NPH members are the driving force of our organization, but it is staff and the Board of Directors that are at the core of its effectiveness and leadership. Much can be accomplished with a handful of dedicated staff members, under the guidance of an experienced Board of Directors. Meet the NPH staff; meet the NPH board.

NPH staff's broad and diverse skills help elevate the collective voice of NPH members, where and when it counts. While NPH has grown in the last years into a strong association, we remain different from other trade associations because of our roots and because, at the heart of the group, we are dedicated people working together to build better communities. We hope we have remained true to our mission, and we will continue assisting our members to provide safe, quality affordable housing. We thank our volunteers, NPH Board of Directors, and members for their guiding inspiration.

DIANNE SPAULDING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
dianne at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 13

Since 1992, Dianne has provided leadership for NPH at the local, regional and state levels. Under her leadership, NPH has established a national reputation for housing advocacy efforts that have led to historic legislation and funding; distinguished itself by creating the Fellowship Program for People of Color in Non-Profit Housing; and designed award-winning communications tools to build community acceptance of affordable housing. Ms. Spaulding is frequently called upon to provide leadership and insight on housing policy, funding opportunities for affordable housing, and local action strategies, such as the housing element process and advocacy coalitions that spur citizen action. She is the immediate past Chairperson of the California Housing Consortium (CHC) of which she is a founding member and served on the board of directors for almost 13 years.  At the national level, Dianne is a member of the National Housing Conference NHC) Board of Governors and Board of Trustees.   She is also the Past President of Housing California, the largest statewide coalition of homeless and housing providers in the nation, a position she held for over five years and a board on which she served for over a decade. Dianne is also on the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and the Advisory Council for the Child Care Center Initiative of the Low Income Investment Fund.

Her success in affordable housing is indicative of her over 25-year commitment to non-profit community-based organizations. She is a graduate of the University of California, and holds a degree in political science and psychology.

ANDREW BUHRMANN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
andrew at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 10

Andrew handles a wide range of administrative matters for NPH and is often the first point of contact for members and the public who seek information, referrals and opportunities to sign up for NPH programs and trainings.

Andrew joined the NPH team out of his desire to work with those who share his belief that affordable housing is central to healthy communities and strive every day to make affordable housing a reality for everyone.  Andrew holds a degree in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from California State University East Bay.  An avid cyclist and cook, his is a lifelong Bay Area resident and has found this to be one of the best places for both.

GABRIELLA CHIARENZA, POLICY ASSOCIATE
gabriella at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 19

Gabriella handles NPH’s policy analysis and research as well as managing the NPH working groups and training programs. She previously numerous projects as a research consultant specializing in workforce and community development programs around the Bay Area.

Before relocating to California, she worked at Abt Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts as part of a consulting team to provide development planning and financing assistance for affordable housing projects. Gabriella found her passion for equitable and affordable housing through her extensive study of urban renewal and restrictive housing controls, and is deeply committed to comprehensive neighborhood planning and community building. She holds a Master of City Planning degree from the University of California-Berkeley, and a B.A. in Urban Studies from Brown University.

ROBERT HICKEY, PROGRAM MANAGER,
MARIN COMMUNITY HOUSING ACTION INITIATIVE (MCHAI)
robert at nonprofithousing.org, 415-491-4731
Robert works out of our Marin field office located at 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 285, San Rafael, CA 94903.

Robert is the Program Manager for the Marin Community Housing Action Initiative.  He heads up efforts to make it easier to build affordable housing in Marin County and is based in San Rafael.

Robert has over a decade of experience in urban planning, community organizing, economic analysis and affordable housing research.  A native of Washington D.C. Robert has lived in the Bay Area since 2001, receiving a Masters degree in City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley.  Robert has worked on policy and planning strategies for creating affordable homes in transit-oriented communities with many NPH partner organizations, including the Enterprise Foundation, Greater Communities Collaborative and San Francisco Foundation.

