Laura Burns

President and CEO

The Eagle Point Companies

Laura E. Burns has more than 35 years’ experience in the affordable housing development business. She is a nationally recognized expert in the affordable housing finance business. As CEO and a founding Partner of the Eagle Point Companies, Ms. Burns has acquired and renovated affordable housing properties and raised and invested private equity in existing housing across the country. In addition, Ms. Burns directed the strategic start up of Eagle Point’s property management division which has overseen over 5,000 apartments. She also founded The Signal Group – whose clients have included federal agencies and private sector owners, lenders and managers. Ms. Burns continues to be actively engaged in acquiring additional assets and ensuring that all new acquisitions and Eagle Point’s existing portfolio perform at the highest possible levels.

Ms. Burns worked at the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) from 1985 until 1992 where she coordinated neighborhood development projects using low income housing tax credits. From 1992 to 1995, she assisted in the set-up of a nationwide asset management company, based in Portland, Maine, that liquidated affordable housing under contract to the Resolution Trust Corporation (a federal agency) and was subsequently named Chief Operating Officer of its affiliated development company.

Ms. Burns serves on the Boards of the National Leased Housing Association, National Housing and Rehabilitation Associates, and the Editorial Advisory Board of Affordable Housing Finance and is a frequent speaker at national industry conferences. Her role in helping to develop housing policy includes testifying before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services and participating in policy development working groups with HUD/GSE’s and Treasury. Ms. Burns has a BA degree from Lehigh University. 

DJ Nelson

President 

Eagle Point Development

DJ Nelson has more than 25 years of experience in the affordable housing industry and has been with Eagle Point since 2001.  Mr. Nelson currently oversees all acquisition and development activities for the firm.  As a partner in the firm Mr. Nelson is active in all aspects of company operations and a senior member of the firm’s executive management team.  Since joining Eagle Point, Mr. Nelson has closed hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable housing transactions and participated in raising private/institutional equity for the firm. Mr. Nelson directs all closing transaction activities; is experienced in the execution of numerous affordable housing finance programs, and has closed some of the most complex financing transactions in the industry.

In addition to directing acquisitions and finance, Mr. Nelson previously oversaw asset management operations for the firm and was a key participant in building the firm’s property management division.  Prior to joining Eagle Point, Mr. Nelson was a Senior Financial Analyst & Underwriter for a national tax credit syndication firm where he analyzed tax credit transactions and coordinated underwriting activities.  Mr. Nelson was also a Sr. Project Manager for a national affordable housing developer where he managed both new construction and acquisition/rehab projects in various stages of development. 

Mr. Nelson holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and an A.B. degree in Economics from St. Anselm College.  Mr. Nelson was recognized as a Young Leader in Affordable Housing by Affordable Housing Finance and an active volunteer in his community.

Robert Monks

Partner

Robert C.S. Monks is a prominent real estate developer and investor, who is highly regarded for his success in attracting capital for a wide range of business ventures.  At Eagle Point, Mr. Monks serves on the Executive and Investment Committees to review prospective acquisitions, monitor the status of assets within the firm’s portfolio and oversee corporate financial operations. In addition to his role at Eagle Point, Mr. Monks is a Partner in a number of real estate companies including Monks O’Neil Development, The Signal Group, Dirigo Management, Northland Enterprises, Workforce Housing, The Sprague Corporation, and Headwater Capital Management. 

Mr. Monks is a Director at Maine Today Media Inc., Maine Fiber Company, and T3i Group. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Board of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), the leading proxy services company in the world.  Mr. Monks was also principal shareholder and Director of Maine-based Atlantic Bank and a Director of Maine Employers Mutual, Maine's largest workmen's compensation insurance company. 

Mr. Monks attended Duke University and earned his BA degree from the University of Southern Maine.  He also attended George Mason University's School of Conflict Resolution.

Tim O'Neil

Partner

Timothy M. O'Neil has been involved in the real estate development, investment and property management industries since 1980.  Mr. O’Neil serves on the Executive Committee at Eagle Point, where he oversees deal structuring for projects under development and monitors construction and asset management procedures for properties under ownership. He has extensive experience in the development and financing of properties using a variety of state and federal financing programs and subsidy tools.  Among the 1,700+ units of Section 8 housing he has developed or acquired, Mr. O’Neil’s portfolio includes some of the first properties "preserved" under the Section 8 program.  Mr. O’Neil is a partner in other real estate development, management and consulting businesses, including Monks O’Neil Development, Dirigo Management, and The Signal Group.

