On August 30, 2021, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced the retirement of Kathleen Koch, Executive Director for Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS). Her retirement will be effective December 31, 2021.
County Executive Pittman offered several words of praise for Executive Director Koch, stating, “Kathleen Koch’s dedication to the people of Anne Arundel County serves as a model for all of our county leadership… Her creativity in solving complex problems and her tireless work ethic embodied our goal of making Anne Arundel the best place for all.”
According to a County press release:
Ms. Koch became the founding executive director of ACDS in 1993, and her tenure saw the organization engage in revitalization efforts in communities across the county, including Bacontown, Galesville, and Brooklyn Park. During the pandemic, ACDS’s eviction protection work helped keep residents in their homes when they faced COVID-driven economic hardship…
Under Ms. Koch’s leadership, ACDS created and preserved more than 3,000 affordable rental units, and built out a model property rehabilitation and homeownership program. In 2013, Ms. Koch was named the Housing Person of the Year by the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition in recognition of her statewide effort to promote affordable housing.
