For Camlo Looper, making a difference isn’t just a career choice — it’s a calling shaped by life experience, family values, and a deep belief that success is measured by the lives you touch, not the wealth you accumulate.
Camlo grew up surrounded by examples of resilience and hard work. His grandmother, a determined businesswoman, survived the Great Depression and raised two daughters during the 1950s — a time when women had few economic opportunities. Through grit and sacrifice, she built a life for her family, turning her creativity and work ethic into financial stability. Camlo credits her as one of his greatest inspirations, a reminder that real success isn’t found on magazine covers but in the untold stories of everyday heroes.
Educational Opportunities Offer Challenges, Life Lessons
His own story began to take shape thanks to the support of San Francisco’s Access to Higher Education program, led by Gloria Davis. With her help, Camlo earned a partial scholarship to Deerfield Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Massachusetts. His father, Leroy Looper, recognized how significant that opportunity was — not just as an acknowledgment of Camlo’s potential, but as proof that diversity and inclusion programs can change lives.
From Deerfield, Camlo Looper’s educational journey took him even farther — all the way to South Africa, where he attended another top-tier school. There, a short walk one day revealed a stark contrast: a nearby elementary school where passionate teachers and eager students lacked even the most basic resources. Camlo didn’t hesitate. He organized a fundraiser, providing school supplies, tuition support for the students, and even a coffee maker for the teachers. “I wanted to keep my promise to that teacher,” he says. It’s a small gesture, but one that reflects his lifelong belief that real change often starts with showing up and following through.
Despite these achievements, Camlo’s path wasn’t always smooth. He missed his family and friends back home, but his persistence paid off: he took the SAT multiple times and eventually earned a National Merit award for his English score. The discipline and independence he gained living away from home — first as a young teenager for boarding school, then halfway across the globe as a young man — would shape his approach to life and leadership.
Today, Camlo channels those lessons into his role as Senior Associate Director of Property Management at San Francisco’s Tenderloin Housing Clinic (THC), the city’s premier nonprofit housing provider. Since 1980, THC has been dedicated to supporting low-income and formerly homeless individuals. Its team of 340 professionals provides permanent housing for over 2,000 adults across 22 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels, offers money management services, fights unjust evictions, and delivers life-changing support to San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents.
Camlo Looper did not start out working in the nonprofit world. After completing his studies, he founded a company that combined his passion for the decorative arts with historically accurate restoration. He also became a licensed real estate agent and spent several years working with a Chicago-based resort development firm. That experience eventually led him to a role as Director of Sales at a San Francisco startup.
After several years in the private sector, Camlo realized something was missing. “I felt uninspired and empty inside,” he recalls. He decided to take two years off to reflect on his purpose. During that time of introspection, he was led to THC, where he’s remained ever since — driven by a mission to make a tangible difference.
Life’s Rewards Lie in Helping Others; Leading by Example
One of Camlo Looper’s proudest moments at THC came when he helped reunite a mother with her son — two people who hadn’t seen each other in 40 years and weren’t even sure if the other was alive. “Life’s true rewards often lie not in what we gain, but in what we offer to others,” Camlo reflects. That reunion wasn’t just about two people — it was a reminder that connection, hope, and closure can ripple outward, touching families and communities.
Camlo believes true leadership happens when no one’s watching. He mentors his team at THC, fostering their growth and guiding them through challenges. Watching each of his four associates develop their careers has been one of his most fulfilling professional achievements.
“I believe that you must lead by example. I heard once in an interview a person say that leadership is being a leader when no one is looking and that resonated with me and I try to embody that in my day to day work life. I believe in mentorship and helping people get ahead and I’m a firm believer that when you make an impact on a person’s life for the better that there is a ripple effect that can be felt not just by that person, but also their immediate family and their neighborhood or social network.”
As for role models, Camlo holds in high regard those who give without fanfare —philanthropists Mackenzie Scott and Melinda Gates, who’ve used their resources to create real, measurable change. “The world often glorifies CEOs and billionaires,” Camlo observes, “but many of those industries are propped up by taxpayer subsidies. No one subsidized my grandmother — she earned everything through determination and sacrifice.”
Building a Personal Life With the Same Intention and Dedication
In his personal life, Camlo applies the same thoughtful dedication. He’s proud of the 19-year relationship he shares with his partner and the family they’ve built together. He relates that they made intentional choices — from deciding what job or career to pursue to how you spend the time you have left over at the end of the day – A testament to the value he places on planning and responsibility. Looking back, the advice Camlo would give his younger self is: dreaming is good, but action turns dreams into reality. “You have to take that first concrete step — write it down, schedule the meeting, make the deposit — do something to get closer to your goal.”
For Camlo Looper, success isn’t about having your name on a building or making headlines. It’s about the everyday, often invisible, impact — mentoring a colleague, reuniting families, housing those in need. It’s about showing up, standing on integrity, and choosing the harder but more meaningful path.
In the end, Camlo Looper’s story is one of perseverance, integrity, and impact — proof that true success isn’t measured by wealth, but by the lives we uplift along the way.