Meet Our Executive Team

• Emilio Salas, Executive Director

  Emilio Salas, Executive Director
  
  

  Mr. Salas was appointed Executive Director of the LACDA on January 5, 2021, after having served as Acting Executive Director since December 2019. As Executive Director, Mr. Salas oversees approximately 600 full-time employees and an annual budget in excess of $786 million. Mr. Salas has worked for the agency since 1988. 
  
  During his tenure as Acting Executive Director, Mr. Salas maintained oversight responsibility for the County’s affordable housing, and community and economic development programs. The LACDA’s wide-ranging programs benefit residents and business owners in the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas and various incorporated cities.  These far-reaching activities include financing the development of special needs affordable housing, providing homeownership opportunities to first-time homebuyers, administering business façade improvement programs to improve entire commercial centers, and even provide low-interest customizable loans to local area businesses. 

  Mr. Salas also oversees the County’s public housing and rental subsidy programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher, Continuum of Care, Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing, and other affordable and special needs housing programs.  These programs combined create housing opportunities for over nearly 30,000 vulnerable families throughout Los Angeles County.  Mr. Salas took the helm as the Acting Executive Director during one of the most challenging years in this agency’s history with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest surrounding the national outcry over social injustice.  Under his leadership, the LACDA launched 10 different COVID-19 emergency relief programs totaling nearly $200 million for a variety of needs for vulnerable residents and struggling small businesses.  These relief efforts provided emergency rental assistance, emergency grants to micro entrepreneurs and small businesses, and even targeted assistance to essential child care facilities and small mom and pop restaurants.
  
  With over 30 years of public service experience, during his career Mr. Salas has led the LACDA’s operating divisions to obtain noteworthy achievements to include its public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs receiving the designation of High Performer by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for over nine consecutive years.   He has also played an integral role in the County’s efforts to eliminate homelessness by removing barriers and creating greater accessibility to federal housing resources and eliminating jurisdictional boundaries for County residents.

  Mr. Salas has served as a Board Member for the California Association of Housing Authorities and currently serves as a member of the National Housing Committee for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.  He has successfully advocated for changes within federal housing programs that work to improve program access and serve the most vulnerable residents.  He has also proudly served his country as a Military Intelligence Specialist in the United States Army, where he received specialized training in human intelligence collection and also served overseas.
  
  A proud alumni of California State University, Dominguez Hills, Mr. Salas graduated with honors and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Personnel Administration. 

• Kathy Thomas, Acting Deputy Executive Director

  Kathy Thomas, Acting Deputy Executive Director 
  
  

  Kathy Thomas currently serves as Acting Deputy Executive Director  for the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) since July 1, 2018. Ms. Thomas possesses extensive experience in the agency's core functions,  and couples that with her knowledge of varying operational models having worked in multiple counties.  These skills enhance ability to provide high level organizational assessment and analysis. 
  
  Prior to being appointed Administrative Deputy Director, Ms. Thomas served as Director of the agency's Economic and Housing Development Unit, responsible for overseeing a myriad of programs that included:

  • Affordable and supportive housing development;
  • Home ownership loans and mortgage credit certificates for first-time homebuyers;
  • Home improvement loans;
  • Minor home repair grants;
  • Residential Sound Insulation grants for households that live within designated flight paths of the Los Angeles International Airport;
  • Large-scale development projects on behalf of the County;
  • Commercial and industrial loans;
  • Business Technology Center for startup, high technology companies;
  • Façade improvement grants;
  • Asset management;
  • Compliance monitoring; and,
  • Loan collections and servicing.
    
    

  Ms. Thomas joined the LACDA in 2015 and has over 23 years of experience working in the public sector for cities, counties and a transportation authority in various capacities.  Prior to the LACDA, Ms. Thomas was the Director of Redevelopment and Housing for the County of San Bernardino.  She also served as the Strategic Planning Manager for the Economic Development Agency in the County of Riverside.
  
  Ms. Thomas thrives on improving and expanding services countywide and aims at delivering quality customer service while producing the Division’s annual goals and expectations.
  
  Ms. Thomas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Mathematics from the University of Redlands and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona.
  
  

• Elisa Vasquez, Director

  Elisa Vásquez, Director
  Communications and Public Affairs  

  Elisa Vásquez has had oversight of the agency’s Communications and Public Affairs Unit since 2007.  Ms. Vásquez has over 25 years of public service experience, having served in various capacities within the organization as well as with other government and non-profit service providers, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Los Angeles Universal Preschool.

  Ms. Vásquez’ responsibilities include oversight of marketing, media coordination, public information and legislative analysis. As the agency’s Public Information Officer, Ms. Vásquez and her team have oversight of the agency's website content, social media pages, and marketing material. She also coordinates responses to all requests received pursuant to the California Public Records Act as well as all media communications, which includes responding to inquiries, writing media advisories and news releases, and scheduling print or on-camera interviews.  Serving as the primary point of contact with all elected officials, at the federal, state, and local levels, Ms. Vásquez and her team work with County legislative staff and legislative advocates in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to develop recommendations and draft legislative correspondence including position papers, promote key legislative and strategic messages, and assist with policy development. 

  Additionally, Ms. Vásquez serves on the Quality and Productivity Commission’s Productivity Manager’s Network Executive Committee. The Productivity Managers' Network is comprised of employee representatives from each County department who have been designated as Quality and Productivity Managers by their department heads. Ms. Vásquez served as the Network’s Productivity and Quality Awards Co-Chair for many years and was the recipient of the 2016 Productivity Manager of Year Award. 
  
  Ms. Vásquez holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Public Administration from California State University Los Angeles, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola Marymount University.
  
