Executive Assistant in February 2011. She is also the Administrator of Events and Membership for Women in Housing and Finance, a position she has held since 2003.  From 2001 until 2008 Barbara was the Office Manager for Beth Cooper Lawrence Architect. Prior to 2001 she obtained an MFA in Theatre at Carnegie Mellon University, taught in and coordinated the curriculum for pre-college high school students during the summers, and was an Administrative Assistant in the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University.  She has a B.A., M.A. and M.F.A in Theatre.