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New Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer joins Denver Urban Renewal Authority
The Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) recently welcomed Robin Hickey as the organization’s new deputy director and chief financial officer, where she will oversee DURA’s financial activities, as well as all housing redevelopment programs.
With a background in strategy, leadership and finance, Hickey joins DURA after returning to Denver from New York, where she served as vice president of financial planning and analysis for the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Prior to that, Hickey was the executive director for the New England Society, a New York City-based nonprofit scholarship program. Before moving east to pursue a career in New York, Hickey was the executive director for the Denver chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robin back to Denver and look forward to leveraging her experience in both the nonprofit and quasi-governmental sectors, as well as her connections in the development community, to help advance DURA’s mission of promoting thoughtful redevelopment while preserving communities and neighborhoods,” said Tracy Huggins, executive director of DURA.
Hickey notes the many changes Denver has experienced since she left the city in 2011 and aims to ensure all Denverites have the opportunity to benefit from its growth through her work with DURA – both on the redevelopment side and through housing programs.
“One of my goals is to make sure we’re out there in the community and really connecting with the people who might benefit from our services,” said Hickey.
While most people associate DURA with large-scale development projects, far fewer are aware of the organization’s housing rehabilitation programs, which provide funding to low- to moderate-income homeowners for necessary home improvements and repairs through grants and low-interest loans. Hickey is committed to helping increase participation in these programs, while promoting healthy neighborhoods and facilitating smart growth in Denver as it aligns with the city’s Blueprint Denver plan and Comprehensive Plan 2040.
“One of the things I really like about DURA is that our projects offer a mix of public and private investments so we’re able to make sure redevelopment is aligned with the city’s overall goals.”
Hickey graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the City University of New York – Baruch College.