Patricia Wells Named New Executive Director
of the Oakland Housing Authority
OAKLAND, CA - The Oakland Housing Authority
(OHA) Board of Commissioners has announced the appointment of Patricia Wells,
currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Oakland Housing Authority, to
the position of Executive Director. Ms. Wells succeeds Eric Johnson who is
retiring later this year after serving the organization for 11 years. Wells was
named Executive Director following a national search which attracted candidates
from all over the country. Wells will assume the Executive Director position on
October 15, 2019.
Oakland Housing Authority Board Chairman Greg
Hartwig said, “We had confidence in Patricia’s ability to do this important job
and lead the agency through the transition at this critical juncture in our
nation’s history; but after considering the other highly qualified candidates,
we determined that Patricia’s 20 plus years dedication to our residents,
community and OHA staff, vast experience with policy and industry leaders and
steadfast commitment to delivering on our mission, she is the best choice.”
Wells, eager to get started in the new role
stated, “during the past 21 years, I have had the honor of serving the OHA
resident community alongside amazingly dedicated OHA staff and under the
mentorship of visionary and courageous executive leaders; and I’m excited to
lead us forward as we continue to develop more units with the type of
sustainability that has become our hallmark, and to also strengthen our
partnerships and service delivery capabilities.” Wells continued, “Our future
progress will exceed our past successes because we are all committed to the
same principles as a result of our shared vision as laid out by Mr. Johnson.”
With nearly 30 years of experience in
affordable housing and public service, Wells joined OHA in 1998, after being
the Associate Director for Habitat for Humanity International - West Region,
and the Senior Policy Coordinator and Analyst as a Mayoral appointee with the
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs in Washington D.C. She quickly
moved into management positions at OHA where she began to innovate service
delivery through more formalized programs and in partnership with some of the
City’s and County’s most respected agencies. In just a few short years, Wells
moved into OHA’s property operations side where she honed her expertise in
property management, building maintenance and capital improvements. As Deputy
Executive Director, Wells also led the agency’s Human Resources and Information
Technology departments during periods of transition. Most recently, she has
held responsibility for managing numerous special projects where customized
responses were necessary to address such issues as Sequestration, government
shutdowns and HUD Rules.
“I am confident Patricia Wells has the
knowledge and passion to lead the agency through the growing affordable housing
crisis in California and the nation,” said outgoing Executive Director, Eric
Johnson. “I have faith that with her years of commitment to the City of Oakland
and the Oakland Housing Authority, the agency will continue our history of
piloting some of the most innovative affordable housing solutions in the country.”
Wells is currently a candidate for National
Senior Vice President of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Officials (NAHRO), the nation’s leading housing advocacy association. She will
also continue her passionate support for the community and environment as she
and her family volunteer and support Soroptimist International of the East Bay,
Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, Oakland Parks, the Alameda County Food
Bank, Jack London Estuary, the Monterey Bay, local zoos and schools. Wells
holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University
and a Bachelors of Arts from Wittenberg University.
New Executive Director Press Release (Printable version)
Eric Johnson Announces Retirement