Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta announced that it has appointed three new members to its Affordable Housing Advisory Council.

New members:

Fred Dodson, Jr. is chief operating officer and executive vice president of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, Inc., where he manages the organization’s corporate operations and has managed its multifamily real estate development financing activities. Before joining the Housing Partnership in 1997, Dodson gained experience directing the Hospitality House of Boone, North Carolina homeless shelter as well as the New River Valley Habitat for Humanity Affiliate and the Montgomery County Community Shelter, both located in Virginia. Mr. Dodson earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Appalachian State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Marcia J. Griffin is founder and president of HomeFree-USA, a leading HUD-approved homeownership development, foreclosure intervention, and financial coaching organization. Under her leadership, HomeFree-USA has helped more than 23,000 families purchase their first home. The organization also enjoys a zero percent foreclosure rate among families that have participated in the organization’s pre- and post-purchase guidance programs. Ms. Griffin is a member of the Freddie Mac Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Ocwen Financial Community Advisory Council, America’s Homeowner Alliance Advisory Board, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation Steering Committee, the Mortgage Bankers Association Advisory Council, and a founding supporter of the Nationstar National Housing Resource center. Ms. Griffin earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Fisk University and a Master of Business Administration from Howard University.

Laura D. Lafayette is the chief executive officer of the Richmond Association of REALTORS and the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service—two organizations that serve the over 5,000 REALTORS^® in Central Virginia. In addition, she serves as the executive director of the Partnership for Housing Affordability. Within the broader community, Ms. Lafayette serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Housing Commission. She is the vice chair of the statewide nonprofit Housing Virginia; the vice chair of the board of Homeward; the founding chair of the board of the Maggie L. Walker Community Land Trust; the immediate past chair of the board of the Better Housing Coalition; and serves on the board of directors of SwimRVA. Ms. Lafayette earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion from the College of William and Mary and pursued post-graduate work at Yale Divinity School and the University of Virginia.