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.
David Grunwald
Senior Vice President, Los Angeles Region
David Grunwald joins National Community Renaissance with more than two decades of leadership and advocacy experience in the affordable housing industry. He began his commitment to public service in 1988 as a pro bono lawyer representing homeless clients and disadvantaged children and families. In the 1990’s, David served as Associate Director of Programs at the Weingart Homeless Service Center where he directed social service programs for homeless individuals on Skid Row. In 2000, David was appointed President and CEO of LA Family Housing where he oversaw the development and provision of emergency, transitional and permanent housing, and social services at 21 facilities to thousands of homeless individuals throughout Los Angeles. In 2006, former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros recruited David to launch American Sunrise Communities. This national initiative catalyzed developers, investment banks and local governments to create large scale affordable housing in urban centers throughout the United States.
David also served as CEO of Affordable Living for the Aging where he oversaw the development of affordable housing for seniors. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the annual Mayoral Housing and Transportation Summit which has been held at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business since 2000. Prior to his public service positions, David worked as a lawyer specializing in litigation and employment law. He teaches community development to graduate students at the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy. David received degrees from Denver University, Duke University and Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.
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).
Patricia C. Whitaker
Vice President of Asset Management
Patricia C. Whitaker is the Vice President of Asset Management for National Community Renaissance. In her role she is responsible for the management of tangible and intangible assets, intellectual property and human capital. As a former CEO, Executive Director and leader in the affordable housing industry, Pat brings a long history and strong foundation in the delivery of excellence and sustainability, ensuring high-quality service-enriched apartment communities that support the needs of individuals, families, and the neighborhood at-large.
Pat has received numerous awards for exceptional leadership and strategic vision with a holistic perspective to sustainable change for a broad slate of stakeholder groups. Her prior positions include Executive Director of the City of Santa Ana Community Development Agency, Affordable Housing Coordinator for the City of Anaheim and CEO/COO/Strategic Visionary Leadership of three Southern California Non-Profit Organizations, Innovative Housing, C & C Development and Abode Communities.
Ms. Whitaker is a graduate of Cal State University Long Beach and attended Western State University School of Law and Chapman University School of Law.
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.
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.
