IRVINE, CA - Jamboree Housing Corporation announced today that Welton R. Smith has been hired as Vice President of Housing Development to oversee all aspects of the company's housing development and associated operations including land acquisition, entitlement, planning and design, and construction. Irvine,headquartered Jamboree is one of California's leading community development organizations specializing in affordable housing. Currently, the company has $233 million in affordable housing projects in its development pipeline and a $1 billion asset portfolio that includes the development of and/or ownership interest in more than 7,400 homes in more than 75 California communities.
"Welton brings a broad spectrum of affordable housing experience and expertise to our company at a time when we are on a strategic path of growth and diversification," said Laura Archuleta, Jamboree president. "His deep background and knowledge at the executive level in all aspects of real estate development and management will be extremely valuable to us as we build the properties we currently have under development and pursue new opportunities on the horizon."
During his 30-year career, Smith gained extensive experience in all areas of real estate development and management including affordable housing, office and retail, hotel, and industrial. His expertise covers business development, finance, planning, project management and construction.
Prior to joining Jamboree, Smith was senior vice president of development for Palm Communities, an affordable housing development company where he was responsible for acquisitions, project management and public finance. Before that, he served as senior vice president of development at National Community Renaissance (CORE) and was directly responsible for the acquisition, development, construction and/or rehabilitation of approximately 4,400 affordable housing units in California and Texas.
From 1997 to 2001, Smith was a senior engineer with American Airlines' real estate department where he managed the airline's international assets and oversaw the construction of airport facilities worldwide. Smith worked in the public sector from 1991 to 1997 as a consultant with the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission's Economic Development Group where he was part of a team responsible for maximizing the use and value of the county's extensive real estate portfolio.
His professional resume also includes being a senior consultant with the accounting firms of Pannell Kerr Forster (PKF) and Coopers & Lybrand where he worked on market and financial feasibility studies for a variety of real estate assets. He earned bachelor degrees in economics and English from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.