Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors and Staff
Board of Directors
Robyn Fiel, Chairman
After nine years as a mortgage loan originator at Fifth Third Bank, Robyn Fiel is currently a mortgage loan originator at Synovus Mortgage in St. Petersburg, FL. Prior to joining Fifth Third Bank in 2005, Robyn was a portfolio manager of the Hough Group of Funds at William R. Hough & Co for 11 years, and an analyst at Standard & Poor’s in New York City for six years. Robyn is a founding member and board member of the Pinellas Realtor Organization Affiliate Business Partners. E-mail
Paul Burroughs, Vice-Chairman
Paul is a retired banker. He entered the banking field, obtained a Degree of Distinction from the Institute of Financial Education, and graduated from the University of Georgia, School for Executive Development. During a 40-year banking career he served as Branch Manager and Regional Manager at multiple locations. Paul is privileged to serve as a two-time Rotary president, as a board member of multiple Chambers of Commerce, and has previously served on the board of Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services. Paul has enjoyed being an Assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts and the Chairman of the Trustees of his church and currently works as a substitute teacher in Pinellas County. E-mail
Steven Baumann, Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Bauman retired from the Pinellas County Housing and Community Development Department in September of 2022. While with the County he was a project manager overseeing the implementation of affordable housing projects. He is a registered architect and prior to his County employment he worked with various developers specializing in high rise condominium developments as well as other commercial projects including hotel renovations, automobile dealerships, etc. He enjoys sailing, exercise, any outdoor activities and spending time with his family and grandkids. E-mail
Estelle DeMuesy, Assistant Secretary
Estelle DeMuesy is a retired CEO, having served in an executive capacity for over 25 years. She retired from Title Nine, where in addition to her other responsibilities, she negotiated and managed all banking, financial structure and financial relationships. Estelle has served as a member of the Board of Advisors for Title Nine since her retirement. Estelle consults for executives and entrepreneurs, working with them to build their businesses and their executive skills. She has an MBA from The College of William and Mary and previously served as Chairman of the Park and Tree Board for the Town of Belleair in 2018 and 2019. Estelle is interested in the Housing Finance Authority because as a kid, she and her family benefited from access to affordable housing. E-mail
Jordan Myers, Assistant Secretary
Jordan Myers is a Broker/Owner of a Real Estate Brokerage in the State of Florida. He was previously a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, a Fortune 10 company at the time. He holds an Economics degree from the University of South Florida. He was awarded the Palm Harbor, FL Citizen of the Year in 2016, is a past Board Chairman of the Greater Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce, and a Leadership Pinellas Alumni. He is an Author, partnering with a New-York Times Best Selling Author. He takes a collaborative leadership approach, encouraging his trusted advisors to provide input on decisions of the company, and complies an innovative and professional result that enhances the company’s direction. E-mail
Staff
Kathryn Driver, Executive Director
Kathryn Driver has been the Executive Director since March 2014. Ms. Driver is responsible for all aspects and transactions of the HFA to assist in accomplishing the HFA’s mission of alleviating a shortage of affordable housing in Pinellas County through the issuance of single-family mortgage revenue bonds and down payment assistance for low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers and also through the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable multifamily bonds to help finance the new construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of multifamily developments for very low-, low- and moderate-income renters. Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Ms. Driver served as Vice President at RBC Capital Markets (and William R. Hough & Co. prior to its merger with RBC). She has over 30 years of experience in the municipal finance and housing finance field. Driver serves as President of the Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, is a Board Member of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities and the Florida Housing Coalition and is Past President of the Florida chapter of Women in Public Finance.
Karmen Lemberg, Director of Homeownership Programs and Operations
Ms. Lemberg has worked for the HFA since 2011. Her current responsibilities include the day-to-day running of the business to ensure smooth progress. Areas of emphasis include single family programs, payroll, human resources, accounting activities, and insurance. Karmen is the liaison for the lenders and realtors associated with the First-Time Homebuyer program and for potential home buyers. She manages relationships and agreements with external partners and vendors and ensures the company runs with legality and conformity to established local, State and Federal regulations. Karmen has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management and over 30 years of experience in affordable housing, mortgage lending, banking, and financial services. Her knowledge and expertise fit well for working with partners and clients to further the mission and vision of the HFA.
Lolitha Stone, Director of Special Programs
Mrs. Stone started her career over 15 years ago in the mortgage industry as a junior underwriter and has worked in all facets of mortgage lending from wholesale operations, origination, processing, underwriting, closing and funding and collateralized securities. She spent the last 7 years with Bank of America as an Underwriter and eventually writing policy and procedures for Consumer and Small Business lending. She has vast knowledge in mortgage and banking operations management and compliance.