CAROL J. ORNELAS

Carol J. Ornelas is an advocate for providing quality “affordable housing” for families within the tri-county area (San Joaquin, Sacramento and Stanislaus).  For the past 20 years, she has been the Chief Executive Officer for Visionary Home Builders of California, formerly ACLC, Inc.; a non-profit residential development company headquartered in Stockton, Ca.  She serves with distinction as the only female housing developer in the Central Valley.

Carol is a licensed general contractor and an expert in her field of development.  She is highly recognized as a leader within the community.  Her strength is in building and creating partnerships with citizens of the community, and collaborating with local city, state officials and other agencies to provide quality “affordable housing” for the communities she serves.  Under Carol’s direct leadership, Visionary Home Builders has built and rehabilitated over 1000 units of rental housing and over 350 residential homes for first time homebuyers within San Joaquin, Sacramento, Stanislaus and Merced County.

Currently her organization has received funds to implement the Neighborhood Stabilization Program for the City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin. Stockton has received national attention and has been considered “ground zero” of foreclosures. Her organization has assisted over 1,500 families through the foreclosure or loan modification process.

Carol is passionate about her work and the work that her staff accomplishes on a daily basis.  She takes pride in knowing that her organization has the resources to provide quality housing for the “underserved”.  This allows her to continue Visionary Home Builders mission, “to focus on a clear vision of providing “balanced” communities that incorporate housing and child development services for its residents”.  A perfect example of Visionary Home Builders is its work with the County of San Joaquin in the development of a community of 76 units of housing for Farmworker families who live here all year round. The community includes childcare with an emphasis on early development, social services and a medical clinic. The project was recently awarded “Best Affordable Housing Project” in its category in the nation by Affordable Housing Finance magazine.  Through her leadership, she has been able to bring over $250 million dollars in grants and private dollars to develop affordable housing in the San Joaquin Valley.

Carol is very involved within the community and serves on numerous boards and committees, including:

• Board of Directors – American Heart Association
• Board of Directors – Building Industry Association (BIA), Delta Charter
• Board of Directors – Downtown Alliance
• Board of Directors – St. Joseph Community Board
• Delegate – City of Stockton’s 2004 “All American City”
• Member – Airport Corridor Action Team (ACT Team)
• Member – Business Council
• Member – California Reinvestment Committee
• Member – Cathedral of Annunciation – Teacher of Religious Education
• Member – City of Stockton Affordable Housing Coalition
• Member – City of Stockton Climate Action Team
• Member – City of Stockton Downtown  Action Team
• Member – CSU, Stanislaus; Stockton Center Advisory Group
• Member – Design Guideline Steering Committee
• Member – General Plan Action Team (GPAT)
• Member – National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
• Member – People And Congregation Together (PACT)
• Member – San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Member – San Joaquin County Partnership for Families
• Past President – California Coalition for Rural Housing  and current board member
• Past President – San Joaquin County Public Housing Authority Board of Commission
• Past Chairperson – Board of Directors, San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of  Commerce
• Past Chairperson – “Go Red” American Heart Association
• Past Board of Director – Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce
• Past Board Member – Saint Mary Interfaith Dining Room
• Past Board Member – United Way of San Joaquin County

She has also been selected for numerous awards and achievements including:

• 2007 – BlueCross of California – Community Service Award
• 2006 – Congressional Award – Angels of Adoption
• 2006 – Elected to the Mexican-American Hall of Fame
• 2005 – Building Industry of the Delta – Commitment to Excellence Award
• 2005 – Head Start – For Outstanding Community Service
• 2004 – Recipient of the “Business Woman of the Year” San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• 1999 Recipient of the Susan B. Anthony Women Achievement Award

Carol and her husband Mike live in Stockton.  They have two sons, Matthew graduate of California State University at Stanislaus and Jonathan who is in fourth grade.