  

• Linda Jenkins, Acting Director

  Linda Jenkins, Acting Director
  Community and Economic Development

  Linda has been with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) since 1989 and has over 30 years of experience administering federal programs to include the Los Angeles Urban County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs. She has also been involved with past recovery programs including Homeless Prevention, Rapid Rehousing, Neighborhood Stabilization, and CDBG-Recovery.  Most recently Linda has been involved with several federal relief programs aimed at mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 to include actively leading and deploying rent relief programs to families in need throughout the County.
  
  During her tenure, Linda has built strong collaborative relationships with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Board of Supervisors offices, County Departments, Participating Cities, Community- Based Organizations, and colleagues within LACDA.  In January 2020, Linda was promoted to Assistant Director of the Community and Economic Development Division.  Linda has demonstrated a solid understanding of federal programs and has proven leadership experience.
  
  Linda received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of California, Riverside, and MPA from the California State University, Long Beach.  Linda currently serves as a Board Member of the National Association for County Community and Economic Development, which is an affiliate of the National Association of Counties.

• Matthew Fortini, Director

  Matthew Fortini, Director
  Finance and Budget
  
  

  Matthew Fortini currently serves as the Director of Finance and Budget.  Mr. Fortini previously served as Director of Administrative Services for the agency.

  Mr. Fortini has over 28 years of public service experience having served in a variety of capacities with numerous agencies.  Prior to joining the LACDA, Mr. Fortini was Assistant Division Manager for the City of Orlando, Parks Division.  He also served as the Administrative Services Director for the City of Casselberry, Florida.
  
  An experienced Manager, Mr. Fortini brings to the LACDA experience in Public Administration including managing Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management, Marketing, Purchasing, Facilities Management, and Parks and Recreation.  His broad background and keen understanding of the operational needs of the organization provide the tools necessary to assess needs expeditiously and implement rapid solutions. Throughout his career, Mr. Fortini has been recognized as an excellent operations manager capable of finding efficiencies and developing staff to their fullest potential.
  
  Mr. Fortini believes that public agencies should offer the highest level of customer service, and provide expertly managed services to all of its customers to maximize the efficiencies of the agency.  He is also a strong proponent of operating his units in an efficient and effective manner commonly found within the private sector.
  
  Mr. Fortini holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Penn State University.
  
  

• Lynn Katano, Director

  Lynn Katano, Director
  Housing Investment and Finance
  
  Ms. Katano brings more than 40 years of public sector experience at city, county, and state levels, including with Caltrans, the cities of Baldwin Park, Costa Mesa, Glendale, and of course her time at the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). She initially started at the agency in 1990, with the Engineering Services Unit, before discovering her passion in and for affordable housing. Ms. Katano has worked on a number of key initiatives for the agency, including the development and enhancement of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), providing guidance on the development of special needs and affordable housing policies and funding, facilitating the development of County-owned sites, and the development and implementation of the No Place Like Home (NPLH) program. Drawing on her broad spectrum of public sector experience in both public works and affordable housing, Lynn engages actively on behalf of the County in both policy and technical issues.

  Ms. Katano provides a wealth of knowledge to the agency, having established strong public­-private partnerships with housing developers and public agencies in the region. In September 2017, Lynn was recognized by the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing as Staff Member of the Year for her contributions to develop affordable housing in the County.
  
  She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.
  
  

• Tracie Mann, Director

  Tracie Mann, Director
  Housing Assistance

  Tracie began her career with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) in 2010, as the first Manager to oversee operations at the Antelope Valley Office. She previously served as a Manager in the agency's Housing Assistance Division and had oversight responsibility of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Special Needs programs, which include the Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing, Continuum of Care, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, Project-Based Vouchers, Family Self-Sufficiency, Family Unification, Moderate Rehabilitation, and Mainstream. In that capacity, Tracie also oversaw the Housing Advisor Unit, Homeless Incentive Program and Measure H activities involving 8 other local public housing authorities. 
  
  Tracie brings more than 28 years of public service experience. During her career, she has held positions of increasing responsibility; before coming to the agency, Tracie served as Case Manager, Family Self-Sufficiency Analyst, HCV Unit Supervisor and Public Housing Manager at the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino. Tracie has extensive program knowledge, as well as considerable experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with external organizations and community leaders. Tracie received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from California State University, San Bernardino. 
  
  

• Rebecca Yee, Acting Director

  Rebecca Yee, Acting Director
  Administrative Services Division

  Rebecca Yee currently serves as the Acting Director for the Administrative Services Division, overseeing the internal services units for the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). Ms. Yee brings over 36 years of public service experience, working her way up within the LACDA. During her extensive career, she has worked in the Housing Assistance Division and Administrative Services Division.

   

   

   

• Twima Earley, Director

  Twima Earley, Director
  Housing Operations

  Twima comes to the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) having served as the Director of Public Housing Operations for the San Francisco Housing Authority for seven (7) years. As the Director, Twima was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Public Housing program, which included the building maintenance of 6,054 units, rent collection, occupancy, resident safety, and security. 

  During her tenure, Twima developed and launched several in-house training efforts, including the Concierge and Sunnydale Trash & Recycling Programs, to create employment opportunities for residents and provide services at a lower cost than contracted services would cost. Under Twima's leadership, and with over 14 years of affordable housing experience, the department improved in all areas of operations through the establishment of strong internal policies and procedures, and the development of collaborative partnerships with all stakeholders including city and county agencies, and development partners. Twima also played a key role in the $1.3 billion Rental Assistance Demonstration conversion in San Francisco, successfully converting 3,491 public housing units to Project- Based Voucher units. 

  Twima received a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is also a member of the Fannie Mae Public Housing Authorities Duty to Serve Advisory Council.