Benjamin Cirka, Carey '06

Founder and Executive Director
Community Hospitality Healthcare Services

As founder and Executive Director of Community Hospitality Healthcare Services (CHHS), Ben is responsible for the vision, execution and the day to day operations.

Previously, Ben served as Senior Finance Manager at Struever Brothers, Eccles, and Rouse, a regional development company specializing in large, mixed-use projects with a historical component. Ben also spent several years with the Shelter Group, a regional development and management company specializing in developing affordable long-term care and rental housing facilities and syndicating low-income housing tax credits. With the Shelter Group, he oversaw the portfolios of institutional clients and investors and was a member of the Investment Committee. He has significant experience and tenure in structured financing utilizing low income housing tax credits, federal historic tax credits, New Markets Tax Credits, TIF bonds, and several state, county, and city programs providing capital infusions to targeted areas. He has been involved in over $1 billion of total project financing that has provided neighborhood redevelopment, historic building preservation, affordable housing, and healthcare services throughout the United States.

Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Real Estate Finance from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. He serves on the boards of American Communities Trust, and Urban Research Parks, LLC, as well as the Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board at the Johns Hopkins, Carey Business School.