Tom is President of Development Design and Engineering, Inc. Mr. DuBose has extensive knowledge of regulatory factors critical to the implementation of projects in California and along the United States-Mexico border. He is a highly sought guest speaker for service clubs, professional organizations, banks, and credit unions about Economic Development and Development in general in the Imperial Valley. Mr. Dubose has also participated in workshops sponsored by the Imperial Valley Enterprise Zone, Brawley Economic and Community Development Department, Imperial Economic Development Corporation, City of Calexico Economic Development Committee, and local cities developing General Plan Amendments.
Mr. Dubose has served on the Brawley Union High School Board of Trustees for seventeen years and is currently its president. He has served on the Imperial County Air Pollution Control Board for twelve years and is currently its chairman and is the current Second Vice-President Executive Committee and Board Member of the California Building Industry Association (BIA) Desert Chapter.
Erin Autry Montgomery brings more than 20 years of specialized experience in affordable housing development, spanning project management, development finance consulting, and investor analysis. Her work encompasses the full development cycle — from feasibility analysis and application preparation through loan and syndication closing, construction management, and post-conversion capital transactions.
Ms. Montgomery has deep expertise in virtually every major affordable housing finance program, including federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, historic tax credits, USDA Section 514/515 loan programs, FHA and USDA guaranteed loans, HOME, NHTF, state housing trust fund programs, HUD and USDA rental assistance, Section 236 IRP decoupling, Multifamily Housing Program, Redevelopment Agency Low-Mod funds, AHSC, IIG, MHSA/NPLH, and CDBG.
Early in her career (2004–2012), Ms. Montgomery served as a project manager for several affordable housing developers, overseeing a diverse portfolio of transactions. Notable projects included the syndication of a 70-site, 1,300-unit subsidized portfolio with a Section 236 decoupling in the City of Los Angeles; preservation projects in Colorado and Arkansas; inclusionary developments in suburban San Diego County; rural new construction in Imperial County financed with state funds; acquisition-rehabilitation projects in New Mexico; and affordable developments within the City of San Diego utilizing Redevelopment Agency funding.
Since 2013, she has provided consulting services to LIHTC investors and affordable housing developers on financial structuring and project management. She has been involved in transactions across California, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Arkansas, Colorado, and Maryland.
Ms. Montgomery holds a Master of Science in Preservation Studies from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Harvard-Radcliffe.
Jenny Torres serves as the City Manager for the City of San Luis. She has been a city employee for the past eighteen years, serving as the Economic Development Director and the Community Development Director. For the past twenty-seven years, she worked for nonprofit organizations, government entities, and for-profit companies in both Arizona and California. Mrs. Torres has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public management from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Torres is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city. In her role, she applies strategic direction, implements council policies, and coordinates community issues. To support regional efforts, Jenny serves on the boards of the Border Communities Capital Company, Yuma County Airport Authority, San Luis Facility Development Corporation, Pacific Southwest Development Corporation, NAU-Yuma Advisory Council, Yuma Education Advocacy Council, and Southwest Arizona Future Forum. She also served as a past member of the Border Trade Alliance, San Luis Industrial Park, Arizona Town Hall, Yuma County HOME consortium, Yuma County Workforce Development Board, and the Yuma County Broadband Task Force.
Jenny is married with three children: a daughter in elementary school, a daughter in high school, and a son who graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Management. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, and visiting the Town of Ensenada, Mexico, where she hopes to retire.
Chelsea Asaro brings more than a decade of experience advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities and advancing opportunities for greater inclusion and independence. Her work spans nonprofit leadership, corporate disability inclusion, employment, and community advocacy, experience that closely aligns with the Southern California Housing Collaborative’s mission to expand affordable housing opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Chelsea began her disability advocacy work with the National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR), first as a volunteer and later as a Board Member, a position she continues to hold today. She subsequently served as NFAR’s Corporate Training and Industry Outreach Specialist, helping advance employment opportunities and workplace inclusion for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in San Diego. She later joined Rangam’s SourceAbled program as Director of Delivery, where she led the development and implementation of neurodiversity hiring initiatives for major employers in the United States and internationally.
