November 2021 News Updateby Wakeland Staff
November 19, 2020 Wakeland Welcomes Three New Project Managers In response to an increase in our development pipeline, Wakeland is expanding our team with the addition of three talented project managers. Project Manager Viviana Arellano comes to us following a successful two-decade career in architecture and planning, most recently with the award-winning San Diego-based firm Rodriguez Associates. Taylor Holland is our newest Project Manager in the Los Angeles area. She previously held positions with PATH Ventures, the City of Los Angeles and the LA Housing Authority. And finally, Kim Duran has joined Wakeland as Senior Project Manager. She has an extensive background in affordable housing, having served in development and asset management roles at leading developers including Community HousingWorks, Mercy Housing and AMCAL Multi-Housing. “The past few months have seen tremendous growth in Wakeland’s development activities,” said President & CEO Ken Sauder. “We are so fortunate to have these three remarkable women join our team and share their expertise, which will help us continue that momentum and build even more affordable housing for the people who need it.” Two Wakelanders Named to San Diego’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’ We are supremely honored that not just one but two of our team members have been selected by the San Diego Daily Transcript for its list of “Top 40 Under 40” business professionals: Asset Manager Gamaliel Vazquez and Project Manager Dani McMillin. In his five years working for Wakeland, Vazquez has stood out due to both his in-depth knowledge of affordable housing operations and his dedication to the low-income residents Wakeland serves. He approaches each decision he makes by looking at both the financial and human side of the issue and is committed to ensuring that residents are treated fairly and are provided with safe, healthy homes. McMillin is a more recent addition to Wakeland’s team, who started work here in 2019. Recognized by her colleagues as knowledgeable and collaborative, she has solidified her position as an exceptional young talent with a strong commitment to solving San Diego’s housing affordability crisis. McMillan’s current work is focused on two developments that will deliver nearly 100 affordable homes for chronically-ill seniors who have experienced homelessness. Congratulations Gama and Dani! We are so proud of you both. Residents Enjoy Virtual Cooking, Crafts and More Social distancing hasn’t stopped Wakeland’s residents from cooking and crafting together – they’re just doing it online instead! In the last few months, our amazing Resident Services staff has launched virtual classes for residents to enjoy the activities they used to do in person. Recently, adults learned how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch, while kids in the virtual afterschool program joined up on Zoom to create construction paper scarecrows and spooky spiderwebs. But it’s not all fun and games in Resident Services. Wakeland has partnered with local health nonprofits Champions of Health, Vista Community Clinic and San Ysidro Health to bring a variety of free health services directly to residents during this challenging time - including flu vaccinations, dental care and COVID testing. During one recent health fair at our Country Club community in Oceanside, CA, 55 residents got their flu shots and 15 received dental check-ups. Sincere thanks to our Resident Services staff and community partners for making these essential services possible! Special Thanks! A special shout out to BlueGrape Staging for donating services to The Grove, Wakeland’s new affordable housing community for seniors in Vista, CA. BlueGrape provided staging prior to move-ins so our team could highlight the livability of the apartment design in our project photography. |