CONTACT
Christopher Gil
Director of Strategic Communications and Influence
(415) 287-3197, cgil@liifund.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Low Income Investment Fund Announces New Board Chair and Three Directors
Visit celebrates one prime example of the impact of California’s $350.5 million Infrastructure Grant Program
MENLO PARK, CALIF. (Oct. 26, 2023) — The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) is pleased to announce the election of Reymundo “Rey” Ocañas as chair of LIIF’s board of directors. Ocañas serves as the director of communications & responsible business and Community Reinvestment Act officer at BBVA USA, as well as the southwest territory executive for PNC Bank’s community development banking. He will serve a two-year term on LIIF’s board effective July 1, 2021. He succeeds Carol Naughton, chief executive officer of Purpose Built Communities, who served as board chair since 2019. Naughton will continue to serve on the executive committee as treasurer and chair of the finance committee.
“LIIF’s executive leadership is grateful to Carol for her two years of dedicated leadership and direction,” said Daniel A. Nissenbaum, LIIF’s chief executive officer. “Carol provided vital guidance through a transformative time at LIIF. We look forward to having Rey’s perspective steward us as we operationalize many of the goals set forth in the strategic plan.”
Naughton led the board of directors and LIIF through the launch of the organization’s strategic plan, where it deepened its commitment to racial equity in community development; and its joint venture with National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT) and Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF).
Ocañas has served on LIIF’s national board since 2016. He previously served the organization as vice chair and secretary. He has worked in community development and as a lender for more than 20 years.
“Carol has served as a great mentor and leader. She models a commitment to the work that I hope to embody as board chair,” said Ocañas. “This is a highly generative time for LIIF as we develop a lending framework and initiatives that drive racial equity in community development, and I look forward to working with the board and the executive team as LIIF puts its goals into practice.”
The board also elected three new members: Calvin Gladney, LEED AP, president and chief executive officer, Smart Growth America; Myra Jones-Taylor, chief policy officer, ZERO TO THREE; and Margaret Solle Salazar, executive director, Oregon Housing and Community Services Department. Each member will serve a three-year term. These additions expand LIIF’s board to 16 people and deepens the group’s expertise in commercial markets, investment strategies, and measurement and evaluation. The new members also continue LIIF’s commitment to diversity among the board and staff.
Learn more about LIIF’s Board of directors.
Reymundo Ocañas, Director of Communications & Responsible Business, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer, BBVA USA; Southwest Territory Executive for Community Development Banking, PNC Bank
At BBVA USA, Ocañas oversees the bank’s external communications, CRA program, community development finance, community relations, corporate citizenship, reputation management and diversity and sustainability reporting. Before joining the bank in 2009, Ocañas held positions with Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the boards of numerous community development financial institutions.
Calvin Gladney, LEED AP, President and CEO, Smart Growth America
“I look forward to supporting LIIF’s work that highlights how housing, transportation and racial equity are interconnected.”
Gladney has led community revitalization efforts in dozens of communities around the country as a private consultant, a real estate developer and government official. His work over the last 15 years has been centered on the intersection of land use, transportation and economic development – all of which will be important in addressing our climate crisis and our longstanding racial equity issues. Prior to SGA, he was Managing Partner of Mosaic Urban, a real estate advisory services and development firm. In 2017, Mr. Gladney was the Urban Land Institute’s Senior Visiting Fellow for Equity.
Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE
“I’m excited to see how my passions for family economic security and early childhood development can support LIIF’s work.”
At ZERO TO THREE, Jones-Taylor leads the development and implementation of the organization’s policy agenda, priorities and strategies; oversees the Policy Center, which includes federal and state policy and advocacy; and serves as the principal spokesperson for the organization on public policy matters with policymakers, the media, funders and partner organizations. Prior to this role, Jones-Taylor served as Connecticut’s founding Commissioner of Early Childhood. She currently has the honor of being both an Ascend Fellow and a Pahara Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
Margaret Solle Salazar, Executive Director, Oregon Housing and Community Services Department
“I’m passionate about economic recovery, racial equity and housing and am thrilled to bring these issues together through my work on LIIF’s board.”
Salazar serves on the Cabinet of Governor Kate Brown and oversees Oregon’s efforts to build affordable housing, open the door to homeownership, prevent and end homelessness and expand housing stability. She directs programs across the housing continuum such as LIHTC, multifamily bonding and gap financing, homeless services, energy and weatherization assistance, mortgage lending and efforts to promote equity and racial justice. Prior to joining OHCS in 2016, Salazar served in various leadership roles over a 10-year career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.