Meet the Team

Mari Warren

Assistant & Producer

Madelyn Peay

Chief Executive Officer

Awanata Bridgeforth, Advisor

Area of expertise: Marketing and Project Management

Dr. Michael Threatt, DPA, Advisor

Area of expertise: Section 8 Programing, PHA Operations, Podcaster

Lee Alford, Advisor

Area of expertise: Affordable housing redevelopment

  • Chief Executive Officer

    Madelyn Peay (pronounced Pay) is a dynamic leader with vast experience and success in providing solutions to complex housing problems. Early in her career, she learned the value of community and collaboration, leveraging her relationship-building skills to become an expert in her field while fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and communication among her team. Madelyn has served as a trusted advisor in every role, effectively partnering with leaders, board members, community partners, and staff to drive change and promote continuous improvement.

    Ms. Peay is currently the Managing Partner of Peay United, Inc., a business she launched with her husband in 2017. In this capacity, she manages a growing portfolio of apartment rentals and clients. Madelyn is also Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity (RMHFH). Habitat for Humanity works in more than 70 countries– and has helped more than 39 million people improve their living conditions since 1976. Our advocacy efforts focus on policy reform to remove systemic barriers preventing low-income and historically underserved families from accessing adequate, affordable housing.

    Madelyn previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Hopewell, VA; here, she focused on developing and executing strategic programs, including the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher, Veteran Assisted Supportive Housing, and Capital Fund programs. She also served as the 504 Coordinator and Hearing Officer during this time.

    Before joining HRHA, Madelyn held various real estate, property management, and housing development roles at the Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Jefferson County Assisted Housing Corporation, Walkwook Properties, and PRG Real Estate Management with previous military experience in the US Army National Guard.

    Over her career, Ms. Peay has built award-winning, high-performing teams and has driven successful programs that promote healthier and safer neighborhoods. She is highly regarded as a community leader and has worked diligently to turn around operations and enhance employee morale. She is known for restructuring teams and organizations to highlight individual talents and capitalize on cost-saving opportunities. She has also mentored multiple direct reports to achieve success and earn high-level promotions.

    Madelyn’s acute business acumen and ability to make a measurable impact have contributed to her success. In addition to her passion for people and commitment to excellence, she is an outgoing and philanthropic individual with a warm demeanor and world-class attitude. She holds an MBA from Marylhurst University and a bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University. She has received multiple awards and recognition throughout her career and has sat on several Boards that support her passion for communities and affordable housing

  • Administrative Assistant & Podcast Producer

    Born and raised in southern California, Mari is an experienced administrative assistant and digital content creator. With a background in art, social media marketing, and graphic design, Mari enjoys making dynamic content and continuing to grow the Peay United and Public Housing Information Authority (PHIA) community online.

    Mari is the producer and editor of the PHIA Podcast, and develops weekly content across Peay United platforms. She also develops the Wealth Building Table and PHIA newsletters.

    Mari also has an educational background in the fields of Sociology and Marriage & Family Therapy - she believes in working to uplift others, and supporting an environment of growth and community support.

  • Advisor - Area of Expertise: Marketing and Project Management

    Awanata Bridgeforth is an experienced Marketing, Product & Project Management professional with progressive experience across a broad range of Marketing and IT functions in diverse industries, such as: Fintech, Automotive, Industrial, Healthcare and Technology.

    Awanata has successfully driven product strategy for some of the top Fortune 500 companies in the nation while working with teams across the globe. Currently, she is a Senior Advisor, Product Management for Dell Technologies on the primary data management team.

    Awanata is passionate about giving back to others and serving her community. She served in various leadership positions while being an active member of the Junior League of Richmond. This includes, but not limited to, serving as committee chair of the Diversity & Inclusion committee and a 2-year term as a Board Member at Large. She proudly serves as the Women's Ministry lead at Revival Fire Outreach Center, in Tappahannock, VA.

    She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Old Dominion University and her MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Awanata was born in Washington D.C and raised in Richmond, VA where she currently lives with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family.

  • Advisor - Area of Expertise: Section 8 Program, PHA Operations, Nonprofit Management, Community Development, Real Estate, Section 8 Landlord Coaching, Podcaster

    Dr. Michael C. Threatt is the principal & CEO of Elevate Housing Solutions, LLC, and Acting CEO/ COO with Dothan Housing. He is a speaker, podcaster, author, developer, landlord, real estate investor, coach, guest lecturer, housing professional, and licensed REALTOR® with Community 1st Real Estate in Dothan, AL.

    Michael is the author of the game-changing book on the Section 8 Program, The Price of Bureaucracy: Removing Section 8 Landlord Pain Points through the Investment in Technology. The author is not only a 17-year veteran of the Section 8 Program but also holds a doctorate in public administration (DPA) from West Chester University (WCU), with a dissertation on landlords in the Section 8 Program. The release of this book is a culmination of his research and his career dedicated to working within the real estate industry's public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

    Furthermore, Michael wrote Dothan Housing’s (DH’s) Moving to Work (MTW) Landlord Incentives Cohort #3 application, supplemental plan, and has been charged with its implementation. He wrote and has started to implement DH’s Purpose 2025: FY 2022-2024 three year strategic plan. Additionally, Michael has implemented his Attract, Recruit, & Retain Landlord model at DH.

    Through evidence-based education, Michael enjoys changing perceptions and preconceived notions regarding the Section 8 Program. Many people call themselves industry leaders, but few can claim Michael's diligence and academic rigor. He is among the best and brightest thought leaders to hit the scene in recent years.

    Michael is known as The Section 8 Landlord Coach™ and is a subject matter expert (SME) in real estate investment strategies, particularly in landlord matters for the Section 8 program. He uses his platform to provide landlords with real estate tips to increase positive cash flow and maximize their return on investment.

    Michael has also been featured in numerous online and print magazines—like the 2023 Beyond Exclamation’s Top 10 Real Estate Leaders Leading the Way in 2023, the 2022 Top 100 People in Real Estate Magazine, and the cover feature for Exeleon Magazine’s 2022 Influential Leaders in Real Estate, and 2019 Rural Leader Magazine. He has also written for the following online publications: PA Times.com, New Cities.com, and Business Journal Leadership Trust.

    In 2019, he won the Executive Director of the Year Award for implementing his Housing Authority of Tomorrow model. Since 2019, under his leadership and coaching, he has won two Website of the Year Awards (2019, 2022), one Publication of the Year Award (2022), and one Best Practice of the Year Award (2021). Michael helps PHAs implement best practices to streamline their operations by investing in technology to attract, recruit, and retain landlords for their Section 8 Programs.

  • Advisor - Area of Expertise: Affordable Housing Redevelopment

    Lee Alford joined Better Housing Coalition as the Director of Multi-Family Real Estate in 2019. In this role, he oversees a $150 million pipeline of rental developments throughout Central Virginia. Lee has served in roles for a variety of non-profit community development corporations as well as in the public sector. 

    Prior to his current role, he was a Senior Development Officer with Community Preservation & Development Corporation, overseeing multiphase apartment renovations, and managing a HUD conversion of 200 units of senior housing. He also established a new Richmond office for CPDC to expand its geographic footprint.

    Lee holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Miami and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Temple University. 

    He is also an Associate Professor teaching Real Estate Development at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business. He is a graduate of the Emerging Nonprofit Leaders Program, and has served on committees for the Virginia Housing Alliance and ULI Richmond.