SFHDC - Key Persons
Andre Lewis is originally from Bayview Hunters Point, in San Francisco, CA. Attending Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in the Fillmore area his freshmen and sophomore year, his family moved to Fairfield, CA where he graduated in 2010. He is the Son of Andre Herm Lewis Sr. and Rhonda Lewis. Earned his bachelor's degree in international studies and marketing in the spring of 2015 from the University of Utah, where he also played football for the PAC 12 university and was born July 15, 1992. Andre Lewis also has his degree in public speaking, making him one of the top professional speakers and influencers in the Bay Area. He's a certified life coach, EMCEE/ host, and Small Business owner of Soo What Do You Do, where you can watch what he does on Youtube. He enjoys promoting other businesses and entrepreneurs from all different backgrounds including: NFL players, major entertainers, dog trainers, teachers and so much more! He loves hanging out with his nieces and nephews and being a great big brother to his little and older sister.
Andre Lewis is originally from Bayview Hunters Point, in San Francisco, CA. Attending Sacred Heart C...More
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Director of Legal Services for LifeLong Medical Care
Board Secretary. Director of Legal Services, LifeLong Medical
Antoinette serves as Director of Legal Services for LifeLong Medical Care, a provider of health services for four Bay Area counties. Previously, she was corporate counsel for Anka, an integrated behavioral healthcare services provider. In this capacity, she managed and negotiated all contracts and lawsuits, and interfaces with numerous private and governmental bodies in the contract execution process. Antoinette is a Juris Doctor graduate from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, California. She has worked for Oakland's City Attorney's Office and has worked with several private practices over her career. Additionally, she is a professor of corporation law at the St. Francis School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Project Director at City of San Rafael
Job Titles:
- Board Treasurer. Founding Principal, Equity Community Builders
Ben possesses decades of experience in managing all aspects of residential and mixed-use developments. His work in affordable housing includes leadership in rebuilding public housing projects critical to neighborhood revitalization. Ben's capacity for community and team building is evident in his long-standing relationships and his reputation for integrity across public, private and non-profit sectors.
Antoinette serves as Director of Legal Services for LifeLong Medical Care, a provider of health serv...
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Executive
With over six years of customer service experience, Briana has consistently demonstrated her dedication to helping and connecting with others. She is thrilled to bring her passion for service to her new role as an Executive and Administrative Assistant. In this position, Briana supports executive tasks and office administration with the same enthusiasm and care that she brought to her former role as a Resident Service Connector.
Outside of work, Briana cherishes time spent with family and friends and indulges her love for cooking and baking. Whether it's preparing meals or managing office responsibilities, Briana believes in putting her heart into everything she does. As she often says, "All I do is done with passion and love!"
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Board Member, Managing Director of Tiderise Technologies Inc
Cecilia is a passionate leader who drives social impact through technology and business. As Managing Director at Tiderise Technologies Inc., she helps lead the company in transforming lives by creating sustainable employment opportunities in Malawi. Cecilia is directly involved in training and employing educated, ambitious Malawians to support companies worldwide with essential business processes.
A champion for diversity, Cecilia co-founded Synergy Executive and Boards Consulting Group in Canada, specializing in recruitment that helps build diverse management teams and boards and; providing board governance training.
Previously, Cecilia served as the Chief Operations Officer at WeBC, a federally funded organization where she started as a Business Advisor soon after earning her MBA from Simon Fraser University. Cecilia helped thousands of women business owners achieve their dreams through tailored advisory solutions, training, and funding. She was also part of the WEConnect International team, certifying women business owners. With 25 years of experience and exceptional interpersonal skills, Cecilia is considered a small business expert.
Named one of British Columbia's most influential women in finance by B.C. Business Magazine in 2019, Cecilia's journey as a champion for women business owners began in Malawi, working for a development lending organization.
