SDHC Board of Commissioners

Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell was elected to serve as Chair of the Board by SDHC Commissioners on July 8, 2022.

Chair Commissioner Mitchell was appointed to the San Diego Housing Commission Board of Commissioners by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and was confirmed by the City Council on February 4, 2020.

Mr. Mitchell is the Senior Vice President of Diversity and Community Partnerships for Sempra, the parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and additional utility companies.

Mr. Mitchell also serves on the Boards of Directors of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Foundation, San Diego Museum of Art, Voice of San Diego, the Sharp Hospital Board of Trustees, the Lucky Duck Foundation and the San Diego Opera.

He previously served as the Vice President of State Governmental Affairs and External Affairs for SDG&E and Southern California Gas Company.

Before joining SDG&E and Southern California Gas in 2005, he served as Vice President of Public Policy and Communications for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he previously represented American Medical Response as its Director of Governmental Relations, and served as former Mayor Susan Golding’s Assistant Director of Government Relations.

Mr. Mitchell has a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Redlands.

Ryan Clumpner was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Board by SDHC Commissioners on January 11, 2019, and July 8, 2022.

Vice Chair Clumpner was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and was confirmed by the City Council on August 7, 2018.

He has worked in public policy and communications for 15 years. He also has experience in the public sector, including serving as Chief of Staff for elected officials in the California State Assembly and the San Diego City Council.

In 2016, Vice Chair Clumpner launched a boutique consultancy business, focused on providing strategic advice to business associations and ballot measure campaigns.

He also has worked for a national public affairs consulting agency, handling public outreach and communications for candidates and ballot measures across the country at all levels of government, from small municipalities to statewide.

He studied Political Science and History at UC Davis.

Commissioner Benvenuto was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and was confirmed by the City Council on April 11, 2017. She served as Chair of the Board from January 11, 2019, through July 8, 2022.

Ms. Benvenuto is the Vice President of Public Affairs for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as the Chamber’s Director of Public Affairs and Public Policy Manager, which included managing its Infrastructure, Housing & Land Use Committee, where she led efforts on housing affordability and availability.

She is also a member of the Advisory Board of Housing You Matters, a broad-based coalition that convenes, advocates, and educates around solutions for increasing housing supply and lowering the cost of building new homes. SDHC is a member of Housing You Matters.

Before joining the Chamber, she served as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for Crittendon Services for Children & Families, a nonprofit organization that specializes in foster youth. She also worked as a District Director, Communications Director, and Field Representative for a former California State Assemblymember.

Ms. Benvenuto has a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Fullerton.

Johanna Hester was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and was confirmed by the City Council on August 7, 2018.

A resident of Scripps Ranch, she is an accomplished labor leader whose career began in 1991 and includes positions at the local and national level. Throughout her career, she has helped thousands of working people gain a livable wage and rights in the workplace.

Ms. Hester is currently the Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers of America/ American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) Local 3930. In addition, she helped lead negotiations that assisted displaced residents of Penasquitos Village to obtain resources.

She also serves as Vice President of AFCSME International and 2^nd Vice President for the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, a national organization of Asian Pacific Americans organizing to advance worker, immigrant, and civil rights.

Ms. Hester’s experience includes serving as lead organizer at AFSCME International in Washington, D.C., and an organizer for a Service Employees International Union local in Oakland, California.

She received certification from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.

Kellee Hubbard was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by the San Diego City Council on February 10, 2014. 

She currently works as an account representative with ARS National Services, where she manages and negotiates a portfolio of Bank of America accounts. 

Ms. Hubbard has also worked as a lead research assistant for San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of California, San Diego Research Centers. 

She has also volunteered her time building homes with the nonprofit organization Students for New Orleans. 

Ms. Hubbard holds a bachelor’s degree in public health from SDSU. 

A resident of the Redwood Village neighborhood, Ms. Hubbard is a member of the SDHC Participant Advisory Committee, which consists of Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher  rental assistance participants and public housing residents. 

Ms. Hubbard holds one of the two seats on the Board of Commissioners that the City of San Diego Municipal Code requires to be held by residents living in SDHC affordable housing units or recipients of federal rental assistance from SDHC. 

Melinda Vásquez was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by Mayor Todd Gloria and confirmed by the San Diego City Council on December 14, 2021.

A Rancho Peñasquitos resident, she has been an attorney since 2015, practicing in real estate, labor and family law.

As a volunteer, she chairs the San Diego Housing Coalition, which advocates for “smart neighborhoods that promote homeownership and rental opportunities along with a good quality of life for households of a variety of income levels.” The coalition consists of community voices, organizations, educators, experts, nonprofits, advocates and people directly affected by San Diego’s housing crisis.

Her volunteer experience also includes serving on the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls for San Diego County and as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for children in the foster care system with nonprofit organization Voices for Children.

Ms. Vásquez has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Humboldt State University. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.