Central Valley Strategies: Local Pathways to Housing Progress

California’s Central Valley is a region of tremendous promise—and growing pressure. While housing needs continue to mount, local leaders across the region are planning for long-term solutions. Join the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE) for a dynamic panel, “Central Valley Strategies: Local Pathways to Housing Progress,” on Thursday, October 16 on the campus of Fresno State.

This event convenes elected officials, policy experts, and real estate professionals to share real-world strategies—from new construction and zoning reforms to preservation and regional coordination.

Whether you're from Stockton, Merced, Modesto, Bakersfield, Fresno or beyond, this is your chance to connect with peers, hear directly from changemakers, and help shape a more affordable, inclusive housing future in the heart of California.

Moderator:

Andres Jauregui

Director

Fresno State Gazarian Real Estate Center

Dr. Jauregui conducts high-quality research in the areas of real estate economics and finance, having published papers in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Housing Policy Debate, Journal of Regional Science, Journal of Housing Research, and Journal of Real Estate Research. He has a profound interest in conducting research on the linkages between real estate and environmental issues, particularly related to water. Dr. Jauregui currently serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council Central California Chapter and the Southwest Fresno Development Corporation. He obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from Auburn University.

Panelists:

Bernadette Austin

CEO

CivicWell

Austin leads a nonprofit organization with a 40-year track record of inspiring, equipping, connecting, and cultivating leaders working toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Prior to her work at CivicWell, she co-led a university research center and managed the financing and development of affordable housing and infill development. Austin’s portfolio of community-engaged research has supported affordable housing development, social equity in transportation policy, and carbon neutrality in state policy-making. Her community development projects include Sacramento’s first true transit-oriented development and the first project in the country to implement a program combining housing vouchers and health services for disabled adults. She has been recognized as an Asian Pacific Islander Changemaker by the Sacramento Bee and a notable woman leader by Sacramento Magazine and Comstock's magazine. She holds a Master of Science in Community Development from UC Davis.

Jerry Dyer

Mayor

City of Fresno

Dyer is the City of Fresno’s 26th Mayor, sworn into office on Jan. 5, 2021. Since taking office, Mayor Dyer has led several successful initiatives that reflect his vision, including “Project Off-Ramp,” which relocated more than 650 unhoused individuals from Fresno’s freeways. Of that total, more than 80% accepted services and shelter. A champion for housing, Mayor Dyer continues to prioritize diverse solutions through his One Fresno Housing Strategy. This comprehensive plan aims to meet the needs of all residents, from low-income and workforce to market-rate developments, with the goal of ensuring a stable housing market. Before becoming Mayor, Jerry Dyer served 40 years with distinction in the Fresno Police Department, including the final 18 as the City’s longest-serving Police Chief. He earned a master’s degree in management from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Carol J. Ornelas

President & CEO

Visionary Home Builders of California

Ornelas is a visionary and advocate for providing quality “affordable housing” for families within the Central Valley—Fresno, San Joaquin, Sacramento, and Stanislaus. She serves with distinction as the first female developer in the Central Valley. Under Ornelas’s direct leadership, VHB has built and rehabilitated more than 1,500 units of rental housing and more than 1,000 residential homes for first-time homebuyers in the Central Valley. In addition, the VHB Homeownership and Rental Center was established in 1999 to provide educational opportunities to community residents seeking guidance on purchasing a home, with special emphasis on financial responsibility, understanding mortgage and lending, as well as general education for sustaining a healthy home and lifestyle. In 2010, Ornelas was one of 49 leaders nationwide selected to participate in the NeighborWorks® Achieving Excellence in Community Development program in collaboration with Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.