SPONSORED BY UHM PROPERTIES
UHM Properties (formerly United Housing Management) celebrates 20 years as one of the largest and most successful businesses owned by people of color in Boston.
After two decades of continuous growth, UHM currently manages more than 1,400 housing units in Roxbury and Dorchester. It is undergoing a growth spurt that has expanded its portfolio to include strategic partnerships with developers and management of commercial properties including the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Nubian Square.
UHM employs more than 85 people, many of whom live in neighborhoods the company serves. It gives back to the surrounding community by providing leadership and personal empowerment initiatives at the UHM Properties’ Neighborhood Network Center in Dorchester.
“Growing UHM has been a labor of love,” says co-owner and CEO Kevin Bynoe. “We are committed to supporting our community from championing stable, affordable housing for residents to spending with vendors of color to maximizing value for owners and developers.”
UHM has received awards from MassHousing for discretionary spending with local BIPOCowned business (MBE) and women-owned businesses (WBE).
An extraordinary business model
UHM was founded by eight senior staff members of the Long Bay Management Company (LBMC) when the owners, George, Cecil and Ken Guscott retired. The former LBMC employees bought the LBMC residential portfolio, formed a partnership and together became co-owners. Their new company, United Housing Management, opened its doors January 1, 2003.
Since then, several of the original partners have retired, leaving a core group of co-owners to run what now is called UHM Properties to reflect the growth of the company. They include CEO Kevin Bynoe; Sheila Harper, director of compliance and training; and Patricia Farr, director of human resources.
Beyond building a thriving business, the partners hope to leave a legacy.
Co-owner Sheila Harper says, “I hear young people say, ‘Why can’t we have a nice building in our community like they do downtown?’ So, we want to show that we can build anything we want. We want to give back to our staff, residents, and the neighborhoods we serve. Our legacy is a virtuous spirit that others may follow.”
