La Shelle Dozier is Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, serving in this capacity since 2009.

As Executive Director, Ms. Dozier oversees community development and revitalization strategies in the City and County of Sacramento, as well as the provision of housing for low income residents using a wide variety of programs and financing mechanisms. She is responsible for the Agency’s function as the Housing Authority for the City and County of Sacramento which administers federally funded rent assistance programs to provide safe, decent housing that serves more than 50,000 low income residents. Ms. Dozier is responsible for administering the Agency’s $340 million budget for 2023 with a workforce of 230 employees.

Ms. Dozier leads SHRA as the largest public funder and provider of affordable housing in Sacramento, committing $168 million in loan assistance and mortgage revenue bond issuance in 2022 to help build or improve multifamily communities for low income residents, to help families purchase an affordable home, and to rehabilitate or build affordable single/multifamily housing. The Agency manages a $390 million affordable housing portfolio and for more than 20 years has assisted in the production of more than 22,800 units of affordable housing through the application of various financing tools.

Ms. Dozier previously served as the Director of the Sacramento Housing Authority. She was responsible for leadership oversight of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV/formerly Section 8), and the conventional public housing program. These programs provide rent assistance for more than 50,000 low income people, including elderly and disabled residents in the City and County of Sacramento. She was also responsible for monitoring and addressing the continued changes in major national policy that housing authorities across the country are facing, including significant reductions in structural and operational funds.

Ms. Dozier is Executive Board Member of the Statewide CAHA Board. She is also a Board Member of the Northern California Association of Housing Authorities (Northern CAHA), Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), Sacramento Employment & Training Agency Community Advisory Board (SETA CAB), and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP). Ms. Dozier is an honoree of the Business Journal’s 2022 Most Admired CEO, and was also awarded the 2022 Woman of the Year by the City of Sacramento. She is a recipient of the Women of Excellence award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She has also been featured twice in Comstock’s magazine, in 2019 for her efforts to increase affordable housing, and in 2016 for the magazine’s Women in Leadership in the Capitol Region.

Under Ms. Dozier’s leadership, SHRA is a two-time recipient of the Sacramento Workplace Excellence Leader Award from the Sacramento Area Human Resources Association.

“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.”

James Shields joined SHRA in 2002 and serves as Deputy Executive Director.

His areas of responsibility include executive leadership as well as direct oversight of all agency management support functions for approximately 230 employees. He manages staff responsible for Human Resources, Information and Management Technology Services, Real Estate, Construction Services, Procurement, and Agency Clerk functions. He previously held the position of Director of Human Resources.

Mr. Shields is the President of the Sacramento Housing Authority Repositioning Program, Inc. (SHARP). He is the past President and continues to serve on the Executive Board of the California Housing Authority Workers Compensation Association (CHWCA), with oversight of more than $30 million in assets. He serves as a member of the board of the Local Agency Workers’ Compensation Excess JPA (LAWCX). He is also a member of the California Labor Relations Association and the Sacramento Human Resources Association.

Mr. Shields holds a B.S. in Economics from Worcester State College and an MBA 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).

“Changing Lives” 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.”

Brad Nakano is General Counsel for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. He began his service with SHRA in November 2019. Mr. Nakano is responsible for developing and overseeing internal and external legal services to the Agency in areas involving public law, community development, housing and related activities. He will also serve as legal counsel on matters that come before the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission.

Mr. Nakano’s past legal experience consists of both private practice and public sector. His practice has focused on representing lenders, institutional investors and developers in all types of real estate transactions such as real estate loan origination (construction loans, take-out loans, permanent loans), asset-based financing, inter-creditor agreements, leasing and subleasing transactions, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, corporate and limited liability formation (including private fund investments), and governance. Mr. Nakano also has significant public sector experience in the areas of public contracting, public records act laws and open meetings laws.

Mr. Nakano holds a B.S. from UCLA and J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of California, Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Nakano is a qualified speaker and presenter on the topics of real estate finance, public housing authorities, and low income housing.

Irene de Jong joined SHRA in 2024 and serves as the Director of Finance. Ms. De Jong is responsible for providing leadership and direction, as well as full-service accounting and financial services in support of SHRA’s housing and community development programs. Major responsibilities of the department include payroll, accounts payable, fixed assets, debt management, cash management, financial reporting and general ledger accounting.

Ms. De Jong’s professional career includes over 20 years of municipal finance experience with several local government agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento region. These include San Jose Redevelopment Agency, City of Fremont Redevelopment Agency, City of Oakland, Alameda County Fire District, and the League of California Cities.

Ms. De Jong holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, and a Master of Arts in Economics.

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 strategies, media and public relations, marketing and brand identity, and social media information management. She also serves as the Agency’s Ombudsman.

Ms. Jones holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Communications Studies-Broadcast News, California State University Sacramento.

