Aditya Potluri
Senior Financial ConsultantAditya Potluri joined the California Housing Partnership in 2020 with more than fifteen years of experience in the affordable housing industry. As a Senior Financial Consultant, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. He was promoted from Housing Finance Consultant in 2022. Aditya brings expertise in budgeting, financing and construction of both rehab and mixed-use new construction. He has direct experience securing and closing a range of financing including tax credits; tax-exempt bonds; programs from HCD including AHSC, MHP and IlG; and funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s AHP program.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Aditya served as a Senior Project Manager at Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) in San Francisco and as a Project Manager at Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) in Berkeley. He has managed the development of over seven hundred homes serving families, seniors, transition-aged youth, special needs individuals and people experiencing homelessness. Aditya received a dual Master of City and Regional Planning and Architecture from the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Architecture from Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute of Architecture at the University of Mumbai.
Adrienne Gemheart
Senior Financial ConsultantAdrienne Gemheart joined the California Housing Partnership in 2021. As a Senior Financial Consultant, they provide financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. They have experience with federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s AHP Program, State of California HCD programs including MHP, AHSC, and NPLH; and local funding programs in Sacramento.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Adrienne worked as a project manager with Mutual Housing California for 2.5 years. There, Adrienne contributed to the development of several housing communities totaling around 400 units in the Sacramento area. Working with the MHP and NPLH programs, Adrienne focused on permanent supportive housing. Adrienne earned their Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. They also hold a B.S. in Anthropology and Geography from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Adrienne resides in Sacramento and serves on the board of the Sacramento Community Land Trust.
Amanda Isbell
Managing Director, OperationsAmanda Isbell joined the California Housing Partnership in 2013. As Director of HR and Operations, Amanda oversees the Operations team and provides strategic leadership of the organization’s administrative functions in human resources, finance, contract management and technology. She was promoted from HR and Operations Manager in 2022.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Amanda worked as the Project Assistant for four years at Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA). During Amanda’s time with SAHA, she provided support for the development of more than 28 affordable housing communities.
Amanda holds her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from San Francisco State University.
Andrew Dawson
Policy Advocacy ManagerAndrew Dawson joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022 as the Policy Advocacy Manager. He interfaces with the housing finance, sustainable housing and research teams to inform policy initiatives and advocate for legislative and regulatory changes working with other nonprofit advocates, government entities and housing professionals.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Andrew worked in the Senate Housing Committee as part of the California Council on Science and Technology Fellowship program. Andrew acted as a consultant with the committee analyzing housing and homelessness bills, negotiating amendments and briefing members and staff. Some bill topics include electric vehicle charging regulations for multifamily complexes, affordable housing databases and diversity among contractors for CTCAC awardees. Before transitioning into housing policy, Andrew did his doctorate work studying electrode materials for Li-ion batteries, during which he won various science communication awards and obtained a Leader in Sustainability certificate
Angel Rodriguez
Sustainable Housing Program AssociateAngel Rodriguez joined the California Housing Partnership in April 2022. As a Sustainable Housing Program Associate, he assists partner agencies and stakeholder groups in the implementation of sustainable housing and clean energy programs that increase renewable energy in low-income communities.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Angel worked as the Policy and Business Development intern with GRID Alternatives, a certified non-profit organization, where he supported the policy team with customer participation in community solar, rooftop solar, workforce development, environmental justice advocacy, and energy storage. His work at GRID Alternatives supported low-income households and tribal communities with solar power projects that met community needs and contributed to long-term environmental and economic benefits. For the California Self-Generation program and the Clean Mobility equity program, Angel actively communicated feedback along with various jurisdictions to enhance these programs and community involvement.
He also served as the spatial analyst for a group proposal on the Vacaville Rocky Hill Trail which engaged community members, youth coalitions, and the city council in designing a recreational trail for a predominantly low-income and Latino community.
Angel earned his B.S. in Sustainable Environmental Design with a minor in Chicano Studies from the University of California, Davis in 2021.
Anthony Vega
Managing Director, ResearchAnthony Vega, Ph.D., joined the California Housing Partnership in 2021. As Director of Research, he oversees the Partnership’s research, policy analysis, and program evaluation efforts to improve affordable housing policy and programs.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Anthony was the Director of Research and Evaluation at The Community Builders (TCB) in Boston, where he oversaw the evaluation of the Community Life programs and their impact on resident housing stability and access to opportunity, in coordination with the TCB real estate development, property management, and fund development teams. In addition, he worked as a senior research analyst at the John Jay Research and Evaluation Center in New York. In this role, he oversaw the evaluation of the crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) training and other components of the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety in 15 public housing developments. Anthony also worked on a feasibility study to evaluate rental housing affordability programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). He has taught 15 courses in Criminology and Sociology at Washington State University and John Jay College.
Dr. Vega earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from Washington State University and a B.A. in Sociology from Humboldt State University. He is a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society and the American Sociology Association.
