September 19, 2022 – CALEXICO CHRONICLE

Recognized as a Seasoned Development Officer and Community Leader, Nava Will Be Based Out of Gafcon’s Recently Opened Imperial Valley Office.

SAN DIEGO — Gafcon Inc. has appointed Victor Nava as director of strategy, development and partnerships. Nava has been serving the Imperial Valley region for over 24 years as a respected community leader, seasoned development officer, and volunteer, according to a press release.

He will be based out of Gafcon’s recently opened office in the city of Imperial and will also play a strategic role in the company’s projects in San Diego County. 

“I have had the pleasure to get to know Victor over the last year, and it is clear that he has the rare combination of business acumen, strategic thinking and a passion for making a difference in the Imperial Valley, and we are thrilled that he has accepted the role,” said Paul Najar, Gafcon’s senior vice president and general counsel.

“Victor Nava’s expertise in public-private partnerships, his success in economic development and his passion for serving the community make him an ideal candidate for this key position on our leadership team,” said Bryan Benso, Gafcon’s chief development officer. “I’m delighted to welcome Victor aboard as we advance Gafcon’s transformative projects in the vibrant and diverse communities of Southern California.”

Nava has held leadership roles in the banking industry, most recently as director of development and Public-Private-Partnerships (P3) Initiatives where he worked with the University Relations and Development Department of San Diego State University on SDSU’s Imperial Valley priorities and growth.

“I was attracted to Gafcon as an organization that builds community-first projects driven by the four P’s: purpose, people, planet and profit,” Nava said. “Gafcon’s existing and ever-growing portfolio shows the company’s vision and capacity to execute complex projects. I look forward to leading and supporting dynamic developments that will enhance the quality of life throughout the Imperial County.”

Nava is a board member of Accessity, a microlender, and an executive board member of the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is a past president of the Brawley, Holtville, Westmorland Chambers of Commerce, and the Brawley Rotary Club. He is a past board member of the Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, which is now named Innercare. He also serves as a Director of the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center and continues to work with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to bring critical small business training and resources for veterans, entrepreneurs and business that would like to expand in the Imperial Valley.

Gafcon recently broke ground on a project to complete an abandoned, half-built hotel and develop surrounding sites on 22 acres in the city of Imperial. The shell of the hotel had sat empty for years, and Gafcon is renovating the four-story, full-service hotel, bringing in the chain Cambria Hotels to serve as the brand name.

“Gafcon stepped up when no one else was willing to take a chance on the ‘ghost hotel,’ and that caught my attention,” Nava said. “It’s evident that Gafcon is committed to improving and investing in our community and I’m honored to be a part of this effort.” 

An Imperial Valley native, Nava graduated from Imperial High School and Imperial Valley College before attending the University of California, Santa Barbara as a Business Economics major.