SHRA’s leadership staff includes the Executive Director’s Cabinet which is comprised of the Deputy Executive Director, Director of Administration, Director of Finance, General Counsel and Public Information Officer.
In addition to the members of the Executive Director's Cabinet, SHRA’s leadership staff is comprised of Assistant Directors with expertise in redevelopment, strategic planning and development, affordable housing finance, public housing asset management, housing development and public infrastructure construction, and community revitalization.
La Shelle Dozier
Executive Director
La Shelle Dozier was appointed to Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in January 2009 after serving as Interim Executive Director for the prior year. She oversees redevelopment and community development strategies in the City and County of Sacramento, as well as the provision of housing for low income persons using a wide variety of programs and financing mechanisms. She is responsible for administering the Agency’s $236 million budget for fiscal year 2012 and a staff of 253 employees.
Ms. Dozier joined the Agency in 2002 as Housing Authority Management Analyst. She was promoted to Program Manager in 2003 and became Assistant Director of Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) in 2005. She was appointed Director of the Sacramento City and County Housing Authority and served in that capacity from 2006 to 2008.
Ms. Dozier is a member of the Northern California Nevada Executive Directors Association, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), and the Rental Housing Improvement Partnership. She earned an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Industrial Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley and .
"It's extremely rewarding to see the direct impact and value of our work. I'm reminded of an elderly woman who was homeless and practically lived on a bench outside the library where I passed by several times a week. We reached out to her and were able to get her into a comfortable apartment with rent that she could afford and resources that could help her on the path to stability."
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James Shields
Director of Administration
James Shields joined SHRA in 2002 and serves as the Director of Administration. His areas of responsibility include executive leadership as well as direct oversight of all agency management support functions for approximately 300 employeees. He manages staff responsible for Human Resources, Information and Management Technology Services, Real Estate, Construction Services, Procurement, Risk Management and Agency Clerk functions. He previously held the position of Director of Human Resources.
Mr. Shields is President of California Housing Authority Workers Compensation Association (CHWCA), with oversight of more than $20 million in assets. member of the California Labor Relations Association, and the Sacramento Human Resources Association. He is also a Board Member of El Dorado County Habitat for Humanity.
Mr. Shields holds a B.S. in Economics from Worcester State College and an MBA in Human Resources and Finance from Marymount University. He holds a number of professional memberships which include the National Public Employer Labor Relations Associations and the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM).
"Investing in communities starts with investing in our employees. We seek the most talented people we can find to be part of our team. We offer opportunities for growth and professional development so that our staff can provide the best service possible to our customers."
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Tia Boatman Patterson
General Counsel
Tia Boatman Patterson returned to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in March 2009 as General Counsel. She previously served as Agency Counsel from 1999 to 2003.
As General Counsel, Ms. Patterson is responsible for developing and overseeing internal and external legal services to Agency Executive and Management staff in areas involving public law, redevelopment, housing and related activities. She also serves as legal counsel on matters that come before the City Council and Board of Supervisors act as the Redevelopment Agency and/or Housing Authority or those that come before the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission.
Ms. Patterson holds a JD from the McGeorge School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from San Diego State University.
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Don Cavier
Director of Finance
Don Cavier was appointed Director of Finance for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in 2007 and is responsible for financial operations, financial reporting and debt management. He served as Finance Manager from 1999 to 2007 and was in charge of accounting and financial services. He joined SHRA in 1998 as Agency Financial Analyst/Supervising Auditor.
Mr. Cavier holds the accounting designation of Certified Internal Auditor and is a licensed Real Estate Broker through the California Department of Real Estate.
He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.
Mr. Cavier is a speaker and presenter on topics such as budget and financial reporting requirements for redevelopment, CDBG, HOME, Public Housing and the Housing Choice Program (HCV formerly Section 8).
"SHRA is committed to the highest standards of integrity and accountability in managing public funds. We're proud to be recognized for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, an accomplishment that we have achieved every year since 1982."
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Christine Weichert
Assistant Director
Christine Weichert has been with the Sacramento Housing and Revelopment Agency for 20 years. She currently services as Assistant Director of Housing and Community Development and is responsible for multi-family housing finance, City and County Inclusionary Housing Ordinance implementation, redevelopment project financing and implementation and portfolio management.
Ms. Weichert has served the Agency in previous capacities as Senior Redevelopment Planner, CDBG Program Manager and Housing Finance Program Manager.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts (History) and a Masters degree in Public Policy.
Ms. Weichert is a speaker and presenter on topics such as Affordable Housing and Redevelopment finance, Affordable Housing Regulatory Agreements and Property Management, Public Private Partnership.
"Having grown up in Sacramento, I am very familiar with the neighborhoods where SHRA is working to make improvements. It’s very gratifying to be a part of these efforts and to see the positive impacts that make my hometown a better place to live, work and play.”
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Chris Pahule
Program Manager
Chris Pahule joined the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in 2000 and has served as Assistant Director, Housing and Community Development since 2007. He is responsible for redevelopment planning, community revitalization and aligning Agency strategies to broader policies and initiatives such as the economic development strategies and General Plans of the City and County. Mr. Pahule also oversees administration of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on behalf of the City and County of Sacramento.