Ms. Jones is a speaker and presenter on the topics of media and public relations strategies, and crisis communications. She is a Model-Netics Associate of the Main Event Management Institute which applies concepts for improving productivity through more efficient and effective management. Ms. Jones is an award-winning journalist recognized by the National Radio and Television News Directors Association.

“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.”

MaryLiz Paulson became Director, Housing Choice Vouchers and SERA for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in 2022. She previously served in various positions in the Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing Program since joining the Agency in 2002.

In her current position, Ms. Paulson oversees several programs that specifically serve persons in our community who are homeless or in need of housing with access to supportive services, such as the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing or VASH program, and the Shelter Plus Care program. Most of the programs under Ms. Paulson’s oversight provide on-going rental subsidies to help households remain housed over time. Ms. Paulson is also responsible for oversight of the Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance, or SERA Program, which provides short-term assistance for households unable to pay rent and/or utilities due to COVID-19.

Ms. Paulson holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavioral Science, specializing in Community Health and Social Services from UC Davis.  She is active in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and has obtained many certifications during her professional career. She currently serves as President of the NorCal/Nevada chapter of NAHRO.

Ms. Paulson’s responsibilities, experience and expertise qualifies her to speak and make presentations on topics such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA) Program and the Emergency Housing Voucher Program.

“SHRA provides rental subsidies to more than 5500 landlords each month so that more than 13,000 families can afford housing.  Many of these families have moved from homelessness into housing and would be homeless without the assistance.  These are families in the community that, once housed, contribute to making our community what it is.  I remember a single mom I worked with years ago that worked full time and carefully scheduled her appointments so that no one, not even her children, would know that she received housing assistance.  She was successful in using the rental subsidy as a short-term bridge to self-sufficiency.”

Christine Weichert was appointed to Director – Housing in January 2021.

She has been with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency for over 25 years. Prior to her current position, she served as Assistant Director of Development Finance and is responsible for multifamily and single family housing finance, City and County Inclusionary Housing Ordinance implementation, affordable housing project financing and implementation, and portfolio management.

Ms. Weichert has served the Agency in previous capacities as Assistant Director of Housing and Community Development, Housing Finance Program Manager, CDBG Program Manager and Senior Redevelopment Planner.

Ms. Weichert holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s 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, and Financing Public-Private Partnerships.

“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.”

Mark Hamilton is Director of RAD for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. He has been with the Agency since 2010.

Mr. Hamilton is responsible for Asset Repositioning for Public Housing and Non ACC Assets utilizing RAD and other programs. During his tenure with the Agency, he previously held the positions of HCV Housing Specialist, Public Housing Site Manager, HCV Housing Supervisor, Program Manager/Regional Manager Public Housing, and Project Manager for the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program.

Mr. Hamilton holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Creative Writing. His professional certifications include Housing Choice Voucher Specialist and Tax Credit Specialist.

Mr. Hamilton’s responsibilities, experience and expertise qualify him to speak and make presentations on topics such as Housing Choice Voucher Program management and operations, including the Administrative Plan, Shelter Plus Care (now Continuum of Care programs), Veteran Administration Supportive Housing (VASH), Public Housing program management and operations, including the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program, and Tax Credit Compliance.

“The famous author T.S. Eliot said it best when he said, ‘Home is where one starts from.’ SHRA is here to serve Sacramento, and its chief focus is providing affordable housing to those who need it.  In the words of L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz, ‘There is no place like home.’  Ruby slippers were how Dorothy found her way home, and she had them from the beginning of her long, adventure-filled story.  SHRA has been operating in Sacramento for over 80 years (also a long, adventure-filled story), and while it isn’t often recognized for its value to the community—it’s here, tapping its numerous feet together, stretching and leveraging every dollar, to connect the people to their homes, their starting points.”

Sarah O’Daniel joined the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in 1995 and currently serves as Director of Homeless Innovations & Intergovernmental Affairs. She is responsible for oversight of all activities related to Homeless Shelters and Services.

Her previous role at the Agency as Assistant Director saw her managing the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, Continuum of Care programs and Intake for Public Housing.

Sarah holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and German and a Master of Arts degree in International Business and a Master of Arts degree in German.

She has been working in the field of assisting low-income families for over 20 years. She has worked on numerous commercial, residential and mixed use projects including the redevelopment of the former Mather, McClellan and Army Depot military bases, and numerous projects in Oak Park, Franklin Boulevard, North Sacramento, Del Paso Heights, Florin Road, Stockton Boulevard and other areas in the City and County of Sacramento. She also managed numerous federal programs including the Community Block Grant and Shelter Plus Care programs.

Sarah currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Norcal/Nevada chapter and is on the Sacramento Continuum of Care Advisory Board.

“Having grown up in India, I am very well aware of the needs of the disadvantaged.  Hearing the individual stories of our clients in Sacramento is heartbreaking and I am glad to be able to make a difference in their lives.”

