NHC's Annual Housing Visionary Awards Gala honored distinguished leaders whose work continues to shape housing, community development, and opportunity across the nation. The 2025 Housing Visionary Awards were presented to Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, and Renee Lewis Glover, Founder and Managing Member of The Catalyst Group and former CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority. In addition, The Honorable Mel Martinez, former U.S. Senator and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, received the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service. Together, these leaders exemplify NHC's mission of advancing quality, affordable housing for all through vision, leadership, and lasting impact. The evening opened with remarks from HUD Secretary Scott Turner, underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing today's housing challenges. Watch the Opening Remarks
Marc H. Morial was recognized for his transformative leadership at the National Urban League and his lifelong commitment to equity, economic opportunity, and civil rights. A former Mayor of New Orleans and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Morial has been a leading national voice on housing, jobs, education, and entrepreneurship, combining public service, advocacy, and thought leadership to drive meaningful change.
Renee Lewis Glover was honored for her groundbreaking work in housing affordability and community revitalization. During her 19-year tenure as CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority, she led a national shift away from distressed public housing toward master-planned, mixed-use, mixed-income communities—leveraging billions in public and private investment and improving quality of life for tens of thousands of residents. Her leadership helped redefine how housing authorities can operate as high-performing, mission-driven real estate organizations.
The Honorable Mel Martinez received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a career dedicated to public service and housing leadership. As former U.S. Secretary of HUD, U.S. Senator from Florida, and Mayor of Orange County, Martinez played a pivotal role in expanding homeownership, shaping housing policy, and advancing community development at the local and national levels. His continued civic and corporate leadership reflects a lifelong commitment to strengthening communities and public institutions.