In San Francisco, Cecilia is eager to contribute her leadership, financial, strategic, and operational expertise as a board member of San Francisco Housing Development Corporation, whose mission is to foster financial stability through affordable housing development, home ownership facilitation, and economic empowerment.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Co - Founder, Board Member, Executive Director of the Community Design Center
Chuck Turner has been the Executive Director of the Community Design Center since 1970. His backgrou...More
Chuck Turner has been the Executive Director of the Community Design Center since 1970.
His background includes work as an urban planner, management intern at HUD Public Housing Administration in San Francisco and social worker in Oakland, California. Mr. Turner has a BA in Political Science and Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of several professional and civic organizations. Mr. Turner is married and has three children and lives in San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Community Advocate and Real Estate Investor
Daniel Wong is a long-standing community advocate and real estate investor. Previously, he served as...More
Daniel Wong is a long-standing community advocate and real estate investor. Previously, he served as Vice President / Senior Mortgage Consultant at Union Bank. Daniel is a long-time advocate for sustainable homeownership in San Francisco and has put together education programs and consumer outreach events via different organizations he is involved with. He specializes in jumbo and portfolio home mortgage lending with experience working with high net worth individuals/families and real estate investors.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer, Interim Director of Real Estate Development
David has over 25 years of affordable housing and community development experience in San Francisco, his native city of New York, and nationally. Under David's leadership, SFHDC has grown from a staff of 4.5 FTE's in June 2013 to 40 today, with an exponential increase in impact in each of SFHDC's Four Core Programs: Added 1,200 units to SFHDC's complete Affordable Housing development portfolio; expanded Resident Services from one 30-unit site to 990 households across 8 properties; grew our Housing Counseling and Financial Empowerment program to serve over 1,000 clients annually; and launched a series of new Economic Development initiatives, including our In the Black retail store, and our Minding My Black-Owned Business technical assistance program for entrepreneurs.
Prior to joining SFHDC, David served as a principal for his national consultancy practice, where he provided technical assistance to nonprofit, for profit and public sector clients in the areas of homebuyer assistance programs, inclusionary housing, and project planning and development. Previously, while at the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, David managed the production of more than 1,000 affordable units, negotiated the affordable housing program for the Hunters Point Shipyard, launched six loan and asset building programs totaling $12 million, and oversaw the sale of more than 400 affordable homes to low- and moderate-income families. Prior to coming to the West Coast, David led the real estate development offices of two notable nonprofit organizations in New York--Westhab, Inc., and Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). He began his career at the storied NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), where he managed new construction and rehabilitation programs in several neighborhoods, including East Harlem and the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
He has been a featured speaker or panelist in numerous local and national symposiums and conferences, and was featured in the Neighborworks/NCB Capital Impact film "A New Way Home: Taking Shared Equity to Scale." David earned a BA from Columbia College, with a major in architecture and minor in film. He graduated from the NeighborWorks/Harvard Kennedy School "Achieving Excellence Program," an executive leadership program serving approximately 50 select leaders from around the country in each cycle.
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Project Manager at John Stewart Company
- Project Manager at the John Stewart Company
As a Project Manager at The John Stewart Company, Dicko applies her 18 years of global experience in finance, project management, and leadership to complex infrastructure projects that drive social impact. Fluent in three languages, she holds a graduate degree in Real Estate Development and Design from UC Berkeley.
Dicko's career began in London as a real estate analyst, followed by investment banking roles in Dubai and Johannesburg. In 2009, she pursued her passion for development in Senegal, founding her own firm and leading projects from land acquisition to completion as CEO.
Dicko's expertise in navigating complex financial landscapes and her proven ability to deliver successful projects make her a valuable asset to the Board. Previously, she served on the board of for-profit real estate and construction organizations.
Dicko is eager to leverage her financial acumen, leadership skills, and global perspective to contribute to the Board's strategic direction and mission.
