Our Brand. Our Vision. Our Mission.
Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is an economic and community development organization that promotes healthy communities and opportunities for youth, families and seniors. Since 1984, CHOC has provided housing to thousands of families, delivering resident, energy, and property management services.
The CHOC organization works to create equitable communities where individuals and families may become self-sufficient. We believe that affordable housing and supportive programs improve the economic status of residents, transform neighborhoods, and stabilize lives.
Our mission is to increase the available supply of affordable housing and to improve the quality of life of very low-, low- and moderate income households by: 1) developing high quality, affordable, and environmentally sensitive housing; 2) advocating and promoting affordable housing programs; 3) using all corporate resources efficiently and prudently; 4) facilitating effective communication among board, staff and customers.
Leadership Team
Manuela Silva | Chief Executive Officer
Manuela Silva has served as CEO of Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) since October 2006, guiding the organization’s overall direction and its various divisions. She brings over 30 years of experience in nonprofit governance, real estate development, economic development, and organizational management. Her work spans both the nonprofit and private sectors, often solving complex challenges that cross professional and governmental boundaries. Previously, Ms. Silva was Senior Executive Officer at the Fruitvale Development Corporation in Oakland, where she led mixed-use, mixed-income urban infill projects, including the nationally recognized Fruitvale BART Transit Village. She is a graduate of the University of San Francisco’s McLaren School of Business and Professional Studies.
Peter M. Lundberg | Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Peter M. Lundberg oversees the financial operations of CHOC and its divisions. Mr. Lundberg is a key contributor to CHOC’s real estate development strategies and long-range planning, maintaining relationships with financial institutions and financing agencies. Mr. Lundberg has over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate investment acquisitions, management, and development. Mr. Lundberg holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MBA from Columbia University.
JOY SILVER | Chief Strategy Officer
As CHOC’s Chief Strategy Officer, Joy Silver leads initiative development and strategic planning across the organization. Based in Southern California, she also works to expand affordable housing and serves as a Housing Stability Collaborative Action Member for Lift To Rise. Since 1997, Joy has developed senior and multifamily housing, including financing, and brings a background in medical, mental health, and aging services. She is an active member of the Desert Valley Builders Association, Desert Business Association, Women’s Club of Indio, Coachella Valley Culturas Music and Arts, and the American Society on Aging.
Vincent Nicholas | VP, Real Estate Development
Vincent Nicholas leads Real Estate Development at CHOC, overseeing acquisitions, development, and construction projects in both new and existing markets. With over 25 years of experience in real estate development and construction management—including work in affordable housing since 2008—he ensures successful project delivery across CHOC’s expanding service area. Before joining CHOC, he consulted for organizations such as Mercy Housing, Marin Housing, Ian Schrager Hotels, and Starwood Hotels. Vincent holds an MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University, a BPS in Architecture from SUNY Buffalo, and an AAS in Construction Technology from SUNY Alfred. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker and General Building Contractor in California.
TERRI SMYTH CANILLO, MSW | VP, COMMUNITY IMPACT
Terri Smyth joined Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) in 1999 and currently oversees a range of programs, including Youth and Family Initiatives, Resident Services, and university partnerships. She leads CHOC’s on-site programs across four counties and represents the organization in multiple community networks and committees. With over 20 years of experience in mental health, program development, and community social work, Ms. Smyth has held roles in outpatient services, Social Security Disability, and quality improvement. She earned both her MSW and BA in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento, and is a graduate of the Sierra Health Foundation/USC Health Leadership Program. Ms. Smyth lives in Sacramento with her husband and children.
Board of Directors
Ortensia Lopez, Chair
Ortensia Lopez is a nationally recognized leader and innovator with over 40 years of experience building partnerships and coalitions that inspire, empower, and elevate low-income communities as solution-based partners. She has served in executive nonprofit leadership for more than four decades, consistently acting as a catalyst for change in disenfranchised communities. Ms. Lopez brings extensive expertise in energy efficiency, including the past six years focused on statewide electrification programs for low-income Californians. As the second of 11 children born to Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to graduate college, her educational journey—earning a B.A. in Psychology and Chicano Studies and a Master’s in Urban/Social Planning from USC—shaped her lifelong commitment to equity and systemic change. Throughout her career, she has designed and led groundbreaking programs addressing economic, environmental, housing, education, employment, and health inequities in San Mateo County. Widely respected as an advocate and policy influencer, Ms. Lopez continues to serve in leadership roles across several organizations
Charles Rabamad, Vice-chair
Charles Rabamad is a disaster recovery expert with over 30 years of experience in emergency management, specializing in disaster response, recovery, and mitigation across California. During his 25-year tenure at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Mr. Rabamad played a critical role in every state and federally declared disaster since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Appointed four times by Governor Jerry Brown to lead high-level recovery efforts, he was instrumental in more than 283 disaster declarations between 2003 and 2019. As the designated State Public Assistance Officer for 162 events—including 10 presidentially declared major disasters—he led complex recovery operations involving fire management, housing solutions, debris removal, infrastructure, and environmental and historic preservation. His deep expertise also includes project monitoring, management, and navigating both federal and state procurement processes. Mr. Rabamad has testified before the California Legislature and other governmental bodies on behalf of Cal OES and the Department of Water Resources.
