Avin Sharma
Chair
Dr. Avin Sharma was born in the Fiji Islands and migrated to US at the age of 15. Since then he’s become a resident of South San Francisco, married with two daughters. He possess a Doctorate in Finance and is employed in Academia. He is a volunteer member in South San Francisco Unified School District’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He enjoys playing soccer (huge Arsenal fan).
John Rivas
Commissioner
John Rivas immigrated to the US from El Salvador when he was 14 and has worked as a Chef since he was 18, working his way up to Executive Chef, a position he held at various restaurants spanning a 35+ year career. During that time, he also went back to school to earn a degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, which he used to help treat struggling addicts in his community by volunteering in the Bay Area as a counselor for DUI treatment programs. He is a fan of the 49ers, the Giants, the Golden State Warriors, and the Earthquakes soccer team.
Luis Mercado
Commissioner
Luis knows enough about Carl Fog to know that it does not stay in the city and rolls in early evening cooling down his side of South San Francisco. Even though he has lived mostly in CA for most of his life, his two children, (one boy and one girl) have lived in South San Francisco their entire lives. Luis believes that every person can have an impact on making a community better for the next generation to come, which makes a community thrive. Professionally, Luis is employed in the Financial Services industry and has been partnering with individuals and businesses with investment education, to develop a financial plan that will help them work toward their financial goals. As a husband and father residing with his family in South San Francisco, he is passionate about humane treatment of individuals and families looking to live their best life and have affordable housing and care. He has been an active volunteer working with various nonprofit groups and providing education in his areas of expertise while also learning more skills to be of better use with labor like electrical and carpentry work.
Toni Powell
Commissioner
Toni Powell has loved being a SSF resident for over 20 years and joined the Board because of an intense desire to become more active in her town. She has been a Juvenile Probation Officer for over 30 years and is a member of several Non-Profit Youth-focused organization as she believes they are our future and must be supported and nurtured. Together with her husband, the Late Rev. Earl Powell Jr. she has raised 3 sons in the South San Francisco community and looks forward to being even more active as opportunities arise.
Demetria Vong-Spillan
Commissioner
Demetria Vong-Spillan has served as a Commissioner of the South San Francisco Housing Authority since 2017. She has lived in South San Francisco for over 20 years and is an active volunteer in Girl Scouts, as well as a member of the Board of the Justice & Diversity Center.
Nestor Nuñez
Commissioner
Nestor was born in the Philippines where he obtained his college degree and CPA certification. He started his California experience in 1971 when his employer’s scholarship program sent him to UC Berkley, after which for 3 years, he worked/trained for Haskins & Sells, Los Angeles, during which period he passed the California CPA exams. Upon return to Manila, he was thereafter transferred by his employer to its member firm in Malaysia, where he also became an examiner for Malaysian CPAs. He then immigrated back to the U.S. in 1989. Nestor’s work in finance and accounting areas over 25 years for housing nonprofits has impressed on him the critical need in the Bay Area for affordable rental and for-sale housing. Nestor is an active officer and volunteer for 3 nonprofits.
Marwan Rashid
Vice-Chair
Marwan Rashid was born and raised in Kuwait. He migrated to South San Francisco at the age of eighteen. There, his family exposed him to the American Dream in which he cherished seeing individuals work hard and help their community. Throughout his career, he worked as a Taxicab Driver for almost twenty-five years and was a lead cook for a local restaurant owner. In his spare time, Marwan loves watching the Giants, 49ers, Golden State Warriors, and cooking for his family. In addition, his love for his city continues with volunteering for the South San Francisco Police Department, Fire Department, and tenants within his community.
Leah Taylor
Executive Director
Leah has over 15 years in Public Housing, Transportation & Government Affairs. As the former Director of a very large Labor Organization SEIU Local 1021, Leah represented and negotiated labor contracts for multiple Public Housing Authorities including SFHA, Oakland Housing, HACA, Marin Housing just to name a few. Leah served as Chief Negotiator on the 2013 BART Contract and was credited for closing the contract that brought an end to a week long labor strike. Leah has written & supported numerous grants and bond measures bringing over 52 million dollars to underserved communities and school districts.
On her free time she is an avid golfer.
