Gov. Malloy appoints two residents to Housing Finance Authority Board

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy has appointed three state residents to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). Kathleen Corbet of New Canaan, Nuala Droney of West Hartford and Richard Orr of West Hartford joined the board recently.
Over ten years, nearly $500 million will be invested to create and revitalize affordable housing units in the state and reverse the decades-long neglect that has caused some units to fall into such disrepair as to render them unlivable. In the short term, this investment is expected to create or retain 6,700 construction or related jobs in Connecticut.
"I've made it very clear that improving housing options is critical to Connecticut's economic recovery and quality of life," said Governor Malloy. "For decades we have let our housing stock languish—it is long since time we reverse that trend. Over the next decade will invest $300 million to rehabilitate neglected state housing and support affordable housing options for Connecticut's workforce, an investment which will also create thousands of construction jobs in the state. Kathleen, Nuala and Richard are an important addition to the CHFA team—which plays a vital role in meeting these goals."
"Kathleen, Nuala and Richard bring a wealth of experience in finance and law that complements the strengths of the current board. The Governor has an aggressive agenda for affordable housing in Connecticut and CHFA will benefit from the knowledge and commitment the new board members bring to bear on the hard work ahead," said Catherine Smith, Chairwoman of CHFA's board and DECD Commissioner.
Kathleen A. Corbet is a business entrepreneur with over 30 years of leadership experience in financial markets, information and technology.
She is the founder and principal of Cross Ridge Capital, LLC, a firm specializing in private equity investing and strategic consulting in the alternative energy and financial information industries. Corbet also recently co-founded Municipal Enterprise Solutions, LLC which provides consulting services in financial and operational best practices for municipalities and non-profit enterprises.
Nuala Droney is an attorney at Robinson & Cole LLP. As a member of the firm's litigation section, Ms. Droney focuses her practice on complex litigation in federal courts, including antitrust, patent, trade secret, trademark, unfair trade practices, fraud, and contract disputes. For the past two years, Connecticut Super Lawyers has named Ms. Droney a Rising Star in Business Litigation.
Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Droney served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alfred V. Covello, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut. Ms. Droney received her undergraduate degree from Yale College, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, and her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. She is a member of the bars of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Ms. Droney is a resident of West Hartford.
Richard F. Orr is the General Counsel of the University of Connecticut and the first person to hold that position since it was created in 2012. He is responsible for providing strategic legal advice and coordinating the delivery of legal services in all areas of law affecting the University.
Prior to joining UConn, Orr was Vice President and General Counsel of a regional architecture and engineering firm where he managed the purchase of the company by management from the founder and, subsequently, conversion of the company to an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). His private legal experience includes business, commercial and complex litigation matters as a partner with the Connecticut firm of Tyler Cooper & Alcorn and with the Washington, D.C. firm of Arnold & Porter.
Orr serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Legal Services, serves on the Board of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Advisory Council of CT-N television and the Board of the UConn Health Center Finance Corporation.