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Board Members and Leadership Team |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
LEADERSHIP TEAM |
| Sebastiano "Seb" Sterpa, Chairman |
Orlando J. Cabrera, CEO |
| Reneé C. Bizer, Director |
Tracy Thomas, Chief Operating Officer (COO) |
| Armando J. Bucelo, Jr., Director |
Richard J. Whittingham CPA, CFO |
| James Cashion, Director |
James W. Aliberti, Senior VP of Prop. Mgmt. |
| Gavin Clingham, Director |
Welton Smith, Senior VP of Bus. Development |
| Daniel R. Fauske, Director |
Dorrie Bryan, PHR, VP of Human Resources and Operations |
| G. Allan Kingston, Vice Chairman |
Byron Ely, VP of Construction |
| Laura Kurtz Kuhns, Director |
Jerry Hirneise , VP of Asset Management |
| Philip Nelson Lee, Director |
Alfredo Izmajtovich, VP of Acquisitions |
| Sammi L. Reeves, Director |
George Searcy, Executive Director, Hope Through Housing |
| Andrew B. Wright, Chairman-Emeritus |
John Seymour, VP of Acquisitions |
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Julie Mungai, CPA, VP of Acquisitions |
| Board Members |
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Sebastiano "Seb" Sterpa, Chairman
Mr. Sterpa founded and operated Sterpa Realty Inc., from 1962 to 1985, and today serves as Chairman of The Sterpa Group, a real estate investment and management firm. Both state and local leaders have appointed him to numerous positions, including the appointment to the office of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the California Housing Finance Agency (CHFA). Mr. Sterpa served for 12 years as a director of the SunAmerica Asset Management Corp., a mutual fund company. |
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Reneé C. Bizer, Director
Ms. Bizer is the Regional Manager of the Los Angeles-based Community Development Group at Wells Fargo Bank. She oversees the company's community and economic development activities in the Los Angeles Metro Region: Los Angeles , Ventura , and Santa Barbara counties. She has been a formidable advocate in the financial industry, promoting the understanding of diversity and cultural differences and the impact of such on underserved communities. |
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Armando J. Bucelo, Jr., Director
Mr. Bucelo is a real estate attorney in Coral Gables , Florida . He was the first Hispanic-American appointed as a director of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) in 1991, and was appointed by President George W. Bush as Chairman of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC). Mr. Bucelo is also the Florida Governor's appointee to the Board of Directors of Miami Dade College, the nation's largest community college. In July 2006, on behalf of SIPC, Mr. Bucelo became the first Cuban-American to ring the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). |
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James D. Cashion, Director
Mr. Cashion is an active member of his community and principle of Cashion, Go & Company, LLP and Cashion Consulting, Inc. Together his businesses provide accounting, auditing, review, compilation, business valuation, and litigation support to more than 150 continuing clients and countless more. He is a member of an array of professional associations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been active in more than 20 civic organizations in his community. |
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Gavin Clingham, Director
Mr. Clingham provides day-to-day management of DCI Group's federal Government Affairs division. The Government Affairs division assists corporations and not-for-profit entities such as universities, municipalities and health care entities be heard before the Executive Branch and the United States Congress. Mr. Clingham counsels corporate and not-for-profit clients needing specific expertise in the area of federal appropriations.
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Daniel R. Fauske , Director
Mr. Fauske is the CEO/Executive Director for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Mr. Fauske participated on the Alaska Governor's Jobs Cabinet and Rural Sanitation Committee. He was Chair of the Governor's Interagency Council on the Homeless and he currently serves as a Member of the Governor's Gas Pipeline Team. Nationally, Mr. Fauske served as a member of Fannie Mae's National Housing Impact Advisory Council and was appointed as a Commissioner for the Millennial Housing Commission. He is a Board Member of the Federal Home Loan Bank in Seattle .