MICHAEL LANE, POLICY DIRECTOR
michael at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 22

Michael Lane has an extensive background in public policy, legislation, politics and campaigns. Prior to joining NPH, he worked at Self-Help Enterprises, the oldest and largest nonprofit developer of affordable self-help housing in the nation. In this capacity, he worked on government and media relations and local, state and federal housing policy, legislation, regulations and funding. Michael has significant experience working with financial institutions, foundations and other funders. He served as a regional whip on the successful 2002 Proposition 46 and 2006 Proposition 1C statewide housing bond campaigns. He also serves on the board of directors for Housing California. He has worked in local government and held elected office as a school board member and city council member. Michael is a graduate of San Francisco State University and he speaks, reads and writes the Spanish language fluently.

PEGGY LEE, ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
peggy at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x32

Peggy manages NPH’s fund development activities, including grants, events,
and individual donor campaigns. She also manages NPH’s administrative
functions, as well as helps support the organization’s membership and fiscal
management activities.

Peggy joined NPH in January 2007; prior to that she was a staff at the Chinatown Community Development Center, a San Francisco non-profit engaging in affordable housing development and community organizing. Outside of work, she also finds opportunities to share her knowledge and experience in affordable housing and fundraising. Peggy is a current board member of the Coalition On Homelessness San Francisco (COH) and East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO).

MELODY LOPEZ, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
MARIN COMMUNITY HOUSING ACTION INITIATIVE (MCHAI)
melody at nonprofithousing.org, 415-491-4731
Melody works out of our Marin field office located at 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 285, San Rafael, CA 94903.

Melody is Program Coordinator for the Marin Community Housing Action Initiative.  She works out of NPH’s Marin field office in San Rafael, mobilizing affordable housing residents, workers in need of housing and community leaders in efforts to increase affordable housing opportunities in Marin.
 
Melody has several years of experience in community and political organizing.  Before moving to California, she was an organizer with the New York Working Families Party, a third party dedicated to economic justice issues. There she managed numerous issue and electoral campaigns, including the successful campaigns of New York City Council Member Danny Dromm and State Senator Jose Peralta. She also went on to work as Director of Operations for Senator Peralta. She holds a degree in Anthropology from New York University.

SHANNON RICE, MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
shannon at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 14

Shannon is responsible for NPH events and member communications, including the quarterly newsletter News to Build On, email bulletins and website.  She helps members publicize events and access all the resources available through NPH.

Shannon is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Community Studies.  Prior to joining NPH she worked with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights handling events and administration.  She has a deep commitment to working in the non-profit sector to help those with the greatest needs.  Shannon lives in San Francisco and appreciates the rich and varied opportunities for walking, cycling and neighborliness in her community. 

EVELYN STIVERS, FIELD DIRECTOR
evelyn at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 35

An experienced political organizer, Evelyn “Evvy” Stivers first joined NPH in 2004 and coordinated the organization’s Inclusionary Housing Initiative. She took a short break from housing to go on a sailing adventure and as senior campaign manager, worked on three successful local political campaigns at Next Generation.
 
Evvy has since re-joined the organization and works on NPH’s regional initiatives including the Housing Element and Inclusionary Housing campaigns and is the organization’s representative to the Great Communities Collaborative. She currently serves on the board of TransForm, an organization that works toward smart regional planning choices and the League of Conservation Voters for the East Bay. Prior to joining NPH Evvy graduated from Green Corps, a field school for environmental organizing. She also directed the Western States Field Office for the US Public Interest Research Group and served as the Livable Communities Associate Director for Greenbelt Alliance.

CLARICE VELOSO, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
clarice at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x38

Clarice has a long history of work in affordable housing advocacy, communications and fund development in the Bay Area. As the Communications and Fundraising Director for Citizens Housing, Clarice developed communications strategies and directed the fund development functions of the organization. Prior to joining Citizens Housing, Clarice served as EAH Housing’s Marketing and Publicity Manager where she worked on marketing and advocacy-related projects. Clarice earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Asia and the Pacific, and her Masters in Public Administration degree from San Francisco State University.

At NPH Clarice is responsible for creating and implementing the organization's communications strategies and will be creating NPH’s new media program. Clarice will also be supporting fund development activities through institutional giving.

AMIE HAIZ, BOOKKEEPER
amie at nonprofithousing.org, 415-989-8160 x 36

The NPH Board of Directors combines decades of experience into one governing body. Each Board member brings perspectives from throughout the region and diverse backgrounds--from community development, to regional housing development, to supportive housing and services. They truly represent the voice of affordable housing.