Ben Creed
Senior Financial ConsultantBen Creed joined the California Housing Partnership in 2019. As a Senior Financial Consultant, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Ben has experience with 9% and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt private activity bonds, and funding sources from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, several localities including Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, and conventional private lenders. He was promoted from Housing Finance Consultant in 2022.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Ben worked as a project manager at West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, where he contributed to eight developments in the cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood with over 400 affordable homes for households with low incomes and special needs. He previously worked in operations and finance at The California Wellness Foundation in Los Angeles and the Charles H. Revson Foundation in New York City. A graduate of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI), Ben has an M.A. in Spanish Language and Translation from NYU Madrid and a B.A. in Urban Studies and Hispanic Studies from Vassar College. He was raised in Mitchell-Lama affordable housing in New York City.
Blanca E. de la Cruz
Managing Director, Sustainable Housing ProgramsPhone: (415) 433-6804 x412Los Angeles, CA
Blanca E. de la Cruz
Managing Director, Sustainable Housing ProgramsBlanca E. de la Cruz joined the California Housing Partnership in 2014. As Managing Director of Sustainable Housing Programs, she oversees program design and implementation for statewide and regional clean energy programs contributing to the long-term sustainability and preservation of housing affordable to low-income people. Blanca leads the Sustainable Housing Team’s education and activities to improve our partners’ access to incentive programs for energy efficiency, solar energy, electrification technologies, decarbonization design, and free technical assistance. These include California’s Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) Multifamily, the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH), the Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD), and the Comprehensive Affordable Multifamily Retrofit (CAMR) program by the country’s largest utility provider, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). In addition, Blanca supports statewide and Los Angeles region advocacy work for the equitable decarbonization of affordable housing.
Before joining the Partnership, Blanca worked at the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) for five years, managing the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing. She also coordinated LACDA’s sustainable development initiatives. Before joining LACDA, Blanca was a Project Manager at East LA Community Corporation. Blanca has more than 18 years of experience in affordable housing. Blanca received an M.A. in Urban Planning from UC Los Angeles and a B.A. in International Development Studies and Latin American Literature from UC Berkeley.
Cristina Martinez
Senior Financial ConsultantSan Diego, CA
Cristina Martinez
Senior Financial ConsultantCristina Martinez joined the California Housing Partnership in 2024. As a Senior Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Cristina has experience with a variety of federal and local funding sources, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt private activity bonds, funding sources from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and several localities including the City of Los Angeles, the City of San Diego, and the County of Riverside.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Cristina was as a Senior Project Manager at BRIDGE Housing Corporation. She worked in affordable housing development for nine years and contributed to the development or rehabilitation of nearly 700 units for families, veterans, and formerly homeless individuals. She also previously worked for Affirmed Housing Group and Community HousingWorks, where she started her career as an intern in the California Coalition for Rural Housing Internship program. Cristina is a graduate of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute, and received a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of California, San Diego.
Chad Horsford
Associate Director, Financial ConsultingChad Horsford joined the California Housing Partnership in 2018. As an Associate Director, Financial Consulting, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Chad has experience working with a variety of federal and local funding sources, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HUD Section 202 financing, AHSC, IIG, and LA City and County funding sources.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Chad worked in the affordable housing field for over four years, first in acquisitions at Abode Communities and then in project management at PATH Ventures. During that time, he contributed to the acquisition and financing of over 500 units of affordable housing throughout the Southern California region. In his acquisitions role, Chad analyzed and structured acquisition/rehab and new construction opportunities across the state. Prior to working in affordable housing development, he worked at the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity where he used data analysis to support social movement research on equity, immigration, and environmental justice issues.
Chad earned his master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA with a concentration in Community Economic Development and Housing, and holds a B.A. in Sociology and Public Policy Analysis from Pomona College.
Dana Kaplan
Accounting AssociateSan Francisco, CA
Dana Kaplan
Accounting AssociateDana Kaplan joined the California Housing Partnership in 2023. As Accounting Associate, she supports the Partnership’s affordable housing preservation and policy efforts through the organization’s administrative functions in office management, human resources, accounting, and finance.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Dana held sales, customer service, and general management roles in the automotive industry. Before automotive she worked in accounts payable, accounts receivable, bookkeeping and general ledger positions in a variety of both public and private industries. Although relatively new to non-profit organizations, Dana is looking forward to supporting the great work CHP provides.
Dana holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Visual Arts and Culture from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also acquired a Certificate in Advanced Accounting Procedures from Santa Clara University.
Dan Rinzler
Associate Research DirectorDan Rinzler joined the California Housing Partnership in 2016. As Associate Research Director, Dan is responsible for policy and research initiatives which aim to expand the resources for affordable housing preservation and development in California, as well as increase their efficiency and social impact. He was promoted from Senior Policy Analyst in 2022.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Dan worked at the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), where he managed a variety of strategic initiatives—such as around impact assessment and the intersection of health care and housing—and contributed to program development and policy leadership. Prior to LIIF, he helped design and manage low-income housing programs at the state and local level, and worked as an urban planning consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dan earned a Master in City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2013, and a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University in 2007.
