Industry veterans Roger A. Blissett, Paul Choi and Sonya S. Mays bring a diverse portfolio of experience to CPC’s governance structure
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New York, NY (August 20, 2025) – The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), a mission-driven nonprofit multifamily housing finance company, announced the additions of Roger A. Blissett, Paul Choi and Sonya S. Mays to its board of directors. Blissett, Founder & CEO of EVS Advisors, together with Choi, Senior Director and Head of Housing and Alternatives Capital Markets at Nuveen, and Mays, President and CEO of Develop Detroit, bring extensive experience and industry expertise to CPC’s governance structure.
“We’re honored to welcome Roger, Paul, and Sonya to CPC’s board of directors,” said Rafael E. Cestero, CEO of CPC. “They each bring a deep understanding of the housing and finance industries and share CPC’s belief in the power of thoughtful and targeted capital to drive community impact. Their expertise and leadership will help guide us as we continue our mission of creating more affordable and equitable communities.”
“Each of our new board members brings a unique perspective shaped by their experiences across sectors—from banking and capital markets to mission-driven development and public service,” Cestero added. “Their collective insight will be a tremendous asset as we continue to evolve as a company and ensure that our work remains centered on creating lasting, positive change in the communities we serve.”
Roger Blissett is a seasoned investment and commercial banking executive with over 30 years of experience advising global financial institutions on legal, regulatory, and government affairs. He has held senior leadership roles at Royal Bank of Canada and MUFG, where he led U.S. government affairs offices and advised on multi-billion-dollar transactions and regulatory strategy. In 2024, he founded EVS Advisors, a consultancy guiding financial institutions through complex U.S. regulatory landscapes, and was appointed an independent director of National Commercial Bank Jamaica Ltd. A former Chair and Executive Committee member of the Institute of International Bankers, Mr. Blissett is a frequent speaker on financial services and equity issues and is deeply committed to civic engagement. Mr. Blissett currently serves on the Board of Trustees for ExpandED Schools and has held leadership roles with the Pipeline Crisis: Winning Strategies for Young Black Men, Black Male Donor Collaborative and the Mayor’s Advisory Board of New York City’s Young Men’s Initiative. He served on the board of the Vera Institute of Justice for seven years.
“It’s an honor to join the board of an organization whose mission so clearly aligns with my own values,” said Blissett. “Throughout my career in finance and government affairs, I’ve seen the powerful role that capital and policy can play in shaping more equitable outcomes. CPC’s commitment to expanding access to affordable and sustainable housing, and to using its capital and capabilities to close the racial wealth gap, is both timely and essential. I look forward to working with CPC’s leadership and fellow board members to support its continued impact in communities across New York and the country.”
Paul Choi is a Senior Director and Head of Capital Markets for Nuveen Real Estate’s Housing and Alternatives Investment platform. Paul is responsible for sourcing and executing debt transactions and interest rate hedging strategies across Nuveen’s housing and alternative investments and funds. Prior to joining Nuveen Real Estate in 2022, Paul was an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. where he most recently led real estate loan restructurings and workouts in the bank’s Special Credit Group, and previously held an Executive Director role in the bank’s Corporate Client Banking Real Estate Group financing REITs and real estate investment managers. Earlier in his career, Paul held various real estate finance and investment roles at Moody’s Corporation, CapitalSpring, and Citigroup Inc.
“I am honored to join the Board of Directors of the Community Preservation Corporation, whose mission to preserve and expand access to affordable housing is more critical now than ever,” said Choi. “As a longtime New Yorker, I know that our diverse communities and people are what makes this the greatest place in the world to live in. Access to affordable housing and quality of life is essential to preserving the fabric of our culture. I am very proud to support the incredible work that CPC does to advance the availability and sustainability of affordable housing in New York and beyond.”
Sonya S. Mays is the founding President and CEO of Develop Detroit, a real estate and housing development firm advancing housing stability and economic opportunity across Detroit. Under her leadership, the organization has driven over $240 million in community investment and nearly 750 housing units. Previously, she served as Senior Advisor to Detroit’s Emergency Manager, playing a key role in navigating the city through the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Earlier in her career, she worked in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and in nonprofit management after beginning her career as a middle-school math teacher in Detroit. Mays is a member of the New York Bar and serves on the boards of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit Public Theatre, the Detroit Regional Chamber and Real Estate Association of Developers. She is also a twice-elected member and former Treasurer of the Detroit Public Schools Board of Education.
About The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC)
CPC is a diversified, nonprofit multifamily finance company that was founded in 1974 to provide financial and technical resources to stabilize and revitalize underserved communities. Today, CPC uses its unique expertise in housing finance and public policy to expand access to affordable and workforce housing, advance diversity and equity within the development industry, and expand investment in the green economy and lessen the impact of climate change. Since its founding, CPC has invested over $16 billion to finance the creation and preservation of more than 264,000 units of housing. The company provides a suite of construction and permanent products including Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHA mortgages, and is an equity investor with approximately 4,500 affordable units under ownership. CPC is a carbon-neutral company and has been rated AA- by S&P. Visit CPC at communityp.com , and on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.