Our mission—in partnership with Nation’s Finest—is to develop affordable housing for veterans and their families.
Our projects offer much more than just bricks and mortar. At VHDC, we build homes and communities. Our onsite support staff is there to provide behavioral health treatment, case management, workforce training and job placement, and a range of other services to our veterans.
We currently have seven completed projects with the capacity to house a total of more than 150 veterans and their families, and we have five projects currently in development—either under construction or in the planning phase—that will be able to house an additional 300 veterans and their families. We also have several other sites identified where we hope to provide even more affordable housing in the near future.
Staff and Advisors
Chris Johnson, President and CEO
Chris has over 25 years of leadership in business strategy, brand development, fundraising and communications in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. He joined VHDC in July 2019 after serving as Interim Executive Director of Evergreen Treatment Services (“ETS”), a nonprofit based in Seattle that provides medication-assisted treatment and wraparound services for opioid dependence, as well as street-based outreach services to vulnerable, chronically homeless adults struggling with addiction.
From 2017 to 2019, Chris was the Interim CEO of Mending Kids International, a global nonprofit that provides critical life-saving and life-changing surgeries to children throughout the world. During his tenure, he led the development of a strategic plan for four of the agency’s core programs across 64 countries and made a series of strategic and operational improvements that resulted in positive growth.
From 2011 to 2017, Chris was the CEO of Woodcraft Rangers, a 95-year-old youth services agency based in Los Angeles that provides expanded learning programs to public and private schools. During his tenure as CEO, he led Woodcraft Rangers through a strategic planning process that increased the brand visibility of the organization, added half a million dollars in new revenue streams and thirteen new schools in one year, achieved 20 percent greater improvement on academic measurements compared to peer organizations, and led a government relations and advocacy effort that resulted in an additional $50 million in the annual state budget for after-school programs.
Other positions Chris has held include Interim Division President for the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California and Southern Nevada, Regional CEO (from Los Angeles to San Francisco) and other roles focused on communications and government relations for the American Red Cross, Vice President at Pollack Norman Advertising, and Founding Executive Director for the California Agriculture History Center.
Chris is a native Californian and the son of a World War Two and Korean War veteran who was stationed at the former Mather Air Force Base near the eventual home of VRC’s Mather Veterans Village. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Sacramento, and currently lives in Santa Rosa, California, with his wife of 35 years.
Brad Long, Executive Director
Brad Long previously oversaw the Eureka, Chico and Redding operations of Veterans Resource Centers of America. Prior to VRC, he was the Admissions Director at Skyway House Rehab Center in Chico. Brad has a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and an M.A. in Theology from Claremont, and he served in the U.S.Navy from 1985 to 1989 as a Radioman Petty Officer Second Class.
During his time in the Navy, Brad received the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Naval Expeditionary Award, Battle E Award and Sea Service Award with two deployments. After leaving the Navy, he worked in defense contracting and manufacturing before moving into the social services fields. He is active in the community, where he serves on multiple boards and committees with the goal of streamlining and simplifying methods for delivering assistance to the neediest of our community members.
Brad resides in Shingletown with his family, and in his free time he likes to watch old movies, go sailing, and play Backgammon with his stepson.
Susan E. Bloch, Advisor
Susan Bloch specializes in economic development and transactional real estate matters. Susan represents public agencies and private and non-profit developers in transactions involving the acquisition, development, financing, leasing and sale of residential, commercial and industrial properties; and the development and implementation of affordable housing policies and programs.
Susan is a member of the California Redevelopment Association’s (CRA) Technical Advisory Committee, and in that capacity has conducted training for successor agencies addressing the windup of redevelopment agency affairs. She is also a member of the Post-Redevelopment Task Force organized by the City Attorneys’ division of the California League of Cities (LOCC) and is the Chair of the Task Force’s subgroup addressing property transactions, litigation, and City-Agency agreements. Susan is also an active participant in the housing committee of the LOCC Post-Redevelopment Task Force.
Susan has negotiated and drafted real estate acquisition, development, disposition, financing and leasing documents for redevelopment agencies, municipalities and other public entities, including the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro, Placer County Redevelopment Agency, Sacramento Regional Transit District, East Bay Regional Parks District, the City of Union City, the City of Rancho Cordova, the City of Dublin, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Milpitas, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of South San Francisco, the City of Millbrae Redevelopment Agency, the Petaluma Community Development Commission, the City of Elk Grove, the Transportation Agency of Monterey County, and the Moraga-Orinda Fire District.
Prior to joining Burke, Susan represented institutional lenders, private developers and non-profit organizations in connection with leasing, development and financing transactions.
Before beginning her practice as an attorney, Susan served as Program Manager with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency and as a consultant to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and the National Economic Development and Law Center. She has been a speaker at conferences and seminars sponsored by the League of California Cities, the California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), the Real Property Section of the California State Bar, the California Redevelopment Association, Housing California, the Northern California Association for Non-Profit Housing, California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED), the California Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (Cal-ALHFA), the Bay Area City Attorneys Association (BACA) and the City Attorneys Association of Los Angeles County (CAALAC).
