President's Awards
George McHugh
President, Property Management Division
2021 Industry Excellence Award Winner

Having joined Chestnut Hill Realty in 1981, George McHugh has long played an integral part in the company's development and growth. Over the course of his tenure, CHR has expanded from a small company with 8 employees overseeing 275 units to its current size: 220 employees with 5,000 units in 32 apartment communities. As President of Property Management, George oversees a portfolio worth in excess of $1.5 billion, all the while coordinating with the Investment, Construction, and Development departments and serving as a member of numerous strategic leadership committees including Investment, Strategic Planning, Energy, Executive Leadership, and Asset Management.
In his capacity as President, George has spearheaded the realization of strategic plans and goals, focusing in particular on operations, renovation and development. Drawing on his comprehensive understanding of the CHR portfolio, he has facilitated the assessment and implementation of substantial capital improvements. His work implementing low energy initiatives, for example, has reduced consumption at some locations by more than 50%. These efforts have helped fuel the company's growth in terms of overall market share, asset values, and profitability.
George is an active industry leader, having served on the board of the Massachusetts Apartment Association (formerly Rental Housing Association) since 1996. He is a past President of the Massachusetts Apartment Association and has served as Chair of the Energy Committee and member of various other committees including those on Regulatory Policy and Strategic Planning. Additionally, he has twice sat on the Board of Directors for the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and is a contributing member to both the Society of Real Property Administrators and the National Apartment Association (NAA), for which he has also served as a delegate. His early activities with the NAA have involved curriculum design and education, as well as serving as an instructor for the Risk Management portion of the Certified Apartment Manager course, demonstrating his desire to play a part in the development not just of CHR but also of the industry as a whole. This dedicated, generous spirit is equally evidenced in George's philanthropic efforts. As a supporter of the American Cancer Society, he created Geo's Army to annually raise funds for Relay for Life, and is a regular contributor to many charities.
George received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Westfield State College and has been designated a Real Property Administrator from the Building Owners and Managers Institute.
In his capacity as President, George has spearheaded the realization of strategic plans and goals, focusing in particular on operations, renovation and development. Drawing on his comprehensive understanding of the CHR portfolio, he has facilitated the assessment and implementation of substantial capital improvements. His work implementing low energy initiatives, for example, has reduced consumption at some locations by more than 50%. These efforts have helped fuel the company's growth in terms of overall market share, asset values, and profitability.
George is an active industry leader, having served on the board of the Massachusetts Apartment Association (formerly Rental Housing Association) since 1996. He is a past President of the Massachusetts Apartment Association and has served as Chair of the Energy Committee and member of various other committees including those on Regulatory Policy and Strategic Planning. Additionally, he has twice sat on the Board of Directors for the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and is a contributing member to both the Society of Real Property Administrators and the National Apartment Association (NAA), for which he has also served as a delegate. His early activities with the NAA have involved curriculum design and education, as well as serving as an instructor for the Risk Management portion of the Certified Apartment Manager course, demonstrating his desire to play a part in the development not just of CHR but also of the industry as a whole. This dedicated, generous spirit is equally evidenced in George's philanthropic efforts. As a supporter of the American Cancer Society, he created Geo's Army to annually raise funds for Relay for Life, and is a regular contributor to many charities.
George received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Westfield State College and has been designated a Real Property Administrator from the Building Owners and Managers Institute.