Job Titles:
- Director of Resident Services and Engagement
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Walker Realty Group
Eddie J. Walker, a licensed broker in the State of California, has a 30-year history in retail banking, mortgage lending and community economic development. Eddie established the Oakland-based Walker Realty Group in July of 2004 and, throughout his career, Eddie has held key positions at leading financial institutions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Financial Empowerment Center Team
- Housing and Financial Empowerment Counselor
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Managing Director at BEI Capital
Job Titles:
- Special Events and Projects Manager
Gabriella joined the Economic Development team as a part of the Fillmore Small Business Empowerment Hub, bringing with her extensive experience in startup and small-business coaching and education. She has over 7 years of program coordination experience, and joined SFHDC in 2022 beginning her work with the inaugural cohort of the Minding My Black-Owned Business Program as a business coach/mentor. With a background spanning many miles, Gabriella is an Ethiopian-American born in the midwest, and raised across 5 countries and 4 continents. A global nomad, Gabriella is a relatively recent transplant to the Bay Area. Graduating from Santa Clara University in 2021 with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in International Business, she was involved in policy research and community organizing in the San Jose area during her time in school. Her other areas of expertise include event facilitation, curriculum development, DE&I, sustainable development, and international political economics.
Job Titles:
- Banker
- HUD Certified - Financial Empowerment Housing Counselor
Greg Pennington is a mortgage banker and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience. Previously co-owner of Wausau Mortgage Corporation and Equistar Mortgage Corporation, Greg was co-founder of 4 different companies under Sub-Chapter S or LLC status and currently works with Linda Parker Pennington under Parker Pennington Enterprises. Greg has also worked with SF Urban CHC to create the curriculum design for first-time homebuyer programs and as the seminar facilitator and housing counselor. Greg also worked as a "hot spot" reporter on financial issues and interviewer for Bay Area Life TV. Greg attended the University of Notre Dame.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer, Interim CFO
Job Titles:
- HUD Certified - Financial Empowerment Housing Counselor
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Assistant / Economic Development Team
Pia is a dynamic force in San Francisco's economic development, formerly serving as Program Di...
Job Titles:
- Project Operations Coordinator
Jasmine is a Bayview Hunters Point native to the core. Her background is in advocacy, client service and public speaking, working with an array of non profit organizations and populations. She is passionate about empowering her community to reach their Homeownership and Financial Goals.
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Vice President, Co - Investment, Grosvenor - Property Americas
Jennifer has over 20 years' experience in the acquisition, finance and portfolio management of residential and mixed-use real estate. In 2011 - 2018 she served as VP of Capital Markets with Carmel Partners where she sourced and led over $2 Billion in debt capital transactions for multifamily property and mixed-use developments nationally. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute and SPUR. She also serves on the steering and finance committee of SoMaWest Community Benefit District.
Ms. Mataka comes to SFHDC after serving as a Project Manager at En2action, a community and economic development nonprofit with a history of providing technical assistance, community engagement, and capacity-building services to small businesses and merchant groups in the Fillmore, and City-wide. Previously, Ms. Mataka was the Development and Communications Manager at La Cocina, a nonprofit culinary incubator supporting racial, gender, and economic equity. Her track record includes fundraising $5MM to open the country's first women-led food hall in the Tenderloin. Jessica was raised by a low-income, single mother in the Central Valley and cares deeply about preserving working-class families' ability to live and thrive in our city. Having joined SFHDC in the fall of 2021 as a Program Manager, she is now serving as Interim Director of Economic Develiopment.
John brings over 20 years of experience in the Asset Management of large portfolio of multi-family assets on the West Coast, providing annual property/portfolio budgets, and generating monthly/quarterly Variance to Budget analysis identifying causes/solutions and impact on forecasts. John also has provided underwriting (net cash flow/NAV accretion/IRR/ROE/risk analysis) for $7BN in acquisitions, developments, and redevelopments for on-balance sheet transactions, partnerships, and Fund investments. He also provides the ability to Integrate market research into financial performance forecasts, along with updating quarterly rolling forecasts providing notable revisions to senior staff and Operations management.
