Longtime Athens Housing Authority CEO Rick Parker to step down in February

Nikolai Mather, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read

The Athens Housing Authority this week announced that CEO Rick Parker will be retiring after 34 years leading the agency.

“Rick Parker has been a tremendous leader for the Athens Housing Authority,” AHA board chairman Valdon Daniel noted in a news release. “His leadership will be greatly missed.”

Rick Parker, who served as CEO of the Athens Housing Authority for 34 years, announced his retirement on Jan. 25, 2023. Connie Staudinger will take over as CEO on Feb. 20, 2023. Photo courtesy of Athens Housing Authority.
Rick Parker, who served as CEO of the Athens Housing Authority for 34 years, announced his retirement on Jan. 25, 2023. Connie Staudinger will take over as CEO on Feb. 20, 2023. Photo courtesy of Athens Housing Authority.

Parker moved to Athens in 1989 after working as the director of the local housing authority in Jackson, Tenn. As CEO, he oversaw a key part of Athens' approach to affordable housing and neighborhood development. In 2015, Parker broke ground on Columbia Brookside, a project which revitalized the Jack R. Wells public housing neighborhood, replacing 125 older structures with 370 units of public, subsidized and market-price housing. Most recently, Parker and other local officials had coordinated the North Athens Downtown Development Project, which would redevelop the 12-acre Bethel Midtown Village.

"His leadership has taken us further than we ever imagined, including the vision for the new North Downtown Athens Redevelopment, collaborations with the University of Georgia, as well as many other projects too numerous to name," noted Daniel. "I want to acknowledge all of the great work he has done for the housing authority for more than three decades."

Tax breaks:Kemp proposes property tax break in new budget. What does that mean?

Housing questions:ACC Housing asks: What should we do with $7.5 million?

“I have been privileged to work alongside some of the best professionals and staff anywhere,” noted Parker. “Our board members have been supportive and courageous in their leadership. The trust and participation of our residents has been both personally rewarding and another key element to our success.”

Parker will continue to work as a special projects director for the North Athens Redevelopment Project through June 2023. As for CEO, AHA named Connie Staudinger as his successor.

Rick Parker, who served as CEO of the Athens Housing Authority for 34 years, announced his retirement on Jan. 25, 2023. Connie Staudinger will take over as CEO on Feb. 20, 2023. Photo courtesy of Athens Housing Authority.
Rick Parker, who served as CEO of the Athens Housing Authority for 34 years, announced his retirement on Jan. 25, 2023. Connie Staudinger will take over as CEO on Feb. 20, 2023. Photo courtesy of Athens Housing Authority.

Staudinger, who previously worked for housing authorities in Charlotte and Alexandria, will begin on Feb. 20.

“In Connie Staudinger, we believe we have found the person that will fit in well with the organization, while also leading us to even greater heights as our CEO,” noted Daniel. “She has the ability to enhance what Rick Parker and his incredible team have built over three decades – expanding on the vision of the housing authority to provide secure, affordable, quality housing for our community.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens Housing Authority CEO to retire, successor named