Q&A with Amy Broadwater

Q1: Current Position & Responsibilites?
A: I am currently the Director of Finance/CFO-in-waiting with Sugar Creek Capital.  I love my position because it’s a mixture of responsibilities.  I get to work with our internal accounting team on reporting for our entities.  I get to work with our acquisitions team to help make introductions/enhance business relationships based on the network that I have from my 20 years in the LIHTC industry.  I also get to assist our underwriting team with help on financial questions and with the preparation/review of financial projections.  Tax planning is another key part of my position.  I’ve even helped our property management team with a compliance issue or two. 

Q2: How long have you been in this position and what influenced your decision to change positions in the industry?
A: I have been in this role for just over a year.  Prior to joining Sugar Creek, I was a partner with RubinBrown.  I worked for RubinBrown in their real estate group for almost 19 years.  I was in RubinBrown’s St. Louis office for the majority of that time, but I did help start RubinBrown’s Nashville office in 2015.

During the pandemic, I was by myself in Nashville, and I really missed my family, who were back in St. Louis.  Then, out of the blue, the opportunity with Sugar Creek Capital, who is a long time RubinBrown client, came to me.  It was a hard decision to leave RubinBrown, but it has been the right one for me.  Sugar Creek is a well-respected state tax credit syndicator, and I love that Sugar Creek has a more direct role of bringing low-income housing tax credit properties to fruition.  I have to say that I am so grateful to be back in St. Louis with my family and working for a great company, but the best part of my new position just may be no more keeping track of my time! 

Q3: How long have you been involved with WAHN? 
A: My involvement with WAHN is just beginning.  I was able to meet with Ashley and Millie while I was at the Georgia Affordable Housing Conference in September.  With their energy and excitement, how can you not want to be a part of WAHN?!

Q4: Why did you join WAHN? 
A: Over the past few years, I have attended many women’s events in our industry.  These events have had a big impact on me.  I have learned something from every event and speaker, and I have appreciated the networking opportunities.  Joining WAHN will allow me to continue learning and networking, but it will also give me the chance to give back to the industry I love.

Q5: What is your number one hope for being in this organization? 
A: I would love to start a Missouri chapter that will allow industry veterans to share their experiences and will help to recruit and grow the number of women in the affordable housing industry.

Q6: What are the critical changes or issues that need to be addressed to continue to expand or improve the affordable housing program?
A: In my opinion, the biggest impact would be the passing of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act.  A couple of key provisions, the expansion of the 9% credit and the lowering the tax-exempt bond test from 50% to 25%, would allow for the production or preservation of over 1 million additional affordable homes over the next decade.  The past 18 months have put a spotlight on how important affordable housing is, and we need the supply of affordable homes to increase significantly.  I think that this bill helps to get us part of way there.

Q7: What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
A: So far, my biggest professional accomplishment was taking the risk to open RubinBrown’s Nashville office.  I was on the ground by myself for about 2 ½ years before adding people to the Nashville team.  It forced me way out of my comfort zone, but I can definitely look back on my time in Nashville with pride.  It was a really rewarding experience.

Q8: In terms of networking, who are key people for you to meet with in the industry? (Not names but key types of introductions)
A: Key types of introductions for me would be developers, especially those working in states with state tax credits.  But, the LIHTC industry is such a small one, it seems that any introduction could be a key one.

Q9: What is a fun fact about you?
A: I am a proud mom to a now one-year old mini goldendoodle named Finnegan.