Staff

Jodi Braden is the Director of Compliance for Housing on Merit. With over fifteen years of housing experience, Jodi has overseen both market rate and affordable properties across the Northeast.   Having held Executive positions in National Companies, Jodi is well versed in new construction, lease-up, historical rehabs, and property management operations for both market rate and affordable housing.   Jodi’s has extensive experience with multiple programs that include LIHTC, HUD, CDBG, and Bond Financing.  Jodi holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Pittsburgh and is H.C.C.P certified in tax credit compliance.

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David Cottingham is the Vice President of Real Estate Development for Housing on Merit. With over fifteen years of experience, David has served as a real estate portfolio, finance, and risk management executive representing private, local, and federal government entities, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the U.S. Department of State.  He has expertise in the development and management of commercial real estate portfolios from strategic development through completion with over $25B in completed projects.

David is a recognized Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) and active participant in both the Building Industry Association and the Commercial Real Estate Developers Association.  He is an associate of the Project Management Institute, the Urban Land Institute, and the Appraisal Institute.  As a certified general appraiser, David has valuated over 100,000 properties, including numerous special use properties, such as power plants, sewer and water treatment plants, natural gas pipelines, and communications towers, as well as traditional commercial and residential properties.

He received his Bachelor of Science from Indiana State University in Human Resource Development and a Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate Finance from Georgetown University. In 2019, David completed the Certification of Negotiations Mastery program at the Harvard University Business School.

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Julia George provides support for Housing on Merit’s Executive Director ensuring administrative functions run smoothly and efficiently. Along with the work at Housing on Merit, she also serves on the board of directors for the Mustard Seed Project. Julia is passionate about addressing the homeless epidemic that the United States of America is currently experiencing. Through this passion, she trains college students to work one-on-one with individuals experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness to navigate local services, write resumes, complete applications, and be a source of companionship. Additionally, Julia connects various groups of college students to local organizations to help with their services and have conversations with individuals. Julia graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in English. When not working, Julia enjoys reading, wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, skating, and going to the beach with her friends.

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Charly Ligety is responsible for helping launch and lead The Housing Innovation Collaborative (or “HICo”), the non-profit housing-focused R+D platform showcasing and piloting new design, finance, and policy solutions to address the housing affordability crisis. Prior to joining HOM, Charly worked in the commercial real estate finance industry for over 10 years, and was recently focused on enhancing state and local housing policy and structuring collaborative transactions to address Los Angeles’ affordable housing crisis. Charly is passionate about applying a creative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial mindset towards overcoming the vast range of challenges within the housing industry.

Charly has experience working on both the equity and debt sides of commercial real estate, working for a boutique real estate private equity firm as an analyst prior to joining Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate Group as a Relationship Manager in Los Angeles. In that role, Charly developed new business relationships with large investment firms and developers and managed a $400 million loan portfolio, which included underwriting and managing value-add and construction loans on a range of property types throughout the U.S.

Charly graduated with honors from the full-time MBA program at University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in 2018. While in graduate school, Charly became a published author of Very Engaging, an interactive conversation guidebook for couples, which he co-authored with a former colleague. Charly earned his Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College, majoring in Geography and Economics. At Dartmouth, Charly was a varsity member of the nationally-ranked Division 1 Dartmouth Ski Team. As a native of Park City, Utah, Charly is still a passionate skier and mountain biker. Charly enjoys exploring his adopted city of Los Angeles, along with biking, hiking, and long walks on the beach with his wife.

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Daniel Rubin provides support for Housing on Merit’s Resident Services program, ensuring residents all around the country are able to thrive.  Prior to joining Housing on Merit, he worked as a case manager for the San Diego LGBT Community Center.  He played a direct role in helping dozens of young people and families access permanent and stable housing. Daniel graduated summa cum laude from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology.  He received a Master of Arts in Sociology from Northwestern University.  His Master’s thesis analyzed how increasing legal rights impacts the fight for broader societal acceptance of minority communities.   When not working, Daniel can be found taking his pug, Biscuit, for a walk, baking a cake, or rooting for Bay Area sports teams.