Danielle Mazzella
Senior Research ManagerDanielle M. Mazzella joined the California Housing Partnership in January 2016. As Senior Research Manager, Danielle is responsible for managing the Partnership’s Preservation Database, providing technical assistance to affordable housing developers, jurisdictions, and government agencies, and supporting the Partnership’s advocacy efforts through data analysis and GIS mapping. She was promoted from Preservation & Data Manager in 2022.
Prior to joining the California Housing Partnership, Danielle worked at the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) where she collected data on existing financing mechanisms and policies for affordable housing, performed GIS analysis, and assisted in legislative advocacy efforts.
Danielle received a M.A. in Geography from San Francisco State University in 2016, and received a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2013.
Dave Kiddoo
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Public Housing InitiativesPhone: (415) 433-6804 x314San Francisco, CA
Dave Kiddoo
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Public Housing InitiativesDave Kiddoo rejoined the California Housing Partnership in 2020. As Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Public Housing Initiatives, Dave provides financial consulting assistance and training to the Partnership’s nonprofit and government partners, and mentors local financial consultants. During his tenure at the Partnership, Dave has served as the primary financial architect for the San Francisco Housing Authority’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) disposition, a portfolio that converted approximately 3,500 units of public housing with an aggregate budget of approximately $2 billion. Additionally, Dave has played a key role in the planning of the Sunnydale and Potrero components of the HOPE SF program and was the lead financial consultant for seven other developments. He was promoted from Director of Public Housing Initiatives in 2022.
Dave has also worked for several other affordable housing developers during his career. He held leadership positions with the Oakland Housing Authority and American Baptist Homes of the West, and also worked as a project manager with EAH Housing and Citizens Housing. In that time, he managed or supervised the development of over 1,000 units of housing with an aggregate budget in excess of $300 million. Dave has extensive experience with HUD, HCD, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and tax-exempt bond financing. Dave holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College.
Diep Do
Managing Director, Financial ConsultingDiep Do joined the California Housing Partnership in 2013 and has 25 years of experience in affordable housing development and finance. As Managing Director, Financial Consulting, Diep oversees the Partnership’s housing finance consultants and provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to our nonprofit and public agency partners throughout California. She advises clients on structuring financing plans utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, state HCD and CalHFA programs, and federal and local housing programs.
Prior to joining CHPC, Diep was the Director of Housing Development for Satellite Housing where she was a member of the senior leadership team responsible for managing Satellite’s merger with Affordable Housing Associates, as well as overseeing Satellite’s real estate development department. Prior to Satellite, Diep was Director of Housing Development at Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation where she oversaw the development of more than 1,600 affordable homes for San Francisco’s lowest income residents, totaling more than $600 million in financing. In addition, Diep played an active role in policy development both within TNDC and in the broader nonprofit housing community.
Diep was selected as a Northern California Real Estate Woman of Influence by the San Francisco Business Times in 2011 and as a Young Leader in Affordable Housing by the Affordable Housing Finance Magazine in 2008. She received a M.A. in Urban Planning and a B.A. in Urban Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Diep previously served on the NPH and SCANPH Boards of Directors. She currently serves on the San Diego Housing Federation Board of Directors and has led the training for the Federation’s annual Fundamentals of Affordable Housing Institute.
Emma Jordan
Research AssociateSan Francisco, CA
Emma Jordan
Research AssociateEmma Jordan joined the California Housing Partnership as a Research Associate in 2024. She supports the Partnership’s affordable housing data visualization and preservation projects through data analysis, spatial analysis and automation.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Emma worked as an analyst providing data analytic and technical support for Housing and Urban Development grantees within HOPWA, HOME, ESG, and CDBG contracted programs at the Cloudburst Group. She has also worked as a graduate student researcher for the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, focusing on research design, collection, and analysis in development impact fee reform. Emma received an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of California Berkeley and a B.A. in Political Science from The George Washington University.
Genise Choy
Senior Financial ConsultantGenise Choy joined the California Housing Partnership in December 2020. As a Senior Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. She has experience with both acquisition/rehab and new construction projects, utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, Rental Assistance Demonstration First and Second Components, the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program, various state funding sources and green incentives, as well as project-based Section 8 and HUD-VASH vouchers.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Genise was a project manager at Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco, where she contributed to the development of over 600 units for families, veterans, and formerly homeless individuals. She also worked with Barbara Sokoloff Associates, a community development consulting firm in Providence, RI, helping develop affordable housing and community spaces throughout southern New England. Genise holds a Master of City Planning and Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Real Estate from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. in Art from Swarthmore College.
Hilda Morones
Operations ManagerSan Francisco, CA
Hilda Morones
Operations ManagerHilda Morones joined the California Housing Partnership in 2023. As Operations Manager, Hilda supports and manages organization-wide administrative functions including systems administration and human resources.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Hilda worked as a HR Generalist in nonprofit public media. She has also held roles in Office Management in San Francisco’s tech industry, and as an Administrative Associate for the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH). During her 3.5 years at NPH, Hilda provided support in IT, office and people operations, finance, conferences and events, and data management.
Hilda studied Journalism at Gonzaga University and Broadcasting at San Francisco State University.