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G. Allan Kingston, Vice Chairman
Mr. Kingston, during his tenure as President & CEO of Century Housing, directed the financing of more than 14,000 affordable housing units in 250 housing developments in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California . While originating more than $450 million in loans, he also initiated “More Than Shelter® Services, Inc.” serving underserved communities with after-school tutoring, job training and placement, transitional housing for homeless veterans, childcare, health and wellness for senior, and two charter middle schools. Mr. Kingston serves as the immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Housing Conference. Last year concluded a 3 year term as Chairman of the Board of the National Housing Conference, the nation's oldest advocacy organization for affordable housing. |
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Laura Kurtz Kuhns, Director
Ms. Kuhns, President and CEO of Vandalia Heritage Foundation and its sister non-profit organization Vandalia Redevelopment Corporation, has a long history of working in community and economic development. Since 1999, Ms. Kuhns has led Vandalia's efforts to revitalize communities and neighborhoods throughout northern West Virginia , focusing on historic preservation and redevelopment of the built environment. Ms. Kuhns is one of West Virginia 's advisors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She also serves on the boards of directors for the Mountain Made Foundation, Fairmont Renaissance Corporation and the Institute for Scientific Research (ISR), all non-profits with missions of economic regeneration. |
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Philip Nelson Lee, Esq., Director
Mr. Lee is senior counsel in the Los Angeles Office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. and a member of the firm's Public Finance and Administrative Law Group and the firm's Structured and Project Finance Group. Mr. Lee has more than 30 years of finance and securities experience. He began his legal career with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington , D.C. , where he served in the Division of Corporation Finance and later in the Office of General Counsel. Prior to joining Fulbright & Jaworski, he was a partner in other law firms. He has served as President of the Business roundtable of the National Association of Black County Officials. He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his A.B. from University of Southern California . |
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Sammi L. Reeves, Director
Mr. Reeves is President of KDG Development & Construction Consulting (KDG). KDG is a 26 year old Construction Management firm based in Pasadena, California that specializes in the development, implementation, and maintenance of complex project/program (cost & schedule) controls systems, as well as general project/construction management services. KDG has over 50 employees and does business in California , Nevada , Utah , Arizona , Idaho , and Wyoming . Mr. Reeves and his company have been honored with several Small Business Administration awards, the Regional Small Business of the Year Award, and the National Minority Business of the Year Award.
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Andrew B. Wright, Chairman Emeritus
Mr. Wright led a prestigious career in real estate development spanning more than 30 years. Before co-founding National Community Renaissance with Jeffrey Burum, he served as a Partner in Diversified Pacific Development Group, a successful homebuilder, and the Colonies at San Antonio , a master-planned community in Upland , California . Mr. Wright was President of the Inland Empire division of KB Homes and developed and sold thousands of homes targeted to first-time homebuyers. Mr. Wright also served as Chair-Elect of the Upland Chamber of Commerce. |
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| Leadership Team |
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Orlando J. Cabrera, CEO
Assistant Secretary Cabrera joined National Community Renaissance with an impressive track record in both private and public sectors of the housing industry. Prior to taking the helm at National CORE as its CEO, Assistant Secretary Cabrera was appointed by President George W. Bush as the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing at the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). At HUD Assistant Secretary Cabrera managed public housing, Section 8, and tribal housing programs nationwide. Responsible for the administration of a $24 billion dollar budget, Assistant Secretary Cabrera is extremely knowledgeable about the federal programs that affect affordable housing development and operations that are funded with federal dollars. In 2008 the Office of the Inspector General of HUD honored Assistant Secretary Cabrera with the Golden Eagle award. The Golden Eagle recognizes Assistant Secretary Cabrera for his “Public Integrity and Service to the Department.” He is one of only three recipients, sharing the honor with Secretaries Jack Kemp and Mel Martinez.
In 2004 Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed Assistant Secretary Cabrera as Executive Director of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the State of Florida 's housing finance agency. Governor Bush also appointed him to the Hurricane Housing Work Group, a task force created to develop a housing recovery plan in the wake of the state's 2004 hurricane season.
