BCHA Board of Commissioners and Staff
BCHA is governed by the following members of the Board of Commissioners. Each Commissioner serves a five-year term. Decision-making regarding BCHA programs, policies, and other responsibilities are ultimately directed by the BCHA Board of Commissioners. Any grievance or exception requests are also reviewed by the Board.
keith perry | chair, Represents the city of ketchum
Keith joined the Blaine County Housing Authority in 2022. Keith Perry has been an advocate of workforce housing for decades. As the owner of Perry's restaurant in Ketchum and someone who was able to purchase affordable units in the 1990’s to rent to his employees, he personally knows how critical it is to have affordable housing for our workforce: "Without a local workforce in the community we don’t have a community".
Keith has had extensive experience in local housing and local recreation issues. He served on the Ketchum Housing Authority in the 1980’s, then on the Blaine County Recreation Board. He brings his knowledge of Idaho state laws, budgeting, how to govern and open meeting requirements to the BCHA Board as well as his experience in business management and public policy to the BCHA Board.
Keith has had extensive experience in local housing and local recreation issues. He served on the Ketchum Housing Authority in the 1980’s, then on the Blaine County Recreation Board. He brings his knowledge of Idaho state laws, budgeting, how to govern and open meeting requirements to the BCHA Board as well as his experience in business management and public policy to the BCHA Board.
SARAH SEPPA | VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
Sarah Seppa moved to the Wood River Valley in 2002. From 2008-2013 she lived in Seattle and completed her graduate degree in Nutrition Science. She moved back to the Wood River Valley in 2013 to work for St. Luke’s as a dietitian. In May of 2022 Sarah took over as the manager of the Center for Community Health in the Hailey St. Luke’s clinic. In this role she can see the impact that lack of affordable housing has on the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Blaine County and is excited to learn more about, educate community members, and advocate for affordable housing as a member of the Blaine County Housing Authority Board. She enjoys recreating in our beautiful valley and the surrounding areas. She lives in Hailey with her husband and 2 children.
jENNIFER RANGEL | REPRESENTS BLAINE COUNTY
Jennifer was born in Jerome and raised in the Wood River Valley along with two younger siblings. Upon graduating from Wood River High School, she attended University of Idaho and studied Sociology. Furthermore, after returning to Blaine County, my interest in public policy grew and she wanted to get involved in the community. At the age of 25, Jennifer became the first Latina on Bellevue City Council and was able to provide insight to community needs. Recently, she’s also had the opportunity to participate in the citizens committee of the Yes for Housing and Air local option tax.
Currently, Jennifer is a part of the case management team at The Hunger Coalition. Her combined experiences have allowed me to connect and work with community members at different scopes, some who are housing insecure due to the affordable housing crisis.
Currently, Jennifer is a part of the case management team at The Hunger Coalition. Her combined experiences have allowed me to connect and work with community members at different scopes, some who are housing insecure due to the affordable housing crisis.
ANA Torres | REPRESENTS THe City of BELLEVUE
Ana Torres joined the Blaine County Housing Authority in 2024. She has been a Wood River Valley resident since 1994. She is a Wood River graduate and attended Boise State University, graduating with a B.A. in Business Administration. She is currently the mortgage broker and owner of Mortgage Solutions and has been proudly serving the real estate community since 2004.
Throughout the years in the business, Ana has had the opportunity to see BCHA carry out their mission in providing solutions for community housing in Blaine County. She is passionate about the housing opportunities through BCHA and is looking forward in being part of the positive impact for our community.
Throughout the years in the business, Ana has had the opportunity to see BCHA carry out their mission in providing solutions for community housing in Blaine County. She is passionate about the housing opportunities through BCHA and is looking forward in being part of the positive impact for our community.
LIAISONS
BCHA Liaisons represent their respective jurisdictions of Blaine County, alongside a county representative.
commissioner Muffy davis | REPRESENTS Blaine county
Muffy Davis grew up in Blaine County, graduated from Wood River High school, and went on to Stanford University where she earned her degree with a specialization in disability studies. Muffy is a Summer and Winter Paralympic Games athlete, achieving seven Paralympic medals. Muffy is an inductee of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame and Sun Valley’s Ski Hall of Fame. In 2017, Muffy was elected to the International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board. She has also served on boards of the UCI Para Cycling Commission, the IPC Women in Sports Commission and Higher Ground’s Advisory Board. In 2016 Muffy returned with her family to the Wood River community where she presently serves as a Blaine County Commissioner and formerly, as an Idaho State Representative. Her inspirations to become a public servant include health care, women’s rights, protecting our public lands and outdoor recreation, and reducing the Medicaid coverage gap.