Ian Sharples
Sustainable Housing Program ManagerIan Sharples joined the California Housing Partnership in October 2022. As Sustainable Housing Program Manager he supports the Partnership’s affordable housing preservation and policy efforts by advancing building decarbonization efforts. Ian leads the Partnership’s Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program promoting the development of new all-electric housing. He also works on implementation of the Equitable Building Decarbonization (EBD) program and the Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP).
Prior to joining the Partnership, Ian worked in housing for four years, most recently as Housing Services Program Manager for Community Action Partnership of Kern where he managed rental assistance and farmworker housing programs. Before that he served as Executive Director of the Income Property Association of Kern, a chapter of the California Apartment Association where he developed models for landlord engagement on homelessness. Ian came to housing after a career in electoral politics where housing affordability was the most consistent concern of voters.
Ian earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University. He also holds training certifications in Person-Centered/Data-Driven Management and Supervising Permanent Supportive Housing Teams.
Jacqueline Rogge
Sustainable Housing Program AssociateLos Angeles, CA
Jacqueline Rogge
Sustainable Housing Program AssociateJacqueline Rogge started with the California Housing Partnership in November 2023 as a Sustainable Housing Program Associate. In her role, she collaborates with the Sustainable Housing team implementing outreach strategies across the state and providing assistance to nonprofit affordable housing providers and public housing authorities.
Jacqueline is dedicated to serving her community and has worked at several nonprofit agencies, allowing her to create change at the grassroots level. She worked as the Program Coordinator at the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL), coordinating communications and collaborative efforts between community members and stakeholders, engaging community members with LAUL’s program services, and monitoring program compliance to policies and budgets. She also completed a fellowship with Climate Corps at the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity where she piloted several projects including a webinar on the importance of fair chance hiring in the green construction industry and helped lead the workforce development team for the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) project.
Jacqueline earned her MSc in 2020 from the University of Leeds in Sustainability and Consultancy and graduated from Michigan State University in 2018 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Sustainability with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Jenn Fleming
Financial ConsultantJenn Fleming joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022 as a Financial Consultant. She provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Jenn has experience with federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s AHP Program, State of California HCD programs including MHP, AHSC and NPLH; and local funding programs.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Jenn worked for nearly five years as a Project Developer with Mercy Housing California immediately preceded by three years as their Director of Supportive Services. She led the development of several housing communities totaling more than 450 units in the Sacramento Region representing more than $180 million in development activity. Working with the MHSA, SNHP and NPLH programs, Jenn focused on family and permanent supportive housing. Prior to working at Mercy, Jenn was the Programs Director for City Heights Community Development Corporation where she led teams providing Community and Economic Development programs to a historically underinvested communities in San Diego, these programs included Active Transportation, Community Engagement, Economic Development, Workforce Development, Civic Engagement and Resident Self Sufficiency Services.
Jenn earned her Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego. They also hold a bachelor of science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Global Business Management from the California State University, San Marcos. Jenn resides in Sacramento and serves as Vice President on the board of the Sacramento Housing Alliance.
Joanie Imlay
Associate Financial ConsultantLos Angeles, CA
Joanie Imlay
Associate Financial ConsultantJoanie joined the California Housing Partnership in 2024. As an Associate Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Prior to joining the Partnership, Joanie worked as a Project Manager-Lead at Venice Community Housing Corporation, where she contributed to six developments in Los Angeles with over 300 affordable apartments for low-income households experiencing homelessness. She previously worked at the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, designing and managing loan programs targeting low-income homeowners across New York City.
Joanie is a graduate of the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate’s Levine Affordable Housing Development Program (LAHDP) and Local Initiative Support Corporation’s (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI). Joanie was raised in affordable housing in New York City. She holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Columbia University.
Jesse Ozanian
Senior Financial ConsultantJesse Ozanian joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022. As a Senior Financial Consultant, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to our nonprofit and government partners.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Jesse worked in the affordable housing field for over 11 years, first in project management at Mercy Housing and then in development consulting at Zen Development Consultants. During his time with Mercy Housing, Jesse managed five affordable housing developments totaling over 400 units in the Sacramento and Bay Area regions. In his consultant role, Jesse assisted with the closing and conversions of six developments throughout California, lead multiple California Tax Credit and HCD funding applications, and managed four developments in pre-construction in three different states, including California. A graduate of both the California Coalition for Rural Housing’s (CCRH) internship program and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI), Jesse received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Statistics from California State University, Sacramento.
Laura Kobler
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Tax Credit and Bond ProgramsPhone: (415) 433-6804 x211Sacramento Region
Laura Kobler
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Tax Credit and Bond ProgramsLaura Kobler joined the California Housing Partnership in 2003. As Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Tax Credit and Bond Programs, she provides financial technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government agency partners throughout Northern California, and mentors local financial consultants. She was promoted from Sacramento Region Director in 2022. With more than 25 years of experience, Laura brings particular expertise in the development of mutual and rental housing and the regulations governing the competition for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. She serves on the board of the California Coalition for Rural Housing and was the past chair of the Sacramento Reinvestment Committee.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Laura served as the Director of Housing Development for Sacramento Mutual Housing Association (SMHA) (renamed, Mutual Housing), where she oversaw the organization’s development of new rental housing and acquisition and rehabilitation of existing properties. Prior to joining SMHA, Laura was Housing Program Manager and Project Manager at Rural California Housing Corporation (now part of Mercy Housing), where she was responsible for the development of 27 multi- and single-family affordable housing developments. Laura received a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University, Sacramento. A graduate of the LISC Housing Development Training Institute, Laura also served as HDTI’s lead trainer for over 12 years until 2021.