Kent Trimble, Advisor
Kent Trimble founded The Trimble Company in 1997 to develop urban mixed-use infill projects. Kent graduated from Virginia Tech in 1986 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, at which time he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. After serving as a Marine Corps officer, Kent practiced as a consulting civil engineer. He is a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California.
Board Members
Jim Larson
Jim Larson is the retired CEO of Cal State Central Credit Union. He held this position for 35 years and is a recognized business leader in Sonoma County. Jim served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam in 1970 in Tay Ninh Province, near the Cambodian Border, and received the Bronze Star in recognition of his service. Jim’s fiscal expertise contributes greatly to VRC. He is able to review and oversee the organization’s fiscal policies, as well as provide leadership in program development and planning.
Jim joined the Board of VRC more than 20 years ago because he wanted to become active with a non-profit organization serving veterans in his community, and he was impressed with what VRC was doing and attempting to do.
Jim and his wife, Anh, a Vietnamese native and a U.S. citizen, led VRC in sponsoring and funding medical outreach clinics in Vietnam’s impoverished Luong Son area. Jim and Anh visit Vietnam yearly as liaisons for VRC’s humanitarian projects, which in addition to the clinic include three primary schools, two of which were built by VRC in partnership with East Meets West. VRC also maintains a surgery fund for individuals with more serious medical conditions.
Charles Helget
Charles has represented Republic Services and their various predecessor companies for more than 20 years. Over that period of time, he has been actively engaged in waste sector public policy development and implementation at a local and state level.
In January 1991, Charles formed Sector Strategies, a government affairs firm. As the firm’s President, he has developed extensive experience, in California and other western states, organizing government affairs strategies for public organizations and private corporations—representing their interests before legislative bodies, state agencies, and local governments. Through these experiences, he has built a strong network of public officials and community leaders throughout California, the Western U.S., and Washington, DC.
Charles and his wife Mercy reside in Sacramento, California.
Burt McChesney
Burt McChesney is a retired policy consultant and advocate. He previously served as Special Assistant to the Speaker of the California Assembly, as Chief Consultant to the Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, advisor to the Budget Conference Committee, chief consultant to the Assembly Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee, and as chief consultant to the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee. After leaving the legislature, Burt worked for the California Association of Realtors and other business clients. The son of an Air Force officer, Burt served in the United States Army in Vietnam and Europe as a helicopter gunner and the NCOIC of flight operations..
Interspersed with his legislative career, Burt worked on numerous political and issue campaigns for clients as diverse as Corazon Aquino, former President of the Philippines, and a Bay Area waste management firm. Most recently, Burt led the campaign for Proposition 41, a $600 Million housing bond for homeless and at-risk veterans.
Burt and his wife, Jo-Ellen reside in Southern California.
Lawrence S. Connolly
Larry, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, brings extensive experience working with Pacific Gas and Electric as an Employee Assistance Counselor, as a high school counselor, and in his own business in the vocational rehabilitation field. For several years Larry owned and operated his own gem mining business in Sri Lanka and Pakistan and traveled to over one hundred countries during the course of buying and selling gemstones. He also previously served on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations
Larry served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969 and was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd marine Division; and also with the Combined Action Program with 3rd Combined Action Platoon near Hue and Dong Ha.
Larry previously served on the boards of directors of the East Meets West Foundation, as Treasurer; Consultants for Global Programs, as Chairman; Arcata Rotary Club, as President; Private Industry Council for Humboldt County; and the Mental Health Board of Directors for Trinity County. He currently serves as Board Chairman for Humboldt County Northcoast Standown Committee and is also the Vice-Director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Legislative Committee for the State of California.
Larry is very involved in his community, and he was recognized by Rotary International with its highest honor, The Service Above Self Medal. This recognition was given to Larry for his work in Vietnam by bringing clean water to thousands of families as well as building homes and other humanitarian work.
Larry and his wife Ruth enjoy international travel, gardening around their home in McKinleyville, fishing, and visiting friends. They have two daughters, each from previous marriages, and three grandchildren.
Philip Williams
Philip Williams grew up in Saudi Arabia and later served for over eight years as an Officer and Army Ranger, including two combat tours in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. His military awards and medals include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster denoting a second award, and an Army Achievement Medal recommended by one of his squad leaders. Now a California water, environmental, and public agency attorney, he holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Utah and a J.D. and an LL.M from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.
Phil is a recipient of the U.C. Davis Police Department Citizen Appreciation Award and the Tim Naccarato Leadership Award. Prior to joining VRC, he organized and participated in numerous fundraisers for local non-profit organizations that treat the homeless veteran community. He has spoken at a variety of conferences and seminars on issues of water and resources law and policy, and guest-lectured on aspects of public agency and water law and on the philosophical and moral implications of modern warfare. Phil is also the author of birdmen, a novel based loosely on his experiences serving in, and returning home from, the war in Iraq.
His greatest joy and privilege lies in being a husband to his wife, Emily, and father to their two children.
VHDC is a subsidiary of Nation's Finest, a community-based 501(c)(3) organization formerly known as Veterans Resource Centers of America