Lynette Jung Lee, Executive Director

Lynette Jung Lee has been at EBALDC for 31 years since 1976. For 25 years since 1982 she has been the Executive Director, and for 5 years was Assistant Director, Program Developer and Volunteer Coordinator. Under her leadership, EBALDC has built over 1,000 units of affordable housing plus 230,000 square feet of commercial property – and expanded its community development activities to include neighborhood planning and economic development. Lynette is responsible for ensuring proper asset management of the 14 buildings that EBALDC and its subsidiaries own, and the successful development of new housing, new programs and commercial properties with $30 million in multi-year development budgets. In addition, Lynette has oversight in programs designed to build economic self-sufficiency for individuals and small business through the Family Economic Success programs and small business technical assistance services.

Catherine Merschel, Deputy Executive Director

Catherine Merschel has been in the field of affordable housing, property management and resident services for 30 years. Catherine served as the Executive Director of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation for 7 years and was then the Executive Director of Eden Housing, Inc. for 14 years. Catherine has made a second career of being a Deputy Director/COO. After being at Eden Catherine returned to TNDC for 5 years, and then was the COO at Rockwood Leadership Program for two years. Catherine has a BA in English from Rosemont College, Rosemont, Pennsylvania.

La Netha Oliver, Director of Human Resources

La’Netha Oliver is a native of the Bay Area and has a commitment to serving low-income people in the bay area. Prior to working at EBALDC La’Netha was HR Manager at Episcopal Community Services, a non-profit providing services to homeless individuals. La’Netha has over 10 years of customer service and management experience. La’Netha is a member of NCHRA and SHRM, HR professional networks. La’Netha is dedicated to serving the employees of EBALDC through her knowledge as an HR practitioner. La’Netha has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Don Piyathaisere, Director of Finance

Don Piyathaisere is the director of Finance of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation. Before coming to EBALDC, Don worked in variety of financial positions with private and public companies including five years in public accounting with Coopers and Lybrand in Los Angeles. Most recently, Don was the Controller/Director of Finance for the Tides Center a nonprofit who provides core management services to new and existing nonprofit organizations. Don received a B.S. in Accountancy and Industrial Economics from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Auditing from the London Chamber of Commerce Institute, United Kingdom. Don is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Accountant.

Ed Isana, Director of Property Management

As Director of Property Management, Ed manages EBALDC’s total portfolio consisting of thirteen (13) EBALDC communities in the Alameda and Contra Costa counties and approximately 150,000 sq. ft. of commercial and non-profit space. Before joining EBALDC, Ed was the Property Manager of The Fillmore Center, a full service community in San Francisco with 1,114 luxury apartment units with over 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial spaces, a Laramar Community owned/managed property based in Chicago and Denver respectively. His career involves working in the conventional, developer, fee based management and affordable housing groups for over twenty (20) years. Ed has Liberal Arts and MS Economics background.

David Dologite, Director of Real Estate Development

Since 2006, Mr. Dologite has directed the site acquisition and development of EBALDC’s affordable rental and homeownership housing as well as commercial and community space. Previously he served as senior project manager with EBALDC. Since joining EBALDC, he has overseen the development, financing and construction of eight affordable housing and homeownership projects, including several mixed-use projects totaling over 450 units of housing. In addition, he has managed the acquisition of the Preservation Park Multi-Tenant Nonprofit Center and Jack London Gateway Shopping Center. Prior to joining EBALDC, he worked in project management with the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development, a nonprofit housing developer in New England focused on supportive and transitional housing for low income women and their families. He also has worked as a project manager and community organizer with a community development corporation in Boston. He holds a Juris Doctor from University of Michigan Law School and B.A. from Boston University.

Mary Lucero-Dorst, Director of Asset Management

Ms. Lucero-Dorst came to EBALDC with over 8 years experience in Project Management with community based, non-profit developers in San Francisco and Berkeley. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with dual Masters in City and Regional Planning and Latin American Studies. Since coming to EBALDC in September 2004, Ms. Lucero-Dorst has shepherded four back-end tax credit deals for residential and commercial properties at a price of $1 each; overseen three rehabilitations of $100,000 to $950,000, as well as six smaller rehabs at occupied properties; provided Asset Management services to Preservation Park Center; refinanced two mortgages, and collaborated with other EBALDC departments for improved development, property management, and resident services provision. Ms. Lucero-Dorst was responsible for EBALDC receiving a 2006 MetLife Award for Excellence in Property and Asset Management for the Frank G. Mar Apartments.

Deborah Taylor, Director of Fund Development

Deborah Taylor has over 20 years of experience as a fundraiser, primarily for political office holders and candidates but, also with nonprofits. Deborah has run her own fundraising consultant business for the past 10 years and has extensive experience in event production, direct mail appeals, and major donor cultivation. Deborah brings with her a strong background in developing an individual donor program.

Charise Fong, Director of the Neighborhood and Economic Development

Charise is the Director of Neighborhood and Economic Development Department (NED) which includes the Family Economic Success, Community Planning and Organizing, Neighborhood Revitalization and Service Coordination Programs. Charise came to EBALDC in February 2006 with over 10 years experience in workforce development. Under her leadership, the NED Department has reshaped our asset development programs to better meet the needs of our clients and implemented systems to evaluate the impact of our work on our clients and the community we serve. Charise has a BA in history from UCLA and a JD from University of San Francisco Law School.