Military Housing and Lodging Institute

What Military Housing and Lodging Institute does

Military Housing and Lodging Institute (MHLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization incorporated in Virginia and founded in 2004, headquartered in Purcellville, VA with an operations office in Leesburg, VA. The organization delivers a full-spectrum curriculum of training, certification, and consulting services focused exclusively on US Department of Defense government and privatized military housing operations, serving housing professionals across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps at installations in the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Caribbean.

MHLI's core offering is a catalog of 25+ commercial off-the-shelf training courses organized into six focus areas (Customer Service, Facilities, Management, Unaccompanied Housing/Lodging, Privatization, and General Skills), delivered through classroom sessions, virtual training, customized on-site programs, and an online academy launched in 2024. The institute is the certifying body for DoD-specific credentials including the Certified Defense Privatization Manager (CDPM), Certified Defense Unaccompanied Housing Manager (CDUHM), Certified Housing Customer Service Representative (CHCSR), Certified Military Housing Inspector (CMHI), and Certified Community Housing Inspector (CCHI), and offers bundled industry certifications through partnerships with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the National Apartment Association (NAA), plus a Certificate in Real Estate Management with George Mason University. The technology footprint is conventional — online registration, email marketing, a WordPress-based website, and Google Analytics — with no disclosed proprietary platform.

MHLI generates revenue through course registration fees (including instructor fees and student materials, with additional travel and per diem), GSA MOBIS contract (47QREA23D0017) consulting and training sales via GSA Advantage and e-buy, and ancillary business solutions and event management services. Pricing is unit-based per course, with government agency discounts and multiple government payment methods (SF 182s, DD 1556). The organization is governed by a board of former senior military and federal housing managers, operates with 1–10 employees, and as a 501(c)(3) is not venture-backed or PE-owned.

Name

Military Housing and Lodging Institute

Legal name

Military Housing and Lodging Institute

Website

https://mhli.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Military Housing and Lodging Institute (MHLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers training, certification, and consulting for US military housing operations, serving DoD housing professionals across all service branches worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leesburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Course Registration: MHLI generates revenue through fees for training courses offered to military housing professionals. Course pricing includes instructor fees and student materials, with additional charges for travel and per diem. Fees can be paid via credit card, check, direct deposit, or through government purchase methods including SF 182s and DD 1556.
2. GSA Contract Services: Government agencies purchase consulting and training services through MHLI's GSA MOBIS contract (47QREA23D0017). This provides a structured procurement channel for federal customers to access MHLI's commercial catalog of training and consulting services.
3. Business Solutions Consulting: MHLI offers strategic management services including business process re-engineering, management plans, performance work statements, operational assessments, and provisional staffing for government agencies managing housing operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MHLI delivers a full spectrum of training, certification, consulting, and event management services for government and privatized military housing operations. Its core catalog includes 25+ commercial off-the-shelf courses across customer service, facilities management, family housing, unaccompanied housing, privatization, and general skills, delivered through classroom, virtual, online academy, and on-site sponsored formats. Complementary offerings include business solutions consulting (process re-engineering, performance work statements, organizational assessments), event planning for government and corporate clients, and partner-backed certifications co-developed with IREM and NAA.

