With more than three decades of experience in real estate and construction financing, Chairman of the Board Sal Salas is well equipped to provide leadership in the arena of affordable housing. He was appointed by Mayor Dick Murphy to serve on the Housing Commission Board in 2001 and to the position of board chair in 2002.

Salas is currently a mortgage broker with Olympic Village Financial. He is often called upon to serve as an expert witness in construction finance.

A past president and member of the San Diego Food Bank, Salas also twice served as co-chair of the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life.” In addition, he is a member of Toastmasters.

Salas has held a number of management positions at local financial institutions, including World Savings & Loan, Home Federal Savings & Loan, and a construction consulting firm. In these capacities, his achievements included setting records for originating high numbers of single-family and subdivision land and construction loans, creating and implementing marketing programs for difficult properties, and conducting comprehensive financial and market analyses.

Salas studied real estate finance at San Diego State University and attended Leadership School at the University of Southern California and the School of Executive Development at the University of Washington.