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Beverly Jackson has a long history working in social services coordinating and directing programs in underserved communities focusing on senior mental health, advocacy, services as well as HIV treatment and prevention.  She developed the Electric University for San Francisco Network for Elders, providing power safety for homebound seniors and spearheading the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative for seniors and people with disabilities on the San Pablo Ave corridor of Oakland, California while at the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation.

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Carmen Asturias is a Resident Service Coordinator at Springville Seniors. Her personal goal as such is to provide a pleasant, safe and healthy environment for the Springville family. Her mission is to connect individuals with enriching activities that promote physical wellness, enjoyable mental ventures, and entertaining social events for the enrichment in life.

Her Degree in Radio/TV Communications, combined with her passion and expertise for fitness has giving her the opportunity to play an influential role through the radio waves across the glove to one on one as fitness personal trainer. Carmen has been involved in the community creating entertainment activities, fashion shows, arts, drama, dance and exercise activities while raising her children which is her greatest pride. Her ability to communicate with the heart has earned her awards in improvisation speech. Her Motto: “Love is a Verb” and she uses that name when participating in the Great Cycle Challenge which unites her joy of bike riding with her desire to help others in need. She loves nature and spending time alone as much as being involved in social events.

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Ivana Darden (she/her) was born in Austin, Texas, but has spend most of her life in Washington DC. She has a history in child development, working with children of all ages from infants to the age of 18. She also has experience working with youth with disabilities. She previously worked for an assisted living home, providing assistance to residents with disabilities such as Alzheimer’s. Ivana truly enjoys giving back to her community, and regularly volunteers at homeless shelters and food drives during the holidays. When she isn’t working you can catch Ivana at home having karaoke sessions with her family, creating products for her skincare line, or learning new recipes to try. She loves to have fun and is always thinking of ideas and ways to stay busy. In her role with Housing on Merit she hopes to make great partnerships with other nonprofits and help the communities grow by getting the residents more involved and active in their neighborhood.

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Prior to joining Housing on Merit, Veronica worked in the apparel industry for more than 10 years.  Seeking a more hands-on-approach and community-based career, she found herself going back to school and discovering a passion for sociology and the non-profit sector.  Veronica is currently pursuing a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Mt. San Antonio College.  In addition to her work at HOM, Veronica works with a non-profit organization that helps independent and minimally-assisted adults with special needs find employment and volunteer opportunities   When not working, you can find Veronica and her husband, Rick, indulging their 5 year old daughter in the magic of Disneyland, the majesty of Dodger Stadium, and the beauty that the City of Los Angeles has to offer.

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Amber Hackett was born and raised in Washington DC.  She obtained her degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She began working with Housing on Merit because of her love for her community and the great need to serve underprivileged families in her area.  Amber has volunteered at a number of different social services, gaining experience in hope to one day open a residential program of her own.  In addition to HOM, Amber works in transitional housing for young adults and aids with teaching children with special needs.  In her free time Amber likes to cook and snuggle with her dog “Patches”.

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Alexandra Lloyd is committed to working toward greater modes of liberation and justice against structures of disempowerment, displacement, and racial and gender barriers.  To inform these passions, they received their BA in History and Politics from Willamette University, and is on track to pursue a Master’s in the Art of Teaching.  Their drive for social change led them to join the Kabataan Alliance, a grassroots coalition aimed to bring awareness to Filipino identity as well as issues that affect minority communities.  In addition to political activism, Alexandra is dedicated to quality and accessible education for all students, working for after school programs and substitute teaching for all age groups, with an emphasis on high school education.  They hope to synthesize their passions for teaching and social justice advocacy with Housing on Merit.  In their spare time, you will probably find Alexandra nestled with a cup of coffee, reading or writing with their cat “Grandpa.”

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Yeping Tran is a third-year student at Sacramento State University, majoring in Health and Human Service.  Her passion is working with seniors, and as a Resident Services Coordinator is gaining more experience and skills to better serve seniors.  She also volunteers at the University of California, Davis Hospice Program every week, visiting hospice patients in their home and spending time doing small chores, reading, and providing companionship. During the pandemic, she supports hospice patients by sending cards and making phone calls.  In her spare time, Yeping likes to go hiking and connecting with nature.

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