Who We Are

Our Team

Our Staff

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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.

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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.

Nico Nagle

Nico Nagle

Business Development Manager

Nico began his HAC career as an intern in September 2017 and was subsequently promoted to Development and Operations Associate and, most recently, East Bay Organizer. Prior to HAC, he worked on a wide range of housing issues as a legislative assistant and nonprofit associate in his hometown of Hartford, Connecticut. Nico first lived in San Francisco’s Mission District before moving across the Bay to settle down in Oakland and when he’s not at HAC he enjoys cooking, bartending, and getting back to nature.

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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.

Jake Price

Jake Price

San Francisco Organizer

Jake joined HAC as an intern upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin and quickly became an integral part of the team. He first served as a Research and Advocacy consultant, followed by Development and Operations Associate, and was most recently promoted to Business Development Manager. A Berkeley native now living in San Francisco, Jake is an avid Giants fan, e-bike rider and history buff. He’s also an aspiring land use attorney, despite his colleagues’ efforts to talk him out of it.

Ali Sapirman

Ali Sapirman

South Bay Organizer

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.

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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.

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501(c)(3) Board

Board Chair
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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
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Jessica Berg

BergDavis Public Affairs

Jessica is the co-founder of BergDavis Public Affairs, a boutique consultancy representing a variety of for-profit and nonprofit developers, retailers, educational institutions, health care entities, city agencies, emerging technology, foundations and nonprofits.

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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.

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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.

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Jonathan Fearn

Jonathan Fearn oversees development activities for all Greystar projects in Northern California. 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.

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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.

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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 Project Manager at Wilson Meany where he’s focused the development of Treasure Island, managing residential, commercial, and transportation projects.

Monte Wilson

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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David Seward

UC Law San Francisco

David serves as the Chief Financial Officer of UC Law San Francisco where he is responsible for financial and business management functions, long-range capital planning, intergovernmental relations, risk, investment, and real estate management.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Jacob Adiarte - Board member

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.

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Graciela Castillo-Krings

Sacramento Advocates

A lobbyist with Sacramento Advocates, Graciela brings more than 15 years of public service in California government.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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.

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Lou Vasquez

BUILD

Lou is a Founding Partner and Managing Director of BUILD, where he oversees the firm’s business strategy and executive management.

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Lisa Zahner

Urban Group 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.

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Todd David

Political Director for 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.

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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.

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Mattison Ly

HGA Architects and Engineers

Mattison Ly is an architect and Associate Principal at HGA Architects and Engineers, a multidisciplinary design firm. With a passion for the curiosity-driven, collaborative process inherent in design, Mattison thrives on navigating the messy paths that lead to innovative solutions. Firmly believing in the transformative power of good design, Mattison is dedicated to creating spaces that positively impact people’s lives.

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