city administrator Lisa horowitz | REPRESENTS THe City of hailey
Lisa Horowitz has twenty years community development experience in local government and the private sector including strategic planning, staff supervision, budgeting and fiscal management, leadership and mentoring, long range project development and oversight, urban renewal, land use planning, all aspects of the entitlement process, contract management, zoning, code preparation and implementation, downtown redevelopment, urban design grant writing, and landscape design. For seven years, Lisa served as Ketchum’s Community and Economic Development Director. Since 2015, Lisa served as the city of Hailey's Community Development Director. In 2022, Lisa was named the City of Hailey's City Administrator.
councilmember Jessica Obenauf | REPRESENTS THe City of BEllevue
Jessica Obenauf currently serves on the Bellevue City Council. Growing up in a small Washington town instilled in her the importance of community. After nearly two decades in Seattle, she relocated to Idaho with her family in 2021. Witnessing the displacement caused by rising housing costs in Seattle sparked a passion for affordable housing advocacy. A University of Washington communications graduate, she's been actively involved in housing issues since 2014, driven by a desire to ensure everyone has a secure and welcoming place to call home.
councilmember Tripp Hutchinson | REPRESENTS THe City of ketchum
Coming soon.
STAFF & CONTRACTORS
On February 21, 2023, BCHA and the City of Ketchum entered into a contract for services whereby the City of Ketchum staffs BCHA. The City's Housing, Finance, Clerk, Communications, Administration, and IT teams all dedicate - and track - time to fulfilling BCHA's day-to-day responsibilities, lending to greater efficiencies and cost-savings in BCHA's programs.
Access the Contract for Services here.
Access the Contract for Services here.
carissa connelly | housing director
Carissa Connelly is the Housing Director for the Blaine County Housing Authority and the City of Ketchum, Idaho, and where she manages the development of - and leads implementation on - Blaine County’s and Ketchum’s comprehensive Housing Action Plans. Carissa also worked at Georgia’s Housing Finance Agency where she improved housing policies and managed and reviewed the underwriting, market studies, relocation plans, and environmental studies in applications for low-income housing tax credits. She has conducted strategic planning for a range of social impact startups in Montreal, the Philippines, Nepal, and Nicaragua. Carissa earned a dual master’s from Harvard University in Urban Planning and in Real Estate. She grew up in the Wood River Valley and is thrilled to be home with family and amazing outdoor access.
HEATHER NICOLAI | OPERATIONS MANAGER
Coming soon.
RIAN ROONEY | HOUSING program & policy strategist
Rian Rooney works in planning and housing policy for western mountain communities. Prior to his role as Housing Strategist for the City of Ketchum, Rian worked in Jackson Hole as a long-range planner for Teton County, Wyoming. He has a master's degree in urban planning. Originally from the East Coast, Rian currently lives in New York City.
Daniel Brown | Program Administrator & Property Manager
Daniel Brown has been an active member of the Wood River Valley community since 2019, contributing to various local nonprofits in his work and volunteer involvement. His efforts have focused on initiatives such as providing access to recreation for individuals with disabilities, supporting mental well being and volunteer trail stewardship. Since 2021, Daniel has been engaged in housing initiatives in the area and he is now excited to contribute to BCHA's work in a full-time capacity.
JackLyn Highfill | administrative assistant
Coming soon.
liz vargas | bilingual Program Administrator
Liz Vargas grew up in Blaine County, graduated from Wood River High School and went to the College of Southern Idaho. Liz has been working in the healthcare industry since 2018, initially starting her healthcare career at St. Lukes Wood River and later relocated to a private clinic in Ketchum in 2021. Her passion for advocacy and love for her community lead her to get involved with BCHA. On her free time Liz enjoys outdoor running, reading, and spending time with her family (5YO daughter and husband).
BRI ZAK | Leasing and Sales Manager & Program Consultant
Bri Zak is an Idaho native and is excited to be back in Idaho after completing her MBA at the University of Utah. She has a diverse background including working as a project manager for the New Zealand government, improving medical treatment and outcomes for underserved and at-risk heart disease patients at a Fortune 500 medical device company, performing cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and interviewing individuals and families for the Census Bureau. She enjoys connecting with people from mixed backgrounds, improving processes, and digging through data and is bringing her diverse skill set and experiences to BCHA.
ann sandefer | compliance contractor (PART-TIME)
Ann served as the Program Administrator with BCHA from June of 2019 until March of 2022 transitioning to a part-time role as an independent contractor to assist with training of Program Administrators and as a compliance consultant. Prior to her work at BCHA, Ann was in Property Management in Seattle and Northern California for the Multi-Family industry for 23 years. Her previous career spanned 20 years providing Case Management services for various Mental Health, Developmentally Disabled and Elder Abuse agencies in Illinois and Indiana including being a liaison with local housing authorities. In her spare time Ann enjoys music concerts, traveling, hiking and taking in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.