Mr. O’Neil holds a degree from the University of Maine. He is a Board member and past President of the Maine Real Estate and Economic Development Association and was a founding Board Member of Community Housing of Maine. Currently, Mr. O’Neil is Chairman of the Greater Portland Public Development Corporation as well as a Member and Past Chair of the Civil Service Commission of South Portland.

Jennifer Dionne

President 

The Signal Group

Jennifer Dionne is responsible for the oversight of the operations of The Signal Group. Since joining The Signal Group in 2006, Ms. Dionne has prepared or overseen the submission hundreds of rent comparability studies and market analysis projects. Ms. Dionne manages all client relations which include both private companies and government contracts. As a licensed real estate appraiser—appraising residential property since 2002-- her experience bridges the appraisal and valuation process with an understanding of affordable housing programs and current HUD policy. Between 2010 and 2019, Ms. Dionne was one of the lead underwriters for Section 232/223f and 232/223(a)(7) loans for healthcare facilities under a contract with HUD. Ms. Dionne has also been one of the leading market analysts providing market studies for proposed developments seeking Maine’s Tax Credit financing and providing market analysis for tax credit syndicators throughout the country.

Prior to becoming an appraiser, from 1989 to 1996, Ms. Dionne gained experience at a Portland, Maine based law firm, and from 1996-2002, she performed due diligence for acquisitions, divestitures and corporate financings for a publicly-held corporation. Her involvement included the firm’s $265 million initial public stock offering, a $150 million capital infusion and Ms. Dionne directly managed and oversaw more than 650 real estate closings worth in excess of $130 million.

Neil Martelle

Vice President 

Eagle Point Development

Neil Martelle joined Eagle Point in 2015 and works with the various ownership groups and Eagle Point staff on developing and executing profit maximizing strategies in accordance with the ownership groups’ missions and goals. To that end, Mr. Martelle works with both inside and outside partners to execute dispositions, refinancing opportunities and other strategic activities.  Mr. Martelle is also responsible for identifying and pursuing potential acquisitions and managing the redevelopment of properties acquired and owned by Eagle Point entities.  

Prior to joining Eagle Point, Mr. Martelle worked for a national tax credit syndicator.  His responsibilities included the underwriting and closing of affordable housing properties utilizing tax credit equity totaling over $185 million and the origination of new developer relationships.  He also participated in structuring numerous multi- and single-investor funds totaling $750 million in investor equity.

Mr. Martelle holds an MBA from Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Vermont.

Jim Regis

President

Eagle Point Management

Jim Regis oversees the strategic management of Eagle Point’s property management operations that includes a diverse team that is responsible for property operations, facilities management, compliance, property accounting and human resources. In addition to daily operational oversight, Mr. Regis leads the organization’s drive for continuous improvement while ensuring Eagle Point’s high-quality standards are applied at all levels. 

Mr. Regis’ professional career includes more than 25 years of experience in leadership and executive positions in the real estate industry specializing in multifamily affordable housing and including property development, consulting, client relations, property management and design.  Mr. Regis has substantial experience in value engineering solutions to large and difficult building and management problems and is a trained landscape architect. Mr. Regis holds a B.S. from Cornell University.

Amy Lawton

Vice President, Managed Assets

Eagle Point Management

Amy Lawton is responsible for the oversight and professional development of District and Property Managers and site staff to ensure efficient and effective operations strategy and marketing, while maintaining superior asset quality and achieving financial goals and objectives. She works as liaison to Eagle Point’s Accounting and Asset Management staff to ensure implementation, execution of all corporate policies and procedures and compliance with all federal and state regulations.

With more than three decades of experience in the property management industry, Amy has significant expertise working successfully with the myriad apartment community stakeholders including residents, vendors, ownership, onsite employees, regulatory agencies, and financial partners. Furthermore, that expertise has been honed at a variety of property types over an array of different property life cycles including properties in lease up, under renovation, experiencing financial struggles and challenged by neighborhood issues. 

Joan Pelletier

Vice President, Accounting

Eagle Point Management

Joan Pelletier joined Eagle Point Management in 2013 as Property Controller and was promoted in 2019 to VP of Accounting. Ms. Pelletier leads the accounting team in the preparation of detailed, timely and accurate financial reporting.               

Ms. Pelletier is responsible for maintaining strong internal controls and the monitoring of all financial policies and procedures. Day to day duties include general accounting, financial analysis, and cash management of the properties. She also coordinates the annual audits and tax preparation for each property with our outside audit and tax firm.

Prior to joining EPM, Ms. Pelletier had over 25 years accounting and finance experience at a wholesale distribution company, where she was controller for 20 years. Ms. Pelletier earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting/Business Education and minor in marketing at the University of Maine.