Story 7: Paul Mazzarella, Executive Director from 1990-2017

Posted Feb 27, 2026

Since INHS was founded in 1976, a multitude of people have had a hand in its growth and success. Few, though, have shaped the organization quite as thoroughly as Paul Mazzarella. Paul began his tenure as Executive Director of INHS in 1990 and, over the course of 26 years, propelled INHS to the forefront of nonprofits in Ithaca, serving individuals, families, and the community alike.

One of Paul’s proudest accomplishments as Executive Director was undoubtedly the creation of the Community Housing Trust (CHT) program, which builds a portfolio of permanently affordable for-sale homes. “It wasn’t a brand-new idea, but it had never been done in Ithaca before,” said Paul. Since its launch in 2009, all of INHS’s for-sale homes have been part of the Community Housing Trust. Against the background of the increasingly unaffordable cost of living in Ithaca and the surrounding counties, the CHT has made major progress towards keeping homes sustainably affordable.

Paul Mazzarella strengthened INHS in other ways, too. He significantly expanded INHS real estate development programs, shifting the focus from the renovation of existing homes to the new construction of both rental and for-sale housing, and broadened INHS lending programs, resulting in over $50 million in loans that have assisted over 1,000 new homebuyers and 1,200 home improvement projects.

Additionally, Paul continued to build INHS’s already-established reputation as a national model for successful community development programs. “His vision and steady hand placed INHS on a path of financial security, strengthening our reputation year by year,” said INHS Board President Michael Cannon upon Mazzarella’s retirement in 2017.

“I never imagined I would stay in this job for 26 years, but I did so because the work has been so compelling and so satisfying. I am proudest of the fact that INHS has grown in smart and deliberate ways and that we’ve been able to create really positive changes in our community,” Paul shared. “I am not leaving Ithaca, and I will continue to be engaged in making it a better place.”