Meet The EHDOC Team

Steve Protulis
Executive Director / Executive Vice President

A recognized national advocate activist for senior issues, Steve Protulis heads the EHDOC team. He was formerly the Executive Director of the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC), one of the nation’s strongest voices for older Americans and their families.

Steve was appointed by the United States Congress to the prestigious Congressional Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century in 2001-2002.

He came to the United States in 1961 from Uruguay to attend Wayne State University. He was honored to be a member of the United States Army and served in Vietnam. He began his career on the shop floor of a General Motors plant in Detroit as a member of UAW Local 174. By 1970 he headed the Local that represented the largest cut-and-sew plant in the nation with 6,000 members.

He served as a Deputy Field Director for Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Campaign and was the AFL-CIO National Coordinator for Support Groups in Washington, D.C. He also served as the Administrative Assistant to former UAW President Douglas Fraser and as Special Assistant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

Steve serves on the board of several national organizations including Chairman for the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC); Member of the House of Delegates for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA); serves on the (NISH) Committee of the National Council on Aging and on the Center for Policy Alternatives. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Home Modifications Action Coalition and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Caring Magazine.

Patricia Kohnke, Chief of Staff
email: Pat Kohnke

After receiving her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Political Science/Urban Governments from Northeastern Illinois University she began her career in property management in 1978 in Chicago. Pat’s diversity of experience includes housing programs for seniors, group homes for AIDS patients, transitional drug and alcohol programs, emergency shelters as well as luxury convention housing. She supervises the field operations for all EHDOC properties and oversees the EHDOC Community Action Program.

Ronald Revales, Controller
email: Ronald Revales

Ronald comes to EHDOC with extensive experience. He is a former CFO/Controller of an affordable housing developer and property management not-for-profit organization. He has considerable knowledge of tax credit financing. Ronald has a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a Master Degree in Accounting from the University of Miami. He is also a Certifed Public Accountant.

Christopher Shear, Development & Refinance Coordinator
email: Christopher Shear

Mr. Shear holds a B.S. in Economics, with a concentration in real estate and urban land economics, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is responsible for leading EHDOC’s acquisition and development initiatives as well as the financial restructuring of EHDOC’s existing portfolio. Prior to joining EHDOC Chris served in acquisition and development roles for a real estate investment trust (REIT) and prominent development firm. Chris has been involved in the development process of over 1,000 affordable and market-rate units. He maintains extensive experience within affordable housing development; specifically mixed finance, historic, and low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) projects.

Uris M. Liburd, Budget and Development Specialist
email: Uris Liburd

Uris graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. She began her career in 1988 as a Property Accountant for a commercial real estate firm. In May 1999, she joined the EHDOC team as an Accounting Specialist and later became a member of the senior staff as Budget Specialist and Accounting Assistant Supervisor.

Kate Hanley, Coordinator of Field Support
email: Kate Hanley
Kate has over 12 years of experience in working with seniors. Prior to joining EHDOC, she worked for a non-profit organization assessing the need for home care for low income seniors and disabled persons. She began her career with EHDOC as a Community Manager for Chateau Cushnoc in Augusta, Maine. After servicing as a Senior Community Manager, Kate now supports the national field staff. She has become EHDOC’s pioneer in transitioning our properties to going “Green”.

Larry Hecky, Director of Architecture Building
email: Larry Hecky

Larry Hecky attended Hiram College and is a graduate of Kent State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 1962. He has been a Registered Architect in the State of Ohio since 1965, NCARB certification was obtained in 1972 and he is currently registered in 20 states. Larry established his own Architectural pratice in 1968, The Hecky Group, specializing in affortable housing for senior citizens and families. The Hecky Group provided architectural services for over 10,000 living units for seniors citizens in numerous locations over United States.

Through the years of his practice, Larry has been involved in the research and development of new construction systems, construction of new multifamily developments on a national level, rehab of existing multifamily developments, and adoptive re-use of older significant buildings for residential use. In 2007 the Hecky Group merged with TC Architects where Larry served as Director of Residential Development for 3 years before leaving to become Director of Architecture and Building for EHDOC. Larry ia a member of the American Institute Architects (AIA), the National Homebuilders Association(NAHB), the American Planning Association (APA), and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

Mary Dinello, Information Technology Specialist
email: Mary Dinello

Mary has an Associates Degree in Computer Electronics and has worked in the computer field for 18 years. She has managed an assigned territory servicing customers with computer needs. She currently manages EHDOC’s information systems and is technical support for the field staff.