Rahn Carmichael, Secretary/Treasurer
Rahn Carmichael brings over 40 years of dedicated public service. He began his career as a Community Service Officer in Vallejo, CA, where he discovered that the most effective way to support civil rights was through direct service to communities in need—an insight that led him to become a police officer with the City of Richmond. During his law enforcement career, Mr. Carmichael championed a transformative approach to police training, helping bridge the gap between public safety and community trust. As a Richmond Police Watch Commander, he oversaw emergency response operations during critical incidents, public holidays, and major community events.
Imani Woody, Ph.D.
Dr. Imani Woody is the Founding Director and CEO of Mary’s House for Older Adults, Inc. (MHFOA), Washington, DC’s first affordable, communal living space for older LGBTQ+/SGL individuals. Through MHFOA, she leads advocacy, education, and housing efforts that address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders, including health disparities, social isolation, retirement security, and access to livable communities. She also cultivates relationships with local and national policymakers and consumer advocates to influence systemic change. As Principal of IWF Consulting, Dr. Woody provides expertise on aging and health equity, with a focus on Black and people of color and LGBTQ+/SGL communities. She is a recognized authority on Diversity and Inclusion program development, training service providers and government agencies on culturally competent aging services. Dr. Woody’s prior leadership roles at AARP and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. further solidify her reputation as a thought leader on elder abuse, discrimination, and the socioeconomic disparities impacting older adults—particularly Black, LGBTQ+, and female populations. A skilled community organizer and advocate, she has successfully designed and implemented targeted programs and educational initiatives to address the needs of underserved populations. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Service Leadership with a specialization in Nonprofit Management from Capella University and a Master of Human Services (MHS) from Lincoln University.
Anyse R. Smith, Esq.
Anyse R. Smith is a dynamic legal professional based in the Coachella Valley and Of Counsel at Anderholt Evans LLP since 2022. She specializes in civil litigation with a focus on real property, contracts, construction, and business disputes, along with expertise in real estate transactions, probate, and estate planning. Previously, Ms. Smith worked with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), providing outreach and case management for individuals and families experiencing houselessness. Her work with CVAG and the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission has made her a subject matter expert on homelessness, hunger, emergency services, recovery programs, and community outreach. Ms. Smith holds a J.D. from California Desert Trial Academy (Valedictorian), a Master’s in International Law, International Relations, and Diplomacy from Paris Sorbonne Université in Abu Dhabi, and a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.
Robert apodaca
Robert Apodaca has dedicated over five decades to advancing equity and opportunity across nonprofit, civic, and private sectors. He has served on numerous city, county, state, and national advisory boards and commissions, and has consistently focused his work on uplifting low-income and ethnically diverse communities. Mr. Apodaca co-founded Casa Joaquin Murrieta—a culturally rooted university housing program—while at UC Berkeley in 1970, and later led several nonprofit organizations, including the Educational Guidance Center and the New Mexico Community Foundation. He also helped lead employment training programs for ex-offenders, former heroin users, and women on welfare as Deputy Director of Peralta Service Corporation. As a 17-year board member and investment committee chair at The Greenlining Institute, Mr. Apodaca helped grow its endowment from $2 million to $20 million by reforming investment strategies. He is currently the co-founder, board member, and Executive Director of The Two Hundred for Homeownership, an organization dedicated to combating poverty through expanded homeownership and regulatory reform. He also serves on the boards of California Community Builders and the Casita Coalition. Originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico—where his family has roots dating back to 1701—Mr. Apodaca currently resides in Oakland and Burbank, California.
Hector A. Fernandez
Hector A. Fernandez is an experienced policy and program development professional with a focus on housing, community development, and organizational capacity building. With over a decade in the nonprofit sector, he has developed programs supporting farmworker housing and health, and has actively researched and advocated for rural, affordable housing solutions. Mr. Fernandez brings hands-on expertise in strategic planning, community assessment, funding strategies, and grassroots rural leadership development. He has served on statewide boards including Housing California, the California Coalition for Rural Housing, and the California Reinvestment Coalition. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and CSU Fresno, he currently works as a legislative advocate at Fernandez Cervantes Government Affairs.