Executive staff

Rod Brandon
Executive Director

Rod became Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority in May 2021 and leads strategic planning and the day-to-day operations of the organization. Prior to becoming Executive Director, he served for 10 years as SHA’s Director of Housing Operations, overseeing SHA’s largest department with approximately 400 staff serving more than 17,000 residents in approximately 8,500 housing units. Rod has extensive career experience in creating innovative policies and programs, building critical partnerships, managing large projects, operations and budgets and developing diverse workforces. Rod has held increasingly responsible leadership positions in the public sector for the past 25 years, serving as Director of Sustainability and Environmental Services for King County, Assistant King County Executive for King County Executive Ron Sims and Deputy Chief of Staff for City of Seattle Mayor Norm Rice. Rod earned a B.A. degree in business administration from the University of Montana, Missoula, and also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he completed a program for senior executives in state and local government.

Jen Chan
Jen Chan
Deputy Executive Director

Jen joined SHA as a Deputy Executive Director in November 2024. She works closely with the Executive Director and a co-Deputy Executive Director and manages multiple departments and initiatives. She assists in supporting the SHA Board of Commissioners, assists in financial management and has oversight in additional focus areas. Before joining SHA, Jen was Chief of Staff for Seattle City Light where she supported the CEO and a team of senior executives responsible for overseeing operations, engineering, customer care, technology, capital delivery, asset management, human resources, environmental, real estate, facilities and financial management. Prior to City Light, Jen served in senior management roles at the City of Seattle that spanned operations, finance and budget, public safety, human services, public health, education and public-private development partnerships. Jen has a BA degree from Tufts University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington.

Javania Cross Polenska
Javania Cross Polenska
Deputy Executive Director

Javania joined SHA as a Deputy Executive Director in November 2024. She works closely with the Executive Director and a co-Deputy Executive Director, applying her experience in strategic planning, program management, operational efficiency, organizational alignment, budget management and talent development to managing multiple departments, initiatives and projects at SHA. Prior to SHA, Javania served as Deputy Director of the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, a public-private partnership that connects Washington students to higher education opportunities across the state in science, technology, engineering and math, and held leadership roles at organizations in Seattle, Chicago and Minneapolis. Her career spans education, advocacy and consumer marketing, with a focus on creating equity-focused policies, maximizing impact and growing teams through human-centered coaching and mentoring. Javania has a BA degree and MBA from the University of Minnesota.

Bobby Coleman
Director of Asset Management

Bobby was appointed Director of Asset Management in June, 2023. He joined SHA in 2015 and was tasked with developing and expanding the agency’s environmental stewardship programs. Since then, he has provided guidance and support to a variety of strategic initiatives and led various operational business units. Prior to joining SHA, Bobby worked in infrastructure planning and facilities management for educational institutions and local governments. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Michigan State University and The Evergreen State College.

Evelyn
Evelyn Correa
Director of Human Resources

Evelyn became the Director of Human Resources in April 2022 after serving as Deputy Director of Human Resources since November 2019. She brings more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources. Her focus is co-creating cultures and developing teams in alignment with shared humanistic values that result in equitable outcomes and opportunities for all. Evelyn is a certified senior professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP). She has held leadership roles in the private and public sectors. Evelyn holds a B.A. in Psychology from Pace University and an M.A. in Whole Systems Design and a Certificate in Organization Development from Antioch University.

Headshot of Kerry Coughlin
Kerry Coughlin
Director of Communications

Kerry became Director of Communications at the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) in January 2015. She serves on SHA’s Executive Cabinet, providing counsel and oversight to ensure effective communication with the Board, residents and clients, elected officials, partner agencies, media, the public, employees and other stakeholders. Most recently, Kerry served as a director with the international Marine Stewardship Council, an organization devoted to environmental, food security and economic sustainability of the global seafood industry, as well as a consultant with the Daniel J. Evans Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. She served as Communications Director for the State of Washington in the administration of former Governor Chris Gregoire, and has held top communications leadership positions with The Seattle Times Company and the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish Counties. Prior to her career in management and corporate communications and public affairs, Kerry worked as a journalist.

