#HeartofSV September 2017 Issue

September 2017

#Heartof SV

The pulse of business

Re-envisioning a Valley Icon Westfield Valley Fair Mall expansion

Advocacy to Spur Economy

At PG&E, we know that working together helps us energize each other to reach common goals.

So we proudly team with our community. Because a joint focus on the common good can produce great results.

“PG&E” refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. © 2014 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.

Working together for better results

CEOPERSPECTIVE San Jose is taking off, let’s keep the momentum going.

TABLE OF CONTENTS are set in stone. There is much work to be done.

And without consistent and convincing pro-economic development advocacy, all this too can become yet another missed opportunity for downtown San Jose.

Google recently announced its significant interest in building out a potential Google Town in the Diridon Station Area. What Matthew R. Mahood does this mean for the I told the Silicon Valley President & CEO area? The building of +8 Business Journal that we million square feet of new can ill afford to have a new office space, the re-urbanization of barrage of regulatory hurdles and under-utilized real estate and the adcommunity demands placed on the dition of 20,000 new jobs – all in the developers and construction compaheart of San Jose. nies that these projects. As a community, it is in our best interest to make On the heels of this news, Adobe San Jose attractive to developers announced its plans to add a fourth and their investors to not only attract tower in the downtown, bringing with these projects, but to get them built. it an additional 3,000 new jobs.

You see, it is simple really. DevelAdditionally, KT Urban’s 2-tower opers and their investors will always Greyhound Station project won SJ take their projects to the cities and City Council approval to build over regions where they are welcomed 700 new housing units in the downand they can make a decent financial town core. return based on the financial risk. If San Jose doesn’t provide a positive And just this month, Insight Realty’s business climate – one that provides Museum Place development—one certainty of time, cost and return on that will bring a new Kimpton hotel, investment; then those investors will condos, office space, shops and Tech take their projects to other regions Museum expansion that redefines where it will make more sense for San Jose’s urbanity. them to build. Just look at the number of cranes in the air in Denver, SeWe were there with our members attle or Austin compared to San Jose. every step of the way, advocating for the business community, working to And this premise holds true for other ensure the business climate remains industry sectors as well, not just in one that allows for such incredible downtown San Jose. That is why The momentum to continue.

SVO actively engages in pro-business, pro-economic development advocacy And while all these development Continued on next page projects are catalytic, none of them

#HeartofSV September 2017 ©2017. Published by The silicon valley organization.

The #HeartofSV celebrates our region’s business success and entrepreneurial spirit across all sectors and size of business. The SVO

represents nearly 1,400 businesses and their 300,000 employees in the greater Silicon Valley.

FEATURES Why #AdvocacyMatters

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Public policies that move businesses forward

Diverse Teams Make Stronger Businesses

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Celebrating SVO Women in August

IN EVERY ISSUE CEO Perspective

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A Message from the CEO

Member Testimonial

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Triware Network Sytems

Event Calendar

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Member Spotlight

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Westfield Valley Fair

New Members

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Program Feature:

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Study Missions SVO PAC Public Policy WG

Gallery

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Number Crunch

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Ad rates and specifications: thesvo.com/visibility-opportunities THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

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The silicon valley organization 101 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113 p: 408-291-5250 f: 408-286-5019 thesvo.com BOARD CHAIR Dan Bozzuto, Bozzuto Insurance PRESIDENT & CEO Matthew R. Mahood EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Derrick Seaver VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS Mayra Flores De Marcotte VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBER RELATIONS Kathryn Satcher SR. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY Victor Gomez SR. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOMENT Susan Ellenberg DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Kelly Peaton Designed by Elizabeth Nguyen Cover photo courtesy Westfield Valley Fair

Continued from last page

time role and into a consulting role with The SVO. In this new role, Victor will focus on the advocacy and public policy needs of our members located outside the City of San Jose, specifically on those issues that affect business in our neighboring communities.

Throughout this issue, there are examples of advocacy efforts and their results, as well as ways each and every one of our members can get involved.

