Lucetta “Lucy” Dunn won’t be the 2005 CBIA President after all. Instead, the Orange County homebuilder has taken on another major challenge – Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Dunn, 51, was selected in May by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to head HCD and began her duties on June 1. She was previously the executive vice president of Hearthside Homes, where she served as the team leader for the 1,600-acre Bolsa Chica residential/wetlands restoration plan. Dunn also was Vice President of CBIA.
2004 CBIA President Sherm Harmer said the Association’s loss is the State’s gain.
“Lucy is a dedicated and enthusiastic supporter of homebuilding and will be a vocal advocate within the Administration to support policies that will help our industry build the new homes and apartments that our growing population needs,” Harmer said. “While we’ll miss her leadership in CBIA, her appointment is good news indeed for California families looking to buy homes.”
Dunn is the second major housing advocate named to a top State post by Schwarzenegger. Sunne Wright McPeak, Secretary of the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency – which oversees HCD, among several other departments – strongly supported the need for new housing as head of the Bay Area Council, which is a member of the Job-Center Housing Coalition, along with CBIA.
In making the HCD appointment, Schwarzenegger said Dunn was a perfect fit for the job.
“Lucy’s experience in the housing industry, and her history of support for solutions that benefit the broader community, make her an ideal choice to direct our efforts to address California’s pressing development needs,” the Governor said.
Dunn, in accepting the appointment, said she was looking forward to her new role.
“I am grateful that Governor Schwarzenegger has given me this opportunity to serve the people of California in this capacity,” Dunn said. “The State faces many challenges as we seek to mitigate housing shortages while balancing the need for intelligent planning and environmental stewardship, and I look forward to getting started.”
Dunn has been an active BIA member and leader for many years. In 1998, she was honored for her work as Secretary/Treasurer of the BIA of Southern California and in 1999 received the coveted “Ruby Slipper” award from BIASC’s Orange County chapter.
She served as BIASC’s President in 2001 and was elected CBIA Treasurer/Secretary in 2002 and CBIA Vice President in 2003. She also has been an active member of the Public Affairs Committee and was Chair of the Committee at the time of her appointment to HCD.
Before joining Hearthside, Dunn was senior vice president in charge of development for the Southern California division of the Koll Company and previously was a member of the board of directors, senior vice president, and general counsel for Signal Landmark.
After earning her Juris Doctor from Western State University, College of Law, Dunn managed her own law firm from 1981 to 1987. She is a member in good standing with the California State Bar and Orange County Bar Association, as well as admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal district courts.