OUR TEAM
PHIL ELLEN
Executive Director
Phil Ellen founded Georgia Communities, Inc. in 2015 with a vision for catalyzing targeted, place-based strategies for underserved communities in Georgia. Phil brings extensive experience in affordable housing finance and development, having directed the successful development and ownership of 35 affordable properties across the Southeast since 2002. Through Phil's leadership, more than 1,300 of critically needed workforce and senior homes have been delivered using a range of funding programs, including Housing Tax Credits, the Home Investment Partnership Program, Affordable Housing Program funds, and funding through the Federal Home Loan Bank. ​
JOE COLLUMS
Vice President
Joe Collums joined Georgia Communities with an extensive background in affordable housing and public-private partnership deal structuring. Joe helped administer the housing tax credit program at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, where he served as its Senior Policy Analyst and underwriter of multifamily projects. After his time at DCA, Joe joined Brailsford & Dunlavey Inc., where he advised universities in the execution of public-private partnership (P3) structures totaling more than $500 million in on-campus capital improvements.
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Joe received a Masters in City & Regional Planning from Georgia Tech.
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JESS HOFER
Project Manager
​​Jessica Hofer joined Georgia Communities with extensive experience in project management, process improvement, and operational efficiency. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Jessica has led large-scale system implementations and business transformation initiatives for a leading digital healthcare company. Prior to that, she managed multiple project teams and process improvement efforts with one of the nation’s largest management consulting firms.
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering with a Minor in Business Administration from Clemson University.
