EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Reyna has over thirty years of professional experience working in housing authorities throughout Texas and in California, his experience in affordable housing programs is broad and diverse.  It includes:

Six years with the San Antonio Housing Authority, where he worked as a Resident Relations Representative, the liaison between residents and management to address resident problems and concerns.

Two years with the San Diego California Housing Commission, as their very first Public Housing Manager.  Mr. Reyna was directly involved in starting the public housing program in the City of San Diego.  He had to buy or build units to begin the program for the Commission.

Ten Years with the Fort Worth Housing Authority, where he served as the Director of Community Services and later as the Housing Operations Administrator. As the Director of Community Services, Mr. Reyna helped build collaborations of over 30 social and supportive service agencies to increase the delivery of services to residents. Later his duties were expanded to include direct supervision of all Housing Management activities, Social Service programs, Grant Writing and Public Relations for the agency.

Twelve years with the Housing Authority of the City of Houston as the Director of Housing Management, Grantsmanship and Public Affairs Officer, Public Relations Manager and also as their Director of the Office of Communications, Community Relations and Grants.

Currently, Mr. Reyna is the Executive Director of the Beaumont Housing Authority.  When he arrived, the agency had been in receivership for four years. In less than two years Mr. Reyna corrected years of mismanagement and financial problems, which had caused the original problems.  He implemented checks and balances, so that future problems could be rapidly identified and immediately corrected.  A year later, Mr. Reyna helped the agency apply for, and receive its first $20 million dollar HOPE VI grant, which later leveraged $34 million additional dollars. This $54 million dollar revitalization project demolished a 50-year old 195-unit public housing development, and replaced that property with over 400 units of affordable housing.  The vast improvements in housing opportunities and accomplishments being achieved at the Beaumont Housing Authority have received local, state and national recognition.

Mr. Reyna is very proud to admit that he is a product of the very programs with which he works. He grew up in the Dallas Housing Authority public housing development of Elmer Scott Place from 1958 through 1970. He credits this experience with helping him better understand all sides of issues concerning both staff and residents.