The California Housing Partnership Staff
Aditya Potluri
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Aditya Potluri
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Aditya Potluri joined the California Housing Partnership in 2020 with more than fifteen years of experience in the affordable housing industry. As an Associate Director of Financial Consulting, 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.
Adrian Servetnick
Financial Consultant
Adrian Servetnick
Financial Consultant
Adrian joined the California Housing Partnership in 2025. As a Financial Consultant, he provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Prior to joining the Partnership, Adrian worked as a Senior Project Manager at the Community Corporation of Santa Monica, and previously worked at A Community of Friends, in Los Angeles, CA, and The Neighborhood Developers, in Chelsea, MA. Before beginning development work, Adrian spent 5 years working for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.
Adrian is a graduate of the Local Initiative Support Corporation’s (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Amanda Isbell
Managing Director, Operations
Amanda Isbell
Managing Director, Operations
Amanda Isbell joined the California Housing Partnership in 2013. As the Managing Director of 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.
Reach Amanda at: aisbell@calhousingpartnership.org
Andrew Dawson, Ph.D
Senior Manager of Policy Advocacy
Andrew Dawson, Ph.D
Senior Manager of Policy Advocacy
Andrew Dawson joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022 as the Senior Manager of Policy Advocacy. 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
Sustainability Senior Program Associate
Angel Rodriguez
Sustainability Senior Program Associate
Angel Rodriguez joined the California Housing Partnership in April 2022. As a Sustainability Senior 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.
Anna Drobny
Operations Associate
Anna Drobny
Operations Associate
Anna Drobny joined the California Housing Partnership in 2024. As an Operations Associate, she supports the Operations team with organization-wide administrative functions including systems administration and human resources.
Prior to joining the Partnership, she has held positions in Office Management, Service Operations and Supervisory roles in the F&B, Health and Hospitality industries.
Anna received a BA in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and is a certified yoga instructor.
Anna Kobara
Financial Consultant
Anna Kobara
Financial Consultant
Anna Kobara joined the California Housing Partnership in 2026. As a Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, training, and technical assistance to our nonprofit and government partners. Prior to joining the Partnership, Anna worked as a Project Manager for A Community of Friends for 7 years. As a Project Manager, Anna developed permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness with mental illness and affordable housing for low-income families throughout Southern California.
Anna is a graduate of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI). She earned her master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA with a concentration in Housing and holds a B.A. in Urban Studies and Environmental Policy from Fordham University.
Ben Creed
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Ben Creed
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Ben Creed joined the California Housing Partnership in 2019. As an Associate Director of Financial Consulting, 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.
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.
Ben Schmiedt
Senior Research Associate
Ben Schmiedt
Senior Research Associate
Ben Schmiedt joined the California Housing Partnership in 2026. As Senior Research Associate, he supports the Partnership’s advocacy efforts through data-informed research and support of the Partnership’s public-facing data tools and publications, including the Housing Needs Dashboard and annual Housing Needs Reports.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Ben worked on financial stability policy as a Senior Research Assistant at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, DC. During his time at the Fed, he led a national study examining how urban tree canopy loss affects home values, built automated data pipelines, produced analyses for the Federal Reserve’s Financial Stability Report, and coauthored peer-reviewed research on financial markets.
Born and raised in the East Bay, Ben holds a B.A. in Economics and Global Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.
Blanca E. de la Cruz
Managing Director, Sustainability
Blanca E. de la Cruz
Managing Director, Sustainability
Blanca E. de la Cruz joined the California Housing Partnership in 2014. As Managing Director of Sustainability, 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 Sustainability 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.
Reach Blanca at bdelacruz@calhousingpartnership.org
Chad Horsford
Director, Financial Consulting
Chad Horsford
Director, Financial Consulting
Chad Horsford joined the California Housing Partnership in 2018. As a Director of 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.
Dan Rinzler
Associate Research Director
Dan Rinzler
Associate Research Director
Dan Rinzler joined the California Housing Partnership in 2016. As Associate Research Director, Dan is responsible for leading the research team’s policy evaluation efforts. He also leads the Partnership’s research and policy efforts related to addressing residential segregation and affirmatively furthering fair housing, which have included support of state and local agencies as well as independent research efforts often with university collaborators.
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.
Dana Kaplan
Senior Accounting Associate
Dana Kaplan
Senior Accounting Associate
Dana Kaplan joined the California Housing Partnership in 2023. As Senior 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.
Danielle M. Mazzella
Associate Research Director
Danielle M. Mazzella
Associate Research Director
Danielle M. Mazzella joined the California Housing Partnership in January 2016. As Associate Research Director, Danielle is responsible for research on the preservation of affordable housing and housing needs analyses at the state, regional, and local level with partners and local governments.
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 Initiatives
Dave Kiddoo
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Public Housing Initiatives
Dave 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.
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 Consulting
Diep Do
Managing Director, Financial Consulting
Diep 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.
