Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
Sam Merkle has a diverse work experience spanning multiple industries. Sam is currently serving as the Senior Vice President and Director of Asset Management at Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing since May 2023. Prior to this, they worked at the National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT) from October 2016 to May 2023, where they held the position of Senior Vice President and Director of Fund & Asset Management.
Before joining NAHT, Sam worked at Mount Carmel Health System as the Director of Real Estate from May 2014 to October 2016. Sam also has experience working at Huntington National Bank as a Vice President from April 2010 to May 2014, and at CB Richard Ellis as a Vice President from June 2006 to April 2010.
Additionally, Sam worked at Paramount Realty Advisors (a GMAC Subsidiary) as a Vice President from November 2001 to May 2006, at Trammell Crow Company as a Senior Transaction Manager from October 1998 to November 2001, and at Koll Management Services as a Senior Manager from 1992 to 1996.
Sam Merkle attended Ohio University, where they earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Before attending Ohio University, Sam attended Bishop Watterson High School.
Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
The Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH) is a nonprofit financial intermediary based in Columbus, Ohio that works with private and public developers to create affordable housing opportunities. OCCH leverages private capital for the construction, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing. We believe that through providing affordable housing enhanced by supportive services, we can build sustainable communities that provide opportunities and empowerment in the lives of our residents. OCCH has raised over $5.3 billion in private capital and invested in over 53,000 units of affordable housing in over 900 developments. OCCH has a lending arm, the Ohio Capital Finance Corporation (OCFC), which offers products such as predevelopment and acquisition loans to enable affordable housing development. Since its creation in 2002, OCFC has made over 675 loans totaling $583 million in production to assist in the creation, rehabilitation and/or preservation of more than 29,105 affordable housing units. OCCH created Community Properties of Ohio Management Services (CPO) in 2003 for the specific purpose of turning around a troubled portfolio of over 1,000 affordable units spread around seven Columbus neighborhoods. After a $100 million renovation effort, CPO continues to stabilize and maintain the portfolio with a hybrid of real estate management and focused supportive services. Leveraging their management expertise, CPO currently manages over 2,900 units, including units for OCCH partners. OCCH created Ohio Capital Impact Corporation (OCIC) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to extend the mission of OCCH through creative and transformative philanthropic investments. These resources are granted to partners working creatively to improve life outcomes for residents of affordable housing communities where OCCH has investments. Since 2012, OCCH has raised over $25 million for OCIC initiatives.