CHISPA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Broker
- Vice Chair of the Board
Adoracion (Doris) Lopez is the Broker-Owner of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services- Real Time Realty, Inc. and is Broker-Owner of Real Property Management TriCounties. She is a member of the Monterey County Association of Realtors, the CA Association of Realtors, Orange County Association of Realtors, Women's Council Association of Realtors, and Palma High School Athletic Council. She also is involved with Madonna Del Sasso, St. Paul Church.
Alec M. Manas, Project Manager, is responsible for applying for entitlements, pursuing site acquisition, and applying for funding for CHISPA developments. Mr. Manas was a field representative for Assemblymember Mark Stone for five years, concentrating on legislation for housing, criminal justice, and state finance. In this capacity, he channeled his passion for housing, gathering insights from constituents and organizations to enhance affordable housing strategies. Mr. Manas earned his BS in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento.
Andrew T. Simer, Chief Financial Officer, is Chief Financial Officer of Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc. (CHISPA), and CHISPA Housing Management, Inc., (CHMI). Mr. Simer oversees CHISPA's and related entities' financial management systems, managing its financial assets .and liabilities, providing financial reports to investors, CHISPA's board of directors, and regulatory agencies. Mr. Simer worked for several years with the accounting firm Ernst & Young, focusing on audit/tax reporting and filings for profitable and not-for-profit corporate, partnership, estate/trust, individual, and other entities. Upon leaving the firm, Andy worked for 30 years managing the Accounting and Financial aspects within the Hospitality and Service industries, primarily for private and publicly held Hotel and Resort companies, including real estate developments and Capital expansion. Mr. Simer holds a BS in Accountancy from Arizona State University, with emphasis in Finance and Taxation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Retired Special Education Teacher
Anna Mae Gazo is a retired special education teacher who served over 30 years teaching severely disabled students in Solano and Los Angeles Counties, and the last 18 years of her career teaching for Monterey County Office of Education. Anna Mae received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University and her Masters of Arts in Special Education from California State University, Los Angeles. She has served on the Measure K Temporary Use Tax Advisory Committee for the City of Gonzales, and currently serves on the Measure X Temporary Use Tax Advisory Committee in Gonzales. She is a member of the Alliance on Aging, ITN Monterey County Steering Committee. She volunteers as a docent for the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel. In her spare time, she loves to go birding, sew, listen to audiobooks, and learn something new.
Arisbeth Zepeda is a Salinas resident and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). She aspires to contribute to creating safe, healthy environments for families and addressing mental well-being. Arisbeth has been involved in community outreach efforts providing volunteer services within her local community. She finds great fulfillment in working with the youth, guiding them in their journeys, and empowering them to reach their full potential. Arisbeth is dedicated to making positive changes in her community. During her spare time, she enjoys nature and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Director of Real Estate Development
Dana Cleary, Director of Real Estate Development, is responsible for overseeing the organization's Real Estate Development department. She has been a Project Manager for a large private real estate developer, managed a large business association, and was the Director a Housing Investment Program for the Illinois State Treasurer's Office. Locally she served on the Marina City Council and Marina Planning Commission. Ms. Cleary previously served as a Project Manager for CHISPA. Ms. Cleary holds an MBA in Management from Northwestern University, and a BA from Brown University.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager / VP of Operations
- Project Manager, Mr. Torres
Gabriel B. Torres, Project Manager, Mr. Torres is a licensed General Contractor in the State of California and serves as Vice President of Operations for Central Coast Residential Builders, Inc. (CCRB), CHISPA's wholly owned construction subsidiary. Gabe provides project management and budgeting for subdivisions and multi-family developments. He has previous affordable housing development experience working for Peoples Self-Help Housing Corporation. Mr. Torres served on the City of Hollister Planning Commission for ten years. Mr. Torres holds a BS degree in City & Regional Planning with an emphasis in Housing and Community Development from California State Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Administrator
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Geoffrey Morgan, President and Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the overall operations, strategic growth, and advocacy for CHISPA in its service to low-and-moderate income households across Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Mr. Morgan has over twenty years of experience in housing development and ownership for a variety of income levels and populations. He most recently was President and CEO of First Community Housing (FCH) for almost a decade and was a leader in sustainable development of affordable housing in the Silicon Valley and surrounding areas. Prior to this, Mr. Morgan was Vice President of Real Estate Development for CCH, a national leader in the production of low-income affordable Housing for older Americans. Mr. Morgan is involved in numerous policy and community initiatives to support affordable housing such as the Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, Leading Age, the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, and the California Coalition for Rural Housing. Mr. Morgan holds a Bachelors degree from Cornell University and a master's degree in Real Estate Development from MIT.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Supply Manager at Driscoll's
Hugo Alameda is a blackberry supply manager at Driscoll's, Inc. He is part of a team which provides input to and helps execute the five-year strategic supply plans for the company. Hugo graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a BS in Environmental Horticulture Science. In college, he was part of Cal Poly's Latinos in Agriculture Club. He graduated from the Jack Welch Management Institute. Hugo grew up in Watsonville and now lives in Salinas. "To me, a home is a safety net that represents the sensation of peace, security, and stability. I feel that CHISPA's mission achieves those feelings."