Reach Diep at ddo@calhousingpartnership.org
Emma Jordan
Research Associate
Emma Jordan
Research Associate
Emma 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
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Genise Choy
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Genise Choy joined the California Housing Partnership in December 2020. As an Associate Director of Financial Consulting, 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.
Ian Sharples
Sustainability Program Manager
Ian Sharples
Sustainability Program Manager
Ian Sharples joined the California Housing Partnership in October 2022. As a Sustainability 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
Sustainability Senior Program Associate
Jacqueline Rogge
Sustainability Senior Program Associate
Jacqueline Rogge started with the California Housing Partnership in November 2023 as a Sustainability Senior 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.
Jenny Wong
Senior Financial Consultant
Jenny Wong
Senior Financial Consultant
Jenny Wong joined the California Housing Partnership in 2025. As a Senior Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance and training to our nonprofit and government partners. Jenny has experience with a variety of federal, state, and local funding sources, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, HCD AHSC and IIG, CalHFA MIP, DTSC ECRG, and Federal Home Loan Bank’s AHP Program.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Jenny worked as a Senior Project Manager at the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda and a Project Manager at Meta Housing Corporation. During her eight years in project management, she contributed to the development of over 1,000 units of affordable housing for families, seniors, veterans, and special needs populations throughout California. Jenny earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Urban Studies and in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine.
Jessica Hitchcock, M.C.P.
Managing Director, Research
Jessica Hitchcock
Managing Director, Research
Jessica Hitchcock joined the California Housing Partnership in 2026. As Director of Research, she oversees the Partnership’s research, policy analysis, and program evaluation initiatives to improve affordable housing across the state.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Jessica spent more than 15 years advising state and local governments across California and the US on affordable housing policy and program implementation, including as a Principal for Urban Math and Vice President at BAE Urban Economics. She has led dozens of studies on rent stabilization, housing preservation, inclusionary housing ordinances, affordable transit-oriented development, and interim housing strategies. Her work is characterized by in-depth data analysis and clear communication of its meaning and impact, connecting research to effective implementation at all levels of government and institutions.
Her projects include advising New York City on Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, expanding West Hollywood’s housing programs, assessing social housing models for the City of Berkeley, and supporting Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) affordable housing TOD initiative. Prior to her policy consulting work, Jessica served as a Project Manager for RiseBoro Community Partnership in Brooklyn, NY, where she developed over 500 LIHTC-financed housing units.
Jessica holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business and a Master of City Planning from UC Berkeley. She is a graduate of Coro’s Affordable Housing Leadership Network program and has been a team member recipient of several awards for excellence from the American Planning Association. Jessica serves as the elected Board President of her local school district.
Reach Jessica at jhitchcock@calhousingpartnership.org
Jesse Ozanian
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Jesse Ozanian
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Jesse Ozanian joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022. As an Associate Director of Financial Consulting, 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.
Joanie Imlay
Financial Consultant
Joanie Imlay
Financial Consultant
Joanie joined the California Housing Partnership in 2024. As a 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.
Juliana Zatz-Watkins
Financial Consultant
Juliana Zatz-Watkins
Financial Consultant
Juliana joined the California Housing Partnership in 2026. As a Financial Consultant, she provides financial consulting, technical assistance, and training to nonprofit and public agency partners to support the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout California. Prior to joining the Partnership, Juliana worked as a Project Manager at Mutual Housing California, where she developed family, senior, and permanent supportive housing for folks in the greater Sacramento region. She previously worked as a Junior Associate at CSG Advisors, Inc., where she supported LIHTC and HUD RAD financing applications throughout the US, and as a Project Analyst at the Law Offices of Patrick R. Sabelhaus, preparing LIHTC and HCD applications for affordable housing developments across California.
Juliana is a graduate of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC) Housing Development Training Institute. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Juliana serves as a Board Member of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, and is an active member of the Capital City Toastmasters public speaking club in Sacramento, CA.
Laura Kobler
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Tax Credit and Bond Programs
Laura Kobler
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Tax Credit and Bond Programs
Laura 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. 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 Recapitalization
Lauren Maddock
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Portfolio Recapitalization
Lauren 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. 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.
Matt Alvarez-Nissen
Research Manager
Matt Alvarez-Nissen
Research Manager
Matt Alvarez-Nissen joined the California Housing Partnership in 2022. As Research Manager, Matt N. manages various research projects, such as the unsubsidized affordable housing at-risk report, and supports 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, including efforts related to addressing residential segregation and affirmatively furthering fair housing.
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 a B.A. in Urban Studies and an M.A. in Public Policy at Stanford University in 2020.
Matt Schwartz
President & CEO
Matt Schwartz
President & CEO
As 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.
Maxwell Albrecht
Senior Financial Consultant
Maxwell Albrecht
Senior Financial Consultant
Maxwell Albrecht joined the California Housing Partnership in February 2024 as a Senior 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.
Michelle Espinosa Coulter
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Michelle Espinosa Coulter
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Michelle 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.
Nicole Norori
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Central Coast Region
Nicole Norori
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Central Coast Region
Nicole 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.
