Our LEADERSHIP Team

Founder

William Connolly founded Connolly and Partners in 2005 and leads our affordable housing group. He has worked in real estate since 1972.  Before creating the firm, William was an executive with WinnCompanies, Liberty Real Estate, Claremont Management, First Winthrop Corporation, and the John M. Corcoran Company.

Over the course of his career, he has been involved in the acquisition, management, and development of nearly 125,000 units of housing which if added together would be conservatively valued at approximately $10 billion.  Larger individual assets within this group range from a currently owned 500-unit site in Somerville, MA to a 3,000-unit property that was sold by its syndicator in Springhill, Maryland. 

Through this experience, William has come to know that non-profit organizations make good partners.  While working alongside housing authorities, service organizations, and resident groups his mission has always stayed the same—to preserve and create affordable housing wherever it is needed.  Across the country, he has been a leader in forming successful public-private partnerships to bring about the physical and financial turnaround of HUD foreclosures, third-party assets, and other distressed properties.  

Having written and spoken widely in support of affordable housing, he values working with non-profits and governmental entities.  He is a long-time supporter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, CPM designee with the Institute of Real Estate Management, and licensed Real Estate Broker.

William is a graduate of the Economics program at Boston State College—now a part of the University of Massachusetts.

Managing Director

Andrew Comollo joined our parent company, First Hartford, in 2009.  He has been in the field for more than 10 years, working primarily in retail and multifamily development.  Today, he oversees our multifamily operations from development to asset management.

Prior to joining our team, he served as the Vice President of Lisciotti Development Corporation where he worked to acquire, develop, and manage retail commercial properties.  He has directly been involved in the development of projects that have created over $450 million of value during his career.  

His experiences range from strategic new market entry for national retailers to the full rehabilitation of Clarendon Hill Towers—our flagship 501-unit multifamily property located in Somerville, Massachusetts.  Andrew has found his work in affordable housing allows him to utilize his real estate skill set in a way that positively impacts the communities we serve and the lives of our residents.  

Andrew graduated with degrees in Economics and Finance as well as Insurance Finance from the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business, and is pursuing his JD from the University of Connecticut’s School of Law. 

Director of Community Development

Jennifer Connolly joined Connolly and Partners in 2009.  She has worked in the industry for over 20 years—including time in property management and sustainable design.  She now oversees community development initiatives for our team.  Earlier in her career, Jennifer held positions with Equity Residential and the WinnCompanies. 

The ability to oversee complex tasks, lead high-performing teams, and effectively represent the interests of residents has been exhibited throughout her career.  A graduate of Fairfield University with a degree in Politics, her experiences in the field are complemented by her credentials including the LEED Green Associate designation, license as a Real Estate Broker, and HUD Resident Services Coordination certification. 

Recognized as an affordable housing advocate, Jennifer was elected Vice President of New England Resident Service Coordinators.  She was also appointed by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials leadership team to serve the Community Revitalization and Development Committee as an extension of her extensive work with our housing authority and non-profit partners.

Jennifer is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Development at The Pennsylvania State University.

Director of Property Management

Linda Hamilton joined our affiliate, FHRC Management Corporation, in 2008 and now leads this division.  During her 35-plus-year career, she managed teams at WinnResidential, Cruz Management Company, and Maloney Properties which combined included overseeing 10,000 units of housing.

Specializing in working with resident-owned affordable developments, Linda has an extensive background in HUD multi-family affordable housing, Section 42 LIHTC programs, as well as state and federally funded initiatives.  

She has successfully managed the renovation of over 5,000 units of housing within her career and controlled development budgets that exceeded $100 million. 

Today, Linda oversees the daily operations of our management company and professional staff located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.  She connects with our residents as individuals, provides them with support, and works each day to better their communities. 

Linda attended the University of California Irvine studying World Languages.

Asset Manager & Development Associate

Sven van den Dungen joined FHRC Management Corporation, First Hartford's property management company, in 2017 as the Assistant Property Manager for Clarendon Hill Towers.

Prior to joining our team, Sven was active in the management of senior housing in downtown Boston for Preservation of Affordable Housing. 

He has extensive experience with HUD multifamily affordable housing developments, Section 42 LIHTC programs, as well as state and federally funded public housing initiatives.

As an Accredited Residential Manager with the Institute of Real Estate Management, Sven actively assisted in the daily operation and management of our largest multifamily property. 

Today, Sven is responsible for tasks related to asset management, acquisitions, underwriting, financing, and development of our multifamily portfolio.

Sven graduated with a degree in Marketing and Business Management from the University of Ghent in Belgium.