Product overview

The Military Housing and Lodging Institute (MHLI) is a nonprofit educational organization offering a comprehensive suite of specialized training and support services for military and privatized housing operations. The core offering consists of 25+ commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) training courses organized into six focus areas: Customer Focus Area (CS courses), Facilities Focus Area (FAC courses), Management Focus Area (MGT courses), Unaccompanied Housing/Lodging Focus Area (UH courses), Privatization Focus Area (PVT courses), and General Skills Area (GEN courses). MHLI delivers industry certifications including CDPM (Certified Defense Privatization Manager), CDUHM (Certified Defense Unaccompanied Housing Manager), CHCSR (Certified Housing Customer Service Representative), CMHI (Certified Military Housing Inspector), and CCHI (Certified Community Housing Inspector). Services also include Event Management, Business Solutions (strategic management and consulting), and partnership programs with IREM and NAA. Training is available through classroom sessions worldwide, MHLI Online Academy for online students, and customized onsite programs. The organization operates under a GSA MOBIS contract (47QREA23D0017) for government procurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CS 100: Foundations of Customer Service A two-day customer service training course for military housing office personnel, exploring diversity of military customers and practical techniques for daily housing operations.
• CS 103: Effective Communications = Effective Service Two-day communication skills course for military housing staff to improve customer service quality and office interaction.
• CS 104: Dispute Resolution Two-day course teaching dispute and conflict resolution skills aligned with NDAA requirements, for military housing office personnel.
• CS 105: Building a Stronger Organization Seminar providing a tailored action plan for improving client satisfaction, productivity, and morale in housing organizations.
• CS 106: Certified Housing Customer Service Representative (CHCSR) Five-day certification program in customer service designed specifically for the military housing industry.
• HRS 300: High Performing Housing Referral Services 4.5-day hands-on training for Housing Referral Services professionals serving as bridges between civilian housing market and military families.
• FAC 300: Foundations of Facilities Management Two-day course providing foundational principles and practices of sound facilities management for new housing personnel.
• FAC 303: Housing Inspector/Engineer Technician Three-day course equipping students with skills and tools to successfully identify and manage maintenance workload of military housing facilities.
• FAC 304: Foundations of Asset Management Two-day course on asset management processes focused on retention of quality facilities for individuals with financial or facilities management responsibilities.
• FAC 308: Certified Community Housing Inspector (CCHI) Certification course for personnel involved in referral management and inspection of community housing facilities, focusing on Minimum Standards of Adequacy (MSA) requirements.
• FAC 309: Certified Military Housing Inspector (CMHI) Five-day certification course for personnel managing government housing facilities and private sector inspections, covering inspection principles for existing and newly constructed facilities.
• MGT 400: Introduction to Family Housing Management Four-day comprehensive overview of housing operations covering mission, business, organization, customer service, and facilities/financial management.
• MGT 404: DoD & Service Housing Organization & Culture (DSHOC) Overview and history of housing course introducing privatization in DoD and selected Services, available for Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps.
• MGT 405: Techniques of Leadership, Management and Communication Five-day course examining how managers manage, how leaders lead, and how to effectively communicate within organizations.
• UH 500: Introduction to Unaccompanied Housing and Furnishings Management Three-day course teaching basic elements of unaccompanied housing and furnishings management for personnel at all levels.
• UH 501: Introduction to Unaccompanied Housing Management Two-day course teaching basic elements of unaccompanied housing management for personnel at all levels.
• UH 502: Introduction to Furnishings Management Two-day course covering furniture requirements, procurement regulations, and Best Value Selection.
• UH 503: Certified Defense Unaccompanied Housing Manager (CDUHM) Level 1 Five-day certification course in partnership with NAA providing UH managers with basic skills required to manage unaccompanied housing operations that have not yet been privatized.
• UH 503A: Certified Defense Unaccompanied Housing Manager (CDUHM) Level 2 Five-day advanced certification course covering privatization concepts of unaccompanied housing for managers of housing assignable to single Service members.
• PVT 600: Certified Defense Privatization Manager (CDPM) Level 1 Five-day certification course covering the privatization process from concept to pre-transition, preparing management-level personnel for privatization requirements.
• PVT 600A: Certified Defense Privatization Manager (CDPM) Level 2 4.5-day course covering the privatization process from transition to long-term viability, including PAM reporting requirements and financial analysis.
• PVT 600B: Certified Defense Privatization Manager (CDPM) Level 3 Capstone course of the CDPM series concentrating on maintaining relationships and sustaining privatization projects through the term of ground lease and maturation of projects.
• PVT 606: Advanced Pro Formas 4.5-day interactive hands-on course for Asset Managers diving deep into financial spreadsheets, pro forma verification, and financial modeling.
• CDPM Levels 1 & 2 Combined Course Eight-day combined fast-paced certification course covering the privatization process from concept to long-term viability.
• CDPM Levels 2 & 3 Combined Course Eight-day combined course covering the privatization process from transition to long-term viability and relationship maintenance through ground lease term.
• GEN 700: Stress Management Two-day seminar introducing stress management tools through video presentation, exercises, handouts, and humor.
• RES201: Successful Site Management Five-day IREM partner certification course helping new-to-industry professionals see the big picture of residential management, leading to ARM certification.
• NAA Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) Six-day NAA partner certification course with ten modules providing foundation for strong, informed and professional onsite management.
• MHLI Online Academy Online learning platform providing a dynamic distance learning experience for military housing professionals, complementing traditional classroom and sponsored training.
• Event Management Services Government and corporate meeting and event planning services including event design, marketing strategy, professional speakers, collateral materials, secure online registrations, onsite coordination, and audio-visual production.
• Business Solutions Services Strategic management consulting providing goal specification, policy development, resource allocation, business transformation, and performance work statements for government agencies.
• Customized Training Programs Develops, delivers, and evaluates entire training programs, courses, and specific course materials, with ability to convert traditional classroom courses into online learning experiences tailored to local, regional, or Service-specific policies.
• Consulting Services Consulting services supporting government agency needs in management, organizational, and business improvement areas, including special studies for human resources, organizational analysis, and planning, available via GSA MOBIS contract 47QREA23D0017.
• Certificate in Real Estate Management Certificate program offered in conjunction with IREM and George Mason University, providing Continuing Education Units (CEU) credits for real estate management professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ professional certification courses available
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHLI partners with IREM to offer individual professional certifications specific to the DoD housing community. In conjunction with IREM and George Mason University, MHLI offers a Certificate in Real Estate Management. IREM has been the source for education, resources, information, and membership for real estate management professionals for more than 75 years.
• National Apartment Association (NAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHLI partners with NAA to offer individual professional certifications specific to the DoD housing community. NAA is America’s leading advocate for quality rental housing, a federation of 170 state and local affiliates, comprised of more than 50,000 multifamily housing companies representing more than 5.9 million apartment homes.
• George Mason UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHLI offers a Certificate in Real Estate Management in conjunction with IREM and George Mason University. MHLI courses can provide Continuing Education Units (CEU) credits.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CEL & Associates, Inc. CEL & Associates provides specialized military housing consulting and MHPI/RCI training to DoD and private-sector housing operators. A focused emerging peer overlapping with MHLI's Business Solutions consulting practice and the same privatization and asset management curriculum space.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB offers residential construction and property management designations with significant training programming. A thematically adjacent national trade association offering housing-industry training comparable in catalog breadth, though serving residential builder audiences rather than the defense housing audience MHLI serves.