John holds a PhD/ABD from the University of California at Santa Barbara, along with a BS in Mathematics from Washington State University.
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Managing Director at First Citizens Bank, CRA Residential Lending - Northern California / Managing Director at First Citizens Bank, CRA Residential Lending - Northern California
Job Titles:
- Resident
- Services Coordinator
For the past 21 years, I have spent most of my time serving children, youth, and Families in the Wes...More
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Director of Community Development for First Republic Bank
Board Chair. Director of Community Development, First Republic Bank.
Lena Robinson is the director of community development for First Republic Bank. In this role, Ms. Robinson works to identify lending and investment opportunities that support affordable housing, economic development and asset building in the Bank's core markets. Through collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community groups and government agencies she also plays an important role in the development of strategies that support and achieve optimal outcomes for financially underserved households and communities. Prior to joining First Republic, Ms. Robinson worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in varying roles culminating as the Regional Manager overseeing community development in Northern California.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Communications Manager
Mitch comes to SFHDC with a strong background in affordable housing, economics, campaigns, and publi...
Job Titles:
- Board Member, Principal Property Development Officer at BART
Melissa brings 10+ years of real estate development experience in both market-rate and affordable residential. Melissa worked for MidPen Housing and Lendlease, leading district-wide coordination, transactions, negotiations, and the delivery of critical path milestones for projects such as the entitled Downtown West mixed-use district in San Jose. While at MidPen Housing, Melissa worked in cities across the Bay Area to secure new affordable housing projects. Melissa currently works on property development at BART, converting BART properties into transit-oriented, mixed-use neighborhoods.
Michael has managed a $150 million acquisition portfolio consisting of 20 projects in four states; arranged, negotiated, and closed approximately 200 predevelopment, acquisition, bridge, construction, and permanent loans; negotiated and closed limited partnerships for the syndication of low-income housing tax credits and the purchase of tax-exempt bonds.
Michael brings extensive experience providing financial advisory services and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations, affordable housing developers, and small business owners; designed and managed new programs and products to maximize impact and create synergies in the areas of housing production and job creation; created strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations, municipal agencies, and investors to meet philanthropic and revenue goals; participated as a member of leadership teams to analyze market activity, develop strategies to address low- and moderate-income needs, and strategic board placements; managed start-up activity for affinity groups and related volunteer activity.
Mitch comes to SFHDC with a strong background in affordable housing, economics, campaigns, and public policy. He is passionate about tackling economic and racial inequality and using data to make more accurate models of the real world. Mitch has two main roles at SFHDC: 1) evaluating SFHDC's impact on the lives of residents, financial empowerment clients, and the community and 2) advocating for policy changes to improve the lives of SFHDC's clients and increase the affordability of housing in San Francisco. He previously worked in affordable housing policy and advocacy at SV@Home, where he helped win approvals for thousands of homes, secure critical renter protections during COVID, and inform and involve the South Bay community. Before that, he worked with a variety of Bay Area organizations including Benetech, 50+1 Strategies, Clinic by the Bay, and Global Citizen Year. Mitch is a born and raised San Franciscan and holds BAs in Economics and International and Global Studies from Brandeis University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Economic Development Officer
- Real Estate Director
Pia is a dynamic force in San Francisco's economic development, formerly serving as Program Director of Economic Development and now as Chief Economic Development Officer at the San Francisco Housing and Development Corporation (SFHDC). At the core of her impactful initiatives lies a pioneering program, Minding My Black Owned Business, that has empowered 90 Black entrepreneurs, securing an impressive $1.2 million in grants. Pia's dedication extends beyond financial assistance; the cohorts also mentor businesses in transitioning to brick-and-mortar establishments, playing a pivotal role in revitalizing the Fillmore Corridor.
Pia's entrepreneurial acumen was pivotal in spearheading the establishment of "In the Black," a collaborative retail space designed to nurture and showcase the talents of Black entrepreneurs in the Fillmore. In The Black is just one initiative that exemplifies her commitment to fostering economic growth and providing a comprehensive, community-oriented platform for small businesses to find their footing in San Francisco and beyond.
