In 2009, Charles R. Werhane was appointed president and chief executive officer of Enterprise Community Investment, Inc., after serving as vice chairman and chief operating officer of the company since 2005. Enterprise is a proven and powerful nonprofit that improves communities and people’s lives by making well-designed homes affordable. He bring together the nationwide know-how, partners, policy leadership and investments to multiply the impact of local affordable housing development. Over 35 years, Enterprise has created 529,000 homes, invested $36 billion and touched millions of lives.
Within the Enterprise family of companies, Charlie serves as the chairman of the board of Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital, LLC, a national full-service commercial and multifamily mortgage banking company. Charlie is also board chair for Enterprise Homes, a master developer of affordable housing and mixed-income communities working primarily in the MidAtlantic region. In addition, Charlie serves on the board and finance committee of the Family League of Baltimore, a nonprofit working to create lasting outcomes for children, families and communities.
Bringing 40 years of professional real estate, commercial banking and tax credit industry experience to his career at Enterprise, Charlie oversees and directs financial products and services, including Asset Management, Capital Markets, Multifamily Mortgage Finance, Structured Finance and Tax Credit Syndication. Under Charlie’s leadership, Enterprise has grown to be the leading Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndicator. In addition, he established Enterprise’s New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program, which helps finance commercial and mixed-use development and helps create jobs in underserved communities. Enterprise’s NMTC program has grown to be one of the largest in the nation, now targeting sustainable, green development through the Enterprise Green Communities initiative. Charlie’s focus on sound investment strategies, risk management and innovation has helped Enterprise maintain its leadership position in the industry.
Prior to joining Enterprise, Charlie was president and CEO of USF&G Realty Advisors, Inc., where he directed investment activities, new product development and client relations. In 2013, Charlie was named National Real Estate Executive of the Year at the American Business Awards.
Charlie received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin − Milwaukee, and is a graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking, Southern Methodist University.