Through her work with SCHC, Chelsea has expanded her advocacy to another critical component of independence for adults with developmental disabilities: access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. She is particularly interested in addressing the barriers that can prevent adults with developmental disabilities from living as independently as possible in their communities.
Chelsea also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster youth and works with the Education Rights Program at San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. She is pursuing her J.D. at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she is building on her advocacy experience through the study and practice of law and public service.
Chelsea earned her B.A. in English, magna cum laude, from the University of California, San Diego.
Sitara Sethi serves as the driving force behind the Foundation’s strategic vision, organizational growth, and daily operations. As Chief Executive Officer, she leads the development and implementation of programs, cultivates community partnerships, secures philanthropic support, and ensures the Foundation’s resources are directed toward initiatives that create measurable and lasting impact. Under her leadership, the Foundation has expanded its reach, strengthened engagement with donors and stakeholders, and advanced programs that improve the lives of individuals and families throughout the community. She is particularly passionate about building collaborative relationships that connect philanthropy, volunteerism, and community needs to create meaningful change.
With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Sitara has designed, managed, and evaluated transformative programs that have improved health outcomes, increased access to essential services, and empowered underserved populations. Her career includes leadership roles with organizations such as Family Health Centers, Relief International, and UC San Diego, where she successfully developed community-focused initiatives, secured funding for critical programs, and championed efforts that delivered tangible results. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to moving beyond awareness and creating sustainable solutions that strengthen communities and improve quality of life.
In addition to her work with the Foundation, Sitara serves as a Commissioner on the Board of Library Commissioners, reflecting her deep commitment to civic engagement and public service. She is a strong advocate for lifelong learning, community empowerment, and the importance of investing in future generations.
Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Sitara enjoys immersing herself in science fiction novels, exploring new cultures through travel, and spending quality time with her devoted husband and two energetic sons. She especially loves discovering the vibrant neighborhoods, hidden gems, and diverse communities that make San Diego such a special place to call home.
Nathan Schmid serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of SCHC. Before stepping into this leadership role, Nathan spent nearly 20 years as a self-employed insurance broker, specializing in health insurance solutions for small businesses and their employees.
Nathan’s connection to the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) is deeply personal. His eldest daughter, Avery, has been a client of SDRC since before her first birthday and is now 22 years old. In 2009, Nathan and his family learned that SDRC was forming a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing affordable housing for its clients—an initiative that would evolve into SCHC.
Under Nathan’s leadership, SCHC completed its first housing project in partnership with SDRC in 2015. Since then, SCHC has helped hundreds of SDRC adult clients, as well as families whose children receive supportive services from SDRC, secure safe, stable, and affordable housing. Nathan’s professional experience and personal commitment to the disability community continue to shape SCHC’s mission and impact.
– Nearly 20 years of experience as a self-employed insurance broker – Longstanding personal connection to SDRC through his daughter, Avery
– Led SCHC’s first affordable housing project in partnership with SDRC in 2015
– Helped hundreds of SDRC adult clients and families access affordable, supportive housing
Southern California Housing Collaborative – Chula Vista, California
March 2015 – Present
Gloria Sandoval has served as a Housing Placement Coordinator with the Southern California Housing Collaborative in Chula Vista, California, since March 2015. With more than eleven years of experience in housing placement and client support across San Diego and Imperial Counties, Gloria plays a key role in helping individuals and families secure stable housing.
In her current role, Gloria manages housing interest and waiting lists—both general and property-specific—and provides hands-on support to clients throughout the application process. She assists clients and families to complete applications accurately and on time and works closely with property management companies to coordinate application status updates, move-in schedules, and leasing requirements. She collaborates regularly with San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) Service Coordinators and Housing Specialists to ensure that housing placements align with everyone’s service and support needs. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Gloria effectively supports a diverse client population.
Gloria is actively involved in housing-related events, including leasing workshops, meetings, groundbreakings, and grand openings for new developments. She supports outreach and marketing efforts for new housing opportunities and programs, and contributes to office logistics, administrative functions, and tax and compliance-related tasks as needed.
Outside of work, Gloria has been married for 28 years and is the proud mother of three children—two in college and a teenage daughter in high school. She enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and running marathons for fun.