Lauren Maddock
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Portfolio RecapitalizationPhone: (415) 433-6804 x329Sacramento Region
Lauren Maddock
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Portfolio RecapitalizationLauren Maddock joined the California Housing Partnership in 2018. As Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Portfolio Recapitalization, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance, portfolio analysis and training to our nonprofit and government partners on recapitalization strategies. She has extensive experience evaluating and developing strategies for older asset portfolios and has direct experience with a wide range of affordable housing finance tools including LIHTCs, tax-exempt bonds, and virtually all public funding programs administered at the local, state, and federal levels. She was promoted from her previous role as Director, Financial Consulting in 2023. Lauren is a frequent conference speaker and has presented on a variety of topics including portfolio analysis and management, Year 15 investor exits, re-syndications, and occupied rehabilitation and relocation strategies.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Lauren worked for 13 years at Mercy Housing California in a variety of roles, most recently as a Senior Project Developer specializing in the re-syndication of Mercy Housing’s existing portfolio. Prior to that, she was the Director of Asset Management for Mercy’s California portfolio encompassing 130 properties representing nearly 8,500 affordable units where she oversaw a team of five Asset Managers across the state. In this role, Lauren became a specialist in negotiating the buy-out of Low Income Housing Tax Credit investors in 18 transactions.
Lauren received a Master’s of Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco School of Management and a B.A. in Archaeology with a minor in Earth Science from Boston University. She served on HomeRise (formerly Community Housing Partnership) Board of Directors from 2014 until 2022 and was appointed to the Richmond Rent Board in 2016, serving as Chair from 2019 until her departure in 2021.
Mark Stivers
Director of Legislative and Regulatory AdvocacyPhone: (415) 433-6804 x214Sacramento Region
Mark Stivers
Director of Legislative and Regulatory AdvocacyMark Stivers joined the California Housing Partnership in 2019 as the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy. In close coordination with nonprofit and government partners, as well as state housing leaders, Mark uses his two decades of experience in the field to help develop and advance a comprehensive agenda of legislative and regulatory solutions to the state’s affordable housing crisis.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Mark most recently served as the acting Deputy Director for the Division of Financial Assistance at the California Department of Housing and Community Development, where he oversaw the department’s program design, award, loan closing and monitoring efforts for more than 20 loan and grant programs. From 2015-2018, Mark was the Executive Director of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, responsible for the administration of the California’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Prior to his tenure at TCAC, Mark served 16 years as the primary housing consultant to the California Senate, where he focused on land use and affordable housing legislation. Mark began his career as a fair housing counselor with two Bay Area nonprofit fair housing organizations. He received a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Yale University.
Matt Alvarez-Nissen
Senior Research & Policy AssociateMatt Alvarez-Nissen joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022. As Senior Research & Policy Associate, Matt N. provides support to the Partnership’s policy and research efforts through data analysis and program evaluation. He also oversees several projects that include regional work with local governments and statewide academic/research partners.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Matt worked at Dyett & Bhatia where he was the lead planner on housing elements for several California cities. Before Dyett & Bhatia, Matt worked on gentrification and displacement research projects at both the Urban Displacement Project and the Changing Cities Research Lab. Matt earned both a B.A. in Urban Studies and an M.A. in Public Policy at Stanford University in 2020.
Maxwell Albrecht
Financial ConsultantLos Angeles, CA
Maxwell Albrecht
Financial ConsultantMaxwell Albrecht joined the California Housing Partnership in February 2024 as a Financial Consultant. In his role, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Maxwell has experience with 4% and 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), tax exempt bonds, and various state and local financing programs in support of affordable and permanent supportive housing projects.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Maxwell was a Senior Project Manager for Home First, a supportive housing developer in Chicago and previously spent four years as a Project Manager at A Community of Friends (ACOF) in Los Angeles. In these roles, Maxwell developed supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and living with physical disabilities and mental illness. This included applying for and obtaining public funding and working with various local, regional, county, and state agencies.
Maxwell is a graduate of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI). He holds a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California–Los Angeles and a B.A. in Human Geography from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Matt Schwartz
President & CEOAs President & CEO of the California Housing Partnership, Matt Schwartz plays a leadership role in shaping state and federal legislation and regulations to expand the resources to preserve and create affordable housing for the state’s lowest-income residents. Matt has worked in the development, preservation, planning, and financing of affordable housing for more than 30 years in both the private and public sectors including eight years with MidPen Housing, five years with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and 20 years leading the California Housing Partnership. Matt was appointed to the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission by Mayors Newsom and Lee, is a past President of the Board of Housing California and a past member of the Board of the Non-Profit Housing (NPH) Association of Northern California.
