Fink Brings More than 20 Years of Experience in Real Estate Development, Accounting

ATLANTA – January 13, 2025 – Columbia Residential has added a key hire to its leadership team. Robert Fink, a seasoned affordable housing industry professional with more than 20 years of experience in real estate development, consulting, and accounting, has joined in the pivotal role of Chief Development Officer.

Throughout his career, Robert has focused on creating high-quality, affordable housing that meets community needs and enhances residents’ lives. His expertise includes strategic planning, site selection, financing, and fostering collaborative partnerships.

Fink has held senior-level operations roles in both the public and private sectors. As the former Vice President of Development at Zimmerman Properties in Atlanta, he played a vital role in the creation of more than 1,350 affordable housing units across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Housing Finance and Development at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in Atlanta, where he managed the competitive scoring process for Georgia’s multifamily affordable housing program and oversaw an annual allocation of more than $550 million in federal and state tax credits.

Fink is a graduate of Oglethorpe University and is a licensed CPA in Georgia. As Chief Development Officer, Fink will oversee all aspects of development operations for the company, including business planning, identifying and securing new affordable housing and community development opportunities in the key market areas, managing a team of Development Managers, overseeing financing structures, developing and executing the development business plan, managing key partnership relationships, and collaborating with company leaders to accomplish the strategic goals. He will be based at Columbia Residential’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta.

“Robert is an outstanding addition to our company’s leadership team. He brings extensive experience developing and financing affordable and mixed-income housing, and we are thrilled to have him join our team,” said Columbia Residential President Carmen Chubb. “He shares our core values and brings proven leadership and a shared passion for providing quality affordable housing communities that advance lives and strengthen neighborhoods.”

About Columbia Residential
Founded in 1991 by Noel Khalil, Columbia Residential is an award-winning Atlanta-based developer, owner, and manager of affordable and mixed-income housing. Celebrating its thirty-four-year anniversary in 2025, the company operates in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas with an active development pipeline. It manages 10,000 affordable and mixed-income housing units in some 75 communities. Columbia Residential is a place-based developer and makes a lasting commitment to each community it plans, builds, and services by providing a continuum of stewardship that powers long-term investments. The company’s unique development and property management approach features strong local partnerships and an innovative model for resident services, including comprehensive on-site programming and additional resources provided through strategic partnerships with local entities that foster a strong home life and growth mindset for every resident.