Her journey in community development and entrepreneurship includes a significant tenure as the founder and CEO of catering business Nia Soul, where Pia demonstrated expertise in budgeting, cost controls, and profit analysis. Under her leadership, Nia Soul has continued to be a thriving catering business, achieving increasing profitability and sales throughout its many years of operation.
Her influence also permeates the cultural sphere, with her orchestration of major events such as the Fillmore Juneteenth and Western Addition Music Festival, to the lively SF Reggae Festivals. These events, drawing over 20,000 attendees, not only significantly benefit local businesses but also celebrate the community's vibrancy and culture in a transformative manner.
Pia continues to be an influential leader and advocate for community development, making a lasting impact on San Francisco's dynamic cultural and economic landscape.
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Project Manager
Reggie brings over 20 years of experience in multifamily and affordable housing operations and capital improvements to his role as a Project Manager. leading program development, identifying potential acquisitions, assessing project feasibility, and coordinating contractors and property management operations. Reggie is involved in all development aspects of new construction and rehab projects, along with asset management. He has been responsible for all aspects of day-to-day supervision for low- and moderate-income multi-location housing portfolios while consistently exceeding GRM%, Occupancy, and Retention Goals. He is a California Certified Residential Manager with Section 8 and Tax Credit (COS) certifications plus active participation in every phase of housing and property management for diverse client populations and broad resident demographics.
Reggie holds a BS in Pre Law Analytical Theory from the University of California, Berkeley.
John brings over 20 years of experience in the Asset Management of large portfolio of multi-family a...
Job Titles:
- Resident
- Services Coordinator
- Resident Service Coordinator for the Bayview Commons Apartments
Rhonda Haley joined the SFHDC team as the Resident Service Coordinator for the Bayview Commons Apartments, a 30-unit rental property serving individuals and families of low income. She now serves as the Sr. Resident Services Coordinator at Bayview Commons. Here, Rhonda has worked to connect the residents with the services they need and establish ties within the broader neighborhood while working to build community within the building through programming and on-site events.
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Connector, Geraldine Johnson Manor
With over 10 years of customer service experience and 3 years of community engagement development activities. Ronald has connected with thousands of seniors through enjoyable social and physical activities. When not working, Ronald is with his family and looking for new hiking trails. He loves the adventure of travel and experiencing new places.
Job Titles:
- Resident Services Connector
Raised in the Bay Area and in love with her multicultural community, Roxana's initial career was in Dentistry & Customer service. Bringing smiles to
people's faces has motivated her to always work for her community, and she believes in serving with with love, compassion, and integrity. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with my family and dog, cooking, taking walks by the beach, sharing Bible teachings, and exploring our beautiful Bay Area.
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Project Manager
Sarah brings more than 18 years of experience in local government fiscal and housing policy and urban economics consulting. Sarah is involved in both new construction tax credit projects and in RAD rehab projects in San Francisco. In addition to her development project management skills, she previously specialized in assisting public agencies and nonprofits with community development strategies and funding needed capital improvements and affordable housing. Sarah has completed numerous projects for California cities addressing affordable housing development, preservation, and funding, including assessing the economic and fiscal impacts of land use and transportation policies and strategies for plan implementation and infrastructure financing, especially in infill settings and transit areas. Sarah has served as a presenter and facilitator for public workshops, trainings, and stakeholder meetings, including SPUR forums and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development technical assistance programs.
Sarah holds a Master of Public Policy from Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley and a BA in International Relations, Environmental and Economic Affairs, from Tufts University.
My name is Shani Wyatt. I am a native San Franciscan with roots in the Western Addition and also Bayview District. I am pleased to be a part of the SFHDC team as the Resident Service Connector for Hayes Valley! As a part of the team, I strive to service my community that has helped me be the person I am today. Blessings, Shani
Job Titles:
- Operations & Compliance Assistant