Toward the end of 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced important guidance for the interchangeable use of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and CDBG Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds.
Sarah is an audit senior manager on the Compliance & Monitoring team at HORNE. She specializes in conducting comprehensive audits and thorough compliance reviews, ensuring that clients meet all regulatory and programmatic standards and requirements. She is skilled in client relationship management, business development, and navigating program challenges by implementing programs that maximize funding while reducing the risk of recapture.
Stephen is a senior manager on HORNE’s Intelligence & Automation team, where he serves as Senior Systems Developer utilizing innovative technology to help FEMA Public Assistance and HUD CDBG-DR teams manage the disaster recovery process. He works to implement...
Dion is a senior manager on HORNE’s Intelligence & Automation team, where he serves as the Enterprise GIS Database Administrator. Dion joined the firm in 2020 with nearly 25 years of experience using data analytics to assist in CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT, HUD grant...
Tyler Bridges is a senior manager for HORNE’s Government Services division and serves on the Technical Advisory Group where he primarily focuses on managing HORNE’s HUD Technical Assistance (TA) portfolio funded directly by HUD’s Community Compass Initiative.
Danny is a senior manager on HORNE’s Government Services team where he serves as program director of the Lee County CDBG-DR Individual Housing Program.
Monitoring is a tool that federal and state agencies use to reinforce collaboration between awarding agencies (e.g., FEMA or HUD) and their grantees; it is a Government Accountability Office (GAO) standard that provides information that is critical for making informed judgments about program effectiveness and management efficiency.
As stewards of taxpayer funds, all federal grantees have the responsibility to impede, identify, and address any suspected or known acts of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement to ensure proper and efficient use of federal funding.
Around every five years, HUD’s Community and Planning Development (CPD) office publishes a Notice to HUD grantees that contains guidance relating to U.S. geographic datasets used for compliance purposes with CDBG and other HUD programs.
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs depend greatly upon their ability to reach and serve particularly disadvantaged persons, areas, and communities. To effectively serve disadvantaged individuals and communities, it’s essential to deploy innovative strategies and targeted outreach.
Jim Dunphy is a manager within HORNE’s Technical Advisory Group, where he collaborates with subject matter experts to assist subrecipients in achieving compliance with Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and Section 3 requirements.
Cara Corrigan is a program manager within HORNE’s Technical Advisory Group, specializing in managing government contracts, maintaining project budgets, preparing annual and quarterly reports and overseeing vendors.
Kesha Simon is a project manager and subject matter expert for HORNE’s Technical Advisory Group where she manages project scope, schedule and budget, ensuring successful program delivery. She also oversees program deliverables and leads the development of standard operating procedures and change management.
On April 23, 2024, HUD released a “final rule” that updated their regulations for managing floodplains and protecting wetlands to incorporate the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS).
If you represent a HUD organization that regularly receives Federal funds, you are probably familiar with requirements relating to Federal Labor standards. Section 3 requirements—often discussed in the same context as Labor—you may be less familiar with, however.
Did you know that every Federally-funded project must undergo an environmental review before any funds can be spent, or even committed to a project? This includes projects that do not directly impact the environment.
Jason Clark is a senior manager on the government services team at HORNE where he develops partnerships and cultivates relationships with clients, architects, engineers, local officials and vendors.
Jack Rohlinger is a senior manager on HORNE’s government services team, where he serves as the deputy construction director for various hurricane recovery programs.
Carlos Fournier-Gonzalez is a is a senior manager in HORNE’s government services group where he manages the CDBG-MIT Strategic Direct-Selection Infrastructure Mitigation Program, with a total allocated budget of nearly $1.5 billion.
Maribel Gatica serves as a government services senior manager at HORNE. She specializes in collaborating with state and local government units to design and administer their Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs.
Josh Clark is a senior manager on the government services team at HORNE, where he serves as a systems project manager. He specializes in design and process creation, implementation and offering end-to-end solutions for clients.
Laura Scruggs is a senior manager in HORNE’s Government Services group where she serves as an eligibility expert for Tennessee’s ARPA program. She ensures compliance with federal regulations for federal funding streams.
Government P3 Compliance & Monitoring Collaborative and efficient. Public-private partnerships (P3) aim to take the strengths of both sectors to complete important projects. Maintaining public trust and confidence is a critical step to ensuring these...
Michael Chua is a senior manager in HORNE’s government services group where he serves as a subject matter expert for HORNE’s disaster recovery and mitigation portfolio.
