Steve PonTell
President and CEO
Steve PonTell is the Chief Executive Officer and President of National Community Renaissance. In 1996, Steve founded the La Jolla Institute, a California-based nonprofit think tank that advances a better understanding of the critical elements necessary for both communities and corporations to achieve sustainable economic competitiveness. He is a nationally recognized authority on community development and creating forward-thinking organizations to maximize evolving market environments. Steve has a Bachelor of Science from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in City and Regional Planning and an EMBA from Claremont Graduate University’s Drucker School of Business.
Michael M. Ruane
Executive Vice President
Michael M. Ruane, National CORE’s Executive Vice President, leads the development of program and business strategies for the organization and is responsible for overseeing all operating departments. Previously, Mr. Ruane served in a variety of leadership positions in Orange County, including Chief of Strategy and Public Affairs of CalOptima, Executive Director of the Children and Families Commission, Assistant County Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Environmental Management Agency. Mr. Ruane is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, and earned a master’s degree from the UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Mr. Ruane is the Immediate Past Chair of the Orange County/Inland Empire District Council of the Urban Land Institute and is the Jury Chair for the 2016 HUD Innovation in Affordable Housing national design and planning competition.
Michael Finn
Chief Financial Officer
Michael Finn is National CORE’s Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Mike is responsible for the overall financial strategy and fiscal practices of the organization. Before joining National CORE, Mike served as CFO for a major healthcare technology company. With more than 25 years of management experience in finance and accounting, Mike has spent the majority of his career working for mid-market companies. He has significant experience in the technology, healthcare, real estate, construction, manufacturing, and entertainment fields. His expertise is in strategic financial planning and analysis, financial reporting and forecasting, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and corporate restructuring. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA.
Gregory Bradbard
Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships
President, Hope through Housing Foundation
Gregory J. Bradbard, President of the Hope through Housing Foundation and National CORE’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships has more than 20 years of experience as a community leader and fundraiser throughout Southern California. Prior to joining Hope through Housing and National CORE, Greg served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Inland Empire United Way (IEUW). Under his leadership, IEUW increased its community impact by launching several new programs to improve youth and family self-sufficiency. Greg holds a B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine, and past roles have included serving as the Executive Director for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County, Executive Director for the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, and Director of Development for Families Forward.
Robert Diaz
General Counsel
Robert Diaz, National CORE’s General Counsel, joined National CORE in 2017. Robert brings significant experience in the areas of debt finance, corporate governance, banking regulations, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law. Robert has also focused on the development and implementation of corporate controls and structure and has previously played a major role in managing significant portions of large-scale regulatory remediation efforts.
Robert graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2000 and received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Chapman University in 1997. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army Reserve and served as a member of the Army’s JAG Corps for 15 years. Fluent in Spanish, Robert has represented clients in cross-border transactions in Latin America.
Doretta “Dorrie” Bryan
Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Operations
Dorrie Bryan began her career with National Community Renaissance in 1995 as the Executive Assistant to our Founder and CEO. After graduating from the University of California Riverside Human Resources Certificate Program in 1999, Dorrie was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and Operations. In her current role, she is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, administering, and budgeting for all areas of employment, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, legal compliance, affirmative action, and health and safety programs, for National CORE’s 400+ employees. Other professional affiliations include Professionals in Human Resources Association and the Society of Human Resources Management.
Dan Lorraine
Senior Vice President of Property Management
Daniel W. Lorraine joined National Community Renaissance in 2014 as Senior Vice President of Property Management, where he oversees a portfolio of more than 9,000 units in California, Arkansas and Texas, and leads the organization’s environmental sustainability efforts. Previously, Dan was Senior Vice President of Property Management at The Community Builders in Boston, overseeing a division responsible for managing nearly 9,000 units across fourteen states and the District of Columbia. While with The Community Builders, he led a cutting edge division that thrived in difficult markets and managed complex properties. He joined the company in 2008 after six years as regional manager for Trans World Entertainment Corp. in Albany, N.Y. He also spent 18 years in management positions for Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Pharmacy.
Chris Killian
Senior Vice President of Construction
Chris Killian, Senior Vice President of Construction, began his career at National CORE in 2004 as an onsite Construction Superintendent and has held various positions within the organization, including Construction Manager and Vice President of Estimating. During his tenure with National CORE, he has been responsible for the construction and renovation of more than 1,240 apartment units, valued at approximately 215 million dollars. Prior to joining National CORE, Chris spent five years with the Fontana Unified School District, where as a Project Manager he was involved in the construction of four new schools with a total value of 103 million dollars. He also was responsible for the coordination of infrastructure and installation of numerous modular facilities during his time with the school district. Chris has a BS from the University of Redlands, and has taken course work in construction and supervision from Riverside Community College. He is a licensed General Contractor(B) in the State of California.
Angela Lindsey
Vice President of Property Management
Angela Lindsey joined National CORE in 2013 with more than 11 years of property management experience. Angela has experience managing both market rate and affordable apartment communities. Prior to joining National CORE, Angela was a regional manager for one of the largest housing authorities in southern California. During her time there she assisted with the development and implementation of new initiatives and programs through the Moving to Work (MTW) designation provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Angela has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Law from the University of California, Riverside. Her professional designations include: California Certified Residential Manager (CCRM), RAD PBV Specialists, Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), and Tax Credit Specialist (TCS).
Tony Mize
Tony Mize is Vice President-Acquisitions for National CORE. His career in the real estate industry has focused on the development of affordable multifamily and single-family workforce and senior housing. Tony was an integral part of the company’s early years, serving as Director of Business Development, Acquisitions & Structured Transactions from 1993-1999. Prior to rejoining National CORE, Tony has launched and run his own firms developing, constructing and operating multiple affordable communities. Tony currently serves as a board member and treasurer of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, and has long involvement promoting economic development and job creation.
Julie Mungai
Ms. Mungai has more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience in the public and private sector. Immediately prior to joining National CORE, she gained extensive housing finance skills as an Accounting Manager with the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission, where she held that position for more than a decade. She joined National CORE in 2000 to oversee and monitor developments from the initial financial-structuring phase to project lease-up. Ms. Mungai holds an MBA Degree with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Oregon.
John Seymour
Mr. Seymour has 27 years of development and community-based experience and has been with National CORE 17 years. Responsible for acquisitions, forward planning, environmental, financing, entitlements, and outreach, he has assisted in the production of more than 4,000 units including five mixed-use projects at a total development cost of over $500 million. Prior to CORE, he worked for Manchester Resorts, the Building Industry Association and as Policy Advisor to the Chair of San Diego Board of Supervisors. He graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Economics.
