Who We Are
CHC a nonprofit led by housing professionals committed to advancing moderate and middle-income housing on Santa Barbara’s South Coast so families can afford to live and work in the communities they serve.
Meet the Board of Directors
Our 100% volunteer board consists of industry professionals with various career backgrounds and expertise. The team meets monthly to dive into diverse topics, plan events, and brainstorm ways to further our positive impact on the community.
Jon Standring
CHC President
Founder of Beachside Partners
As President of the Coastal Housing Coalition, Jon advances housing solutions that support the Santa Barbara region’s growth and long-term vitality. He partners with public and private stakeholders to influence policy, raise awareness, and drive action on community housing. Outside of work, Jon is a devoted father who enjoys coaching his sons’ youth sports and spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their three boys—James, Jacob, and Luke Riley—embracing all that Santa Barbara has to offer.
Laura Benard
Partner at Cearnal Collective
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Laura Benard is a Partner at The Cearnal Collective, a Santa Barbara-based architecture firm, where she leads design and strategy with a focus on innovative, community-driven projects. With a B.S. in Engineering from Stanford University, she brings strong organizational and design expertise to her work. Laura is passionate about creating abundant, safe, and beautiful housing as a foundation for resilient communities, and she plays a key role in shaping her firm’s operations and long-term vision.
Barry Taugher
CHC Vice President
IT Executive & Entrepreneur​
Barry is an IT executive and serial entrepreneur with experience in Fortune 500 companies and startups, specializing in hardware, enterprise infrastructure, and internet security. For over a decade, he has focused on addressing the housing needs of Moderate- and Middle-income households on the South Coast, with an emphasis on policy development that drives meaningful change. Barry has held leadership roles in several community organizations, including Innovation in Education, Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table, Santa Barbara County Action Network, and Coastal Housing Coalition.
Ellen Bildsten
Founder of Bildsten Architecture & Planning
Ellen founded Bildsten Architecture and Planning in Santa Barbara in 2002 to address community housing needs with a focus on sustainable design. The 9-person studio handles diverse projects—educational, commercial, and housing from affordable multifamily to private homes. Committed to eco-conscious practices, they emphasize energy efficiency, site-sensitive design, and smart indoor-outdoor living. Ellen has served on the boards of CHC since 2014 and AIASB since 2008, where she was president in 2011. She continues to advocate for local housing policy.
Wes McRae
CHC Treasurer
Partner at Shoreline Street Partners
Wes McRae is a partner at Shoreline Street Partners, a real estate investment and advisory firm serving a select group of clients. He leads sourcing and execution of acquisitions, dispositions, and debt and equity placements across all major property types. In addition to his volunteer work with CHC, Wes was appointed by the Santa Barbara City Council to the Downtown Parking Committee. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration from Washington and Lee University. Wes lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and two children.
Roxana Bonderson
Founder of Power Planning Services, LLC​
Roxana is an architectural designer, urban planner, and land use expert with 20+ years in public and private sectors. She served as a City of Santa Barbara Planning Commissioner and State Street Advisory Committee member, and is affiliated with the AIA (1999) and the APA (2015). As founder of Power Planning Services, she leads sustainable city planning and development. She holds degrees from Syracuse University and Cal Poly SLO. She founded Worldhealer in 2008 to promote youth leadership and community development and she earned awards in Outstanding Leadership and Sustainable Development.
Tony Tomasello
CHC Secretary
Senior Planner at RRM Design​
Tony Tomasello is a senior planner and project manager at RRM Design Group in Santa Barbara. He manages multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial projects—from due diligence and community outreach to entitlements and compliance. Tony holds a master’s degree in planning and a certificate in real estate development from USC, and a bachelor’s in environmental studies and economics from UC Santa Cruz. He is a LEED-accredited professional and member of the American Planning Association, ULI, and Congress for New Urbanism.
Chris Guillen
Shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck​
Chris is a Shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s natural resources department. His expertise spans the intersection of land use and water law, with a particular emphasis on land use entitlements, housing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Chris relies on his unique experience to provide strategic counsel to agricultural interests, landowners, developers, and energy companies during all phases of development—from property acquisition, through litigation and construction.
Olivia Marr
Partner at Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray​
Olivia K. Marr is a partner at Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray, LLP in the Land Use and Real Estate Practice Group. She represents developers, property owners, and investors in transactions, entitlements, and compliance with CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act, and zoning laws. Olivia advises clients on easements, leasing, due diligence, and land use strategy. She previously practiced at Paul Hastings in Los Angeles, gaining extensive experience guiding development projects from design through completion.
Krista Pleiser
Chief Government Relations Officer Santa Barbara Association of Realtors
Krista Pleiser is the Chief Government Relations Officer for the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® (SBAOR) and co-founder of Smart Coast California. Ms. Pleiser started her career in Los Angeles politics, but since 2007 she’s managed SBAOR’s political and public policy activities.
Our Staff
Craig Minus
CHC Executive Director
Founder of CAM Land Use
Craig has nearly two decades of experience in real estate, urban planning, project management, and financial analysis, working in both the public and private sectors. He has played key roles in major developments across California’s Central Coast, applying his deep land use expertise. His skills include due diligence, entitlements, development, contract procurement, consultant coordination, and construction administration. Craig most recently served in an executive role at The Towbes Group, with prior experience at the Santa Barbara MTD, TrueCar, City of Buellton, and Berkus Design Studio.
Sarah Standring
CHC Executive Assistant
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Sarah Standring is an entrepreneur with a passion for marketing and a lifelong interest in leadership. She discovered the perfect blend of both while running her own small business and helping others grow theirs. Sarah is excited to be part of CHC and values the opportunity to learn and contribute alongside the team. She currently lives in Napa Valley and plans to relocate to Santa Barbara County in the near future.
Our Story
The Coastal Housing Coalition was founded in 2005 to tackle the region’s critical housing shortage and its impact on economic and environmental well-being. Building on the legacy of our sister organization, Coastal Housing Partnership (established in 1987), we advocate for workforce housing solutions that support local employees and employers. Over the years, the worsening housing crisis has threatened our community’s vitality by driving up costs, increasing commutes, and causing talented workers to leave. The Coalition champions smart, sustainable development such as promoting efficient land use, transit-accessible housing, and policy reforms to reverse this trend and secure a balanced future for the South Coast.