Jared Cummer
Chief Financial Officer

Jared became Chief Financial Officer in 2023 after five years as SHA’s Director of Housing Finance and Asset Management. He initially joined the agency in 2015 as an Asset Manager and was responsible for managing the financing and rehabilitation of the agency’s large capital projects. He has worked on various inter-agency committees and workgroups, serving as a technical resource in the areas of tax credit compliance and HUD compliance and regulations. Prior to joining SHA, Jared worked for the Wilmington Housing Authority in Wilmington Delaware as a development associate, focusing on capital planning for the agency’s public housing inventory.

 

Headshot of Terry Galiney
Terry Galiney
Director of Development

Terry is responsible for overseeing the Seattle Housing Authority’s Development Department, which manages new development and redevelopment of SHA communities including affordable housing, community facilities, parks and public infrastructure. Terry is leading the $1.7 billion redevelopment of the former Yesler Terrace public housing site into a transit-oriented, mixed-income urban neighborhood. Prior to joining SHA in 2013, Terry spent fifteen years in affordable housing, working with regional nonprofits as a developer, consultant and housing advocate overseeing the development of nearly 1,300 units of affordable housing. Terry graduated from the University of Washington’s Urban Planning program and has a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County.

Alice Kimbowa
Director of Rental Assistance Programs

Alice became the Director of Rental Assistance Programs in April 2019, bringing more than 15 years’ experience in affordable housing. She joined Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) as a Manager of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Compliance, Policy and Training in 2016. Alice has previously worked for Tacoma Housing Authority, Chicago Housing Authority and The Habitat Company, where she worked in case management, program management, and compliance. She earned a B.A. in Urban Studies with a Non-Profit Management Certificate from the University of Washington, and has taken Master’s degree studies in Information Systems Management at Northwestern University.

 

Headshot of Charles Lind
Charles Lind
General Counsel

Charles, who has more than 30 years of legal experience, joined SHA in March 2021. He worked previously at Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, a firm that advises and defends public entities, including cities, counties, fire districts and school districts. He has worked extensively with public entity law, federal and state regulation, governing boards, commissions and executive officers in charge of agencies. He was general counsel for the Kent School District and served 16 years as a King County Prosecutor, with experience in both state and federal court. Charles is proud to note that when his mother and her family first moved to Seattle, where his grandfather worked as a Boeing defense worker in World War II, they lived in Seattle Housing Authority housing. Charles received his J.D. degree from the University of Washington and has been a member of the Washington State Bar Association since 1990.

Headshot of Steve McDowell
Steve McDowell
Chief Information Officer

Steve joined the Seattle Housing Authority in February 2013 and has more than 30 years in the Information Technology (IT) field.  He has a B.S. degree in Computer Science in addition to 25-plus years in IT management. Steve has spent nearly 20 years in the housing industry for organizations in the private sector, including senior and market-rate housing.  Steve has served with numerous IT-related organizations and boards of directors. In 2003, he was recognized by Computerworld magazine as one of the premier 100 IT leaders.

Headshot of Dave Wellings
Dave Wellings
Director of Housing Operations

Dave joined SHA in 2009 and became Director of Housing Operations in November of 2021, overseeing SHA’s largest department. Prior to becoming Director of Housing Operations, Dave held senior positions at SHA in both Housing Operations and the Housing Choice Voucher program. Dave has led varied and complex projects and transitions at SHA and has extensive knowledge of Housing Operations programs, staffing, challenges and opportunities. Dave received his Master of Public Administration degree from Seattle University and holds seven professional certifications relating to public housing finance and operation. He has served on numerous committees with professional organizations and is currently on the Board of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officers.

Lisa Wolters
Director of Intergovernmental Relations

Lisa was appointed as Seattle Housing Authority’s (SHA) Director of Intergovernmental Relations in 2015. Previously, she served for nine years as SHA’s Director for the Housing Choice Voucher program and Director of Advocacy at the Porchlight Center, developing and implementing the Porchlight Center’s strategic plans, budgets and operational procedures, and was responsible for federal, state and local policy issues and community building. Prior to joining SHA in 2005, she was King County Director for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. Lisa has more than 15 years of management experience in the public and private sectors, including positions with the State of Washington, YWCA and TRAC Associates. She holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Clemson University and completed the John F. Kennedy School of Government program for senior executives in state and local government.