Expertise in creating successful affordable housing

We know what works and how to make it happen

The Sullivan Development team approaches affordable housing in a unique way. We use a cooperative, cost-effective, community-focused strategy to identify an area’s needs, then tap into local resources and a variety of funding sources to create effective solutions.

We work in partnership with local leaders and key neighborhood voices. Instead of talking, we listen. We create plans, then draw upon the people and programs who can help us turn these plans into realities. Ours is a long-term strategy as we believe in the ongoing stewardship of the communities we develop rather than just moving on to the next project.

We also look to partner with like-minded companies whose goals align with ours to deliver affordable housing either as a part of a larger master development or by collaborating on a project-by-project basis.

As always, the goal is to help meet the need for affordable housing and to do it in a way that is embraced by communities. 

About our team

John Sullivan, CEO
Donovan Goodreau, COO
Travis Vencel, Development Director
Dan Gable, CFO
Heather White, Development Manager
Beth Saxen, Marketing Director

WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

If you’ve played roles in the creation of affordable housing communities and find our approach refreshing, please let us know. Give us a brief summary of what you’ve done and attach a resume, so we can set up a time to talk!

Linkedin
©2023
Sullivan Development. All rights reserved.
21 S Rangeline Road, Suite 200A Carmel, IN 46032
317-296-8850

John Sullivan has been an affordable housing leader for more than 15 years. Before creating Sullivan Development, he headed efforts for a national affordable housing developer, leading the company’s team in acquiring and developing more than 60 affordable multifamily developments creating units for more than 5,000 households. John managed projects in 15 states, with a heavy emphasis in Midwestern markets such as Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa along with fast-growing markets like Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Atlanta. He has coordinated all phases of the development process, from site selection, structuring financing, local entitlements, securing tax credit allocations, construction oversight, and property lease-up.

Sullivan Development sharpens John’s focus on addressing the nation’s affordable housing crisis through strategic partnerships and development efforts with efficient use of existing resources. The company’s core value is improving lives through the creation of high-quality affordable housing communities that seamlessly fit into surrounding neighborhoods.

John earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He and his wife share their Fishers, Indiana home with four kids and a pair of dogs.

Donovan has worked in various senior leadership roles on Wall Street and in multifamily real estate for the last 30 years.  He brings a wealth of operational experience to Sullivan Development, having overseen thousands of employees across five continents and 27 countries.

Donovan will work with John and the rest of the leadership team at Sullivan Development to establish strategic plans and oversee execution. He will be responsible for keeping the team focused, efficient, and, most importantly, accountable.

Donovan believes in the mission of Sullivan Development and feels this team is well positioned to make a significant impact on the affordable housing problem in this country.

Donovan earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University.  He is on the advisory board for the IU Center for Real Estate Studies and enjoys travel and spending time with his kids.

Travis Vencel has developed quality housing across the country. Before joining Sullivan Development, Travis worked with national multi-family developers, leading the development of more than 3,500 residential units across the country. His affordable housing projects include new construction projects in Indiana, Arizona, North and South Carolina, and Ohio. His concentration is in new construction, master planning, and working with stakeholders to identify, conceive, design, and construct projects that meet a community’s need for housing. Travis has experience with a variety of product types and market segments. Travis has completed all phases of the development process, including site selection, entitlements, construction, and property management.

Sullivan Development provides Travis with the opportunity to continue to focus on providing quality housing in markets where affordability is a driving factor and a priority for communities. The company’s value of improving lives through high-quality, affordable housing is an important factor in Travis’s decision to join the Sullivan Team.

Travis earned a degree from Hanover College and has served on the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as a member of the Bloomington Plan Commission. Travis makes his home in Bloomington, Indiana, and in his spare time enjoys flying hot air balloons.

Dan Gable has been involved in commercial real estate since 2012. Prior to joining Sullivan Development, Dan worked as a Mortgage Banker specializing in multifamily finance. Over Dan’s career, he has worked on over $2 Billion in transactions across the United States.

Since affordable housing is one of the greatest issues hindering our nation’s economy, Sullivan Development provides Dan the opportunity to use his skills arranging debt and equity to help address the need for high-quality, affordable housing communities that seamlessly fit into surrounding neighborhoods.

Dan earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Butler University and lives on the north side of Indianapolis with his wife and two children. Dan enjoys being outdoors and climbing mountains with friends.

Heather White, while new to the world of Affordable Housing, is not new to real estate. In 2019 she obtained her brokerage license and worked as a residential real estate broker in central Indiana and surrounding counties. She is a member of the NAR, IAR, and MIBOR. She graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis with a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate. Before her time in real estate, she spent several years as a manager for Outback Steakhouse.

Heather’s experience as a broker and management from her restaurant days made her uniquely qualified for the day-to-day behind-the-scenes work that a development manager requires. With a flair for multi-tasking and strengths in organization and scheduling, she can keep transactions moving forward smoothly and quickly.

Heather lives in Brownsburg, IN, and enjoys spending her free time with her husband, two young daughters, and two hound dogs. She likes to keep active and runs at least a 5k three times a week. She also enjoys a round of disc golf or a board game when she can fit it into her schedule.

Beth Saxen is a dynamic and accomplished marketing and management professional with extensive experience in the areas of strategic/business plan development and implementation, marketing, content creation and strategy, brand management, internal and external communications, public relations, and the management of projects, programs, and people.
She has successfully developed and implemented strategic business plans for a wide range of diverse organizational environments and has demonstrated the ability to work individually as well as to build and lead high-functioning teams.

Beth joined Sullivan Development because she is passionate about the company’s core value – to improve lives through the creation of high-quality affordable housing communities that seamlessly fit into surrounding neighborhoods.

Beth earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors at Indiana University and her Master of Business Administration with honors from the University of Indianapolis. In her free time, Beth enjoys running, gardening, and participating in dog rescue. Beth and her husband share their Indianapolis home with three rescue dogs.