And replacing Victor as the new Director of Public Policy & Advocacy is Eddie Truong, effective October 16th.

Eddie is being promoted from his role as Senior Manager of Public Policy & Workforce Development at The SVO Foundation. Previous to joining the SVO, Eddie worked at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) as a Government Relations & Education Policy Associate, and the campaign manager for both Charles “Chappie” Jones for City Council and Madison Nguyen for Mayor. Eddie has a great blend of both political and policy experience that are required in this very important role.

at all levels of government – investment in our community is paramount to our on-going regional success.

We can’t rest on our laurels of our past economic success and we can’t go it alone.

Reach out and learn more about how you can join and support us to ensure that San Jose and Silicon Valley are the best place for business.

Although we never like to see good people move on, this particular announcement has significant upside for The SVO – in both the short and long run!

Earlier this month, we announced that Victor Gomez, Senior Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, will be transitioning out of his full-

Please join me in congratulating and wishing both Victor and Eddie much success in their new roles.

(408) 436-9280 www.chreynolds.com

Call today for all your electrical and data needs!

Electrical Services Data Construction Data Center Services

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THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

Why

#AdvocacyMatters Public policies that move businesses forward

By Derrick Seaver, Executive Vice President

Decisions that are made by government at all levels – city, county, state and federal – impact not just citizens and voters, but also businesses.

Whether governmental decisions are likely to impact entrepreneurs in a positive or negative way, businesses must be active in helping to shape the conversation.

It has been often repeated that, when it comes to government, if you are not at the table, you are on the menu! Â The SVO has as a core mission representing the interest of business to government at all levels, so while you are out making, growing and expanding your enterprise, we are busy making that job a bit easier by shaping government policy to reflect probusiness initiatives that will foster, not hinder, business attraction, retention and growth.

Caltrain stopped at Dirison Station in San Jose.

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F

or Silicon Valley to continue to lead the global economy, this advocacy is critical to ensure that government does not become a roadblock to the innovation and creativity that defines our region.

ADVOCACY FOR TALENT Defending DACA The Silicon Valley Organization’s President & CEO Matthew Mahood stood alongside community and elected leaders at an early September DACA event to offer the support of the business community.

Not only is the rollback of DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy) immoral, but it is also terrible for America’s competitive economic advantage, said Derrick Seaver, Executive Vice President of The Silicon Valley Organization.

Our economic strength is our diversity; it is our greatest asset and our key difference maker. To put 800,000 Americans, whose sole ‘infraction’ was arriving here as children, on a path to lose citizenship will upend a large portion of this key strength.

Repealing DACA sends the message that America’s door to opportunity is slammed tighter, and that is not the message that Silicon Valley business leaders want our government to send to the world at a time when expanding opportunity is the key to longterm innovative success.

Now that the White House has chosen their course, we will work over the next six months with Congressional leaders to ensure they take a different one: by making DACA the permanent law of the land, Congress has the opportunity to create an immigration policy that reflects the best of American values while also strengthening our economic competitiveness.

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The SVO has long been an advocate for progressive immigration reforms at the federal level.

“We are a nation indebted to the service and ideas of immigrants. In California, immigrants make up over 33 percent of our workforce, founded some of our most successful companies, and hold an instrumental role in our agriculture, manufacturing, and service industry. Ensuring immigrants can continue to funnel their ideas and hard-work into our economy remains one of The silicon valley organization’s top policy priorities.”

Why is this issue important to Silicon Valley businesses and The SVO? According to the Center for American Progress and pro-immigration advocacy organization FWD.us, ending DACA will cost the U.S. economy about 30,000 jobs per month and the Cato Institute estimates employers will lose $2 billion and the federal government $60 billion as the result of removing DACA.

Senate Leader Visits The SVO On January 27, The SVO welcomed California State Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon. De León visited The SVO to discuss a variety of issues facing Silicon Valley and the State of California, focusing on economic growth and development, investment in clean energy, our education system and many more topics.

pollution while creating equitable access to clean energy. Along these lines, De León has successfully directed more clean-energy investments to disadvantaged communities. SB 535 (2012) requires the California Air Resources Board to spend at least 25 percent of cap-and-trade revenue to benefit low-income communities across California disproportionately impacted by pollution. This law is resulting in new transit, energy efficiency, renewable energy and affordable housing projects across the state.

