McCormack Baron Ragan team members have broad experience in housing development, finance and management. Our multi-disciplinary team approach to development is unique in the industry and results in the highest quality product for our clients and partners.

 


McCormack Baron Ragan team members have experience in every facet of residential property management, and a wide range of property types. We manage a vast in-house portfolio and fee-manage for major housing developers. Our committed and knowledgeable management team successfully blends business acumen with a commitment to resident and community needs.

McCormack Baron Ragan has built its organization around functional divisions. A centralized support system with decentralized operations combines to create a highly effective structure, creating opportunities for nationwide purchasing, coordinated capital improvement and maintenance programs, accounting oversight, and a quality in-house IT department. As a result MBR provides unmatched customer service at every level, from site office to headquarters.





Richard D. Baron
Co-founder, Chairman and CEO
Richard Baron is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of McCormack Baron Salazar in St. Louis, Missouri, a firm specializing in the development and management of mixed-income communities with an emphasis on large-scale redevelopment projects in central city locations.  Since the company began in 1973, it has developed 124 projects in 33 cities with development costs in excess of $1.8 billion which includes more than 13,895 residential units and one million square feet of commercial space.  The firm’s management portfolio includes 14,970 residential units.

In October 2004, Richard Baron received The Urban Land Institute J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.  The Nichols Prize was established by the Nichols family in 2000 to recognize individuals whose career has demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of responsible development.  Mr. Baron is the fifth recipient of this prestigious award.

Mr. Baron serves on the Executive Committee of the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, and on the Boards of St. Louis Downtown Partnership, Downtown Now!, and The Center of Contemporary Arts (COCA).  He is also on the Board of Trustees at St. Louis University.  He is a past-board member of John Burroughs School and a past-member of Washington University's George Warren Brown School of Social Work National Council.

He currently is on the Advisory Board for the Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy of The Brookings Institution, and is an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Mr. Baron is the founder and developer of The Center of Creative Arts (COCA), in University City, Missouri, a community-based visual and performing arts center that serves more than 50,000 children annually.  Mr. Baron currently serves as the co-chairman of the Vashon Education Compact which targets 7 low-performing public schools in the City of St. Louis for major transformation.

Mr. Baron is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds a masters degree in political science from the University of California-Berkeley and a law degree from the University of Michigan.  Mr. Baron has been awarded honorary degrees from Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio and from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.





Alan J. Ragan
President
Mr. Ragan has full profit and loss responsibility for MBR. He oversees daily operations of the 14,970-unit portfolio, located throughout 16 states. Mr. Ragan has more than 30 years of property management, financing and acquisition experience. Mr. Ragan has served as a board member of the Ohio Assisted Living Association and as a property management advisor to private and not-for-profit groups. He assisted the State of Ohio in preparing a Compliance Manual for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Mr. Ragan has a successful record in turning around troubled and under-performing properties. Prior to his association with McCormack Baron Ragan in 1996, Mr. Ragan was the president of a large Midwestern property management firm with a multi-state portfolio. Mr. Ragan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Property Management from California Polytechnic State University.

 


Claudia G. Brodie
Vice President
As a divisional Vice President, Ms. Brodie oversees a portion of the company’s portfolio. Her division includes market-rate, tax-credit and subsidized units, including public housing. During her more than 25-year tenure with the company, Ms. Brodie has been involved in property management, development and marketing activities, as well as grant and proposal writing efforts. She coordinates with McCormack Baron Salazar and Urban Strategies team members on both predevelopment and development activities in order to create management policies that will effectively facilitate community revitalization. Ms. Brodie also works with several community-based organizations on property management issues. She is a member of the Missouri and the Illinois Bar Associations, the Metropolitan St. Louis Bar Association, and is the past president of the St. Louis Apartment Association. Ms. Brodie holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Washington University in Saint Louis and received her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.




