Webinar: How to Leverage CRA and Make Equitable Working Capital Available by NMCRC

NMCRC

The discussion will be centered on how COVID-19 impacted the economic growth in California’s minority workforce and what has contributed to the fallout of minority households in the housing and labor markets.

Presenter

Robert J. Apodaca

Casita Coaltion, California Community Builders, The Two Hundred - Co-Founder

Robert J. Apodaca, is Co-Founder, Vice President of the Board of Directors of California Community Builders. He has a 45-year professional and civic career that spans both private and public sectors and several industries. Following his service as Chairman and Trustee of Alameda County Retirement Board (pension fund), he joined the investment industry as a Senior Vice President & Partner of Kennedy Associates, an institutional investor for pension funds. Robert later joined McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, a leading international architectural and planning firm, as Senior Vice President of Business Development. During his tenure, he successfully secured architectural contracts for developments that exceeded $1 billion in construction costs. Currently, he is Founder and President of ZeZeN Advisors, Inc., a firm that secures capital for developers.
Beginning in college and throughout his career, Robert has been directly (staff) and indirectly (board) involved with serving communities through several non-profit sectors: housing, education, employment training, community philanthropy and public policy. He currently serves on the boards of Casita Coalition, Jobs and Housing Coalition, and The Greenlining Institute.

Enrique Velez

Brino Builders - President

Enrique Velez, CEO for Brino Builders Inc, oversees the company’s sales, marketing, and business development. He brings over 25 years of experience in the construction industry and has established a reputation for accepting new challenges and opportunities. He is committed to providing quality building and construction services for office, industrial, commercial, retail, and apartment rehab projects. He is a passionate leader that has a long-standing commitment to advocating for economic opportunities for local minority contractors.
Enrique is an active member of the San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. His community volunteer service includes a position in the NSBA leadership board, International Director for the Rotary Club of Coronado Biancion, and San Diego Minority Construction Coalition Chairman of the Board.

Jim Etherington

Veterans Affordable Home Ownership Program - CEO & Founder (VAHOP)

Real Estate:
Began flipping homes in the late 1980s, CA Broker License in early 1991. Residential Appraiser 5 years and continues as a Full-time, full-service Realtor.
Dec 2016 Co-founder & CFO, Project Acquisition and Development Manager for the Veterans Affordable Home Ownership Program, VAHOP is a national 501(c)(3) social impact non-profit. In early 2018 the Real Estate practice moved to eXp Realty the first 100% Cloud-based brokerage in the world and is the fastest-growing International brokerage in the Country serving both residential and commercial clients. eXp is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol EXPI

Family:
Married 39 years to Jane.
Son John 36, Journeyman Electrician, 1st grandson March 25. 2020.
Daughter Jacqueline 34, eXp Agent and Transaction Coordinator.
Pets include two rescued Pit Bulls & 4 very large Gold Fish.

Volunteering:
Wish Granter, Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish foundation 1996 to present.
Walnut Festival Board member and Kids Fishin-Adventure Chair 2005 to present.
Delta Veterans Group Board member & Fishing Event Chair 2015 to present.
USV Board member, Honorary COL & Ambassador honoring our fallen heroes at National Cemeteries 2016 to present.
President, Antioch Rivertown Veterans Lions Club, Founding Member 2019 to present.

Hobbies:
Fishing, house boating, gardening, biking, and playing the Harmonica

Wesley Alexander

CoBiz Richmond - CEO

Wesley Alexander, currently serves as the CEO of CoBiz Richmond, Inc. (CoBiz) - a shared co-working space and business incubator start-up whose mission is to drive equitable and transformative outcomes for Richmond, CA and the surrounding communities by creating an entrepreneurial and communal hub for professionals, businesses, non-profits, students and citizens to convene, collaborate, innovate, learn, and actualize their ideas. Prior to CoBiz, Mr. Alexander worked for Fortune 60 ventures in emerging technology, served as a Special Agent in the FBI, co-founded an app, and provided individualized coaching services to entrepreneurs under his brand, Promise and Potential. Wesley completed a dual JD/MBA from the Washington College of Law and Kogod School of Business at American University, completed his BS in biology from Loyola University Maryland, and is barred in Maryland. Wesley's motto is that We Must Do More as stewards of the next generation.

Nikki Beasley

Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.

Denise Pinkston

Denise Pinkston has over 30 years of experience in real estate and development including acquisitions, asset and construction management, marketing, leasing, planning/entitlements, transit and green building, planning management, housing policy, and public affairs.

Previously, Ms. Pinkston directed Current Planning, Code Enforcement, Housing, and Redevelopment as the Marin County Planning Services Coordinator. Ms. Pinkston has been an instructor in real estate and planning at both San Francisco State University and Mills College. Ms. Pinkston has recently served as: Board Chair of MVGO and EmeryGoRound shuttles; Chair Bay Area Council Housing Committee; Chair &Vice Chair Berkeley Zoning Board; Moderator, MTC Committee to House the Bay Area (CASA); Member SPUR Housing Committee; Technical advisor on State bills to ease rules for housing and ADUs.

Joe Serrano

Tent Makers

Marcos Morales

Hogar Hispano, Inc. - Executive Director

Access to capital is paramount to the success of HHI and other community development corporation and small businesses across the country. The future of affordable housing depends on it.

Dina Harris

National Faith - Founder & CEO

About

Panelists:

Robert Apodaca – Casita Coalition Board Member
Enrique Velez – Brito Builders
Jim Etherington – CEO, Veterans Affordable Home Ownership Program, (VAHOP)
Wesley Alexander, CEO – COBIZ