Job Titles:
- Director of Housing Management
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Adult Education Instructor
Jose A. Garcia is an Adult Education Instructor for FIELD, (Farmworkers Institute for Education and Leadership Development)- currently leading an educational program at CHISPA's Walnut Place Townhomes property in Greenfield. Jose has strong ties to CHISPA as a past scholarship recipient, intern, and resident. He currently lives in the CHISPA subdivision he grew up in. Jose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) also from CSUMB. Jose is a Certified Chief Business Official (CBO), Director of Fiscal Services and has worked in a number of executive level positions for school districts, private industries, and most recently non-profit organizations. Jose joined CHISPA to keep pushing forward Alfred's vision of affordable housing for all.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Community Engagement Assistant
Jose Chavez is currently the Community Engagement Assistant in the City of Greenfield. He also works for Salinas Valley Health, as the Logistics Coordinator in the Mobile Clinic. He previously was the Data Analyst and Coordinator for the Community Health Worker Program in the City of Gonzales as part of the VIDA Project of Monterey County. He had been in that role for 2.5 years. He's been a recipient of numerous community-based grants, where the focus has been in helping low-income families. He's collaborated with organizations such as Salvation Army, Brighter Bites, Monterey County Food Bank, among others, in hundreds of food distributions in South County. Jose was born in Salinas, but moved to Gonzales 10 years ago and has 1 beautiful daughter.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Construction Superintendent
Job Titles:
- Assistant Housing Director
Job Titles:
- Community Services Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Accounting Manager
- Senior Accounting Manager
Kristie Quitevis, Accounting Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day financial accounting and reporting operations, overseeing payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, job cost and general ledger accounting functions as well as maintaining control over multi-family property and partnership accounts in the company's multi-family housing portfolio. Prior to her employment with CHISPA, Ms. Quitevis was employed by the City of Soledad as an Accounting Supervisor and served as Acting Finance/Personnel Director for two years. Ms. Quitevis holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Santa Clara University.
Job Titles:
- Construction Superintendent
Job Titles:
- Director of Asset Management
Maria Ortega Reich, Director of Asset Management, represents CHISPA as the owner of rental properties. She works with lenders, investors, and funding agencies to refinance CHISPA owned properties. She also supports the management of CHISPA's multifamily portfolio by working closely with management of CHISPA Housing Management, Inc. (CHMI) to ensure compliance with regulations and CHISPA policies at CHISPA's rental properties. Ms. Ortega Reich is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the promotion and sales of CHISPA's Single-Family Housing Program. Prior to her employment with CHISPA, Ms. Ortega Reich was a Community Partner for Safe and Sound in Waukesha, Wisconsin where she developed and implemented a Neighborhood Organizing component for a community-based anti-crime initiative and worked directly with residents to identify neighborhood issues and develop positive activities to strengthen and build the neighborhood. Ms. Ortega Reich has more than 20 years' experience working with low-income and disadvantaged groups and community-based nonprofit organizations. Ms. Ortega Reich holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, with a concentration in Marketing, from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Mirco Jonathan Haag is a Deputy District Attorney working in the Civil and Environmental Unit. Prior to working for Monterey County, he worked for law firms in Los Angeles and Wilmington, Delaware. Mirco is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and has both a J.D. and M.B.A. from Boston University. He is proud to be from Monterey County and enjoys giving back to the community.
Job Titles:
- Senior Accounting Assistant
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Senior Project Manager
Paul V. Tran, Senior Project Manager, is responsible for conducting project feasibility studies and project management activities for subdivisions and multi-family development projects. He has over 30 years of experience in land use. In the private sector, he worked for consulting and law firms assisting builders, developers and landowners with the land entitlement process. In the public sector, Mr. Tran worked as an Associate Planner with the County of Monterey and the City of Santa Cruz, where he also acted in the capacity of Deputy Zoning Administrator. Mr. Tran serves on the Monterey County Fair Board and on the Monterey Sheriff's Advisory Council. Mr. Tran holds a J.D. from Monterey College of Law and a B.A. from San Francisco State University in Geography with an emphasis in City and Regional Planning.
Job Titles:
- Communications and Community Engagement Director
Ruth Rodriguez, Communications and Community Engagement Director, manages CHISPA's community services. The Community Services Department provides programs and services to families living at CHISPA Housing through partnerships with over 40 community services partners. Ruth served on the City of Greenfield Planning Commission for three years. Currently, she is a board member for the Point Lobos Foundation. Ruth has a B.A. in Human Communications with a minor in Service Learning from California State University Monterey Bay.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Director for the Monterey County Office of Education Early Learning Program
Sonia Jaramillo is the Senior Director for the Monterey County Office of Education Early Learning Program. She oversees the daily operation of 34 preschool classrooms in Monterey County and supervises over 140 staff members. She has applied for and received over $32 million in grants to enhance services for preschool-age children. She administers and monitors the program's budget to ensure local, state, and federal compliance. Ms. Jaramillo immigrated from Mexico at the age of 18 and was a field worker until she earned her teaching credential from San Jose State. She continued her education and earned her administrative credential and a Master's Degree in Education with a focus on leadership and administration. She lives in Gonzales with her husband and raised two successful children, she loves spending time with her granddaughter. Education has been Sonia's passion for the last 30 years. During that period, she has served as a Teacher, Mentor, Coordinator, Principal, and Director at various school districts. She believes in partnering and leveraging community services and support systems for student success. She fully endorses low-income and affordable housing. Sonia is a community-centered public servant, and 2020 concluded a successful 15 years of service as the School Board President for the Gonzales Unified School District. Currently, she serves as a California Head Start Association Board member and was appointed in 2022 to serve on Hartnell's Measure T Bond Oversight Committee. Her passion has earned her a senate appointment to Governor Newsom's Early Childhood Policy Council for the State of California, representing the Monterey County region.