Assistant Secretary Cabrera has served on various other housing related boards. These include the National Council of State Housing Agencies, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, National Council of State Housing Boards, Latin Builders Association, City of Miami Community Development and Housing Committee, and Dade Venture Capital Management Company where he serves as Chairman and Director.
In addition to his housing experience, Assistant Secretary Cabrera is an attorney. He was a partner with an international law firm where he practiced in that law firm's real estate group in its Miami office. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and his law degree in 1989 from the University of Wisconsin Law School. |
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Tracy Thomas, Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Tracy Thomas has extensive experience in business consulting and finance. Prior to joining National CORE, Ms. Thomas founded her own firm providing clients with consulting services in finance, business, and software applications and integration. Before launching her own business, Ms. Thomas was the Senior Director of Finance and Accounting for Insignia ESG where she was responsible for overseeing the financial reporting for the Western Region of the United States . Prior to Insignia ESG, Ms. Thomas held key senior management positions as the Senior Director of Finance and Accounting and CFO, respectively, for a real estate investment firm and real estate brokerage and property management company.
Ms. Thomas graduated from California State Polytechnic University , Pomona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. She received her CPA license while working at Arthur Andersen. |
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Richard J. Whittingham CPA, CFO
Mr. Whittingham received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from California State University, Long Beach and holds a California Real Estate Broker's License. Mr. Whittingham spent many years in "Big Six" public accounting with Peat, Marwick, and Mitchell & Company, specializing in real estate auditing and taxation. In 1978 Mr. Whittingham left the public sector and has spent the past twenty years involved in real estate development, construction, and management. He served as either Vice President of Finance or Executive Vice President for companies that owned or managed over 6,000 apartments and over one million square feet of commercial/office/industrial space. After serving as a consultant to The National Community Renaissance for over two years, Mr. Whittingham joined the company as Director of Finance and Accounting and is currently the Senior Director. In this position he has overall responsibility for all internal operations, accounting and cash management. |
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James W. Aliberti, Senior Vice President of Property Management
Mr. Aliberti is a graduate of Whittier College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He has several years of senior level property management experience, most recently as Regional Vice-President, Western United States, for Elkor Properties, Inc. where he was responsible for daily management and marketing of over 4,000 units and rehabilitation of 3,000 units. Mr. Aliberti was also Regional General Manager for The William Lyon Property Management Company, where he was actively involved in the lease up of over 2,000 new construction units and rehabilitation of fee management properties. In addition, Mr. Aliberti has significant experience in acquisitions, due diligence processes and training of on-site personnel. Mr. Aliberti is currently a candidate for Certified Property Manager (CPM). |
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Welton Smith, Sr. VP of Business Development
Mr. Smith has direct oversight of the Business Development, Project Management and Construction departments. He has had a 19-year career in real estate development, finance and construction that began in the consulting practices of two Los Angeles CPA firms, Pannell Kerr Forster and Coopers & Lybrand. Mr. Smith then spent seven years with the Economic Development Group of the Community Development Commission, the Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles County, and has most recently completed five years managing real estate owned by one of the largest international divisions of American Airlines. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, an MBA from the University of Phoenix and is an NDC certified Housing Development Finance Professional. |
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Doretta (Dorrie) Bryan, PHR
Vice President of Human Resources & Operations
Ms. Bryan began her career with National Community Renaissance in 1995 as the Executive Assistant to our CEO and Executive Director. During her tenure, Ms. Bryan exhibited the passion and drive this company embraces and was quickly promoted to positions of Office Manager and Human Resources Manager respectively. After graduating from the University of California Riverside Human Resources Certificate Program, Ms. Bryan was promoted to Director of Human Resources and Operations. She is currently responsible for planning, developing, implementing, administering, and budgeting for all areas of employment, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, legal compliance, affirmative action, and health and safety programs. Ms. Bryan is a past president of the Ontario chapter of the Business & Professional Women's Association. Other professional affiliations include Professionals In Human Resources Association and the Society of Human Resources Management. |
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Byron Ely, Vice President of Construction
Mr. Ely has more than 30 years of government and private sector development consulting experience and has managed a wide variety of development and construction projects. Prior to joining National Core he was the Director of the Construction Management Division for seven years at the Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County. He oversaw both private and commission owned affordable housing developments, averaging $500 million per year. Mr. Ely earned the professional designation of Certified Building Official.