Aubrey Leigh is a senior manager within HORNE’s Public and Middle Market group where she works with the compliance and monitoring team. In this role, she develops strategies and solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs by leveraging her knowledge of regulatory frameworks and history of working with state and federal partners.
Kyle Skene is an assurance senior manager at HORNE. He is responsible for team leadership, review of audit test work and managing client relationships for publicly and privately held clients across a variety of industries including agribusiness, telecommunications and manufacturing.
Matthew van Drunen is a senior manager within HORNE’s government services group where he helps clients address their challenges with program implementation, compliance and operations.
As we enter the heart of hurricane season, it is critical that states that experience the impact of hurricanes prepare not only for response in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but for long-term recovery as well.
HORNE’s cyber team recently earned The Cyber AB Certified Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) designation which allows HORNE to perform specific cyber security assessments for Organizations Seeking Compliance (OSC) through contractual agreements.
Kelly is a director in HORNE’s government services group where he works to build, manage and expand the construction and construction management services for the firm.
Alex Yarbrough is a government services senior manager at HORNE, where he currently serves as a subject matter expert in policy guidance and interpretation, federal procurement requirements, and leveraging combined funding streams.
Katia Gonzalez-Torres is a senior program manager within HORNE’s government services team where she serves the Puerto Rico Department of Housing’s grant management team as the CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT Housing Programs sector lead.
Jonathan Krebs was a college student at the University of Southern Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. He remembers well the effects the storm had on the school, its students and faculty. Now he serves as the managing partner for the Government Services division of HORNE and oversees multiple disaster projects that have helped people and communities recover.
Geoffrey Ross is the director of federal and state programs at HORNE. Leveraging his experience in leading several of the country’s most innovative and largest housing and community development initiatives, he partners with communities to develop successful solutions to complex challenges. Geoffrey has assisted federal agencies, states, local and international governments in the design and implementation of their programs. His focus is on instituting impactful solutions that create measurable outcomes that directly respond to identified needs and goals.
The global pandemic reshaped the way we work. Not only did it expedite the shift to remote teams, it also highlighted the importance of work-life balance and allowed many workers to re-think their personal and career goals.
Christine Waldron is a government services senior manager for HORNE. She manages project teams to meet client goals and expectations related to the administration of CDBG-DR, SSBG, FEMA, and CARES Act funded programs. Christine has experience in operationalizing large teams in production environments by utilizing program data to maximize efficiencies.
RIDGELAND, Mississippi, July 19, 2022 – Engineering News-Record has ranked HORNE as one of the Top 50 professional services firms in two areas of program management for 2022. HORNE is ranked number 11 on the industry publication’s list of Top 50 Program Management Firms in the U.S. and number 18 in the Top 100 Construction Management-for-Fee Firms.
Lauren Poche is a historic preservation senior manager and architectural historian at HORNE. She specializes in architectural history, history and archival research and has extensive experience as an archaeologist who focuses on historic period sites.
The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for American businesses and local governments. As our nation heads toward a post-Covid environment, equally unique opportunities are taking shape. What does this mean for you?
Melanie Stewart is a senior manager in the government services practice at HORNE where she oversees all technology systems, integrations and data and the implementation of system changes. She leads business requirements analysis efforts by partnering with key stakeholders to tailor implemented systems to meet changes in all core IT systems. Additionally, she leads all information systems, application and analytical reporting development and delivery for Puerto Rico’s CDBG-DR 23 Program Portfolio. She provides advisement on how information technology solutions and systems can meet CDBG-DR recovery goals.
Sean Almonte is a director in the government services practice at HORNE. He specializes in providing subject matter expertise on housing policies and compliance, implementation and management for state and local governments.
Steven Rawlinson is a government services director at HORNE. He specializes in working with financial management systems and internal control oversight.
Since the emergency rental assistance program began, HORNE has received approximately 533,000 applications totaling more than $3.6 billion. So far, HORNE has disbursed over $1 billion to 169,000 applicants.
Our team includes former staff reviewers for the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Their perspectives and experiences allow us to anticipate concerns while keeping the historic integrity of the community. We also ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
Kelli is a senior manager in government services at HORNE where she is currently part of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) recovery accounting team in Biloxi, MS, working to provide accounting oversight for the MEMA Public Assistance program. She works as a liaison between the Federal Emergency Management Agency, MEMA and the sub-grantees to resolve any issues that may arise in the initial project review or final inspection process.
