Leadership
Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson joined Aeon as President & CEO in February 2022. He brings extensive academic and professional experience to Aeon. He holds a PhD in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware. He is an alumnus of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate. He also holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee. Most recently, he served as Chief of Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Services at the City of Dallas, where he led efforts to create a $100 million fund to support affordable housing, and adoption of the City’s comprehensive economic development policy.
Johnson was born and raised in New Orleans and has worked in urban development in cities across the country. He is not new to Minnesota. Johnson earned a Master of Public Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1996. From 2018 -2020, he was Community Development Director at the City of Bloomington. There he led the creation of the City’s opportunity housing ordinance and Bloomington’s $15 million affordable housing trust fund. Its first investment was in Blooming Meadows South, a property Aeon acquired to preserve 306 affordable homes.
Angela joined Aeon in 2008 and brings more than 20 years of Human Resource Management experience in the multi-housing arena. She is responsible for human resource strategic development and directs the day-to-day operations of the organization’s human resources team. Angela is a Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management, and through the HR Certification Institute.
Caroline joined Aeon in 1998, where she oversees Aeon’s finance and accounting functions and for 15 years, was also responsible for asset management. In her role, Caroline has been instrumental in managing Aeon’s past and continued growth and building its financial position.
Caroline is also an active leader in the nonprofit affordable housing industry. Since 2007, Caroline has been a member of the STRENGTH MATTERSTM CFO Working Group which has developed a series of white papers on external reporting best practices for the nonprofit affordable housing industry. She is on the board of directors of NeighborWorks Capital, a lender to the NeighborWorks network. Caroline also presents on a variety of conference panels, using her skills and knowledge wherever she can to improve not just the work of Aeon, but to all organizations in the industry. Caroline earned her BSBA in accounting from Boston University School of Management. She was recognized as one of the Top Women in Finance by Finance & Commerce, and in 2021 she received the CFO of the Year Award from Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Santiago joined Aeon in June 2019. Prior to joining Aeon, he was the Executive Vice President & Director of Regulatory Compliance for The Eagle Point Management in the Washington, D.C. area. Santiago has his M.A. in Intercultural Communications and his MBA from the University of Maryland.
Tyler joined Aeon in 2022. A new arrival to Minnesota, Tyler was most recently the Director of Outreach and Engagement at Housing Solutions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in Tulsa he was awarded a key to the city for his efforts focused on important community-based work with people living without shelter. Tyler also has experience working in advocacy and public policy and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Virginia joined Aeon in 2016. A nonprofit generalist, she has worked in the nonprofit sector for 18 years with a focus on fundraising, marketing and volunteer engagement. Prior to that she worked for several years in the corporate sector at General Mills. A lifelong community volunteer, she currently serves on the Board of Directors at TEDxMinneapolis and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Minnesota. Virginia received her MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and her bachelor’s degree from Carleton College.
At least one-third of Aeon’s Board of Directors is comprised of residents of low-income neighborhoods or low-income individuals; 60% includes people who live in Aeon’s service area; and at least three Directors are Aeon residents.