Commissioner Lara announces appointments to the COIN Advisory Board

News: 2023 Press Release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today announced several appointments to help drive forward the California Department of Insurance’s mission to safeguard the integrity of the insurance market, comprised of consumers, homeowners, and business owners. These appointments include naming Gina Zapanta and Vanessa Delgado as the newest members to the California Organized Investment Network (COIN) Advisory Board, as well as reappointing existing member Doug Bystry.

“Our goal is to protect the California insurance market with every tool we have available,” said Commissioner Lara. “Each of these appointees share my passion and commitment. They are eager to get to work, share their expertise, and drive forward our shared goal of protecting California consumers and ensuring a competitive insurance market for all Californians.”

The California Organized Investment Network (COIN) was established in 1996 within the Department of Insurance to guide insurers on making financially sound investments that yield environmental benefits throughout California and social benefits within the State’s underserved communities. Commissioner Lara has prioritized COIN investments which drive affordable housing, support small businesses, combat climate change, and encourage investors to utilize diverse investment managers more. The COIN Advisory Board provides guidance to the Commissioner and the COIN program to meet its mission and chief priorities.

The next COIN Advisory Board meeting will be held in the spring of 2024. More details are available at: www.insurance.ca.gov/boards. These positions are uncompensated.

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Media Notes:

Appointed members are:

Doug Bystry is the President and CEO of the Clearinghouse CDFI, one of the largest community development financial institutions in the nation. Clearinghouse CDFI was the first CDFI selected for the inaugural round of the CDFI Fund Bond Guaranty Program and the first to deploy $100 million. Bystry has been providing financial services to low-income communities for over 25 years and has successfully raised and deployed over $1 billion in his career. He serves on the Board of Directors for Affordable Housing Clearinghouse as well as Mary Erickson Community Housing. Bystry has been reappointed to the COIN Advisory Board in the community development financial institution representative seat, with a term ending on November 16, 2025.

Gina Zapanta is Co-Founder of Z.A. Lawyers, a workers’ compensation firm. As an appointed trustee on the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association’s Board of Retirement, she has adjudicated injured worker’s claims and advocated for employees and injured people.. Zapanta is President of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Louisiana, and serves on the USC Latino Alumni Association Executive Advisory Board, Loyola Law School Board of Directors, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Latina Lawyers Bar Association Advisory Board. Zapanta joins the COIN Advisory Board in the attorney practicing insurance law representative seat, with a term ending on November 16, 2025.

Vanessa Delgado is President of Azure Development, which creates, designs, and builds housing communities and commercial projects throughout the Southwest. Her firm specializes in public-private partnerships, land use and entitlements, mixed-used development, and brownfield redevelopment. Delgado was elected to the City Council of the City of Montebello in 2015 and served as the Mayor in 2017. In 2018, she was elected to serve as a State Senator for District 32 and completed a short-term. She is also the Board Chair of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.. Delgado joins the COIN Advisory Board in the local economic development practitioner representative seat, with a term ending on November 16, 2025.