About Us

Gabriela Chavez
President

Gabriela Chavez is the President for the Affordable Housing Management Association Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW) with over 25 years’ experience in Affordable Housing industry. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff at Solari Enterprises, Inc. Gabriela has been an active member with AHMA-PSW board for over 10 years in various committees and Board positions. Gabriela is certified in Fair Housing Compliance (FHC), Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS), Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM), Blended Compliance Designation (BCD), and the National Affordable Housing Professional Certification-Executive (NAHP-e).

Nicole Harper

Secretary/Treasurer

Nicole Harper is the current Secretary/Treasurer for the Affordable Housing Management Association Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW). She joined the AHMA-PSW Board 4 years ago as the Director of Arizona where she assisted with the Arizona Conference & Expo, as well as introduce the Association to new members in Arizona.

Kurt Aldinger
Past President

Kurt Aldinger currently serves as Past President of the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW). As the Compliance and Reporting Manager at Flagstaff Housing Authority, Kurt is responsible for regulatory compliance, quality control and oversight of all reporting to HUD for our Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher and Multi Family programs. Kurt has been involved with AHMA-PSW Board for over 18 years and has earned certifications for Certified Professional of Occupancy (CPO), Fair Housing Compliance (FHC), Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS), Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM), Registered Apartment Management (RAM) and TAX Credit Specialist. Kurt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Public Policy from Northern Arizona University.

Sarah Furchtenicht
Vice President Legislative & Regulatory Affair

Sarah Furchtenicht is Vice President Legislative & Regulatory Affairs for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW) and an active member with National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA).

Michelle Cuevas
Vice President Training Education

Michelle Cuevas is Vice President Training Education for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW), where she develops appropriate topics for educational programs and membership meetings. As Director of Corporate Operations for TELACU Residential Management, Inc., she is involved with the management, operations and physical compliance of the portfolio. Michelle has been involved with AHMA-PSW for over 10 years and has been on the Board of Directors for over 4 years. She has earned certifications for Certified Financial Specialist (CFS), Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) and has the Credential for Green Property Management (CGPM). Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Angela Cisneros
Director of Training Education

Angela currently holds the position of Director Training Education for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW).

She is the Divisional Vice President at Winn Residential responsible for the overall operations of 140+ properties in CA spanning from Bakersfield CA, up to Anderson CA. Angela’s experience includes: stabilizing operational performance in stressed portfolios; compliance; working with local government agencies and investors to promote sustainable and financially viable communities; drafting management agreements and plans for refinanced communities and new construction.

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), Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) Fair Housing Compliance (FHC) RAD PBV Specialists, Tax Credit Specialist (TCS), Housing Compliance Manager-Rural Development (HCM-R) and Novogradic Property Compliance Certification (NPCC).

D. Jo McNamara
Director of Nevada

Jo McNamara is the Executive Vice President of B & R Property Management. Jo is responsible for the operation of the management office and is the administrator of all Section 8 and IRS Section 42 Housing Tax units. Jo reviews internal procedures and paperwork for Section 8 and Housing Tax Credit Programs. She also focuses on all compliance issues in regard to AFHMP, Fair Housing, TRACS submissions, notification and implementation of changes received from HUD & IRS, and verification and certification requirements for Section 8 and Housing Tax Credit Programs. Prior to B & R Property Management, she was with Weyerhaeuser Mortgage Company as Manager of Servicing for the Project Loan Department.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for AHMA-PSW as the Director of Nevada, Jo is a Certified Property manager (CPM) and is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Las Vegas Chapter Number 99. Her credentials also include: NAHMA: National Assisted Housing Professional-Executive (NAHP-E), Certified Fair Housing Coordinator (FHC), Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SCHM); NAA: Certified Apartment Property Supervisor (CAPS); NAHB: Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP); NCHM: Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS).

Armine Petrosyan
Director of California

Armine Petrosyan is Director of California for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW). She is also the Assistant Director/Secretary for Los Angeles LOMOD Corporation. Ms. Petrosyan has over 17 years of experience in affordable housing programs including Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher and Multifamily Assisted Housing. She assists the LOMOD Director in the administration and coordination of LOMOD daily activities.

Ms. Petrosyan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the California State University, Northridge and her Master of Business Administration from Woodbridge University. She is a Certified Occupancy Specialist, a Certified Assisted Housing Manager for HUD Multifamily Housing Programs and a Tax Credit Specialist.

Pat Koscher
Director of Annual Conferences

Patricia Koscher is on the Board as Director of Annual Conferences for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW).

Patricia is a Senior Account Manager for BluSky Restoration Contractors (formerly HARBRO Emergency and Restoration) in the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County Region. She began her career in the Restoration industry in 1991 and has established herself in various industries such as Senior Living, Affordable Housing, Risk Management, Insurance Broker and Commercial Property Management. She has been actively involved with BOMA GLA over 10 years. Her clients are in good hands when facing an emergency and will look to her as a key resource when it comes to Disaster Preparedness, water, fire, and environmental property damages at their buildings.

