Who we are

PRESIDENT

Jill Brooks-Garnett is a recognized leader in affordable housing investment with a commitment to advancing housing access across California and the western United States. As founder and president of Hestia Housing Company, Jill leads a team of seasoned professionals, each bringing their expertise in development, equity structuring, lending, and a shared desire for social impact.

Prior to founding Hestia Housing, Jill served for over twenty years in executive leadership at some of the nation's largest low-income housing tax credit syndicators. Over those two decades, she oversaw the operations of LIHTC equity funds, property operations, and municipal bond portfolios, with an AUM exceeding $13 billion.

Jill earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. She now serves on Marshall's Board of Councilors and the Advisory Council of the Greif Center for Entrepreneurship at USC. Jill is also a graduate from the Wharton School's General Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Jonathan Woodland is a founding member and Managing Director of Hestia Housing Company. Mr. Woodland guides development and equity and debt investments with experience in construction, repositioning, renovations, restructuring, syndications, financing, and securitization.

Jonathan comes to Hestia Housing with nearly two decades of community development, social impact investing, and banking experience. In his various capacities, he has advised and consulted government housing authorities, large public corporations, large and small non-profits, real estate developers and funds, and financial institutions on capital markets solutions to low-income housing and community development projects.

Jonathan has extensive capital markets experience and is a CFA Charterholder. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University (B.S. Economics) and the University of Southern California (M.B.A.). Jonathan is active with several non-profits and holds several volunteer positions in his local government.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Karrie Simmons is a seasoned professional with nearly twenty years of experience in the affordable housing sector and a founding member of Hestia Housing Company. Throughout her career, Karrie has demonstrated expertise in a variety of key areas including funds management, asset management, and fund and property accounting. She thrives on building meaningful relationships and leveraging her expertise to drive positive change.

Karrie's diverse tenure in affordable housing, having worked with both syndicators and non-profit developers, has given her valuable insight into different facets of the industry. Her passion for creating sustainable and accessible housing solutions has been the driving force behind her work, inspiring her to make a tangible difference in the communities her employers served. Karrie is known for her collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence.

Karrie holds a Bachelor's degree from Doane College and an MBA from Regis University.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Norma Padilla, a founding member of Hestia Housing Company, is a leading force in affordable housing development and management. With over two decades of experience in the affordable housing sector, Norma brings a wealth of expertise in development, syndication, asset management, risk management, and property management. She has a proven dedicated track record of creating sustainable communities and fostering positive social impact through navigating complex transactions.

Previously, Norma successfully managed a diverse portfolio of more than 140 low-income housing communities across the country. In this capacity, she orchestrated business plans, spearheaded project rehabilitations, facilitated refinances, oversaw property management agents, and communicated transparently with state agencies, lenders, and city officials.

Norma holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Real Estate & Finance from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSUN.

VICE PRESIDENT

Jessica Patterson has spent over a decade specializing in affordable housing and is the Vice President of Project Management with Hestia Housing. With a track record of driving operational excellence and ensuring financial health, Jessica has cultivated a deep expertise in various facets of housing finance, including low-income housing tax credit syndication, tax exempt bond portfolio management, and loan servicing. She has played instrumental roles in infrastructure development, team management, and process improvement, contributing significantly to the success of multi-billion-dollar acquisitions and fund management initiatives.

Her commitment to excellence, combined with her expertise in financial management, accounting, and compliance, positions Jessica as an invaluable asset seeking to achieve and sustain financial success in complex and dynamic environments. Her dedication to low-income housing stems from her deeply held belief in the importance of access to safe and affordable housing, driving her passion for creating sustainable solutions that uplift communities and empower individuals to thrive.

Jessica is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Certified Public Accountant.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Lincoln Williamson has over 39 years of real estate experience, of which nearly 30 years is within the affordable housing sector. Lincoln’s most recent roll included preserving affordable housing that was approaching regulatory agreement expiration, in an effort to create workforce housing (middle-income or moderate-income) for individuals and families typically earning between 60% and 120% AMI. 

Lincoln is a three-term Elected Official for the City of Los Angeles, serving as a volunteer. He is a Board Member of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council. As part of his official capacity he organizes, chairs, and participates in public meetings (pursuant to California’s Brown Act). In his roll he provides input and votes on numerous community-impacting issues, including development entitlement applications. 

Lincoln has been a licensed California real estate broker since 1990. He has a BSc from the University of Southern California (1992).

Lincoln is a first generation American and son of a wartime refugee. He is honored to be able to serve his community, and he is dedicated to providing safe, quality affordable housing.