Tim Durose, CFO of Minneapolis Public Housing Authority
As Chief Financial Officer of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Tim Durose brings more than three decades of financial leadership to one of the state’s largest public housing agencies. Since joining MPHA in 1993, he has helped guide its growth into a $200 million enterprise serving over 26,000 residents daily, leading complex redevelopment efforts, federal negotiations, and long-term capital strategy. In recognition of his career-long impact, he was honored at the 2025 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal CFO of the Year Awards. Tim’s impact on so many during the course of his career made Scouts Talent curious to learn more…
If you could try a different job for a day, what would you choose?
Thirty years ago, I would have wanted to be a professional baseball player. Today, I would have fun doing play-by-play sports broadcasting. Although hockey or football would be wonderful, a baseball game would be best. A baseball game moves at a cadence that affords the announcers plenty of time for banter and storytelling. Sitting in the announcer’s booth with the warm sun shining on the field, the smell of hot dogs in the air, and the crack of the bat against the ball seems like a pretty perfect day.
What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?
Your technical skills are important. Your communication skills are important. Those skills will keep you employed. But if you want to advance and serve in a leadership role, you must create relationships. So maintain a positive attitude, get to know the people you work with, help others, and listen. Doing those things makes people want to work with and for you.
What is your mantra?
“Save the Bees”. There’s a story behind this one. Several years ago, we were enjoying a backyard campfire. I went to pull a log off of the wood pile and I hear this loud buzzing. It was dark, so I put on my cellphone’s flashlight to examine the wood pile. I found a swarming cluster of bees. Believing I had gotten close enough and was lucky not be stung, we dampened the campfire and called it a night. The next morning, I trotted out to the wood pile to apply wasp spray. Moments before the insecticide was going to be applied, my daughter passionately explained the importance of bees and the distinction between them and wasps. She urged me to take a photo of the bees and the hive and send it to the University before annihilating them. Turns out this species of bees was not the least bit aggressive, served as critical pollinators for our ecology, and were experiencing dwindling populations in Minnesota. I returned to my house with the wasp spray unused and bought a “Save The Bees” T-shirt from Amazon. It’s now become my mantra. Perhaps there is a business-related lesson here. Be careful not to rush to judgment based on what you hear. Perhaps a reasonable examination is in order. Not all buzzing is coming from the same bee.
How do you get yourself out of a slump?
Usually, it involves a few things. One, I get a pep talk from my wife. She listens to my frustrations, and she knows what I am not saying. Two, I get in a workout accompanied by music that takes my mind elsewhere. Three, I look for something or someone to be grateful for. It doesn’t always work but just trying it gives me quality time with my wife and helps me be a healthier and more grateful person.
What companies or leaders do you admire?
I admire leaders who demonstrate courage in the face of crisis, who encourage and foster growth in others, who applaud work that is well done, who are open to listening to opposing or critical viewpoints, and who are able to apply discretion and move the objectives forward in the midst of uncertainty.
What has been the biggest shift you’ve noticed in your industry in the last decade?
Recognizing that federal appropriations won’t provide sufficient funding to preserve 60 plus year old public housing property, the federal government has encouraged housing agencies to seek private investments, primarily using low-income housing tax credits, to obtain the resources needed to retain the housing. This approach raises significant capital previously unavailable to public housing agencies, but creates a much more complicated financing and operating model and raises questions on the acceptable level of business risks for public entities.
Who has been most instrumental in your career?
Cora McCorvey, former Executive Director at the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. She provided me opportunities to grow, guided me without limiting me, supported me, and remained confident in me throughout her nearly 20 years as my boss. What a gift.
What is your go-to celebration meal, drink or tradition?
I really don’t have a go-to celebration meal or drink. It can be anything as long as I am with friends and family.