Michael Taylor has been with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency since 1999 and currently serves as Director of Construction Services. He previously held the position of Program Manager and Architect in the RECS Department.

Managing a team of construction and procurement professionals and support staff, Mr. Taylor is responsible for project management services from initial concept through all phases of design and construction, and also provides the services necessary to complete the sale of Agency-owned properties approved for disposition.

The Procurement Services team centralizes most Agency construction bidding activities into a single administrative unit and procures commercial and professional services, supplies and equipment for SHRA. Procurement Services is also responsible for monitoring procurement and labor activities for compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations. Additionally, the department ensures that the Agency provides effective outreach for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) and Small Business utilization, as well as enforcement of applicable labor standards required for federal- and state-funded projects. 

Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture from the University of California Berkeley. He is also professionally licensed as an architect. His responsibilities, expertise and experience qualify him to speak and make presentations on architecture and construction.

“The staff at SHRA works tirelessly to provide quality, affordable housing to people who may otherwise not have that opportunity. I am proud to be part of this great organization.”

Loren Gray is the Director of Information Technology for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. He began his service with SHRA in 2021 as a Program Manager in the IT Department.

In his current role, Mr. Gray is responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership for the Information Technology (IT) division, ensuring it aligns with the Agency’s mission and goals. As IT Director, he also leads initiatives to modernize and optimize IT infrastructure, driving efficiency and innovation across the Agency. Fostering a collaborative environment within IT and promoting teamwork to deliver exceptional service to all departments and staff are key responsibilities within Mr. Gray’s purview. As a member of the Executive Team, he works to champion a unified agency approach, leveraging technology to connect departments and enhance overall mission accomplishment.

Mr. Gray holds a Master of Science degree in Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Mr. Gray’s life experiences as a Sacramento native and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps motivate him to perform mission-driven work that provides for the community. His passion lies in creating positive change, ensuring that the community benefits from SHRA’s work.

Cecette Hawkins serves as Assistant Director – Property Management with the Sacramento Housing Authority. She has been with Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency since 2008, serving in the previous positions of Management Analyst, Interim Program Manager – Resident Services, and Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program Project Manager.

Ms. Hawkins is responsibilities include Public Housing including Maintenance Operations, Asset Repositioning for Public Housing, and Non-ACC Assets utilizing local, State, and Federal programs. During her tenure with the Agency, she previously held the positions of Management Analyst, Interim Program Manager-Resident Services, and Project Manager for the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program.

Ms. Hawkins holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Real Estate Management Option from California State University, Hayward (East Bay), CA.  She has been a Real Estate Licensee since October 1998. Ms. Hawkins’ vast responsibilities, experience and expertise qualify her as a speaker and presenter on topics such as Public Housing program management and operations, including the PHA Plan which includes the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), Resident Services, and Rental Assistance Demonstration Program.

“Having grown up in the Bronx (New York) around public housing, I’ve always wanted to work for a Housing Authority.  I really love working for an organization that not only provides housing but also builds communities.”

Cheyenne Caraway serves as Assistant Director with the Sacramento Public Housing Authority. She has been with Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency since 2007. Prior to becoming Assistant Director, Ms. Caraway held the positions of Housing Specialist, Principal Analyst, Housing Choice Voucher Housing Supervisor, and Program Manager in the Homeless Innovations Department

Ms. Caraway is responsible for developing and overseeing all areas of property management for Agency owned properties by providing management, direction, and leadership to direct reports and ensuring that properties are maintained and operated in accordance with the SHRA objectives, and HUD regulatory requirements.

Ms. Caraway holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Resident Manager (CRM), Certified Housing Occupancy Specialist, and Tax Credit Specialist.

Ms. Caraway’s expertise and experience qualify her as a presenter and speaker on the topics of Public Housing program management and operations, including the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), Housing Choice Voucher Program management and operations, including the Administrative Plan, and Tax Credit Compliance.

“I feel housing is a basic need for all, and I am honored to get to work for an organization that provides this for so many in the community. I get to witness the joy firsthand of families being housed and the positive impacts made in the community.”

Victoria Johnson is Assistant Director of Development for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. She has been with the Agency since 2018.

Ms. Johnson’s current projects include the redevelopment of the former Twin Rivers public housing community as Mirasol Village in the Sacramento River District, and oversight of the Agency’s non-profit affiliates.   Over the past 20 years, Ms. Johnson has led efforts to construct or renovate over 2,500 affordable housing units in Florida and California.  She has previously owned a M/WBE certified building company and is a passionate advocate for sustainable and equitable urban revitalization.

Ms. Johnson earned a master’s degree in urban planning from Florida Atlantic University and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Ms. Johnson’s responsibilities, experience and expertise qualify her to speak and make presentations on topics such as sustainable development, redevelopment strategies and affordable housing finance.

“SHRA  is helping to build a better world, by leading efforts that create and sustain healthy neighborhoods and equitable housing choice throughout Sacramento County.”