Biography of Rhonda F. Harris
Real Estate Developer, General Contractor and Community Improvement Advocate Rhonda F. Harris is the CEO of R.F. & Associates Inc. (RFA), a full-service development firm with a strong reputation for mobilizing community stakeholders to collaborate on ventures that promote sustainable development in
West Contra Costa County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Established in 2000, RFA purchases and renovates distressed properties. With a portfolio of over $8 million in business activity, the developer/contractor has acted as a catalyst for community revitalization, effectively coordinating and uniting local residents, municipalities, lenders, brokers, insurers and subcontractors to reduce blight and stimulate home ownership and economic development in the region’s urban areas.
A native of San Francisco, Rhonda Harris has lived in Richmond for over 33 years. She purchased her first home in Richmond when she was 22, and her first investment property at the age of 23. As a dedicated community servant, she is committed to working with any organization or individual for the betterment of Richmond. Rhonda Harris has a long history of fighting for the interests of Richmond residents and has gained the respect of thousands of residents from a cross-section of the City by taking action and producing results in several key areas of concern,
including:
Housing & Neighborhood Safety:
To deal with blight and the lack of affordable housing in her immediate neighborhood and ther communities in Richmond, Rhonda Harris founded H&H Builders in August, 2004. H&H has transformed previously garbage-strewn abandoned lots and drug-infested, abandoned houses and transformed them into low-income housing developments.
Business Opportunity:
To address the lack of business opportunities for small local contractors, Rhonda Harris established the Contractor’s Alliance of Richmond (CAR) in 2005. The CAR has played a key role in the adoption and enforcement of Richmond’s “Business Opportunity Ordinance” and the “Local Employment Ordinance”.
Green Building & Environmental Sustainability:
An early supporter of Richmond’s evolving “Green Building Initiatives”, Rhonda Harris takes every opportunity to educate and inform renters, homeowners, businesses and contractors about the benefits of using energy efficient products, recycling, solar energy and other environmentally friendly methods that foster conservation and the efficient use of our natural resources.
Employment & Training:
To address the high unemployment and violence among youth and the demand for additional job training resources, Rhonda Harris co-founded the Richmond Community Based Employment Collaborative in September, 2008.
Civil Servant & Leader:
To unite Richmond residents, businesses, Labor Unions, non-profits, faith-based groups, and public officials around issues of mutual concern.
Rhonda Harris recently announced her candidacy for a seat on the Richmond City Council in 2010.
A well-respected civic leader in Richmond, Rhonda Harris currently serves as a:
A strong believer in “family first”, Rhonda Harris manages to spend quality time with her three daughters, two grandchildren and the greatest mother one could ask for.
Rhonda Harris attended San Francisco City College and Contra Costa College with studies in Liberal Arts and Teaching. She has received certification as a State of California Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and as a Contra Costa County Small Business, Minority Business, Woman-Owned Business, and Local Business Enterprise.
West Contra Costa County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Established in 2000, RFA purchases and renovates distressed properties. With a portfolio of over $8 million in business activity, the developer/contractor has acted as a catalyst for community revitalization, effectively coordinating and uniting local residents, municipalities, lenders, brokers, insurers and subcontractors to reduce blight and stimulate home ownership and economic development in the region’s urban areas.
A native of San Francisco, Rhonda Harris has lived in Richmond for over 33 years. She purchased her first home in Richmond when she was 22, and her first investment property at the age of 23. As a dedicated community servant, she is committed to working with any organization or individual for the betterment of Richmond. Rhonda Harris has a long history of fighting for the interests of Richmond residents and has gained the respect of thousands of residents from a cross-section of the City by taking action and producing results in several key areas of concern,
including:
Housing & Neighborhood Safety:
To deal with blight and the lack of affordable housing in her immediate neighborhood and ther communities in Richmond, Rhonda Harris founded H&H Builders in August, 2004. H&H has transformed previously garbage-strewn abandoned lots and drug-infested, abandoned houses and transformed them into low-income housing developments.
Business Opportunity:
To address the lack of business opportunities for small local contractors, Rhonda Harris established the Contractor’s Alliance of Richmond (CAR) in 2005. The CAR has played a key role in the adoption and enforcement of Richmond’s “Business Opportunity Ordinance” and the “Local Employment Ordinance”.
Green Building & Environmental Sustainability:
An early supporter of Richmond’s evolving “Green Building Initiatives”, Rhonda Harris takes every opportunity to educate and inform renters, homeowners, businesses and contractors about the benefits of using energy efficient products, recycling, solar energy and other environmentally friendly methods that foster conservation and the efficient use of our natural resources.
Employment & Training:
To address the high unemployment and violence among youth and the demand for additional job training resources, Rhonda Harris co-founded the Richmond Community Based Employment Collaborative in September, 2008.
Civil Servant & Leader:
To unite Richmond residents, businesses, Labor Unions, non-profits, faith-based groups, and public officials around issues of mutual concern.
Rhonda Harris recently announced her candidacy for a seat on the Richmond City Council in 2010.
A well-respected civic leader in Richmond, Rhonda Harris currently serves as a:
- Commissioner on the Community Development Block Grant Commission
- President of the Contractors’ Alliance of Richmond
- Executive Director of the Richmond Community-Based Employment Collaborative
- Vice President of the Santa Fe Neighborhood Council
- Member of the Richmond Branch of the NAACP
- Steering Committee Member of Richmond Groundworks
- Member of the Richmond Rotary Club
- Member of the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council
- Member of the Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA)
A strong believer in “family first”, Rhonda Harris manages to spend quality time with her three daughters, two grandchildren and the greatest mother one could ask for.
Rhonda Harris attended San Francisco City College and Contra Costa College with studies in Liberal Arts and Teaching. She has received certification as a State of California Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and as a Contra Costa County Small Business, Minority Business, Woman-Owned Business, and Local Business Enterprise.
