Chief Executive Officer

Robert Chávez brings more than 16 years of experience leading community development projects from his previous work with the City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency. He has a wide range of experience managing projects, budgets and staff, negotiating contracts, working closely with political and community leaders, and spearheading fundraising and partnership initiatives. Most notably, he oversaw the implementation of the long anticipated Mercado del Barrio Project in Barrio Logan, currently under construction. Prior to his work with the Redevelopment Agency, Robert worked as Associate Management Analyst for the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department, where he created and managed complex budgetary and organizational analyses and studies.

In addition to his tenure with the City of San Diego, Chávez previously worked as Community Justice Program Coordinator specializing in Alternative Dispute Resolution for the National Conflict Resolution Center, where he supervised the South Bay San Diego office. Prior to joining the National Conflict Resolution Center Robert spent four years in the United States Navy where he worked as a budget analyst for an S-3B Viking Flight Squadron.

Affiliations include:
· Member, California Redevelopment Association (CRA)
· Member, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
· Member, San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR)

Robert is fluent in both Spanish and English and graduated (Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University, and earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Chief Operating Officer

Anne Bernstein spent 20 years representing the luxury industry in public relations, communications, and public affairs. Traveling throughout the United States and Europe, Anne represented the Golden Door and Rancho La Puerta, working with producers from NBC, CBS, Harpo, ABC and the Discovery Channel, and in the print media Anne worked with the Editors-in-Chiefs of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Town & Country, Glamour, the New York Times, the Washington Post and more. Anne took on the role of public affairs manager for a brief one-year period and defeated a proposed 130-acre amusement park on rural land adjacent to the Golden Door. Before joining the Urban Corps Anne spent two years in local government working for Mayor Susan Golding.

Controller

Joy Hochstein holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and a California Tax License with a non-profit specialty. Her experience in finance spans more than 35 years. Prior to joining the staff of Urban Corps, she was an accounting professional for Robert Half International. In this capacity she had the opportunity to serve on the Urban Corps audit team for several consecutive years beginning in fiscal year 2007-2008. Her experience with the organization led to a full time position as Assistant Controller in 2010. She was promoted to Controller in 2012 and now oversees the Urban Corps’ annual operating budget of $9 million, providing fiscal management for the organizations’ multitude of service contracts, grants, and payroll which exceeds 250.

Director of Operations

Sam Lopez is the Director of Operations for Urban Corps of San Diego County. He boasts a 25-year career in the conservation corps movement. In his current role, Sam oversees operations for the Urban Corps $8.8 million budget. He has been instrumental in helping Urban Corps expand its project divisions, garnering millions in public and private work contracts which help put youth to work for the betterment of themselves and the San Diego community. Sam is credited with creating the Environmental and Community Improvement/BID service departments, successfully expanding the Graffiti Erasers department, and the envisioning a variety of Urban Corps branded work programs including Green Street, Green Today, Clean and Safe, Weatherization Energy Efficiency Residential Rehab (WEER), and the Fire Fuel Reduction Program. Through his tireless work, thousands of young people have been afforded the chance to earn a paycheck as they earn a high school diploma.

Director of Education

Dan has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Science and Technology. His teaching experience spans more than 18 years, and includes a variety of subjects taught to students of different ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds ranging in ages from pre-teens to young adults. Dan recently added mathematics to his growing list of credentialed subject areas.