Tiffany Merritt
I have dedicated 25 years to the affordable housing field, beginning my career at Ledic, which is now called Involved, before joining Affordable Equity Partners where I've been serving as a compliance asset manager for going on 5 years. In my role, I handle quite a bit - I ensure ongoing regulatory compliance, making sure all of our properties and projects are in compliance with the IRS and state regulations. I protect long-term affordability, ensuring that all of our properties maintain compliance throughout their compliance period. I also train and mentor staff, work with accounting on determining first-year credits, support policies and developments, and lead audits and file reviews. I'm just the type of person that likes to learn and step in and help anytime I can. I'm very dedicated to my role, to my company, to my job, and I'm always willing to go the extra mile to help anybody. In my company, I feel like a lot of people look up to me because of this dedication.
• Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP)
• Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM)
• Associate's Degree in Business Administration (1999
• 4.0 GPA
• Perfect Attendance)
• Rookie of the Year (2022
• Affordable Equity Partners)
• Roger Gardner Recognition Award (2023
• Roger Gardner Recognition Award (2025
• Board of Directors
• MOCARH (Missouri-based organization)
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say 100%, there are a lot of mentors within my company that I contribute my success to. There are absolutely so many people who have helped me along the way. I'm always willing to go the extra mile to help anybody, and I'm very dedicated to my role, to my company, to my job. In my company, I feel like a lot of people look up to me because I'm always willing to go the extra mile to help anybody.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Honestly, to give it 100%. Do the best you can. That's the advice that has stuck with me throughout my career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the challenges in affordable housing involve making sure deadlines are met. There are deadlines that have to be met in certain circumstances with properties that are in affordable housing, so I focus on making sure deadlines are met, there's no risk to credits, files are in compliance, and residents are recertified on time annually. We need to ensure that we are at no risk from the state or the IRS to jeopardize any type of credits for any of the properties.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being kind is very important to me, as well as being transparent and motivated. I value being helpful - I'm always willing to go the extra mile to help anybody. I'm very dedicated to my role, to my company, to my job. In my company, I feel like a lot of people look up to me because I'm always willing to go the extra mile to help anybody.
Locations
Affordable Equity Partners, Inc.
Nesbit, MS