Lori Cochran is a senior manager in government services at HORNE. She leads Uniform Relocation Act services and compliance for the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery. She advises clients in areas of policy and operations that are consistent with federal guidelines and support their overall recovery mission.
Lori Cunningham is a senior manager in government services at HORNE where she directs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) development. Lori applies GIS technologies to disaster recovery programs by developing streamlined approaches to spatial analyses and map production, disseminating data via GIS websites and implementing mobile field data collection applications.
Tiffany Schwarzauer is a government services senior manager at HORNE LLP. She currently works as a project manager for a housing grant program for the state of North Carolina. She works directly with the state agency to ensure compliance with federal regulations and to assist in developing processes to increase workflow.
Jenna Abbey is a senior manager in the government services practice at HORNE. She specializes in providing and implementing solutions for clients and their most demanding challenges. She is skilled in process development, data analysis, streamlining operations, managing stakeholder collaboration, reporting and financial stewardship.
Daron Wilson is a director at HORNE where he serves as the director of operations for the government services team. He specializes in economic development and operational management initiatives. Daron’s vast knowledge and hands-on experience in economic development, management and implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program (HUD-CDBG), environmental and regulatory compliance, portfolio and program management, and disaster recovery enhances the capabilities offered to clients served through a full-scale recovery lens to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for areas impacted by natural disasters.
Vicki Smith is a senior manager in the government services division of HORNE. She is a division leader/coordinator assigned to state recovery accounting oversight projects where she provides disaster relief management and compliance for the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs.
Megan Conner is the attorney for the government services focus area at HORNE where she is responsible for contract review and negotiation and advises the focus area on legal matters that may arise.
Jillian Compton is a director in HORNE’s government services, where she oversees FEMA Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Individual Assistance projects as well as HUD CDBG-DR.
Ryan Flanery serves as the director of CDBG-DR compliance for the government services team. In this role, Ryan partners with grantees to ensure program operations proceed in compliance with CDBG-DR requirements. He values blending the CDBG-DR program requirements with a creative problem-solving approach and uses his deep experience to help grantees develop and implement successful programs that are tailored to local recovery needs.
Monica Thompson is a senior manager in government services at HORNE where she assists with business development efforts. She collaborates internally and externally to continue to advance the firm within the industry and position for future growth opportunities.
Diana Hardin is a director in government services for HORNE. She currently manages the Project Management Office at the Mississippi Development Authority where she works with the program managers to facilitate closeout of grant programs and ensure compliance with governmental regulations.
Ali Garrison serves as a senior manager for government services where she provides oversight, operations support and compliance support for state and local governments, including funds made available through the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act. She focuses on project management processes and procedures, and she collaborates with states to maximize and accelerate funding disbursement.
Sam is a senior manager in government services at HORNE where he has over ten years of managerial experience in working directly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specifically with the Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA) Direct Housing Programs. He specializes in FEMA Debris Removal, Stafford Act compliance, Intergovernmental Service agreement, and disaster recovery program compliance.
Monica Mota is a director in government services at HORNE. She works with large-scale projects with an emphasis on program design and implementation. She works directly with states and municipalities to ensure program design completion for the Community Development Block Grant program. She represents states in OIG audits, HUD monitoring, and congressional oversight inquiries.
Lacy is a partner at HORNE where she works closely with state agencies and local jurisdictions to design, plan and implement successful federally funded programs. She provides guidance and quality control for ERAP, CDBG-DR and FEMA housing programs. She has led the Texas ERAP program which has disbursed over $1.9B in payment disbursements including rent and utility payments. Lacy uses her background in fraud prevention to develop policies, procedures and processes that drive accuracy and ensure program compliance.
Daniel Paul is a senior manager in government services at HORNE. He serves as the program director for the Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Matthew, and Hurricane Joaquin recovery programs under the South Carolina Office of resilience.
Christopher Shannon is a director in the government services practice at HORNE, where he provides subject matter expertise and oversight to HORNE’s financial implementation team in Puerto Rico. The damage left behind by natural disasters creates a significant and unexpected challenge for government entities, and working in disaster relief allows Christopher to use his experience and expertise to pursue his passion of finding solutions to complex issues and helping people get back in their homes.
Bob Harland is a director in HORNE’s intelligence and automation group where he specializes in data analytics, reporting and project management to deliver impactful solutions for clients.