In recognition of his leadership in the field, the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing named Matt the 2010 Advocate of the Year, the NonProfit Housing Association of Northern California awarded Matt its 2013 Inspirational Leadership Award, and the California Housing Consortium admitted Matt into its nonprofit Housing Hall of Fame in May 2013. Matt received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. He is a recipient of the Harvard’s Robert F. Kennedy Award for Public Service and Stanford’s Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel award for Outstanding Public Service.
Meagan Tokunaga Block
Senior Financial ConsultantSacramento Region
Meagan Tokunaga Block
Senior Financial ConsultantMeagan Tokunaga Block joined the California Housing Partnership in 2021. As a Senior Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners to obtain funding for affordable housing developments from an array of private and public competitive sources. She was promoted from Housing Finance Specialist in 2022.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Meagan worked for six years in state government administration and housing policy. As a policy advisor in the California State Controller’s Office, Meagan provided expertise and recommendations to support the office’s fiduciary duties for various financing tools, including low-income housing tax credits. Prior to the Controller’s Office, Meagan worked as a Staff Finance Budget Analyst and Executive Fellow at the California Department of Finance. There she developed spending proposals and statutory language for the budgets of three state housing agencies, totaling over $2 billion annually.
Meagan earned her M.B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business in May 2023. She also holds a B.A. in Politics and Public Policy Analysis from Pomona College.
Meg McGraw-Scherer
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Peninsula RegionPhone: (415) 433-6804 x315San Francisco, CA
Meg McGraw-Scherer
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Peninsula RegionMeg McGraw-Scherer joined the California Housing Partnership in 2000 and has more than 25 years of experience in affordable housing finance and development. As Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Peninsula Region, she provides financial consulting and technical assistance to our nonprofit and public agency partners in Northern California, as well as supervises and mentors local financial consultants. She was promoted from Peninsula Director in 2022. Meg has expertise in structuring financing packages for projects utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, as well as multiple public funding programs administered at the local, state, and federal level. She helps her nonprofit clients finance new construction and acquisition/rehabilitation projects serving families, seniors, and special needs populations.
Prior to joining the California Housing Partnership, Meg worked for two years in the Los Angeles office of the National Equity Fund, a nonprofit tax-credit syndication organization that provides millions of dollars in tax-credit equity to projects throughout the country. There she worked as an underwriter on Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects sited in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to the National Equity Fund, Meg spent over three years at the King County Housing Authority in Seattle as an intern, Housing Programs Coordinator, and Housing Developer in the Housing Authority’s Planning and Development Departments where she worked on the development of projects using Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, and various federal and local financing programs.
Meg received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington in Seattle and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College. She serves as a board member on the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County since 2017 and Housing Trust Silicon Valley since 2020. She was previously a board member of the California Reinvestment Coalition from 2002-2007 and a member of the City of Menlo Park’s Housing Commission from 2016-2020.
Michelle Espinosa Coulter
Associate Director, Financial ConsultingPhone: (415) 433-6804 x415Los Angeles, CA
Michelle Espinosa Coulter
Associate Director, Financial ConsultingMichelle Espinosa Coulter joined the California Housing Partnership in 2020. As Associate Director of Financial Consulting, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Michelle has over 20 years of professional experience including 14 years in affordable housing development and nine years in audit and assurance. She has direct experience with a wide range of affordable housing finance tools including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, and a variety of public funding programs administered at the local, state, and federal levels. Her projects have ranged from new construction to adaptive reuse, and have served families, seniors, and special needs populations. Throughout her career, Michelle has contributed to the development of more than 1,800 units of affordable housing with total financing exceeding $800 million.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Michelle worked with Meta Housing Corporation for nearly 10 years and rose from Project Manager to become Meta’s Director of Artist Housing. She also worked as a Project Manager with A Community of Friends developing supportive housing, and at Livable Places developing affordable homeownership opportunities. Prior to development, Michelle provided assurance services with industry-affiliates Low Income Investment Fund and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. A five year career in public accounting preceded her time at the Federal Reserve Bank. Michelle holds dual master’s degrees in Urban Planning from UCLA and in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Her B.B.A. is from Texas A&M.
Miki Kobayashi
Associate Financial ConsultantMiki Kobayashi joined the California Housing Partnership in March 2022. As an Associate Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and data analysis. Through her schooling, case competitions, and previous work, she has experience working with federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, and State of California HCD programs.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Miki worked as an associate at BAE Urban Economics for four years. There, she contributed to projects using her skills with data collection and analysis using Excel and Python, report writing, and pro formas primarily for jurisdictions throughout California. In addition, Miki worked as a teaching assistant for a UC Berkeley graduate class on affordable housing financing and a seminar on California Housing Elements. Miki earned her Master’s in City Planning (MCP) from the University of California, Berkeley. She also holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning and a minor in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis with classwork from the University of California, San Diego.
