Rhonda Coffman named interim executive director of the Sonoma County Community Development Commission

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Rhonda Coffman, who has spent more than two decades in the public sector working to develop and preserve affordable housing, has been named interim director of the Sonoma County Community Development Commission.

A resident of Santa Rosa, Coffman has led housing and community development initiatives for government agencies in Sonoma County, Menlo Park and Redwood City. She joined the Commission in 2021 as assistant community development manager and was recently promoted to community development manager.

“Rhonda has made a significant impact in Sonoma County in a relatively short period of time,” said Sonoma County Administrator Sheryl Bratton. “We are fortunate to have her step in to fill this important position and tackle some of the most difficult challenges that we face.”

Coffman succeeds Dave Kiff, who was named director of the county’s new Homelessness Services Division within the Department of Health Services in December. Coffman’s appointment will take effect on Jan. 13, 2023.

As interim director, Coffman will oversee all operations of the county’s Community Development Commission, managing 55 employees and an annual budget of $100 million.

The Community Development Commission leads the county’s initiatives to provide rental assistance and make strategic investments in housing that is affordable and accessible. The agency operates the county’s Housing Authority, which provides safe, decent and quality affordable housing and supportive services to people with limited incomes. It also oversees projects launched by the county’s former Community Redevelopment Agency, which was dissolved in 2012.

“We have worked hard to strengthen our team and our internal processes, and the Community Development Commission is well-positioned to support the production and preservation of affordable housing,” Coffman said. “I am looking forward to helping lead our efforts to increase housing opportunities and solutions to meet the needs of lower-income and vulnerable Sonoma County residents.”

Before coming to Sonoma County, Coffman served as deputy community development director in Menlo Park and in several management positions in Redwood City, including the city’s housing/grants manager and construction manager. She spent 16 years as an affordable housing consultant for nonprofit organizations, operated her own construction company for four years, and served five years as director of adult services for PARCA (Partners & Advocates for Remarkable Children & Adults), a Burlingame nonprofit that provides residential programs and support for people with developmental disabilities. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont.

Her salary as interim director will be set at $163,275 annually.