Executive Office President & Chief Executive Officer  (interim) - Major General Alfred A. Valenzuela        The president/CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) sets the vision, tone and cultural environment for the nearly 650-employee agency. The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day operations and is the liaison for SAHA's Board of Commissioners. SAHA’s interim president/CEO, retired Maj. Gen. Valenzuela, a native of San Antonio, understands the community well. He brings a passion for the agency’s mission and a dedication to diligently address the affordable housing needs of our community. (more) Chief of Staff - Melanie Villalobos (more)    SAHA's Chief of Staff serves as principle liaison between the President/CEO and SAHA staff, with the responsibility for administering and supervising the day-to-day operations of the housing authority. The Chief of Staff is also responsible for overseeing strategic initiatives and issues management, with assignments related to current and long-range agency and program objectives. Senior VP of Administration/Chief Financial Officer(CFO) - Ed Hinojosa (more)    SAHA's Senior VP of Administration/(CFO) oversees an organizational budget of over $300 million, and plans, organizes and directs SAHA's financial investments, accounting, data processing, purchasing, budgeting, statistical and property record activities. The CFO is a key advisor on all financial issues, including acquisitions; and secures modernization and development financing. Senior VP of Operations - Deborah Flach (more)    The Vice President of Operations, serves nearly 12,000 low-income families, oversees a $74 million budget, and serves as liaison with non-profit organizations that provide supportive services. In addition to all her duties Deborah also directs the agency's development and revitalization activities, to include plans to address the problems of severely distressed public housing, and the continuing need for more affordable housing availability in the San Antonio community. Chief Legal Officer - Timothy Alcott (more)   SAHA's Chief Legal Officer (CLO) is the agency's primary legal advisor in all operational areas, including housing programs, construction and property acquisition, procurement, employment law, and public information. The CLO also assists in interpreting the effect of federal, state and local legislation on the agency's housing programs. Major General Alfred A. Valenzuela, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer     In his retirement, Maj. Gen. Valenzuela is focusing on community service, veterans, elderly, youth and education. His strong leadership, impeccable credentials,and commitment to the San Antonio community position him well to serve as interim president/CEO of SAHA. He is serving in this role until the end of 2008, while the SAHA Board of Commissioners conducts a national search to select a candidate to permanently fill the position.     Highly decorated for valor and heroism, Valenzuela served in posts around the world, including Panama, Germany, Korea, El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, Haiti, Grenada, Kuwait, Somalia, and Turkey.     When the Pentagon made the decision to move US Army South from Puerto Rico to San Antonio, Valenzuela, then the commander, executed the move to Ft. Sam Houston.     Valenzuela was recognized by Hispanic Magazine as the nation’s highest-ranking active-duty Hispanic military officer and among 100 of the most influential Hispanics.     In his recent book, “No Greater Love: The Life and Times of Hispanic Soldiers,” Valenzuela explores the legacy of Hispanic Americans in the military and shares his own 33 years of experience serving our country. The book is dedicated to the 21 soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan whose funerals he had the honor of presiding over. All proceeds for the sale of the book benefit his educational foundation for at-risk children and the families of those soldiers.     Valenzuela’s San Antonio civic involvement is extensive. He presently serves on a number of prominent civic boards, including the USAA Federal Savings Bank Board of Directors and St. Mary’s University Board of Trustees.     He was commissioned from St. Mary's University in San Antonio as a distinguished military graduate and awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. He holds a Master of Arts in political science, with emphasis on Latin American studies, and national security affairs. Melanie K. Villalobos, Chief of Staff    A magna cum laude graduate of Trinity University, Melanie Villalobos holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and journalism.  As Chief of Staff, she serves as principle liaison between the President/CEO and SAHA’s nearly 700 staff members, with the responsibility for administering and supervising the day-to-day operations of the agency.      Ms. Villalobos has been with SAHA since 2003, and most recently served as Vice President of Corporate Relations, where she was responsible for strategic communications, media relations, governmental relations, board relations, and public affairs activities.  Before joining SAHA, she was a principal of San Antonio-based Curnutt/Hovis, Inc. for nearly 20 years, where she provided consulting services to clients in the fields of  government, technology, health care and manufacturing.     Ms. Villalobos is a certified Public Housing Manager (PHM) and a certified Section 8 Housing Manager (SHM).  She is also a member of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), and has participated in the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) and the Public Housing Authority Directors Association (PHADA). Ed Hinojosa, Senior VP of Administration/Chief Financial Officer(CFO)     Ed Hinojosa, Sr. Vice President Administration and CFO, draws on an extensive international and local finance and consulting background to direct the San Antonio Housing Authority's financial and administrative operations. Prior to joining the agency, Mr. Hinojosa held several positions of increasing responsibility during his 11-year tenure at Cargill, an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and industrial products.    From 1982 to 1992, Mr. Hinojosa held a series of progressively responsible positions at various companies, including plant controller, treasury, cost accounting and financial roles at A.E. Stanley, a processing subsidiary of Tate & Lyle; and Wornick Company, a privately held government contracting and consumer products company.    Mr. Hinojosa is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Texas, Pan American, where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting, and did additional graduate work in business administration. He also completed a one-year accelerated leadership development program, and is a member of the Financial Executives International and the Institute of Management Accountants. Deborah Flach, Senior V P of Operations    Deborah Flach has risen through the ranks of the San Antonio Housing Authority to fill her key role as Vice President of Operations.     A nine-year agency veteran, Ms. Flach began her career with SAHA in 1996, after ten years with the Bexar County Housing Authority. Her assisted housing experience and strong real estate background made for a natural fit with SAHA, and Ms. Flach joined the agency as a supervisory contract coordinator.     During her SAHA career, Ms. Flach has served as deputy vice president for leased housing and housing assistance operations manager, as well as her current roles.     Ms. Flach holds a Texas Real Estate license, and holds certifications in Section 8, public housing and apartment management. She attended Wayland Baptist University and San Antonio College, and is a member of the Texas Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the San Antonio Board of Realtors, the San Antonio Apartment Association and the San Antonio Board of Realtors Property Management Committee Timothy Alcott, Chief Legal Officer    Timothy Alcott joined SAHA in October 2005 after having practiced law in several Houston-area firms where he specialized in real estate and construction law. In private practice, Mr. Alcott represented builders, subcontractors, and suppliers in hundreds of litigation matters involving real property and construction contracts, and he also has experience in contract law, negotiating and reviewing contracts, and regulatory and employment matters.     Alcott received a bachelor of business degree in accounting from St. Mary's University, and a juris doctorate degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, and is affiliated with the U.S. District Court in the Southern and Northern Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth District, the Greater Houston Builders Association, and the Houston Construction Law Association.