Nicole Norori
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Central Coast RegionPhone: (415) 433-6804 x212Santa Barbara, CA
Nicole Norori
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Central Coast RegionNicole Norori joined the California Housing Partnership’s Southern California team in 2015. As Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Central Coast Region, she provides financial consulting assistance and training to the Partnership’s government and nonprofit partners, and mentors local financial consultants. She was promoted from Senior Housing Finance Consultant in 2020. Nicole brings over 15 years of direct affordable housing real estate development and finance experience. She has worked on a range of developments including new construction, acquisition/rehab, gut rehab, mixed-use, mobile home park relocation and replacement housing, and multifamily conversion of a historic building. Nicole has worked in both non-profit and for-profit affordable housing development and brings intricate knowledge of local, state, and federal financing mechanisms, and development and construction processes.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Nicole worked as a Project Manager for Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. and oversaw the development of various non-rural, rural and farmworker family developments in Ventura and Santa Barbara County. She has worked on developments serving special needs populations, seniors, families, and farmworkers. She has also worked closely with local jurisdictions in Ventura County to implement affordable housing “friendly” zoning policies and ordinances and has worked extensively on reviewing and providing input for local Housing Elements. Nicole received a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Paul Beesemyer
Managing Director, Financial ConsultingPaul Beesemyer joined the California Housing Partnership in 2000. As Managing Director, Financial Consulting, Paul oversees all of the Partnership’s Southern California housing finance consultants and assists Southern California’s nonprofit housing community and public agencies in the areas of affordable housing finance, real estate development, preservation of at-risk housing, and general housing policy. Paul was promoted from Southern California Director in 2022. His career in housing began in 1996 and since then he has conducted numerous seminars and trainings and authored several publications, including The Tax Credit Turns Fifteen, a risk analysis of California’s early Tax Credit portfolio. In addition, Paul has worked with the City of Los Angeles Housing Department to develop a comprehensive policy for the preservation of at-risk housing and has advised the City on the creation and implementation of a new preservation ordinance.
Prior to joining the California Housing Partnership, Paul developed affordable housing as senior project manager for the Los Angeles Community Design Center, where he managed affordable housing and community development projects serving families, seniors, and various special-needs populations. He is knowledgeable in the use of a wide range of community development financing tools, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bond financing, and a variety of public funding programs administered at the local, state, and federal levels. Paul received a Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.
Paul (PJ) Jones
Finance ManagerPaul “PJ” Jones joined the California Housing Partnership in September of 2022. As the Finance Manager, Paul oversees the organization’s finance and accounting functions.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Paul worked as the Finance and Administration Manager at Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP) for close to four years. During Paul’s time with FVAP, he provided financial management and audit support as well as Grant management support for the organization. For the bulk of his career Paul worked in various roles in within Charles Schwab and Co., while also volunteering with Contra Costa County Search and Rescue as a general team member and fiscal manager of their nonprofit.
Paul holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Communications from San Jose State University.
Rachael Diaz
Sustainability Senior Program ManagerRachael Diaz joined the California Housing Partnership in July 2020. As Sustainability Senior Program Manager, she assists in outreach and implementation of sustainable housing programs to increase access to clean energy resources for low-income communities. Rachael was promoted from Program Associate in 2022.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Rachael worked as a program coordinator at the Center for Sustainable Energy where she assisted in the development and implementation of the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program. Rachael also served as an Innovation Fellow at the University of San Diego, where she managed student led start-up initiatives designed to address systemic issues in the local San Diego community.
Rachael earned her B.S. in Political Science with minors in Sociology and Psychology from the University of San Diego in 2018.
Ray McPherson
Research AssociateRay McPherson joined the California Housing Partnership as a Research Associate in 2022. They support the Partnership’s affordable housing data visualization and preservation projects through data analysis, spatial analysis and automation.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Ray was a GIS Programmer Analyst at Renewable Resources Group where they automated repetitive tasks, created user-friendly tools that performed a variety of analyses, and were a main point of contact for troubleshooting technical issues. They have also volunteered their time and skills to organizations such as the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance and the Center for Identity and Inclusion at CU Denver. Ray received a MA of Anthropology and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science at the University of Colorado Denver, and a BA of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming.
Richard Mandel
Managing Director, Financial ConsultingRichard Mandel has been with the California Housing Partnership since 1990. As Managing Director, Financial Consulting, he oversees the Partnership’s staff of Northern California housing finance consultants, and provides direct technical assistance and training to nonprofit and local governmental entities in affordable housing finance. Richard has particular expertise in structuring financing packages for projects utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, State of California HCD Programs, Section 8 project-based assistance, Affordable Housing Program (AHP), and other state and local housing programs. He has assisted nonprofits in the financing of thousands of apartments, including new construction and acquisition/rehabilitation projects serving families, seniors, special needs and other populations.
Prior to joining the California Housing Partnership, Richard was a Project Manager with the Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition, a major nonprofit development corporation. Richard has spoken at numerous conferences and workshops on topics including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit syndication, multifamily lending issues, preservation of federally assisted housing, and other subjects. He has conducted a range of trainings on related issues.
Richard received a Master of City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley. He served as Chair of the Preservation Working Group of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California and remains active in housing finance technical and policy issues.
