Leadership

Ernesto Tinoco currently serves as Board Chair of the Argentine Neighborhood Development Association, guiding the organization's mission to strengthen and revitalize the Argentine neighborhood through affordable housing, community development, and resident-focused programming.

When Ernesto stepped into the role, his focus was on keeping ANDA alive and financially sound. He stabilized the organization by cutting costs and bringing in key service providers, including partnering with Young Management Corporation to oversee day-to-day operations at Simmons Senior Housing, ANDA's affordable housing community for elderly and disabled residents in Argentine. That stability allowed ANDA to continue its core mission of turning renters into homeowners, selling homes back to residents who had been renting them and returning over $400,000 in equity directly into the pockets of Argentine families.

Now he's leading ANDA into its next chapter: rebuilding the board, bringing in new leadership, and continuing to revitalize Argentine through new housing developments and community projects.

A Kansas City-based real estate professional licensed in Kansas and Missouri since 2010, Ernesto brings more than 15 years of experience in housing, property management, and community-level economic development to the role. He began his career as a wholesaler and property manager before transitioning to full-time real estate work in 2014, giving him a ground-level understanding of the housing challenges facing working families.

Rob is a highly qualified development professional. Rob spent 19 years working for the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County as the Director of Planning or Director of Development Coordination and Customer Service Success. In the later role he was essentially the fixer for any issues that came up in the development process for applicants. As the go to person in all things development from preapplication meetings to final certificate of occupancy and post development issues he spoke for the County Administrator.

Almost all developments require some sort of public process. From neighborhood issues to staff and elected official communication to public presentations, the ability to navigate these communications is critical to your success. Rob is an expert in public process.

After earning a master’s degree in urban and regional planning emphasizing housing and economic development from the University of Kansas, Rob spent more than 30 years in the development and planning field. His career included work for a boutique land use law firm's planning group, a huge AEP firm, small businesses, small and mid- sized cities, personal development projects and business groups. This breadth of experience in the planning and development field is rare. The variety of perspectives from City Planning Director to developer and developer’s representative gives Rob the unique ability to see situations from all relevant angles.

Richard has served on the board since 2016 and is President of RER Services Inc.

Ben Allers brings more than 50 years of architectural experience, with a focus on housing, adaptive reuse, affordable development, and community-centered design. He began his career in London, England, converting Victorian houses into short-term rental flats and contributing to a range of commercial projects. Travel throughout Europe, along with prior university study in Germany, broadened his understanding of how people live and work together across cultures.

Housing became an early and lasting area of interest when Ben moved to Iowa and helped direct the creation of a planned community on 500 acres directly north of Des Moines. The “Live-Work-Play” concept offered a progression from start-up apartment living to attached ownership and single-family housing, allowing residents to expand their living arrangements as their families grew. Commercial buildings were constructed along a parkway overlooking a proposed golf course in the river valley on the neighborhood’s western edge. Green Meadows eventually became home to 3,200 residents and later expanded onto adjacent property.

During his later years in Des Moines, Ben became involved in early Low-Income Housing Tax Credit opportunities and formed a team with several nonprofit organizations to build affordable apartments across Iowa. The work included both school-building repurposing and new construction. All projects emphasized energy conservation, and several received awards for reduced energy use.

Alongside these apartment projects, Ben’s firm designed 120 single-family houses, including work for the City Public Housing Authority and nonprofit organizations. Ben’s related company, Affordable Housing Consortium, designed and built 10 houses in transitional neighborhoods and sold them to qualified families earning 80% of area median income.

After moving to Kansas City to join larger design firms, Ben returned to housing work by providing services for the Neighborhood Housing Authority and beginning a 20-year relationship with City Union Mission. This work advanced concepts for transitional living for graduates of life-renewing programs reentering society. Project types included overnight facility updates, multiunit apartments, garden apartments, small group facilities, and single-family housing.

The Argentine Neighborhood Development Association has provided a valuable opportunity for Ben to apply his affordable housing experience to families in need of stable housing options. His work has helped refine the existing housing program and expand it to include construction on vacant lots within the organization’s portfolio, benefiting the broader Argentine neighborhood.

Jan Thomas has proudly called Argentine home since 2008 and has served on the ANDA Board since 2010. Passionate about her community and its continued growth, Jan also serves on the planning committee for Silver City Days.

Professionally, Jan serves as the Director of Student Services at Hogan Preparatory Academy, where she is dedicated to supporting students and families. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University and serves with the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

Jan is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. Her commitment to education, service, and community reflects her passion for creating opportunities, strengthening connections, and making a positive impact in the lives of others.