Professional Qualifications

Education

Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College, Columbia University in American History
Bachelor in Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design
Masters degrees in City Planning (MCP) and Architecture (M. Arch. A.S) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

MAI: Appraisal Institute

AICP American Institute of Certified Planners 1996-2010

Licensed Professional Planner (5255), State of New Jersey

Certified: General Real Estate Appraiser, (RG 000194) State of New Jersey

CRE: Counselors of Real Estate

Member: National Council of Housing Market Analysts (founding member), American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, NJ Future

Founding Member and Former National Chair, National Council of Housing Market Analysts (NCHMA). Polton saw the need for a national group of professional Housing Analysts. He helped found the group and has helped set in motion national standards, ethics and education in this specialized field. The group has raised the national standards for affordable housing analysis and is now the recognized national leader in the field.
Former Trustee, Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, Paterson, NJ, 2013 to 2018. Now serving as a consultant to HPP
Board Member, New Jersey Community Capital, Trenton, NJ, 2009 to 2014
Board Member, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, 2015 to 2018
Regional Plan Association (RPA), Panel Member, New Jersey, 2016 to present
President, Jewish Historical Society of Northern New Jersey. This local history group is based in Passaic, Bergen and portions of Hudson County and has an active program and membership. Polton was President for five years and is now on the Executive Board.