Our Staff
Corey Smith
Executive Director
Since joining HAC in January 2016, Corey has played nearly every staff role in the organization before becoming Executive Director in 2022. Prior to HAC, he spent several years as a digital media consultant at 50+1 Strategies, a data analyst at Rocket Lawyer, and an NBA scout for the Orlando Magic. He also had the good sense to get his MBA in Hawaii. An East Bay native, Corey spends his spare time staying active in San Francisco politics and cheering on Bay Area sports teams and the Oregon Ducks.
Deborah Schneider
Communications Director
Deborah joined HAC in October 2020, just in time for an extra-interesting election season! She previously served as External Relations Director for award-winning, Bay Area-based nonprofit Lava Mae and brings years of experience as a communications strategist to nonprofit and for-profit social innovators. A St. Louis native and Washington, D.C. expat, Deborah has called San Francisco home for two decades. In her free time she enjoys tennis, volunteering, and comedy of all kinds.
Ali Sapirman
Policy and Advocacy Manager
Ali joined HAC in February 2022, having previously worked at San José Councilmember David Cohen’s office, Working Partnerships USA, and the South Bay Labor Council. An organizer at heart, they began their organizing work in the community colleges to create better living and working conditions for students, faculty, and staff across California. Ali also serves as an active member of the Santa Clara Democratic Party, and enjoys reading philosophy, rock climbing, yoga, and the company of their three cats.
Miles Johnson
Communications Associate
Miles joined the team in September 2021 after spending a year as a Program Associate for sports-based youth development nonprofit Soccer Without Borders. Prior to joining HAC he attended the University of Redlands where he graduated with a degree in English with a minor in Race & Ethnic Studies. In his spare time, Miles enjoys playing pickup basketball, watching 90’s movies, and if he can wake up early enough, cheering on his favorite English Premier League club Manchester United.
Brianna Morales
San Francisco Organizer
Brianna joined the HAC team in September 2024, having recently earned her Master’s degree in Communication Studies from San Francisco State University. Her studies focused on social research and educational practices related to power, communication, and equity. Brianna is dedicated to volunteering and collaborating with communities to address their needs and foster safe, community-oriented spaces for all. Outside of work, she channels her creativity through hobbies such as thrifting, writing, and interior design, and enjoys spending time with her cat.
Our Board
HAC board members are innovators in their fields. From award-winning architects and leading nonprofits, to longtime labor leaders, law firm partners, and many others, our board’s diversity of experiences and perspectives is its greatest strength.
501(c)(3) Board
Board Chair
Randi Gerson
Gerson Consulting
Randi is the Principal of Gerson Consulting, a boutique consultancy that provides strategic planning and project management services to real estate developers, businesses, and nonprofit organizations needing assistance with real estate assets.
Board Treasurer
Nora Collins
AvalonBay
Passionate about urban development, design, and place-making, Nora is a Development Director at AvalonBay Communities where she develops complex multifamily and mixed-use communities in San Francisco and around the Bay Area.
Daniella Jimenez
Guzman Construction Group
Daniella Jimenez is the Director of Marketing for Guzman Construction Group, a San Francisco based, minority-owned general contractor that specializes in the delivery of affordable housing, education, and healthcare projects. In her role, Daniella oversees all communications, development of new business partnerships, and community outreach.
Jeremy Bamberger
Solomon Cordwell Buenz
As a design architect at Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Jeremy focuses on residential, mixed-use, and urban design projects and also leads SCB’s San Francisco office in computational design, developing data-driven analysis tools to inform design decisions.
Mia Bhimani
BAR Architects
An Associate Principal with BAR Architects and Interiors, Mia has over 20 years of design and technical expertise in affordable, multifamily, and mixed-use housing communities. Her experience ranges from 35-unit infill affordable housing to 10+ acre master plans of over 700 residential units.
