Since 2018, Betsy R. Soto has served as the executive director of the Vernon Housing Authority. She first joined the housing authority in 2005 as an office assistant, rising to become a housing coordinator from 2010 to 2014 and housing programs manager from 2014 to 2018. Over the course of her career, she has garnered significant expertise in procurement and bidding, finance and capital grant implementation, housing court representation, vacancy reduction, unit turnover, construction management, and more. Her current duties include administrative oversight for all property management operations with the Vernon Housing Authority, encompassing staff supervision, agency management, public relations, and implementing policies and procedures. Ms. Soto has also spent time as a consultant and vendor contract administrator.
Prior to embarking on her career, Ms. Soto graduated from Windham Technical High School with an architectural drafting certificate before achieving an associate degree in business office technology from Manchester Community College. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Eastern Connecticut State University as well as multiple housing certifications through Nan McKay and Associates Inc. while becoming a mother at an early age. Ms. Soto is incredibly proud to have been able to complete her higher education studies while raising her family, and as she looks toward the future, she intends to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in her field.
Attributing much of her success to the people around her, Ms. Soto contributes her skills to a variety of other professional endeavors. In particular, she has been closely active with the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for many years and currently serves on the Board of Governors and the International Research Global Exchange Committee. She is senior vice president of the New England Regional Council (NERC-NAHRO) and vice president of member services for the Connecticut State Chapter (CONN-NAHRO). She also continues to hold positions on various committees and boards with the state and regional chapters as well as with the national organization. Furthermore, Ms. Soto is involved with the HAI Group as a member of the Finance Committee.