De Leon discussed the importance of Obama’s executive order on immigration around DACA and the importance of protecting childhood arrivals from deportation. The SVO stands with him on this issue and will continue to support the BRIDGE Act as we understand its importance.

De Leon also discussed the importance of adding to our housing stock state-wide. The state of California’s housing stock has fallen behind the state population boom. The need for more housing has been a sensitive topic as many residents throughout the state continue to share concerns about traffic congestion and sprawl.

We were pleased to hear that this is a priority for our state leaders.

We thank the Senate leader for visiting business leaders here at The SVO. The open relationship and continued dialogue is paramount to Silicon Valley business.

ADVOCACY FOR GROWTH

Last year, de León championed sweeping new standards that double energy efficiency in buildings statewide and set California on a path to generate half of its electricity from renewable sources, all by 2030.

Google Comes to San Jose

The debate over de Leon’s SB 350, the most far-reaching climate legislation in the country, created a serious public discussion on how to adequately address climate change and severe

Currently, there’s approximately 28,000 full-time employees and 10 million square feet of active office space in downtown. The proposed Google development in the Diridon Station Area could potentially be 8

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Picture this:

million square feet and add 20,000 full-time employees to the downtown. They are also estimating it would create 7,000 daily bikers to work.

This project would literally double the size and scope of the existing downtown. Helping to facilitate this development project will change the look of downtown San Jose for decades.

Engadget is calling it Googletown since the project will be up to 5X the size of the new Apple campus.

The potential development - and investment - Google can make into the San Jose economy is significant:  20,000 jobs  Millions in tax revenue  Activation of an area of San Jose that is under utilized See an image of the parcels in question on The Mercury News here.

Read the City of San Jose’s official Diridon Station Area Plan here.

The SVO has voiced its support of the project again and again.

Just recently, our President and

CEO Matthew Mahood was quoted in the Silicon Valley Business Journal saying: “We should be rolling out the red carpet and figuring how quickly we can get the regulatory burdens out of way and get under construction,” he said. “And not just the Google project but other projects looking to downtown San Jose as a new epicenter for Silicon Valley.

We should be taking advantage of this renewed interest while the interest is high.” - Why The silicon valley organization opposed ‘local hire’ rules on San Jose’s Google deal “I think it’s paramount that we think big and think long term. If we don’t build big enough and grand enough, it’s really hard to go back and redo that.

You want to think about not just the transportation nodes of today but of the future.” - Downtown San Jose will feel Google’s ripple effect

meeting. The roughly 1.6-acre site is located at 70 S. Almaden Ave, an area of downtown San Jose in serious need of investment.

Downtown high-rise development results in some of the highest one time investment and assessed valuations both in absolute dollars and on a per acre basis. Taxpayers will benefit from impact fees that pay for City staff, parks, and affordable housing.

The new residential towers will permit the construction of 708 residential units with 13,974 square feet of ground floor retail in two high rise towers (23 and 24 stories respectively) on the subject property, will inject much needed foot traffic and the density needed to assist in sustaining.

The SVO applauds the San Jose City Council for their unanimous approval of this crucial project for downtown San Jose.

KT Urban Gains Approval For Development

ADVOCACY FOR TRANSPORTATION

KT Urban, one of Downtown San Jose’s most dedicated high-rise development firms receives approval for the former downtown San Jose Greyhound Station at a May 23 City Council

SJC: Connecting Silicon Valley to the World

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Nothing reflects economic prosperity more than a growing airport.

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The SVO team in front of the State Capital.

Read more on SJEconomy.com here.

Mineta San Jose International Airport has been flying high for the last year, attracting new international services to China, Japan, London, Canada and Germany while growing its domestic services across the board.

In May, it served more than 1 million travel customers — a milestone the local airport hasn't reached since 2007.

