seb

our history

SEB is a continuation of an earlier consulting practice, Justin Gray Associates (JGA), that began in 1970 in Cambridge, MA. Former principles of JGA, Bob Engler and Jim Stockard spun-off Stockard & Engler Inc. in 1979. In 1985, former JGA partner, Gordon Brigham, returned to the group and the firm continued to evolve and eventually became Stockard & Engler & Brigham. For almost twenty years, the three principles of SEB worked on a wide range of affordable housing related consulting assignments, while also maintaining active personal and professional involvement in affordable housing, including: serving on a number of state and local level housing task forces and committees; serving in their respective communities as chairpersons of the local housing authority and housing partnerships; and serving on boards of various nonprofit organizations and local development corporations.

Jim and Gordon have since left the firm as has another member, Janet Stearns, who has joined the law firm of Freeman Davis & Stearns. Brian Engler joined SEB in 2004 and is in charge of the firm’s affordable housing lottery contracts. Geoff Engler joined the firm in 2005 and is managing many of the development consulting contracts, so the firm has taken on a “family business” persona.

Throughout our history, SEB has remained committed to focusing our consulting practice in the area of affordable housing and community development and has been engaged in over 1,100 contracts in these areas, yet we have retained small so that the members could be directly involved in working with our clients. We continue to value the long term client relationships that we have developed over the past 37 years.