STAFF

Philip A. Smith is President of Avalon Associates, Inc. In September 1983, Philip acquired the Planning and Community Development Division of Crandell Associates, P.C. and created Avalon Associates, Inc. Prior to becoming Avalon’s President, Philip was the Director of that division for Crandell. In that capacity, Philip coordinated community development activities for municipal clients and private developers and was responsible for the design and implementation of projects using various grant and loan programs.

From 1977 to 1978, Philip was a Project Planner for the Institute on Man and Sciences in Rensselaerville, New York, where he assisted with a HUD Innovative Projects Grant called “Neighborhood Preservation Support Systems” for the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs.

Philip was also a Senior Planner for the City of Troy between 1971 and 1977. He helped design the first local community development program including neighborhood-based citizen participation activities, implementation of neighborhood and park improvement projects, development of applications for HUD-CDBG funding, and monitoring and reporting procedures for local community development activities.

JIM THATCHER, Senior Associate-

Jim is a Senior Associate in charge of design, funding, and implementation of housing and community development activities. In addition, Jim is responsible for strategic planning related to community development initiatives, brownfields redevelopment and financing programs, and other public facility and affordable housing ventures.

Prior to his work with Avalon Associates, Jim was a Senior Legislative and Policy Associate for the National Council of State Housing Agencies in Washington, D.C. Jim acted as a federal liaison with state housing finance agencies to conduct analysis and draft legislative materials to assist with national affordable housing lobbying campaigns. While in Washington, Jim was the lead program and policy expert for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Mortgage Revenue Bond, and HOME programs on behalf of state housing finance agencies. Jim has a graduate degree in public administration from Cornell University.

LISA WILLIAMSON, Office Manager-

Lisa has been working with Avalon Associates since August 2005. She is our bookkeeper, office manager, and she handles daily project coordination activities for the City of Glens Falls Housing Rehabilitation Programs.