July 21, 2025 — Oakland, CA
Merritt is excited to announce the launch of the 2025-2026 Asset Management Specialist + program (AMS+). As a critical component of Merritt’s Commitment to California (C2C) initiative, AMS+ empowers asset managers, who are crucial in the preservation of affordable housing. Since its inception in 2023, Merritt’s AMS+ Cohort has had 60 participants from 36 affordable housing organizations throughout California.
Each cohort is intentionally comprised of different backgrounds, skill sets, and stages in career journeys. Participants come from all parts of the state and work in different organization types, from the government sector to nonprofit and for-profit developers.
Please join us in welcoming this year’s cohort:
Alexandra Rutledge, Community Holdings
Anna Gwyn Simpson, EAH Housing
Briana Eubanks, Mercy Housing
Chase Horning, Self-help Enterprises
Ellen Muscarella, Many Mansions
Esmeralda Campos, Mercy Housing
Frank Munoz, MAAC Project
Joseph Tran, City of Oakland
Julissa Gonzalez, BRIDGE Housing
Jyothi Sathyan, American Family Housing
Leslie Roa, A Community of Friends
Maria Castillo, LAFH Builds
Mario Martinez Saballos, Abode Housing
Marley Landes, John Stewart Companies
Marshall Scott, Community Corporation of Santa Monica
Mary Soto, Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo
Matt Atangan, Eden Housing
Nikki Ferguson, Abode Communities
Tyler Abraham, EBALDC
Victor Rodriguez, Napa Valley Community Housing
By utilizing curriculum provided by the Consortium for Housing and Asset Management (CHAM), participants attend both live and virtual sessions, engage in working groups and industry-focused discussions, and have opportunities for in-person networking with their cohort and experienced industry leaders. After completing the program, participants obtain their AMS designation from CHAM.
Merritt’s partnership with CHAM has been longstanding, and their shared vision reflects a strong, sustained dedication to developing talent through training, mentorship, and scholarships. Together, the two organizations have a mission in mind: to build a lasting impact in the affordable housing space.
Stay tuned for more program updates on Merritt’s LinkedIn page. For any questions related to the Merritt Scholars program, please reach out to our Program Manager, Celina Pacana, at cpacana@merrittcap.org.
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
Merritt Community Capital Corporation is a mission-oriented affordable housing funder that serves the state of California. For more than 35 years, Merritt has been a trusted partner, investing more than $1.6 billion and creating over 12,000 affordable homes across California. Beyond investing in properties, Merritt invests in people. Through its Commitment to California initiative (C2C), Merritt proudly spearheads programs across the state that attract, train, and retain current and future affordable housers.
Merritt is also the west coast member of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF), which empowers locally engaged, mission-driven housing and community investment partners to build thriving communities. By partnering with mission-aligned organizations and developers in the affordable housing space, Merritt ensures the most critical communities are developed and maintained for low-income residents.