FAMU Trustee John Crossman Named Orlando Housing Authority Board Chair
ORLANDO, Fla.—Florida A&M University congratulates Trustee John Crossman on his appointment as chair of the Orlando Housing Authority (OHA) Board of Commissioners. Crossman brings decades of commercial real estate experience, community leadership and a commitment to building partnerships that advance innovative, sustainable affordable housing solutions.
A respected Central Florida business leader, Crossman is CEO of CrossMarc Services and Crossman Career Builders. Throughout his career, he has championed education, mentorship and community engagement, building relationships across business, nonprofit and civic sectors. His leadership approach emphasizes collaboration and connecting people and resources to address complex community challenges.
"Affordable housing is a community-wide responsibility, and meaningful progress requires bringing more partners to the table," said Crossman. "OHA has established a clear vision for the future through Envision 2029. My goal is to help connect the right people, resources and ideas to turn that vision into measurable results that strengthen our community and create opportunities for the families we serve."
As board chair, Crossman will work alongside OHA leadership and fellow commissioners to advance the agency's Envision 2029 Strategic Plan, a five-year roadmap focused on expanding housing opportunities, strengthening organizational effectiveness and empowering residents to achieve greater economic stability.
Key priorities outlined in the plan include:
- Increasing housing opportunities by preserving and modernizing existing properties, pursuing new development and acquisition opportunities, and maximizing housing assistance programs.
- Cultivating strategic partnerships with local governments, businesses, developers, nonprofits and community organizations to leverage resources and expand housing and supportive services.
- Empowering residents through education, workforce development, financial literacy and other services that promote long-term economic stability.
- Strengthening communication and transparency to build public trust, increase community awareness and share progress toward OHA's goals.
- Encouraging innovation and organizational excellence through creative funding strategies, operational efficiencies, and long-term financial sustainability.
As one of his first initiatives, Crossman will introduce the OHA Chairman's Award, a recognition program honoring individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership, collaboration and measurable contributions to affordable housing in the Orlando community. Award recipients will be recognized during OHA's monthly Board of Commissioners meetings, with honors presented as merited.
OHA's Board of Commissioners meets monthly, generally on the third Thursday, with meetings open to the public. However, the November meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. Additional information, including OHA's Envision 2029 Strategic Plan, is available at www.orlandohousing.org.
Media contact:
Alonda Thomas, Ph.D.
alonda.thomas@famu.edu
