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New
President & CEO Selected to Lead San Diego Housing
Commission |
On July 29, the San Diego Housing
Authority unanimously approved the
selection of Rick Gentry as the new
President & Chief Executive Officer of
the San Diego Housing Commission, a
public agency responsible for providing
affordable housing opportunities to more
than 80,000 low-income individuals each
year.
A cross-functional selection committee
comprised of City Councilmembers,
Housing Commissioners and the Mayor's
office participated in the nationwide
search for the agency's next leader.
"Rick is joining the Housing Commission
at a pivotal time, on the heels of the
agency's groundbreaking transition out
of the federal public housing program
and brings a unique perspective having
worked in affordable housing
organizations that span the non-profit,
private and public sectors," said Jim
Madaffer, Council President Pro Tem and
Chair of the Selection Committee.
Gentry will start on October 1, 2008.
The position reports to the City
Council, which sits as the Housing
Authority. The position was previously
held by Elizabeth C. Morris, who retired
in January after 29 years of service to
the agency.
Read the full the
news release.
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About Rick
Gentry |
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Rick Gentry has 36 years of experience in the
affordable housing and community redevelopment
field, including executive leadership positions at
three housing authorities -- Richmond Redevelopment
& Housing Authority, Austin Housing Authority, and
Greensboro Housing Authority.
Currently, he is Senior Vice President of Asset
Management for the National Equity Fund in Chicago,
Ill., the nation's largest non-profit Low Income
Housing Tax Credit syndicator. He has also served as
Vice President for Public Housing Initiatives at the
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in
Washington, D.C., and worked for several years in
the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
Gentry's accomplishments include restoring the
Austin and Richmond Housing Authorities to sound
financial footing; participating in the development
of Standard & Poor's rating system for housing
authorities, now in use nationally; forging
significant federal contacts; and providing
testimony at congressional hearings on affordable
housing issues.
Gentry is a member of the National Association of
Housing and Redevelopment Officials, where he served
as President from 1995-1997; the Public Housing
Authorities Directors' Association; National Housing
Conference; and the Council of Large Public Housing
Authorities.
Gentry holds a master of arts in religion from
Florida State University and a bachelor of arts in
religion from Wake Forest University. Born in Elkin,
N.C., he currently resides in Chicago with his wife. |
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About the
CEO Search |
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A nationwide executive search was conducted for the
agency's President & CEO.
Selection committee members included Council
President Pro Tem Jim Madaffer and Councilmember Ben
Hueso; Housing Commission Chair Sal Salas and
Housing Commissioner Jennifer Adams-Brooks; and
Mayoral Representative Phil Rath.
Final interviews with the Committee, the full
Council and Commission Board were held on July 17
and 18, 2008, resulting in the selection of Gentry.
"We conducted a comprehensive executive search that
has resulted in bringing one of the best minds in
affordable housing to San Diego. We look forward to
benefitting from Rick's experience and expertise,"
said Salas.
Click here for more
information about the search process.
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