MHO Announces New President and CEO
Mountain Housing Opportunities is pleased to announce Geoffrey Barton as the affordable housing non-profit’s new President and CEO. Geoffrey replaces Scott Dedman, who retired in early August after 30 years in the role.
Geoffrey brings significant experience in affordable housing design, development, and financing. He joined the MHO team in 2013 as an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow, progressing to become MHO’s Manager of Architectural Services in 2016 and then to his most recent position as Vice President and Director of Real Estate Development in 2020.
Under Geoffrey’s leadership, MHO successfully obtained highly competitive low-income housing tax credit awards to support the creation of 346 new affordable apartments in Buncombe and Haywood Counties. Geoffrey consistently demonstrates his commitment to inclusive community engagement, resident-centered development, and environmentally responsible design.
“I am deeply honored to be chosen to lead MHO’s important work into the future,” said Geoffrey Barton. “Everyone in our community deserves access to the safety and stability provided by affordable housing. I am firmly committed to growing the impact of our housing programs to help meet the growing need in our region.”
Geoffrey’s selection as MHO’s next President and CEO comes after a nationwide search. Broadview Talent Partners, an executive search firm specializing in the affordable housing development and finance sectors with an emphasis on diverse and inclusive talent acquisition, retention, and leadership development, brokered the process. Charlie Owen, Chair of MHO’s Board of Directors, led the organization’s executive search in partnership with a small group of fellow Board Members, community leaders, and seasoned MHO staff.
“MHO’s executive search attracted interest from a wide-array of talented leaders in the affordable housing sector and raised the profile of Mountain Housing Opportunities regionally and nationally,” said Charlie Owen. “This competitive process allowed us to look for an executive with the right combination of experience, vision, and passion for this work. We were fortunate to find such a leader in Geoffrey Barton, who has already demonstrated his expertise in bringing safe, well-located, and beautifully designed affordable housing to the people of western North Carolina. I have every confidence in his ability to guide MHO towards an even greater impact in creating and preserving the affordable housing that the people of our region need and deserve.”
Before joining MHO, Geoffrey worked at Van Meter Williams Pollack Architecture in San Francisco, CA, and HH Architecture in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University and a Master of Architecture from NC State University. Geoffrey is a licensed architect in North Carolina and currently serves as a Commissioner on the City of Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Geoffrey lives in West Asheville with his wife and young son.
MHO gratefully acknowledges the members of the Search Committee for their time, insight, and expertise in the selection process for MHO's next executive. Sincere thanks to Lynn Cook, James Dennis, Selena Jimenez, Charlie Owen, Wyatt Stevens, Elizabeth Teague, Anthony Thomas, and Dana Ward.