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NMHC Names Julie Smith as 2026-2028 Chair

Gregory Bates, President and CEO of GID, joins NMHC Officers as Secretary

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) elected Julie Smith, the Chief Administrative Officer and Operating Partner at The Bozzuto Group, to serve a two-year term as the Council’s chair at its 2026 Annual Meeting.

“I am honored to assume this leadership role in NMHC, one the nation’s most important housing associations. As I begin my term as Chair, the focus of my energy will be defined by innovation, transparency and conviction,” said Smith. “We are building upon decades of a steadfast and unwavering commitment to quality rental housing by our members, resulting in a record of sustained residential excellence.

“And we are doing so at a time when housing has never been more important. For our industry and for our country, this is a pivotal moment. We will do our best to ensure the public understands and values the essential role multifamily housing plays in meeting the nation’s need for high-quality, environmentally efficient, and affordable homes.”

Julie Smith, NMHC Chair

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NMHC also welcomes Gregory Bates, President and CEO of GID, as the newest NMHC officer. He will be the 2026-2028 NMHC Secretary.

“I’m honored to become an NMHC officer,” said Bates. “Housing policy and markets are changing at an unprecedented pace. NMHC is at the epicenter of that evolution and, by working in close partnership with lawmakers, capital markets and, most importantly, other NMHC members, we can create the housing system of the 21st century.”

Gregory Bates, NMHC Secretary

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“I couldn’t be more excited for Julie Smith to become NMHC Chair and to welcome Greg as an NMHC officer,” said NMHC President Sharon Wilson Géno. “Having had the chance to work with Julie now for years, I know she is the Chair we need as we meet real challenges but also embrace opportunities.

“Julie’s hands-on experience as a rental housing provider makes her incredibly effective at talking to policymakers about housing solutions that will really work for housers and renters alike. Now is the time to capitalize on the attention being paid to housing by driving home effective policy proposals and working to evolve the perception of rental housing providers among the general public, renters and voters.”

The full slate of officers for 2026-2028 is:

  • Chair: Julie Smith, Chief Administrative Officer and Operating Partner at The Bozzuto Group, Baltimore, Md.
  • Vice Chair: Laurie Baker, Chief Operating Officer of Camden Property Trust, Houston, Tx.
  • Treasurer: Antonio Marquez, Principal and Managing Partner of Comunidad Partners, Austin, Tx.
  • Secretary: Gregory Bates, President and CEO of GID, Boston, Ma.
  • President: Sharon Wilson Géno, NMHC, Washington, D.C.
  • Immediate Past Chair: James H. Schloemer, Chief Executive Officer of Continental Properties Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Learn more about the NMHC officers here.

Contacts

Media Contact: Colin Dunn, media@nmhc.org

National Multifamily Housing Council


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Contacts

Media Contact: Colin Dunn, media@nmhc.org

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