Mr. Pahule previously held the positions of Redevelopment Manager and Redevelopment Planner for SHRA.
He holds a B.A. degree in Political Science and is a speaker and presenter on topics such as redevelopment and community development.
“By providing housing opportunities to families of modest incomes and increased investment in economically challenged neighborhoods, SHRA is a positive force in Sacramento.”
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Mary Lyon
Program Manager
Ms. Lyon has been with SHRA since 2005 first serving as Program Manager in the Construction Services and Procurement Services Departments. She was promoted to Assistant Director in 2007 responsible for managing the Real Estate and Construction Services Department for the Agency.
Prior to coming to SHRA, Ms. Lyon was the Assistant Director at Drexel University in Philadelphia overseeing all construction including a $40 million new construction project for a bio-medical engineering facility. Mary also taught physics while serving in Drexel’s Planning, Design and Construction Services Department.
While attending the University of New Mexico, Mary was involved in a four-year cooperative education program at NASA where she was the youngest participant being trained to work as a specialist in the Mission Control Center in Houston.
Ms. Lyon holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of New Mexico and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from Drexel University. She also
holds a Professional Engineering License in Mechanical Engineering for both California and Pennsylvania.
Ms. Lyon also has a Master's of Arts Degree in Counseling from Liberty University in Virginia.
"The stories that stay with me are the families we help. I’ll always remember the older citizen who was counting pennies in order to have repair work done on her home. When she heard we would to it for free, she cried. She couldn’t believe we cared. We care."
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Nick Chhotu
Assistant Director
Nick Chhotu joined the Housing Authority in 2005 and currently serves as Assistant Director of the Housing Authority. He is responsible for Public Housing operations, Non-Public Housing operations, Public Housing disposition and development projects. He previously held the position of Program Manager.
Mr. Chhotu holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and hold certificates in Public Housing Management, Housing Choice Voucher Management, Asset Management and Model-netics System of Organizational Management.
Mr. Chhotu is a speaker and presenter on housing matters such as HUD changes related to Public Housing operations, property management, property disposition and modernization.
“The Public Housing program serves over 7,500 residents of the City and County of Sacramento. We’re bridging the gap in one of the most basic of human needs for our most vulnerable population and providing one of the most important necessities to preserving quality of life and opportunity--housing.”
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Gregory Wessel
Assistant Director
Gregory Wessel is an Assistant Director in the Housing and Community Development department. He has been with SHRA for 19 years. Mr. Wessel is responsible for the delivery of strategies and projects in the County’s key economic development generators, the former Mather and McClellan military bases. He also oversees the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) programs for the City and County and community development in the Sacramento County Delta area.
Mr. Wessel previously served as Program Manager for Housing Rehabilitation and First-Time Homebuyer Programs, Economic Development and Military Base Reuse, Pre-apprenticeship and YouthBuild Job Training Programs.
He holds a B.A. degree in Economics and an MBA in Management/Marketing. He is also licensed as a FAA commercial pilot certified in Multi-engine, Instrument, and Type ratings.
Mr. Wessel is a speaker and presenter on the topics of the HUD CDBG and CDBG-R Program; Redevelopment and related activities at the former military bases and in the North Highlands Community; Redevelopment financing activities such as tax increment and bonding; and Delta issues with respect to Locke and Walnut Grove.
“SHRA brings numerous tools, financing and expertise to community development that help to build or rebuild and strengthen our communities and improve the lives of those living and working in the City and County of Sacramento.”
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MaryLiz Paulson
Assistant Director
MaryLiz Paulson has been with Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency since 2002. She has been working in housing since 1993. She currently serves as Assistant Director of the Housing Authority, managing all aspects of the Housing Choice Voucher program and Intake for Public Housing.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.
Ms. Paulson is a speaker and presenter on topics related to the Housing Choice Voucher program and self-sufficiency activities. She is an active board member at the local, regional and national level for NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials).
“HCV serves over 11,000 families throughout the City and County of Sacramento, paying more than 5,000 private landlords over ninety million dollars a year! This is good for the economy of Sacramento and allows families to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing. With stable housing, many families are able to redirect their energies to activities leading to self-sufficiency.
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Angela Jones
Public Information Officer
Angela Jones has served as the Public Information Officer for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency since 2003. She is responsible for cross-Agency planning and implementation of internal and external communication programs and developing and managing media and public relations strategies on behalf of the Agency.
Ms. Jones holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Communications Studies-Broadcast News, California State University Sacramento.
She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Sacramento Public Relations Association and is certified in the Model-Netics System of Organizational Management.
Ms. Jones is a speaker and presenter the topics of media and public relations strategies, Telling the Redevelopment Story and crisis communications.
“SHRA is the thread woven among communities where quality of life needs are out of balance. We help strengthen those neighborhoods so that all Sacramento residents feel they are part of a whole community of great places to live, work and play.”