 

Robyn A. Wilhite
Vice President Accounting/Compliance
Ms. Wilhite oversees the Property Management Accounting Department. In this roll she is responsible for the receipts, disbursements and financial statements as well as the financial reporting requirements. Ms. Wilhite also works with the President of MBR to monitor changes in Section 42 policy. Ms. Wilhite also oversees the Training Department the Training Department which is responsible for trains all Property Management personnel on the proper usage of our operations software. Ms. Wilhite joined McCormack Baron Ragan in 1997 with more than seven years of public accounting experience in auditing and tax. She worked for six years in the private sector in leasing and commercial real estate. Ms Wilhite serves on the board of a non-profit housing organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University) and is a Certified Public Accountant.



 

Aaron N. Swain
Vice President
Mr. Swain oversees a segment of the company’s management portfolio. Most units receive some type of government assistance, including HUD mortgage insurance, project-based Section 8, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, and public housing. In addition, he develops and coordinates management policies in an effort to improve management of sites with unique challenges. Mr. Swain has more than nearly 20 years of experience in real estate appraisal and property management of both residential and commercial properties.

Prior to joining McCormack Baron Ragan in 1998, Mr. Swain served as Director of Operations for a Midwestern property management firm with a multi-state portfolio. Mr. Swain has completed course work through the Institute of Real Estate Management, the Institute of Real Estate Appraisal, the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers, the National Center for Housing Management, and a host of other housing and management related seminars and training. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management/Real Estate from Morehouse College. Mr. Swain currently volunteers on several boards of trustees and directors, focusing on at-risk youth and affordable housing initiatives.



 

Lisa Beffa
Vice President
Ms. Beffa oversees a segment of the company’s management portfolio. She has over 20 years of experience in residential property management. Her portfolio is comprised of Market Rate, Low Income Tax Credit, Project Based Section 8 as well as Public Housing. Prior to joining McCormack Baron Ragan, Ms. Beffa held management positions at property management companies in St. Louis and Orlando. Ms. Beffa holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Telecommunications from the University of Florida. She has a Certification in Apartment Management (CAM) and has been certified as an Occupancy Specialist (COS).



 

Linda Veregin
Vice President
Ms. Veregin oversees a segment of the company’s management portfolio. She joined McCormack Baron Ragan in 2003 and has more than 15 years of experience in commercial and residential property management. Ms. Veregin is a registered real estate broker in California, Oregon, Utah and Washington. She is also Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) from the National Association of Home Builders, she is a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) and she received the Real Property Administrator (RPA) designation from the Building Owners and Managers Association. Ms. Veregin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Baylor University.



 

Linda E. Heiney
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Heiney has been with McCormack Baron Salazar since 1985. She directs accounting and information technology functions. Her division is responsible for annual tax returns, financial statements, audits, budgeting, cash management, internal controls, HUD-insured mortgage processing, tax credits, cost certifications and not-for-profit reporting. Prior to her appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Heiney worked as job cost accountant, accounting manager, and controller for MBS. 

Ms. Heiney is a member of the National Association of Female Executives. She also volunteers for the Girl Scouts and as a St. Louis Regional Chamber of Growth Association tax preparer. Ms. Heiney holds a Certified Public Accountant Certificate. She is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University and holds a Master’s of Finance Degree from Saint Louis University.






Mary E. Long
Vice President of Human Resources
Ms. Long is responsible for the daily management and operations of the Human Resources department including payroll, benefits, safety, and health for McCormack Baron Salazar, McCormack Baron Ragan, and Urban Strategies. Using her broad range of experience with more than 25 years in human resources, Ms. Long develops, recommends, and administers human resource policies, procedures, and programs, and is the primary contact with the company’s labor counsel and outside government agencies. She addresses all legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting Human Resources functions (including OSHA, EEO, TEFRA, ERISA, Wage and Hour).

Prior to joining the company in 1998, Ms. Long held successive positions of responsibility in the manufacturing and government sector. She is an active member of several professional associations including Society for Human Resource Management, American Society for Training and Development, and Employers Group of California. Ms. Long holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Management from Fontbonne University.