STAMFORD, CT/September 28, 2026 – Charter Oak Communities (COC), the major provider of high quality, affordable homes for thousands of low- and moderate-income Stamford families, announced that Ben Barnes will become its new CEO effective October 1. Barnes joined COC in January 2026 as the organization’s Chief of Staff, where he has led targeted aspects of COC’s Operations, Corporate Services, Real Estate Development, Asset Management and Social Enterprise functions.
“Choosing a CEO is probably the most important job that we as a Board have. We have gotten to know Ben, have interviewed him for this position and have talked with COC leadership – all of which has led us to the mutual decision that Ben is well-suited for this role and, in fact, will excel at it,” said Rich Ostuw, Chair of COC’s Board of Directors. “Ben is an exceptional leader who brings many important skills to this position. However, some intangibles make him the perfect choice – he is aligned with COC’s culture of collaboration and support and is committed to the mission of serving the community. The board is extremely pleased with this decision and are excited to see COC continue to grow and thrive under Ben’s leadership.”
Barnes is well-known by both city and state elected officials, having most recently served as Stamford’s Director of Administration under Mayor Caroline Simmons from September 2023 through January 2026. His resume also includes several positions under former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, Secretary of the Office of Policy & Management (OPM) under Governor Malloy, and Vice President of Administration & CFO of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, where he helped implement the state’s tuition-free community college program.
“I have always cared about making the lives of those in our community better, and this role gives me the chance to do more of that,” said Barnes. “COC has been built on a very strong foundation. As CEO, I look forward to learning more, doing more and challenging ourselves to find new ways to have an even greater impact in the years ahead.”
In assuming the CEO position, Barnes will replace Vin Tufo who has served as COC’s CEO since 2011. Tufo will stay on as president of Rippowam Corporation, COC’s real estate development subsidiary, and Executive Director of Dovetail, a social enterprise tied to COC to revitalize underserved neighborhoods.
“I have long admired the work of COC, and I have tremendous respect for all that Vin and his team have achieved over the past 15-plus years,” added Barnes. “COC has completely changed what it means to be a housing authority, and it has transformed what affordable housing looks like and feels like across Stamford. I am proud to become CEO of an organization that believes in such out-of-the-box thinking and where the staff is equally committed to ensuring the very best for our residents and our community.”
Barnes holds a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in history from Swarthmore College. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Rise Network and is an adjunct faculty member in Public Policy at UConn Stamford. A Connecticut resident for 20+ years, Barnes currently resides in Stratford with his wife and two children.