Nikki Beasley
Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS)
Nikki A. Beasley is the Executive Director of Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services (RNHS). With over 25 years in banking, she joined RNHS in 2016, doubling its rental portfolio and launching key initiatives. Nikki is a leading advocate in the Bay Area for homeownership, community revistment, and equitable programs. She serves on various boards and committees, addressing the wealth gap and disparities in communities of color through innovative homeownership projects.
Rick Bonilla
Rick is an accomplished advocate, organizer and former Mayor/Council member from San Mateo. He has a long history with housing, from working to organize Carpenters in the residential tracts of the South Bay and the Central Valley in the late 90’s to working with developers and advocates to bring thousands of units in San Mateo and beyond.
Jonathan Fearn
Signature Development
Jonathan Fearn oversees development activities for Signature Development. In addition to obtaining discretionary approvals and entitlements, his primary responsibilities include due diligence, forecasting and budgeting, initial land and site planning, architecture and design, government relations and community outreach.
Catherine Etzel
John Stewart Company
Serving as a Director of Development for the John Stewart Company, Catherine oversees a variety of multifamily affordable housing development projects across the greater Bay Area and Sacramento including new construction, preservation of affordable units, and mixed-use projects with multiple funding sources including public financing, private debt and equity.
Kevin Griffith
McCormack Baron Salazar
With more than 20 years of experience in real estate development in affordable and market-rate housing, Kevin is a Senior Vice President at McCormack Baron Salazar.
Monte Wilson
Construction Industry and Workforce Initiative
MWilson is the Program Director and a founding member of Construction Industry and Workforce Initiative (CIWI), a Bay Area internship program that is committed to developing the next generation of BIPOC/first generation leaders. Most recently, the program has expanded north to Sacramento and south to San Jose. Through Summer 2022, CIWI has delivered approximately 150 internships with the vast majority of placements to BIPOC/First Generation students.
Ann Silverberg
Related California
Ann serves as Chief Executive Officer for Related California’s Northern California Affordable Division where she is responsible for the strategic direction, overall management and daily operation of Related’s Northern California affordable pipeline and portfolio.
Sam Moss
Mission Housing Development Corporation
Sam Moss is the Executive Director at Mission Housing, where he oversees the administration of all of Mission Housing’s assets. Under Sam’s leadership, Mission Housing is currently
building more than 1,000 affordable housing units in San Francisco.
Joe Olla
Nibbi Brothers General Contractors
With more than 25 years of experience in the architectural /engineering /construction industry, Joe is Vice President of Business Development & Marketing for Nibbi Brothers General Contractors in San Francisco.
Christopher Roach
Studio Vara
Christopher is an architect and the co-founder/principal of Studio VARA, a San Francisco-based practice working at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and design that engages with projects ranging from custom residences and affordable housing to commercial offices and academic institutions.
Sade Borghei
UC Law San Francisco
Sade is a Principal at Mithun, an integrated design firm working in a wide range of typologies and scales – with a focus on urban environments and places where people live, work, and learn. Sade is an architect with a passion for applying creative design solutions to positively impact individuals, and communities. His work is focused on site-planning and architectural design for multifamily residential and mixed-use developments including family, senior, and student housing.
Kim Pipkin
Black Developers Forum
Kim Pipkin, Executive Director of the Black Developers Forum (BDF), brings three decades of leadership in design, construction, and real estate. Passionate about housing affordability, she focuses on business transformation and coalition development. Kim is dedicated to capacity building for Black real estate developers, volunteers with nonprofits, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA in management. She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, with certificates in real estate, diversity & inclusion, and college admissions counseling. Additionally, she serves as a Planning Commissioner for the Town of San Anselmo.
Anne Torney
Mithun
Anne is the Managing Partner of Mithun’s San Francisco office and an award-winning architect who has made multi-family housing and transit-oriented urban infill the focus of her work for more than 20 years.
Justin Zucker
Reuben, Junius, & Rose, LLP
Justin practices land use, environmental, and administrative law at Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP, focusing on urban in-fill multi-family and mixed-use development. He is also a Planning Commissioner in his hometown of Piedmont.