Adrienne Celestine is a director in HORNE’s government services group where she works closely with state and local government agencies in the design, development and implementation of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery programs. She assists clients in navigating and understanding complex federal regulations and help them design programs that are both in compliance and meet the needs of the constituents affected by disasters.
COVID-19 presents new operations, funding and compliance challenges for local governments, state agencies and healthcare. With a history of service in crisis situations, HORNE has developed methods to speed up recovery processes and deliver results quickly.
Financial integrity and transparency are the cornerstones of trust and credibility in the government sector. To generate the greatest result for the community and individuals within it, you must maximize the reach and impact of funding. Our approach balances government-industry knowledge with stringent accounting standards so you can have peace of mind about using government funding efficiently and adequately.
HORNE builds its programs with successful outcomes in mind and then develops the plans, systems and workflow processes to match the program’s unique requirements. We collaborate to establish procedures using best practices from similar programs.
We have earned respect from federal, state and local leaders as successful managers of disaster recovery funding and for our total dedication to putting in place the processes and structures for sustained community improvement. When recovery is done well, communities return stronger and more resilient.
GOVERNMENT Environmental Creating a sustainable tomorrow, today. We understand the impact recovery projects can have on the environment and are committed to ensuring compliance with standards at the local, state and federal levels. Our environmental planning solutions...
If you need to know where something happened, where it’s likely to happen or why it happened in a certain place, a Geographic Information System provides that information. By visualizing and analyzing data through maps, GIS allows you to see patterns and relationships that spreadsheets simply can’t show. GIS turns numbers into visuals, allowing you to dig deeper and discover greater value in your data.
For over 15 years HORNE has been delivering applications that create stable process management while driving innovation for federally funded programs across the United States and beyond. HORNE’s team of solution engineers solve complex problems across all facets of delivery. Infrastructure, development, quality assurance, and data are only the tip of the spear when we launch teams for program delivery that need to integrate with existing solutions or re-engineer processes
Timothy Smith is a partner at HORNE where he serves both private industry and public entities. He focuses on developing relationships with decision-makers across state and local government and the private sector, and shepherding them through decision-making regarding grant implementation, management and compliance.
Ashley Swain serves as director of compliance on HORNE’s ARPA projects in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. She previously provided eligibility and compliance expertise on CARES Act and CRF projects in Florida, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee and Texas.
Risk management involves every facet of your organization, regardless of your industry. We help transform risk into opportunity to give you peace of mind.
As a partner in HORNE’s Government Services, Alethia Thomas leads a growing team of professionals who help clients innovatively and compassionately face today’s most complex issues.
With over 15 years of experience in project and program management, Samir El Hage is passionate about helping our clients ensure project success. Working on various projects such as road infrastructure, outpatient clinic facilities, hospital facilities, academic facilities, residential multi-story buildings, office buildings, and coastal facilities, he brings a wide array of knowledge to help clients and stakeholders manage complex processes and solve challenging problems.
Marsha Dieckman’s passion is serving others by collaborating for solutions. Helping states create solutions to maximize CARES Act funding aligns with this passion. COVID-19 has presented opportunities and challenges for us all.
I have personally been through disaster and offer empathy and understanding to those working toward recovery. In the aftermath of disaster, the people, agencies, and states facilitating recovery efforts receive requests from numerous different directions. Helping people navigate these devastating and confusing times gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction.
The amount of time it takes to oversee routine accounting and financial operation functions is increasing. Let HORNE provide your managed accounting services.
HORNE’s Neil Forbes thinks of our clients as family, just like our team members. The professionalism and empathy HORNE brings to every job shows in how we treat our clients and deliver our services – with focus, skill and care. We are dedicated to being stewards for our clients and providing an exceptional experience in all of the professional services we offer. Our goal isn’t just to do a job, but to build relationships.
Many companies and individuals have applied for funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) Relief Loans Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Our previous communication addresses the recent suspension of the PPP due to inadequate funding. For our clients that did not receive funds or approval prior to the suspension, we will continue to work on completing applications and submitting to lenders in anticipation of additional funds being made available under the PPP.
It has come to our attention that a new email phishing or “spoofing” scheme is being sent to businesses seeking financial assistance due to COVID-19. The emails are an attempt to scam business owners that have applied, or are considering applying, for Paycheck Protection Program loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. These emails may look legitimate and appear to come from your bank.
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