Direct peers

• National Apartment Association (NAA) Education Institute: NAA is the leading U.S. multifamily housing trade association with the NAA Education Institute delivering CAM and other apartment management certifications. Directly analogous to MHLI as MHLI partners with NAA for the CAM and CDUHM programs; both organizations certify housing management professionals through structured course paths.
• International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO): IAAO delivers residential and commercial property assessment training and certifications to government assessors. A comparable peer to MHLI in operating a certification-driven educational model for property-related government professionals with strong public-sector training focus and designation offerings.
• National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO): NAHRO is the national professional membership organization for local housing and community development officials, providing certifications and training on housing management. A comparable peer to MHLI in operating a certification-driven educational model for housing industry professionals, though with broader public-housing focus versus MHLI's DoD-specific footprint.
• Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM): IREM is the leading national organization offering certifications and training for real estate property managers. Directly comparable to MHLI because MHLI partners with IREM to deliver joint DoD housing certifications including RES201/ARM and the Certificate in Real Estate Management, and both serve overlapping property management audiences seeking credentialed training.
• Professional Housing Management Association (PHMA): PHMA is the dedicated professional association for public and military housing managers. It is MHLI's most directly overlapping peer, having selected MHLI as exclusive training provider for PHMA certification programs and annual Professional Development Seminars from 2000-2017, both focused on certifying and training housing management professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Defense Acquisition University (DAU): DAU is the DoD's own institution providing mandatory training and certifications to acquisition and logistics professionals. A broad incumbent in DoD workforce training competing for the same pool of federal training dollars and student time, even though focused on acquisition rather than housing.
• Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA): BOMA International is a broad commercial real estate industry association offering RPA/FMA designations and property management training. A broad incumbent overlapping with MHLI's facilities management course scope (FAC 300/304), though primarily commercial real estate rather than DoD housing.

Others

• Skillsoft (Federal/Public Sector): Skillsoft provides large-scale enterprise training platforms and on-demand courses used by federal agencies. A broader learning platform peer whose growing library of management, leadership, and compliance courses could substitute for MHLI's general-skills and management courses (MGT 405, GEN 700) via broader procurement vehicles like GSA Schedule.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/military-housing-and-lodging---mhli
• Xx.com/mhliorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Military Housing and Lodging Institute