Holly Arnold
Gensler
Holly is an architect with Gensler, a global architecture and design firm founded in San Francisco. Focused on multi-family residential design, she leads Gensler’s residential practice for the Pacific Northwest.
501(c)(4) Board
Jacob Adiarte
Nor Cal Carpenters Union
Jacob is the Director of Organizing for the Nor Cal Carpenters Union where he has spent 13 years creating work opportunities for more than 39,000 carpenters, while building successful partnerships within the development & construction community.
Graciela Castillo-Krings
Sacramento Advocates
A lobbyist with Sacramento Advocates, Graciela brings more than 15 years of public service in California government.
Dan Golub
Holland & Knight
Dan is a partner in the West Coast Land Use and Environment Group in Holland & Knight’s San Francisco office, where he works to achieve victories on behalf of developers, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies in the courts and in the permitting and entitlement process.
Jennifer Renk
Sheppard Mullin
Jennifer is a partner in the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s San Francisco office, where her practice focuses on land use and environmental law, with particular expertise in the California Environmental Quality Act.
Alex Barake
Suffolk Construction
Alex is the Regional Strategic Partnerships & Client Development Director for Suffolk— a nationwide general contractor, real estate investor and built environment technology venture capital firm. Over the last 10 years, Alex has been focused on building teams, project pursuits and external relations with investors, developers, AEC partners and industry organizations.
Daniel Simons
David Baker Architects
Daniel (FAIA, LEED AP) is a Principal at David Baker Architects, a progressive firm based in San Francisco that creates acclaimed communities in diverse environments, where he focuses on the field of sustainable multifamily housing, including modular design and construction.
Art Taylor
Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
Art serves as Chief Strategy and Program Officer at Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, an Oakland and Stockton-based nonprofit that works at the intersection of climate careers and workforce development. Rising Sun is committed to catalyzing impactful change in communities confronting economic disparities. The organization trains youth and adults, preparing them for successful employment in sustainable careers in high-demand industries with high-road employers.
Buddy Williams
Studio KDA
As a Studio KDA Partner, senior designer and Director of Multifamily, Buddy provides comprehensive design solutions that are consistently inspired, practical and informed by principles of sustainability and friendly, modern design.
Maureen Sedonaen
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
Maureen is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, a national leader in building affordable housing and providing critical home repairs and community building efforts in the Bay Area.
Lou Vasquez
BUILD
Lou is a Founding Partner and Managing Director of BUILD, where he oversees the firm’s business strategy and executive management.
Lisa Zahner
City Real Estate
Lisa loves real estate and thriving neighborhoods. Her expertise is in both residential and multifamily investment properties. Whether helping clients buy their forever home, sell an apartment or build a strong rental portfolio, she sees opportunity everywhere.
Todd David
Abundant San Francisco
Todd David is the Political Director of Abundant San Francisco with a background in local politics. Former Executive Director of HAC, he played a key role in Scott Wiener’s State Senate campaign. A public school parent and founding member of the San Francisco Parent PAC, Todd also managed campaigns like the 2016 Recreation and Park funding measure and the 2014 Soda Tax. Beyond politics, he serves as the President of Residents For Noe Valley Town Square and Friends of Noe Valley.
JP Walsh
Panoramic Interests
JP serves as Chief Financial Officer for Panoramic Interests, where he oversees all financial, legal, and research efforts within the firm. His specific duties include building and maintaining financial models, driving and negotiating project capital structures, managing investor relations, and supporting site feasibility, acquisitions, and the entitlement process.
Mattison Ly
David Baker Architects
Mattison Ly is an Associate at David Baker Architects, a design firm committed to creating thoughtful places that serve as a “multiplier of good,” supporting engagement, connection, and communities. With a passion for the curiosity-driven, collaborative process inherent in design, Mattison thrives on navigating the messy paths that lead to innovative solutions. Drawing on broad and deep experience in market-rate and affordable housing, libraries and academic buildings, museums and hospitality, office, and master planning, Mattison is dedicated to creating spaces at a range of scales that positively impact people’s lives.