Irene Taylor
Director of Associates

Irene is the Director of Compliance for RPK Development Corporation. Irene is responsible for the compliance of affordable programs, to include Project Based Section 8, Section 8 Voucher Program, Senior Bond Programs, and Tax Credit Programs. Irene’s oversight includes ensuring that each community provides a safe and wholesome environment that is well managed and in compliance with all State and Federal regulatory agencies as well as the government funding. Irene is also a part of RPK Development Cooperation’s extensive employee training program and A Property Supervisor.

Irene is also on the AHMA-PSW Training Committee and AHMA-PSW Tax Credit Committee. Prior to being a Board member, she has been an active member of Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW) for more than 20 years. She was just recently featured in the NAHP and previously was awarded the Spirit of AHMA Award and named Resident Manager of the Year.

Irene holds professional designations for the following: National Affordable Housing Professional (NAHP-e), Certified Professional of Occupancy (CPO), Fair Housing Coordinator (FHC), and Housing Credit Compliance Professional (HCCP). Irene earned an Associates of Arts Degree (AA) from Charles Drew University.

Elena Theisner
Director of Communications

Elena Theisner currently holds the position of Director of Communications, for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW). As the Vice President of Property Management at Thomas Safran and Associates, Elena is responsible for operations management, maintenance, compliance and resident services for the 60+ properties in the Thomas Safran & Associates portfolio. Prior to joining the company, Elena worked in corporate social responsibility. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Pepperdine University, with a major in Political Science and minor in Non-Profit Management.

Brett Morales
Member at Large

Brett Morales, currently serves as the Director at Large for the Affordable Housing Management Association of the Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW).

As Vice President, Housing at Century Housing Corporation, Brett oversees Century’s Property Management operations in support of their mission to finance, build, and operate exceptional affordable housing so that the people they serve may have a dignified home, a healthy and hopeful future and attain economic independence.

Mr. Morales has 30-years of diverse experience in the Property Management Industry and specializes in Homeless and Permanent Supportive housing.

He also holds the following professional designations: NCP-E®, NAHCP-E®, SHCM®, FHC®.

Nancy Bills

Director of Arizona
Director Emeritus

Biltmore Properties, Inc.

Carole Glodney
Director Emeritus

Gianna Richards
Director Emeritus

Gianna Richards, President of Solari Enterprises, Inc. (Solari), joined in 1993 as an Occupancy Specialist and Resident Manager. Since then she has worked in all aspects of the property management industry, including becoming Solari’s second president in 2015. Mrs. Richards works directly with the management of Solari’s portfolio, consisting of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, a variety of Section 8 programs, Special Needs, Transitional Age Youth (TAY), Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), Housing and Community Development (HCD), Veteran and Permanent Supportive Services Housing programs.

Having served on the Affordable Housing Management Association Pacific Southwest (AHMA-PSW) Board of Directors since 1997, Gianna became a Director of Emeritus in 2005. In May 2006 she was awarded AHMA-PSW’s highest honor, the Clive Graham Memorial Award for her contributions to the affordable housing industry.

She is a Past President of the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA). NAHMA is the leading voice for affordable housing management, advocating on behalf of multifamily owners and agents whose mission is to provide quality affordable housing across the country. Additionally, she has served twice as a Board Member of NAHMA’s Educational Foundation.

Professional designations include Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM), Certified Professional of Occupancy (CPO), Fair Housing Coordinator (FHC), and National Affordable Housing Professional – Executive Level (NAHP-E).

Bruce Solari
Director Emeritus

Bruce is a nationally recognized authority in the field of affordable multifamily housing. After graduating from with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Bruce focused on a real estate career, acquiring California Real Estate Broker and General Contractor licenses. Mr. Solari has more than 40 years’ experience in real estate property management, specializing in affordable housing, commercial, and conventional housing.

In 1993 Mr. Solari co-founded Solari Enterprises, Inc. As Executive Vice President / Chief Financial Officer of Solari Enterprises, Inc., Bruce is responsible for the Financial Operations and continues to work in various areas of development and construction.

During his tenure as president of the Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA), he was responsible for the organization of a scholarship program for individuals residing in affordable housing. To date, more than $750,000 has been awarded, resulting in more than 500 scholarships. AHMA elected Bruce as a lifetime member of its’ Board of Directors, via his status as Director Emeritus. Additionally, Bruce has been awarded the Association’s highest honor, the Clive Graham Memorial Award, for his contributions to the affordable housing industry.

Johrita Solari
Director Emeritus

Solari Enterprises, Inc.

Karen Steinbaum
Director Emeritus

Christopher White
Director Emeritus