Sherin Bennett
Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance TrainingPhone: (415) 433-6804 x418Los Angeles, CA
Sherin Bennett
Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance TrainingSherin Bennett joined the California Housing Partnership’s Southern California team in 2016. As Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance Training, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to our nonprofit and government partners and supports the Partnership’s training programs. She was promoted from Senior Housing Finance Consultant in 2020.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Sherin was an underwriter with Chase Community Development Banking in New York City and Los Angeles, where she underwrote over $200 million in construction and permanent loans, financing over 2,350 units of affordable housing in six states. Sherin was a Housing Fellow for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development and the NYC Housing Development Corporation from 2011-2013. She closed construction financing on one of the first HUD RAD/IRP conversions in the nation and created a database and methodologies to track funding sources and development outcomes for then-mayor Michael Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan. Sherin earned a Master of Science in Public and Urban Policy from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment (The New School, NYC) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Siera Beal
Grants & Communications ManagerSan Diego, CA
Siera Beal
Grants & Communications ManagerAs Grants & Communications Manager, Siera oversees the Partnership’s cross-platform marketing, design and outreach efforts. She also leads the Partnership’s fundraising efforts and is a key resource for our foundation partners. Siera joined the California Housing Partnership in 2021 as a Housing Finance Specialist. For more than two years, she provided financial technical assistance and support to the Partnership’s Housing Finance team to guide affordable housing developments in obtaining funding from an array of federal, state and local competitive programs (LIHTC, tax-exempt bonds, HUD, HCD, and others).
Prior to joining the Partnership, Siera worked as a Lending Program Officer at LISC, where she originated and managed predevelopment and acquisition loans for affordable housing and community development projects across San Diego County and developed the organization’s first-ever down payment assistance program. Before venturing into the affordable housing and community development realm, Siera spent most of her career in commercial real estate finance specializing in hospitality. A proud native Ithacan, Siera earned her B.S. in Hotel Administration from her hometown alma mater, Cornell University. She also holds an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and is currently pursuing an M.L.I.S. with San José State University concentrating in Archives & Preservation.
Thái-Ân Ngȏ
Senior Financial ConsultantThái-Ân Ngô joined the California Housing Partnership in 2020. As a Senior Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to our nonprofit and government partners.
Prior to the Partnership, Thái-Ân was a Vice President of Underwriting at Berkadia (formerly known as Riverside Capital) where she closed on over $147MM in LIHTC investments, including two large Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) deals in Los Angeles. Before that, Thái-Ân was an Associate Director at Aegon USA Realty Advisors, where she sourced, underwrote, and closed transactions totaling over $170 MM in LIHTC equity and $160 MM in solar investment tax credits (ITC). Thái-Ân began her long career in affordable housing with a 14-year tenure at Chinatown Community Development Center where she held a variety of housing development roles and oversaw the development of several urban-infill new construction projects. Thái-Ân is a graduate of the LISC Housing Development Training Institute and received a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University. She has also served on the Board of Directors of East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC).
Tony Kouot
Senior Financial ConsultantTony Kouot joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022. As a Senior Financial Consultant, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to our nonprofit and government partners. He has experience with LIHTC, tax exempt bonds, and various State and Local financing programs in support of Affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing projects. Prior to joining the Partnership, Tony worked as a Senior Project Manager for Brilliant Corners. As a Senior Project Manager, Tony acquired and developed supportive housing throughout California for individuals experiencing homeless/formerly homeless and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. This included applying for and obtaining public funding and working with various local, regional, county, and state agencies.
Tony is a graduate of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI). He received a B.S. in Public Policy, Management, and Planning with an emphasis in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California. Tony is also certified with the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional.
Yasmin Givens
Research and Policy AssociateYasmin Givens joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022. As Research and Policy Analyst, she provides analytical support to advance key research, policy analysis, and program evaluation efforts to improve federal, state, and local affordable housing policies and programs.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Yasmin interned with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Houston Education Research Consortium, where she contributed to research initiatives in federal housing policy and local education policy, respectively.
Yasmin received a B.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Policy Analysis from Rice University in 2022.
Zorica Stančević
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance TrainingPhone: (415) 433-6804 x213San Francisco, CA
Zorica Stančević
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance TrainingZorica Stančević rejoined the California Housing Partnership in 2017. As Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance Training, Zorica provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government clients throughout California, and leads the Partnership’s training division. She was promoted from Director of Training in 2022. Zorica brings more than 15 years of experience in affordable housing finance and development. She has experience structuring financing packages with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Tax-Exempt Bond financing, as well as a range of federal, state, and local programs, including local rental/operating subsidies. Zorica has directly contributed to the development or rehabilitation of over 1,700 units of affordable housing totaling more than $470 million in development costs.
Prior to rejoining the Partnership, Zorica spent two years as a Project Manager of Affordable Housing Tax Credit Investments with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation where she underwrote and closed $157 million in Low Income Housing and Historic Tax Credit investments. Before her previous five-year tenure with the California Housing Partnership, Zorica worked as a Senior Project Manager with A Community of Friends where she managed the development of 250 supportive housing units and $115 million in financing. Zorica received a Master of Arts in Urban Planning with a specialization in Housing and Community Development from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.