Award Recognizes Rising Stars in the Affordable Housing Industry
Luan Nguyen, Asset Stabilization Expert at Cinnaire, has been named a 2021 Affordable Housing Finance (AHF) Young Leader. AHF’s Young Leader Award was established in 2008 to celebrate and support the next generation of difference makers working in the affordable housing industry. The Young Leaders program recognizes industry pioneers who represent the development, finance, service, and policy sides of the industry and have had an impact on the field in their own ways.
“Luan leads with integrity, respect, honesty and patience,” said Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire President and CEO. “He approaches life with a positive attitude and strong determination to meet his goals and is committed to making life better for vulnerable populations and to serving as a role model for his daughter. Luan is a strong leader and change maker positively impacting the affordable housing industry. We appreciate Affordable Housing Finance for recognizing Luan as a Young Leader.”
Luan and his family immigrated to America from Vietnam when he was just two years old. As immigrants who couldn’t speak English, the Nguyen family struggled to secure employment, housing, and healthcare. Luan credits mission-driven organizations and individuals with assisting his family in obtaining housing stability, jobs and resources allowing them to achieve economic security and raise their family in an environment where the children could thrive. He is deeply appreciative of the support his family received and is committed to living his life to give back to people in special circumstances.
Luan’s career in the real estate industry began in 2011 when he joined Independent Bank as Commercial Credit Analyst. In that position he was responsible for underwriting real estate loans and performing credit functions. He joined Cinnaire in 2015 as Assistant Asset Manager and has been promoted several times, most recently to Asset Stabilization Expert. Luan was instrumental in the development of Cinnaire Cares, an employee driven initiative that provides our team members an opportunity to support communities and community organizations financially and through direct service activities. He also recently helped to establish Cinnaire’s Resident Rental Relief Fund, a program providing financial assistance to families facing hardship and struggling to pay rent as a result of Covid-19.
Luan is a continuous learner and master of his craft, leading and facilitating conversations nationally at conferences and events on the industry’s trends, issues, and best practices. He has been a speaker for the National Institute for Professional and Executive Development (IPED), Building Michigan Communities Conference, Consortium for Housing and Asset Management (CHAM), the National Council of Housing Market Analysts, Affordable Housing Association of Indiana Conferences, and he leads industry roundtables for the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF). His engagement is reflected in his roles on the Board of Directors, Executive, QAP Taskforce and Finance Committees for the Community and Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM). Luan serves as Co-Chair of the NASLEF Emerging Leaders Group – a leader inspiring other young leaders – and is tasked with engaging a national cohort of industry up-and-comers.
In 2017, Luan was a recipient of a Lansing Chamber of Commerce Ten over the Next Ten award, which recognizes Lansing’s best and brightest young professionals. He serves on the Junior Achievement of Mid-Michigan Advisory Board, where he volunteers his time sharing his expertise to inspire and educate students age kindergarten – 12th grade.
The 2021 AHF Young Leaders will be recognized at AHF Live: The 2021 Affordable Housing Developers Summit and are featured in the September/October Leadership Issue of Affordable Housing Finance.
