PEP Housing is fortunate to have an exemplary award-winning Board of Directors with resident representation

Sean Pryden joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2011. Mr. Pryden serves as the Board Chair and is on all Board committees. He is a Private Wealth Advisor at Wells Fargo, where he has worked for more than 16 years. He finds the various “puzzles” he encounters each day to be engaging and enjoyable. Mr. Pryden holds a BS in Business and MS in Commerce and Economic Development from Northeastern University. Additionally, Mr. Pryden holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) professional designation. He is involved in numerous non-profits and is a member of the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council. Mr. Pryden is a fourth-generation Californian, residing in Sonoma County with his wife and four children. He has a passion for wine, music, and reading and spends substantial time volunteering in the community.

Harry Coffey joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2018. Harry serves as the Vice Chair and is the Development Committee Chair. Mr. Coffey is a licensed California real estate broker and managed a twenty-five office mortgage banker/brokerage firm for 20 years. He is the past President of Sunrise Rotary Club of Santa Rosa and Sonoma Country Executives Club, Affiliate of the Year for the Sonoma County Board of Realtor’s, Membership Chair of the Sonoma County Alliance and an avid scuba diver.

Don Ross joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2019. Mr. Ross serves as the Treasurer and is on the Finance Committee Chair. He is self employed as a certified Business Broker with Exit Strategies Group, Inc. in Petaluma. Mr. Ross has owned and operated several businesses including farm and industrial equipment dealerships, a chain of retail stores, and a direct marketing catalog company. He worked as a regional director of the legal publishing division of McGraw-Hill and was a marketing consultant to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Venue Management Group. He graduated from Stanford University in 1971, has three children, six grandchildren (and counting), and lives in Sonoma County with his wife, Michele, and their standard poodle, Sammy. He enjoys travel, gym workouts, is an avid reader, and regularly participates in the Petaluma Ecumenical Food Pantry.

Ben Pryden joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2018. Mr. Pryden serves as the Secretary and is on the Finance Committee. He is a Senior Branch Premier Manager at Wells Fargo.

George (Kip) Spragens joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 1998. Mr. Spragens serves on the Administrative and Development Committees. He is a retired Civil Engineer with East Bay MUD.

Jennifer LitwakJennifer Litwak joined PEP Housing in August 2023. Ms. Litwak serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President and is on multiple Board Committees.

Anna Rose joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2010. Ms. Rose serves on the Development Committee and is the Board Resident Representative. She is a retired English teacher.

Joseph Tinney joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2015. Mr. Tinney serves on the Administrative Committee. He is a self-employed Attorney.

Roy Martinez joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2021. Mr. Martinez serves as the Administrative Committee Chair. He is a m&a business intermediary at Exit Strategies Group in Petaluma where he is a Certified Business Broker (CBB) and Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). Prior to Exit Strategies, Mr. Martinez was VP of Finance at WineDirect in Napa. He lives in Petaluma with his wife, daughter, and son, and he serves on the endowment committee at his church.

Jeffrey Mayne joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2021. Mr. Mayne serves on the Finance Committee. He has been a part of the Petaluma community since 1982 and has a long-standing history of giving back, including participating in local schools and youth sports, Scouting and Rotary. Jeff has enjoyed participating on several Community Boards such as the Petaluma Downtown Association and PEP Housing. Since 1987, Jeff has been self-employed in real estate finance, helping numerous individuals acquire and retain residential property. Mr. Mayne is an exceptional asset to PEP Housing’s Board. His background and familiarity in real estate and title/escrow services and his knowledge in various ways to finance real estate are vital to the Organization. As he watched multiple communities attempt to grow and thrive, it is obvious that providing housing for all is a critical component of that development.

Jim RyanJim Ryan joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2022. Mr. Ryan serves on the Development Committee. Mr. Ryan is the owner and president of Ryan Mortgage Company, Inc. and Ryan Realty, Inc. in Santa Rosa. He is a licensed real estate broker, a licensed general contractor and certified public accountant. Mr. Ryan graduated from California State University Sacramento. He serves as the Vice Chairman of the Exchange Bank Board of Directors, is a Trustee of the Doyle Trust and serves as a member of the Santa Rosa Junior College Scholarship Committee. He served as a Director of the American Red Cross, Sonoma County Chapter and various trade associations.

