Alameda, CA January 31, 2006 - Volunteers of America Bay Area (VOABA) has elected Ernest Clark of Seville Real Estate to be Chairman of the Bay Area affiliate's Board of Directors for a term ending in 2008.

Mr. Clark is President of Seville Real Estate in Oakland, a brokerage firm that specializes in investment real estate, commercial and residential properties in the greater Oakland area. Mr. Clark has over twenty-three years in the real estate and management business and has assisted many local nonprofits in the purchase and rehabilitation of business property for program use.  Mr. Clark currently serves as National President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers and is a member of the California Association of Real Estate Brokers.

During his twenty-year real estate career, Mr. Clark developed a conceptual framework for a California Statewide Study on Lenders Practices in 1990 and also developed The Minority Real Estate Guide that offers advice to minority buyers and sellers in the Greater Bay Area.

Mr. Clark has extensive experience in the housing industry through his participation on the Federal National Mortgage Corporation Housing Advisory Committee (Fannie Mae) and as a National Advisory Member of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

Volunteers of America Bay Area is a local affiliate of the national, nonprofit, Volunteers of America.  VOABA programs focus on low-income housing; youth academic and mentoring; HIV prevention, education and testing services; workforce training and employment; and correctional re-entry programs for parolees. It is one of the largest national nonprofit providers of quality affordable housing and last year served nearly 2 million people in need. Volunteers of America nurtures, supports and uplifts the human spirit-working with children and youth, the elderly, homeless individuals and families, and others to empower them in reaching their full potential.