Nikki Sayres
Interim HR & Operations Director
Nikki Sayres
Interim HR & Operations Director
Nikki Sayres joined the California Housing Partnership in 2026 as Interim Director of HR and Operations. In this role, she supports the organization’s administrative functions in human resources, finance, contract management, and technology, with a focus on continuity and effectiveness.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Nikki spent more than 25 years in operations and programs in mission-driven organizations, including senior executive roles at Room to Read, Stand for Children, and The Asia Foundation. As Chief Operating Officer at Room to Read, she led HR and operations across 20 countries, overseeing a staff of more than 1,600 and guiding the organization through significant growth and change. At Stand for Children, she served as COO and Acting CFO, managing HR, finance, technology, and operations across a multi-entity national organization. She holds a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and an MBA. Nikki is also the founder and CEO of Sayres Coaching and Consulting, where she supports individuals and organizations on leadership, strategy, and operations. She is based in San Francisco.
Reach Nikki at: nsayres@calhousingpartnership.org
Paul Beesemyer
Managing Director, Financial Consulting
Paul Beesemyer
Managing Director, Financial Consulting
Paul 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. 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.
Reach Paul at pbeesemyer@calhousingpartnership.org
Rachael Diaz
Sustainability Senior Program Manager
Rachael Diaz
Sustainability Senior Program Manager
Rachael 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.
Ren Gemheart
Senior Financial Consultant
Ren Gemheart
Senior Financial Consultant
Ren 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, Ren worked as a project manager with Mutual Housing California for 2.5 years. There, Ren contributed to the development of several housing communities totaling around 400 units in the Sacramento area. Working with the MHP and NPLH programs, Ren focused on permanent supportive housing. Ren 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.
Richard Mandel
Managing Director, Financial Consulting
Richard Mandel
Managing Director, Financial Consulting
Richard 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.
Reach Richard at rmandel@calhousingpartnership.org
Sherin Bennett
Senior Director, Financial Consulting — Housing Finance Training
Sherin Bennett
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance Training
Sherin Bennett joined the California Housing Partnership’s Southern California team in 2016. As Senior 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.
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
Senior Grants & Communications Manager
Siera Beal
Grants & Communications Manager
As 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.
Thái-Ân Ngȏ
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Thái-Ân Ngȏ
Associate Director, Financial Consulting
Thái-Ân Ngô joined the California Housing Partnership in 2020. As an Associate Director of Financial Consulting, 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).
Tiyesha Watts
Associate Director of Policy Advocacy
Tiyesha Watts
Associate Director of Policy Advocacy
Tiyesha Watts joined the California Housing Partnership in 2025 as the Associate Director of Policy Advocacy. She 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, Tiyesha worked as a Legislative and Policy Advocate with the California Academy of Family Physicians where she led their legislative, budget and regulatory advocacy strategy. She previously spent years in legislative aid roles in offices across the California State Senate and California Community Colleges advancing initiatives in key policy areas including education, housing, transportation, human services and public safety.
Tiyesha holds a bachelor’s in political science from UC Davis and a master’s in public administration from the University of the Pacific.
Tony Kouot
Senior Financial Consultant
Tony Kouot
Senior Financial Consultant
Tony 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.
Zorica Stančević
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance Training
Zorica Stančević
Senior Director, Financial Consulting – Housing Finance Training
Zorica 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. 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.
The California Housing Partnership
Board Members
Adhi Nagraj, Chair
Senior Vice President,
McCormack Baron Salazar
Appointed by: Governor
Sochiata Vutthy, Vice Chair
Director of Asset Management,
Community HousingWorks
Appointed by: Senate President ProTem
Rebecca Foster, Treasurer
Executive Director,
Housing Accelerator Fund
Appointed by: Governor
Azalia Gomez-Camacho, Secretary
Resident Engagement Manager,
Lift to Rise
Appointed by: Assembly Speaker
Courtney Welch
Director of External Affairs,
California Housing Defense Fund
Appointed by: Governor
Gustavo Velasquez
Director,
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
Appointed by: Governor
Rachel Rosner
Partner
Bocarsly, Emden, Cowan, Esmail & Arndt, LLP
Appointed by: Governor
Michael Duarte
Deputy Executive Director
Fresno Housing Authority
Appointed by: Governor
The California Housing Partnership
Board Members
Adhi Nagraj, Chair
Senior Vice President,
McCormack Baron Salazar
Appointed by: Governor
Rebecca Foster, Treasurer
Executive Director,
Housing Accelerator Fund
Appointed by: Governor
Sochiata Vutthy, Vice Chair
Director of Asset Management,
Community HousingWorks
Appointed by: Senate President ProTem
Azalia Gomez-Camacho, Secretary
Southern California Regional Organizer,
Housing California
Appointed by: Assembly Speaker
Courtney Welch
Director of External Affairs,
California Housing Defense Fund
Appointed by: Governor
Gustavo Velasquez
Director,
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
Appointed by: Governor
Vacant
Appointed by: Governor