Matthew Haas joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2023. He is SVP for Key Bank’s CDLI team covering CA, NM, AZ and NV. Matthew works to advance community lending and investment opportunities with for profit and nonprofit developers of affordable housing for both LIHTC properties and workforce/missing middle housing.
Matthew Haas was the Director of Investor Relations for the Western US at Berkadia Affordable Housing Tax Credit Solutions for 2½ years and Director of Investor Relations and Fund Management for 8 years at Merritt Community Capital. Matthew raised over $600 million in equity for 63 properties, financing over 5,000 units of affordable housing.

Matthew has over 25 years of affordable housing and community development experience in three major markets of NY, IL and CA having been employed by key organizations and companies involved in the planning, development and financing of affordable housing. He held positions such as Deputy Director of California Lending at the Low Income Investment Fund, a national CDFI; Multifamily Manager of LIHTC funds for Community Investments at Fannie Mae, a GSE; a VP and Client Manager for Community Development lending at Bank of America; a Senior Acquisitions Officer at National Equity Fund; and Senior Program Manager for Illinois Housing Development Authority.

Matthew has an M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a B.A. in Architecture / Environmental Design from UC Berkeley. Matthew serves on the Board of Holos Communities and is a Project Review Committee Member for Innovative Housing Opportunities.

Board Recognition

  • Rich Rodkin, Board President, Leading Age California Trustee of the Year, 2013
  • Mary Stompe, Executive Director, North Bay Business Journal’s Women in Business Leaders, Innovators and Visionaries, 2013
  • Mary Stompe, Executive Director, Leading Age (National) Outstanding Advocacy Award, 2014
  • Sid Lipton, Board Member, Community Recognition Awards Service to Seniors, 2015

In recognition of outstanding service to PEP Housing, we honor the following retired Board members:

Sid Lipton

Sid joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2003. Mr. Lipton serves on the Development Committee. He was a General Contractor for Wright Contracting, Inc. and was company President for ten years prior to his retirement.

Mary Savage

Mary joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2004, serving as a Board member for 18 years. She served as the Secretary and was on the Executive, Finance and Administrative Committees throughout her tenure. Mary is a retired Pharmacist.

Richard (Rich) Rodkin

Rich joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2005. He served as President in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2017. He served as Vice President in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. During his tenure, Rich supported PEP Housing when he went with other PEP Housing employees to the California Supreme Court over a project in Oroville. He led our organization through the Tubbs Fire and helped get legislation passed to prohibit cities from charging PILOT fees when PEP was assessed a $550,000 fee in lieu of taxes. As a Sound Engineer, Rich’s background made him well suited to serve on PEP Housing’s Development Committee. He made thoughtful contributions to every new development and took great interest in actively participating in construction. Rich retired from the Board in 2020 after an incredible legacy. We are grateful for Rich’s outstanding achievements and steadfast leadership, making PEP Housing the organization it is today. River City Senior Apartments, a 54-unit project under construction in Petaluma, will name the Community Room, a stunning building with views of the Petaluma River, the “Richard Rodkin Community Room”. Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and talents, Rich.

Arthur (Art) Cooper

Art joined PEP Housing’s Board of Directors in 2005. He served as President in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. He served as Vice President in 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2017. Art served as Treasurer in 2010 and 2011. He was as an active member of the Board of Directors, leading us through wildfires in Northern California, a global Pandemic and much more. Art’s background with the Internal Revenue Service made him an excellent finance resource. As a steadfast supporter of the organization, Art has been incredibly generous in helping the organization grown and prosper. We are extremely grateful for Art’s leadership through the years. In 2022, Art retired from the Board after an incredible legacy. In honor of his service to PEP, we are naming the Community Room at 575 Vallejo Street the “Cooper Community Room”. Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and talents, Art.