As the new executive director of HRB, I'd like to introduce myself and share a little about my background.

As City Planning Director of Albuquerque, NM, a city of 500,000, I focused on neighborhood planning, preservation, a citywide bike and walking trails system, affordable housing and advocated for measures  
to reduce sprawl. I was also executive director of Sawmill Community Land Trust, one of the largest contiguous community land trusts in the country.

I recently relocated to Bainbridge Island in order to work with HRB.  With a daughter and grandkids in Seattle, this move feels like I'm coming home.  I accepted this position in part because I admire HRB for the work it has done., and, I believe it has created a worthy challenge for the Bainbridge Island community: to maintain a place on the Island for low and moderate income working people to call home.

This is a challenge that the whole Island needs to get behind.  I personally invite you to attend "Rise & Shine," our first annual fundraising breakfast which will showcase the value of HRB's work in the community.

Hope to see you there,
Ken Balizer, HRB Executive Director