Staff

Susan Riggs Tinsky , Executive Director Susan Riggs Tinsky was appointed executive director of the San Diego Housing Federation in September 2010.

Prior to joining the Federation, Tinsky was an attorney with the San Diego law firm of Best, Best & Kreiger, LLP. She specialized in affordable housing and redevelopment law. She worked for the San Diego Housing Commission from 2001-2004. In her last assignment there, she served as chief policy advisor working on public policy issues such as San Diego’s Linkage Fee, which is again under study. 

She served previously as vice president of government affairs for the San Diego Association of Realtors® and on the adjunct faculty of San Diego State University and Southwestern College where she taught housing policy and real estate economics, respectively.

Tinsky is active in a number of community and civic organizations. She is president of Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C3), former co-chair of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Housing Policy Committee, and serves on the board of WalkSanDiego. She is also participating in Sustainable San Diego’s Steering Committee. She was in the LEAD San Diego Class of 2003 and is a licensed real estate salesperson. She’s also been active in the redevelopment of the North Park community of San Diego.

Tinsky received her JD Magna cum Laude from Thomas Jefferson Law School in 2008. She holds a Masters in City Planning from SDSU where she was outstanding graduate of the year in 2002. Her BA in Spanish is from the University of Georgia-Athens.

Sean Wherley, Policy Director

Sean Wherley joined the San Diego Housing Federation as its Policy Director in September 2011.  He is responsible for planning and directing the organization’s policy positions and governmental and legislative affairs.

He brings extensive policy and communications experience to SDHF.  Prior to joining the organization, Sean served as press secretary and speechwriter for State Senator Christine Kehoe, policy director for the San Diego LGBT Community Center, and communications director for a Minneapolis-based environmental group, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness.

Sean also worked for three years in Washington, D.C, serving as a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, a legislative correspondent for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, and staff assistant for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Sean earned his B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, and hails from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. 

Doris Payne-Camp, Communications Director

Ms. Payne-Camp joined the Federation staff in March 2006. She is responsible for the Federation's internal and external communications and publications.

She has worked on housing issues in several capacities. Prior to her affiliation with the Federation, she conducted research on consumer housing preferences through Marketscape Research & Consulting, a national market research firm. She was the Executive Director of the San Diego County Apartment Association from 1991 to 1998. 

Earlier in her career, Ms. Payne-Camp served as Director of Communications for the Chicago and Oakland (CA) public schools and in several communications consulting capacities at various educational institutions. 

Ms. Payne-Camp has had an active volunteer career as well including serving as chair of the San Diego County Aging and Independence Services Advisory County, as a board member for two non-profit affordable housing communities, and as a founder of a shelter for battered women and children. In particular, she’s an advocate for affordable and accessible seniors housing.

She holds a B.A. in elementary education and a M.A. in educational public relations from Rowan University in New Jersey.  She also has a certificate in gerontology from San Diego State University.

Kelley Dukat, Events and Membership Services Director
Kelley joined the Federation staff in January 2006. She is responsible for the planning and logistics of all Federation events--the Annual Awards Event, Conference, Affordable Housing Roundtable Series, and other events, the development and management of membership services, and website updates.

Prior to joining the Federation she worked as a contract event coordinator around San Diego and as an editor with a mortgage trade magazine. She is an active volunteer for the County's central animal shelter and with the local chapter of the University of Colorado Alumni Association.

She has a B.S. degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado and a Professional Certificate in Meeting and Events Planning from San Diego State University's Extended Studies Program.

Teresa Chapman, Administrative Assistant

Teresa Chapman joined the Federation staff in December 2011. She is responsible for the administrative duties of the office.  Teresa brings over 20 years of administrative experience to the position. She is a native southern Californian and local San Diegan.  She attended James Madison High School and Mesa College.