Graham
P. Espley-Jones – President Mr. Espley-Jones joined WCH as President in 2002 and also
serves as a Director. He brings over fifteen years of experience in the affordable and LIHTC industry to WCH. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University.
Mr. Espley-Jones served as the chief financial officer of Kaufman & Broad Multi-Housing Group, Inc. (now MCA Housing Partners, LLC), one of America's leading partners in the investment and development of affordable multifamily and senior rental communities financed primarily with LIHTC’s from 1999 to 2000. Prior to joining Kaufman and Broad Multi-Housing Group, Mr. Espley-Jones was a principal, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ARV Assisted Living,
Inc., and their affiliated companies (“ARV”). ARV’s assisted living division developed and/or acquired over sixty assisted living communities comprising approximately 7,000 assisted living units. Mr. Espley-Jones currently serves as the managing member of BonGate, LLC, the majority shareholder of Cooper Colony Affordable Housing, Inc., the General Partner and Developer of a 135-unit LIHTC financed senior community located in Anaheim, California.
Prior to joining WCH in 2002, Mr. Espley-Jones served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the Meyers Group, a real estate information and consulting company specializing in the housing industry. Mr. Espley-Jones began his career holding positions in the commercial real estate lending divisions of First California Savings Bank and CA Financial.
Leanne
Truofreh - Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
Ms. Truofreh joined WCH as Corporate Secretary in 2005 and was promoted to Vice-President and Treasurer in 2007. As Corporate Secretary, her responsibilities include maintaining the records of both WCH and its partnerships that own affordable housing communities. In addition she prepares WCH applications for debt and equity financing of its affordable communities.
Ms. Truofreh has worked in the senior and affordable housing industry for 15 years. She is a certified Notary Public in the State of California. Ms. Truofreh began her career in the accounting department at ARV Assisted Living, Inc. (“ARV”). Prior to joining WCH, Ms. Truofreh worked for Kaufman & Broad Multi-Housing Group, Inc. (now MCA Housing Partners, LLC) as a Loan Draw Specialist.
Sandra
Gibbons – Vice President, Finance and Tax Credits
Ms. Gibbons joined WCH as Vice-President of Finance and Tax Credits in 2004. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Administration from California State University at Fullerton after having earned an Associates Degree in Business from Riverside City College. She has worked for Steadfast, ARV Assisted Living, Inc. where she served in several capacities in their tax credit division including Partnership Controller. Ms. Gibbons also served as Partnership Controller of Kaufman & Broad Multi-Housing Group,
Inc., (now MCA Housing Partners, LLC) in Long Beach, CA from 1999 to 2003. As Vice President, Finance and Tax Credits, Ms. Gibbons has responsibility for WCH’s financial reporting and serves as WCH’s technical specialist on LIHTC issues.
Scott Gayner - Director of Development
Mr. Gayner joined WCH in 2007 as Development Manager. He began his career in the affordable housing industry in 1992 and brings a broad base of experience to the WCH team. He has an undergraduate degree in Economics from UCLA and an MBA from Chapman University. Mr. Gayner served as Vice President and Partner of ARV Affordable Housing, Inc. from 1992 to 1996, focusing on large family and senior affordable housing projects. His expertise includes commercial land acquisition and development, industrial projects, rural affordable housing and acquisition/rehab of affordable housing. As Director of Development, Mr. Gayner is responsible for land acquisition and tax credit analysis, and development of affordable housing communities.
Martha Cisnersos - Senior Portfolio Manager
Ms. Cisneros joined WCH as Senior Portfolio Manager in 2010. Ms. Cisneros received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of California at Los Angeles. She was a Senior Project Manager with MacFarlane Costa Housing (formerly Simpson Housing Solutions, LLC), where she developed affordable housing projects throughout California. She worked with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles Housing Department, East LA Community Corporation, and Excellent Education Development (ExEd).
Her experience includes development of senior and multi-family affordable housing projects, single family homeownership and charter school development. Her expertise includes land acquisition, due diligence review, financial underwriting/structuring, entitlement and permitting, packaging public and private proposals to local, state, federal agencies and banks.
Dianne
Russell – Director of Resident Services
Ms. Russell joined WCH as Director of Resident Services in 2007. Prior to joining WCH, Ms. Russell served as Director of Resident Services at Jamboree Housing Corporation (“JHC”). While at JHC she launched “Housing with Heart” a separate nonprofit organization created to assess the needs of Jamboree residents and provide on-site services and programs. Before joining JHC in 1999, Ms. Russell was Executive Director of Women Helping Women, a community-based nonprofit organization. She is also a board member of the Kennedy Commission, as well as a member of the Costa Mesa Housing Coalition. She has a Master of Arts in Psychology from Cal State University, Los Angeles.
