ALEJANDRO BECERRA

Professional Profile:  Excellent writing, policy analysis and review, public relations, and public speaking skills, and expertise in the areas of housing and community development.  Strong record of accomplishment in federal budget justification, policy formulation and analysis, management of external relationships, and program delivery, management, and evaluation. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• As Senior Housing Fellow at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, led and conducted focus groups in 12 cities in order to develop promising homeownership strategies. Organized a national Best Practices conference and authored Best Practices for Latino Homeownership and An Assessment of Hispanic Homeownership:  Trends and Opportunities, two reports which highlight policy recommendations for increasing Hispanic homeownership.  Successfully implemented field events that publicly recognize housing champions who have developed innovative strategies for increasing Latino homeownership.  These widely publicized events prodded housing providers in various localities into forming partnerships and coalitions that can effectively coordinate and leverage mortgage loan products and financial assistance programs. 

• As deputy manager of field operations and liaison to local and state government housing agencies for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in southern Arizona, received two outstanding annual performance awards and one special recognition award for broadcasting a presentation on HUD’s Voucher Homeownership Program to all of HUD’s Region IX offices.  Pioneered the Voucher Homeownership Program in Arizona and was presented with a City of Yuma Housing Authority Certificate, which cited my personal leadership, coordination, and support as instrumental in creating the first Section 8 Voucher homeowners in Arizona.

• As Director of the Peace Corps in Paraguay, managed the operations of more than 200 Peace Corps Volunteers located throughout the country.  Established the first wheel chair factory owned and operated by persons with disabilities in South America. Successfully applied educational, health, agricultural, and micro-business programs with proven economic development impact. Effectively integrated health, sanitation, and nutrition programs that resulted in improving health standards in Paraguay. 

• Led National Council of La Raza (NCLR) disaster relief efforts and assisted the Everglades Community Association in securing more than $18 million in USDA funds for the construction of 300 rental units for the rural poor in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.  Spearheaded the establishment of Vision Service Plan’s pioneering national partnership with NCLR which began providing free vision exams and corrective lenses to thousands of uninsured children.  As a result of this effort, over the past decade VSP and its partners have provided free vision exams and glasses to over 410,000 low-income, uninsured children, a health care benefit worth over $80 million. At USDA, conducted   budget and policy analysis work that helped preserve the 502 homeownership program, a highly effective federal program for the rural poor.   

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

In the 90’s, served as AmeriCorps Project Director for the National Council of La Raza, and organized a national farm worker conference that featured the late Cesar Chavez and the participation of several federal agencies, including USDA and HUD.  In the early 90’s, as Senior Management Analyst at OPM, developed an Executive training program for OPM and conducted a major study on OPM turnover that included the design of a model employee retention plan.

In the late 80’s, at ACTION, the nation’s Volunteer agency, improved the agency’s internal financial controls and received a superior accomplishment award for superbly managing the Administrative Services Division. As Executive Officer of ACTION’S Office of Management and Budget, oversaw the management of a $9 million budget supporting over 100 employees.

As a Presidential Appointee and Peace Corps Director in Paraguay in the early 80’s, managed a  budget of over 2 million dollars and the work and training of more than 200 Peace Corps Volunteers and professional and clerical staff.  Formally commended by US Ambassador Arthur Davies for successfully managing Peace Corps operations.

In the late 70’s, as USDA’s representative to the President’s Reorganization Project, created USDA’s official position paper on rural development programs. OMB cited this work as a superb contribution to the President’s efforts to improve the management of the Federal government.  Directed the review of USDA’s rural development programs which determined the allocation of funds for over 30 electrification, rural development and housing programs and a total budget of more than $20 billion.  OMB cited my analysis of USDA’s 504 homeownership program as one of the best studies ever performed on rural housing programs. 

In the early 70’s, analyzed and directed the delivery of HUD program services to the Hispanic community.  Represented HUD and advised local and state officials as well as grassroots community-based groups on the availability of HUD program funding opportunities and as regional and international economist performed several worldwide market housing analyses.

As Executive Director for Programs at the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish-Speaking, Executive Office of the President, worked with federal agencies to increase Hispanic participation in federal programs.  Led the establishment of a National Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, which was funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1971.

Education:   Cathedral High School Valedictorian, 1962, El Paso, Bachelors Degree (1966) and Masters Degree (1968) in Economics, Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin

Highest Level of Government Service:  GS/15, Foreign Service Level 1/ Step 4

Publications: An Assessment of Hispanic Homeownership:  Trends and Opportunities

The Potential of Hispanic Homeownership: Challenges and Opportunities

Hispanic Homeownership: The Key to America’s Housing and Economic Renewal  [Book published in 2010]

14808 Cherry Leaf Terrace

Silver Spring, Maryland 20906

Home: (240) 669-6965

Cell:(240) 498-9356

alejandro@alejandrobecerra.com