NMHC’s Ada gets national award

Maria Lourdes S. Ada, executive director of the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. and the Commonwealth Development Authority, is the 2005 recipient of the M. Justin Herman Memorial Award.

The NMHC board of directors, through its chair, Manuel A. Sablan, made the announcement yesterday after receiving official notification that Ada has been chosen for the award.

The award is issued by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, a professional membership organization of more than 20,000 housing and community development agencies and associates throughout the United States and Insular Areas.

NAHRO’s mission is to create affordable housing and safe viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans, especially those of low-and moderate-income.

The M. Justin Herman Memorial Award is NAHRO’s highest and most prestigious award developed to honor exceptionally qualified persons who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of life through service in the field of housing or community development. The awards are based on extraordinary accomplishments and contributions.

Ada is the 2005 recipient; 2004 recipient was Kurt Creager, chief executive officer of the Vancouver Housing Authority of Vancouver, WA; the 2003 award went to Helen Sause, San Francisco, CA; 2002 recipient was Richard Y. Nelson of Montgomery County, Maryland; and the 2001 award went to John McEvoy, former executive director of National Council of State Housing Agencies from Washington, D.C.

Don Cameron, NAHRO’s executive committee chair, informed Ada that she will be presented the award at the 2005 Conference in Chicago, Illinois in October.

“The committee was much impressed with all that you have accomplished and the diversity of the portfolio that you have created,” Cameron stated in his message.

NAHRO will pay for her travel to the conference in Illinois.

Ada’s accomplishments are worthy of recognition and engendered the infusion of HUD funds to the Commonwealth to benefit the residents of Saipan, Rota and Tinian. She was instrumental in increasing the housing stock in the islands and saw through fruition the completion of many public facilities that have helped to diversify NMHC’s programs and leverage its limited funding resources.

Ada also worked for the infusion of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Commonwealth to help the struggling economy.

“The board, staff and management extend their congratulations to Ms. Ada for being the 2005 national recipient of NAHRO’s M. Justin Herman Memorial Award,” said NMHC board chair Sablan. (PR)