As Director of Resident Services, Ms. Russell is responsible for operating and expanding the various on-site social service, activity and referral programs for residents living in the WCH affordable communities throughout California.
Barbie
Defeo – Compliance Manager and Assistant Corporate Secretary
Ms. Defeo joined WCH in 2005 and has served in several capacities, most recently as Compliance Manager. Prior to joining WCH, she served as an Accounting Clerk for Sprint Funding Corporation. She is a certified Notary Public in the State of California.
As an
As Compliance Manager, Ms. Defeo is responsible for the compliance filings for WCH’s portfolio with all City, County, State and federal agencies to ensure that WCH’s communities meet their affordability and reporting requirements. Ms. Defeo also supports WCH’s Corporate Secretary in updating and maintaining the books and records of both WCH and its affordable housing partnerships. In addition to her compliance duties, M. Defeo manages the day-to-day operations of WCH’s corporate office in Costa Mesa, California.
Denise Duarte – Los Angeles Social Services Manager
Ms. Duarte joined WCH as a Social Services Manager for the Los Angeles region in 2010. She has over nine years of experience working in the affordable housing field. Ms. Duarte began her career with Avalon Communities, LLC as an Administrative Assistant in 2001. In 2002 she was hired at Jamboree Housing Corporation as an Assistant Project Coordinator where she facilitated the organization with the acquisition, construction and asset management of the low-income properties they owned. In 2005 she moved to Jamboree’s social service provider, Housing with HEART where she worked as a Social Services Supervisor for the Southern California region. She coordinated social services including afterschool programs, health workshops, and community outreach. In 2006, Ms. Duarte left Housing with HEART to work for Hearthstone Housing as a Project Manager. At Hearthstone Housing, she oversaw the daily operations and compliance for the low-income properties in Washington and California. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Santa Ana City College.
As the Los Angeles Social Services Manager, Ms. Duarte is responsible for operating and expanding on-site social service activity and referral programs for residents living in the WCH affordable communities in Los Angeles.
Ingrid Logg – Accounting Clerk
Ms. Logg joined WCH as an Accounting Clerk in 2011. She earned her undergraduate degree in Accounting from California State University Long Beach. Ms. Logg began her career in the accounting department at ARV Assisted Living, Inc. She was promoted to Junior Accountant.
Prior to joining WCH, Ms. Logg worked for Simpson Housing Solutions, LLC as a Senior Accountant. Her responsibilities included maintaining and tracking project budgets and sources/uses, managing lien releases, preliminary notices, contracts, and insurance. She also prepared Placed in Service Packages, Final Cost Certifications, and 10% Carryover Certification relating to California Low Income Housing Tax Credit Programs.
As Accounting Clerk, Ms. Logg supports Ms. Truofreh in day to day accounting transactions.
Ms.
Espley-Jones joined WCH in 2007 as an Asset Manager. She began her
career in the affordable housing industry in 1992 serving as a volunteer
for the National Charity League where she assisted non-profits organizations
providing supporting services to the affordable housing industry
including Families Forward, the Orange County Interfaith Shelter
and Meals on Wheels. She has an undergraduate degree in Liberal
Arts from Pepperdine University.
Ms.
Espley-Jones has served as Vice President of Cooper Colony Affordable
Housing, Inc., the developer of an affordable senior housing community
located in Anaheim California. As an Asset Manager, Ms. Espley-Jones
will be responsible for overseeing the operations of affordable
communities owned by WCH.
David P. Collins - In-House Counsel
Mr. Collins joined WCH in 2010 as In-House Counsel to assist with closings and to oversee all legal matters including maintenance of all legal documentation for the company and its affordable housing partnerships. Mr. Collins has been practicing law for nine years and brings a broad spectrum of legal and technology experience to assist WCH that includes commercial transactions, real estate, civil litigation, land use, corporate, and intellectual property.
Mr. Collins has handled matters for both public and private clients involving the purchase, sale, entitlement and development of real property. Prior to obtaining his law degree, Mr. Collins spent nearly a decade working for the major record label Capitol Records in Hollywood, California with the label’s new media and technology department where he developed web sites and negotiated technology deals. Mr. Collins has an undergraduate degree in Economics and Finance from Chapman College and graduated cum laude from Chapman University School of Law.
