Cinnaire Celebrates Jennifer Everhart’s Recognition With the 2026 Terrence R. Duvernay Award

Jennifer Everhart, chief impact officer for Cinnaire, was honored with the 2026 Terrence R. Duvernay Award during the Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC), the state’s premier housing conference. The award recognizes individuals for achievement carrying forward the legacy of affordable housing leadership established by Terrence R. Duvernay, who served as executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority from 1983 to 1990.

Recipients are selected by a committee of past honorees. In recognition of this distinguished honor, Everhart will direct a $5,000 cash prize to Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, the nonprofit organization of her choice.

“Jennifer Everhart’s career reflects the very best of affordable housing leadership, deep expertise, principled stewardship of capital, and a commitment to community impact,” said Mark McDaniel, president and CEO, Cinnaire. “Her work embodies Terry’s legacy, and we are proud to see her contributions to Michigan and the broader housing field recognized with this well-deserved honor.”

Everhart brings more than 30 years of experience advancing affordable housing through innovative financing, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to equitable community development. Since joining Cinnaire in 1997, she has overseen the underwriting and investment of more than $4 billion in equity and loans, supporting the creation and preservation of thousands of affordable homes across Michigan and a multi-state footprint.

Previously serving as executive vice president and chief underwriter, Everhart led a more than 200% expansion of Cinnaire’s lending portfolio, strengthening the organization’s ability to respond to housing needs while maintaining strong asset performance. In her current role as chief impact officer, she aligns capital deployment, philanthropic resources, and community development strategies to maximize impact for residents and communities.

Everhart has also been a driving force in expanding access to capital within the affordable housing industry. She played a key role in the creation of Cinnaire’s $55 million Ubuntu Fund, which supports underrepresented developers by reducing traditional barriers to entry and pairing investment with technical assistance, helping build a more diverse and sustainable development pipeline.

Throughout her career, Everhart has bridged on-the-ground community development experience with large-scale financial strategy, translating complex tools into practical solutions that expand housing opportunity. Her leadership continues to shape how capital, policy, and partnerships come together to strengthen communities.

“Jennifer’s career reflects an unwavering belief that capital, when guided by purpose, can be a powerful force for human dignity,” said Amin Irving, founder, president, and CEO, Ginosko Development Company; 2025 Terrence R. Duvernay award recipient. “For more than 30 years, from her early work in Detroit to her current executive role, she has ensured that financial complexity never obscures human need. She has repeatedly used her platform to advocate for those most often left behind — particularly low-income seniors — ensuring access to stable, dignified housing and supportive communities. Her legacy is not only measured by dollars invested or policies influenced, but by the lasting culture shift she has helped create: one where empathy, equity, and accountability are embedded in how the affordable housing industry defines success.”