Our Management Team

Sarah Jemison
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PRESIDENT

Sarah Jemison is President and Chief Executive Officer of ALCO, a role she assumed in January 2026. As CEO, she leads the company’s strategic direction, organizational culture, and long-term growth, with a focus on strengthening ALCO’s impact as a mission-driven real estate firm through thoughtful expansion and talent development. Sarah joined ALCO in early 2018, working across the Acquisitions and Development teams on the financing of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) redevelopments while also contributing to companywide organizational development. Her role evolved to focus on corporate strategy and culture, leading to the creation and leadership of ALCO’s Talent Division. Prior to ALCO, Sarah worked at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, advancing efforts to expand federal housing resources. She currently serves on the boards of Neighborhood Preservation, Inc., The Works, Inc., and Longleaf Partners Fund. Sarah holds a degree in History and African American Studies from Princeton University.

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Berkeley C. Burbank
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Berkeley provides leadership to the Acquisition and Development team, fostering the company’s continued growth and sustainability as an owner, developer, and manager of affordable housing communities. Berkeley has been active in the development of affordable housing since 1995. He joined ALCO’s acquisitions and development team in 2006 to manage the financing and redevelopment of many of our communities. He has extensive experience working with a broad range of debt and equity sources to deliver these projects. He holds a degree in Public Policy from Stanford University.

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Nancy Russell
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Nancy joined ALCO as the Chief Financial Officer in 2023. She leads the Accounting and Information Technology teams in their work to support the greater Alco organization and its vision and mission. Nancy brings extensive experience as the Chief Financial Officer of family owned and privately held businesses. She is community focused, having served on the board of directors of Iris Orchestra and Leadership Preparatory Academy. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Purdue University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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Stewart Carlin
VICE PRESIDENT, ASSET MANAGEMENT

Since joining ALCO as a financial analyst in 1999, Stewart has successfully executed complex recapitalization plans and reduced utility costs through specific programs, as well as leading “green project” initiatives. As Vice President of Asset Management, Stewart develops and executes long-term, performance-enhancing strategies while monitoring budgets, capital requirements and the overall performance of properties across the ALCO portfolio. Stewart holds an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Memphis.

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Thomas Robinson
VICE PRESIDENT, ACQUISITIONS AND DEVELOPMENT

Since joining ALCO in 2014, Thomas has helped the company grow through the acquisition and preservation of affordable apartment communities across the Southeast. He leads the company’s property acquisition efforts from deal sourcing to closing and manages redevelopment projects with a focus on project planning, financing, and regulatory approvals. He has an undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and worked in nonprofit social services in Memphis prior to joining the ALCO team.

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Whitney Foster
VICE PRESIDENT, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Whitney joined ALCO in 2024 as the Vice President of Property Management. In this role, Whitney is responsible for leading and developing the property management team and overseeing community operations. She works closely with other members of the operations division and the ALCO leadership team to ensure that the communities have the support they need to provide a quality environment and experience for onsite teams and residents. Before becoming a part of ALCO, Whitney spent many years in program management and operations for the education and global health sectors, designing strategic initiatives, implementing large-scale projects, and building strong and empowered teams. Whitney holds a bachelor's degree in English and History from Colgate University.

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Brooke Molpus-Cortez
VICE PRESIDENT, TALENT

Brooke Molpus-Cortez joined ALCO in 2025 as the Vice President of Talent. In this role, she leads the strategy and execution of all talent initiatives. She partners closely with leaders across the organization to align talent strategy with organizational goals, strengthen management capacity, and drive measurable improvements in employee engagement and retention.  Brooke brings extensive experience in learning and development and talent leadership to her work at ALCO, having held key roles at Teach For America and the Louisiana Department of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Rhodes College and a Master of Education from The Broad Center.

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Robert D. Hyde
PARTNER

Robert joined ALCO in 2002 to oversee legal matters, financial structuring of transactions, and recruitment of equity partners. In 2011, Robert became the President of ALCO and took on responsibility for all aspects of development, acquisition, construction, and management of ALCO’s portfolio. In his current role as a valued partner, Robert continues to work with the Acquisition and Development team, evaluating and structuring deals to support our mission. He holds an accounting degree and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi.

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Lanell Smith, Jr.
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES

Lanell joined ALCO in 2025 as the Director of Human Resources and Administrative Services. In this role, he is responsible for leading the organization’s HR strategy and overseeing key functions including talent acquisition, employee relations, compliance, and professional development. He works closely with leaders across the company to support an inclusive culture and ensure staff have the resources they need to thrive. Before joining ALCO, Lanell held leadership roles in education and clean energy research nonprofits, as well as in the public sector, focusing on people operations, coaching, and organizational effectiveness. He holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University, a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and is certified as a SHRM-CP.

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Tanner Swafford
DIRECTOR, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Tanner Joined ALCO in 2019 as a Helpdesk Analyst, was promoted two years later to Network Administrator, and now serves as the Director of IT. With 12 years of experience in the IT space, Tanner specializes in End-user Experience, Business Systems Resilience, and being proactive in providing for the IT needs of the company. Tanner has an Applied Science degree in Information Systems and holds multiple industry-recognized IT certifications.

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Billy Sandifer
DIRECTOR, MAINTENANCE

Billy joined ALCO as Director of Maintenance in 2025. He leads the maintenance team in its work to ensure safe, efficient, and well-maintained facilities that support ALCO's mission and vision. Billy brings extensive experience in facilities leadership, having served as Vice President and Executive Director of Facilities in the hospitality industry. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving operations through strong preventative maintenance programs, clear systems and procedures, and a dedication to safety and efficiency. Just as importantly, Billy is known for developing teams, supporting employees, and creating work environments where people can succeed.

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Tracy Mason
DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING

Tracy joined ALCO as the Director of Accounting in 2025. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the financial reporting functions for Alco’s owned and managed portfolio of communities and leads the Property Accounting and Accounts Payable Teams. Tracy is a highly accomplished professional with over 27 years of experience spanning diverse industries, including banking, information technology and communications, and healthcare. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) out of St. Louis, MO.

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Frank Z. Jemison, Jr.
FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

Beginning his career in real estate in 1970, Frank established ALCO in 1974, and after 50 years, Frank retired as CEO of ALCO in 2020. His decades of service built the company into a leader in managing apartment communities. His expertise in apartment finance and affordable housing programs resulted in ALCO’s portfolio of affordable housing communities. He graduated with honors in engineering from Princeton University and completed Harvard University’s Smaller Company Management Program. Frank served on the Boards of the Institute for Responsible Housing Preservation and the National Leased Housing Association (NLHA) and numerous Memphis business, religious and charitable boards. Frank continues to contribute to the growth and sustainability of ALCO’s portfolio.

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