January 11, 2019
San Diego Housing Commission Board Elects San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Director Stefanie Benvenuto as Chair
Public policy strategist Ryan Clumpner will serve as Vice Chair
SAN DIEGO, CA—Stefanie Benvenuto, Director of Public Affairs for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, was elected today to serve as Chair of the San Diego Housing Commission’s (SDHC) Board of Commissioners.
“I thank my fellow Board members for entrusting me with this leadership position. I look forward to working with them, our President and CEO, and San Diego Housing Commission staff to continue to identify solutions to the City of San Diego’s affordable housing challenges,” Chair Benvenuto said.
Chair Benvenuto was appointed to the SDHC Board of Commissioners by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and confirmed by the San Diego City Council on April 11, 2017. She was elected Vice Chair of the Board on September 13, 2018.
“Chair Benvenuto will provide exceptional leadership as the San Diego Housing Commission continues to implement innovative approaches to provide housing assistance for families in need in the City of San Diego,” said SDHC President & CEO Richard C. Gentry.
Chair Benvenuto previously served as the Public Policy Manager with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, managing the Chamber’s Infrastructure, Housing & Land Use Committee, where she led efforts on housing affordability and availability.
She is also a member of the Advisory Board of Housing You Matters, a broad-based coalition that convenes, advocates, and educates around solutions for increasing housing supply and lowering the cost of building new homes. SDHC is a member of Housing You Matters.
Before joining the Chamber of Commerce, she served as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for Crittendon Services for Children & Families, a nonprofit organization that specializes in foster youth. She also worked as a District Director, Communications Director, and Field Representative for a former California State Assemblymember.
Chair Benvenuto follows SDHC Commissioner Frank Urtasun, who had served as Chair since January 19, 2017. An executive with Sempra Energy Services Corporation, Commissioner Urtasun will continue to serve on the Board. His term expires this year.
Commissioner Ryan Clumpner was elected to the position of Vice Chair of the Board.
Vice Chair Clumpner has worked in public policy and communications for 15 years. He has held a variety of positions, including Chief of Staff, for elected officials in the California State Assembly and the San Diego City Council.
In 2016, he launched a boutique consultancy business, focused on providing strategic advice to business associations and ballot measure campaigns.
Chair Benvenuto lives in San Diego City Council District 2. Her term on the Board expires on January 2, 2021.
Vice Chair Clumpner lives in San Diego City Council District 3. His term on the Board expires on January 2, 2022.
The seven-member SDHC Board of Commissioners oversees SDHC’s operations and makes recommendations to the San Diego City Council, sitting as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego. The SDHC Board provides policy guidance to the SDHC staff through its communications with SDHC President & CEO Gentry.
For more information about SDHC, visit www.sdhc.org
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Media Contact:
Scott Marshall
Vice President of Communications
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7138
scottm@sdhc.org