Mr. Ely is a frequent speaker at Lorman Seminars, the Construction Super Conference, for Construction Litigation, and other venues on a wide range of technical and managerial construction and development topics. Mr. Ely holds degrees in Construction Technology and Management, and a Certificate in Advanced Construction Management from the University of Southern California 's Civil Engineering Division. |
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Jerry Hirneise, Vice President of Asset Management
Jerry joined National Community Renaissance in October of last year as VP of Project Development, just prior to this, he was director of land acquisitions for high density projects at KB Home for Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Jerry started his career at Ernst & Young as a CPA and later became involved in real estate acquisitions and development. Over the past 20 years, he acquired multifamily land and forward planning for apartments and condominiums leading to over 12,000 built units throughout California and several Western States. Jerry spent many years on the rental side of the business at companies such as Lincoln Property Company and SARES-REGIS Group. He is experienced in negotiating sales of large loan and property portfolios. Jerry has contributed to the writing of numerous real estate, finance and capital formation books. |
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Alfredo Izmajtovich, Vice President of Acquisitions
Mr. Izmajtovich has more than a decade of professional experience in community development. Prior to joining us, Alfredo was responsible for housing development programs with an annual budget of more than $40 million for the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission. He has extensive experience managing the underwriting of housing programs as well as overseeing all aspects of development. Alfredo received his MBA in Finance from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also holds a Masters degree in Urban Planning and a Bachelors degree in Economics. His professional affiliations include the Anderson Real Estate Association, Latino Management Association, and the Urban Land Institute. |
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George Searcy, Executive Director, Hope Through Housing
Mr. Searcy has a Master's degree in Management from the University of Redlands and a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles. Prior to working at the Hope through Housing Foundation, Mr. Searcy served as the Manager of Human and Social Services for the City of Irvine, California. He has served on the Board of Directors of several organizations including serving as President of the Board of Directors of INFOLink Orange County and Board Vice President of Development for Women Helping Women in Costa Mesa. In his position at Hope Through Housing, Mr. Searcy has responsibility for program operations at over forty affordable housing developments throughout Southern California. |
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John Seymour,
Vice President of Acquisitions
Mr. Seymour has 20 years of real estate development and public policy government experience. He is responsible for acquisitions (land and existing commercial buildings), early-on forward planning, environmental and predevelopment activites, soft financing commitments from governmental agencies, entitlements, development and governmental/community outreach. Prior to National CORE, he served as Vice-president of John Seymour & Associates, a corporate and governmental consulting firm, Vice-President of Manchester Resorts/Hyatt Regency overseeing 5-star hotel development, Senior Legislative Advocate for the San Diego Building Industry Association, and policy advisor to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. He graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and Economics. |
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Julie Mungai, CPA
Vice President of Acquisitions
Ms. Mungai has more than 25 years accounting and finance experience in the public and private sector. Ms. Mungai held key positions with responsibilities in auditing, financial analysis, and/or financial management for top companies including Touche Ross, Toyota Motor Sales, and Seagate Technology. Immediately prior to joining National CORE she gained extensive housing finance skills as an Accounting Manager with the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission, where she held that position for more than a decade. She joined National CORE in 2000 to oversee and monitor developments from the initial financial-structuring phase to project lease-up. Ms. Mungai's leadership, expertise in affordable housing financing sources, and skill maintaining relationships with lenders and city partners led to her promotion to VP of Acquisitions in 2005. Ms. Mungai holds an MBA Degree with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Oregon. |
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