“The traffic figures also reflect a 17 percent increase, with 1,060,412 passengers served in May 2017, up from 906,070 in May 2016. This significant growth is expected to continue through year-end 2017 based upon SJC airlines’ published flight schedules.”

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Back in April, the airport completed an $8 million expansion of its international terminal to accommodate all this growth.

And just the month previous to that, SJC was recognized as America’s Best Run Airport. And we’ve been there every step of the way.

In fact, our organization has been a champion of Silicon Valley’s airport since the beginning. Check out this excerpt from the 1949 San Jose Business — our newsletter of the time: San Jose Municipal Airport has officially opened. Dedication of the $500,000 field was held February 1, in which Ernest H. Renzel Jr., was chairman.

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Mr. Renzel, chairman of the Chamber’s aviation committee and also chairman of the 1939 Citizens Airport Committee, arranged the dedicatory program which included speeches by leaders of military, Naval and civilian aviation. For the past 10 years, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce has aided in bringing the old airport up to CAA standards, and assisted in the dedication ceremonies in furnishing printed programs and badges for the distinguished guests. Southwest Airways has flown out of Moffett Field for nearly two years, but operations ended with the opening of the San Jose Municipal Airport and the line’s move to the new field.

State Legislative Day

AKT Urban rendering of the proposed Greyhound Towers.

On April 25, members of The SVO and staff visited Sacramento to advocate on behalf of the organization on multiple bills that would impact our members.

One bill we would like to highlight is AB 5, the Opportunity to Work Act. As you may be aware, AB 5 burdens small and large employers with a scheduling mandate that requires employers to offer additional hours of work to employees before hiring a new employee or contractor and exposes employers to multiple threats of costly litigation for technical violations that do not cause an employee any harm.

We learned just days later that only one week after our visit, AB 5 was tabled! This is a huge (temporary) win for us. We will keep our members updated of changes.

Federal Legislation Day On May 1-2, the public policy team

headed to D.C. to advocate CalTrain Electrification and the BRIDGE Act.

members of Congress and encourage their support.

CALTRAIN Efforts such as our Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP), which will put American workers and American companies to work across the nation require Federal support. We heard the President loud and clear when he requested a list of ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects and we stood prepared to break ground on the PCEP project, barring $647 million in federal grant funding.

BRIDGE ACT The BRIDGE Act is a bi-partisan effort extending the temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for nearly 750,000 young men and women under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The 47-mile corridor stretching along the Peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose, which is home to companies like Google, Facebook, Tesla, and Adobe, is indispensable to the regional economy and a healthy workforce.

The PCEP project would convert old worn down diesel rail cars to electric, bringing the railway corridor into the 21st century and employing 9,600 workers right here in the United States, so we were proud to target THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

While the BRIDGE Act does not provide a pathway to citizenship it does allow immigrants to continue contributing to the American economy. This temporary three-year legislative fix would allow hard working immigrants to continue working, paying taxes, buying homes, taking out loans, and enrolling in our education systems.

These factors translate into state revenue, increased consumer purchasing power, and a healthy, robust workforce.

Federal Approval of Caltrain Electrification a Win for Silicon Valley 8

Our efforts were rewarded on May 22 with the Federal Transit Administration announced that the San Jose-San Francisco corridor of CalTrain would be electrified as part of the signed grant agreement.

“Transportation infrastructure is a critical need for the businesses and citizens of Silicon Valley, and because of that, our public policy team made CalTrain electrification a top priority issue when they were in Washington three weeks ago representing our members to Congress,” said Matthew Mahood, President and CEO of The SVO. “Our team, on behalf of our members, met with our area’s Congressional leaders, as well as California and national leadership on both sides of the aisle advocating for this funding. We are extraordinarily pleased with this decision, and wish to congratulate our federal officials on placing sound policy over politics and doing the right thing for Silicon Valley and California’s economy.”

This news marks the approval of the $647 million needed in order to start the $1.9 billion project that will electrify the existing rail system and also purchase electric trains in order to cut commutes and raise passenger capacity.

State Legislation SB 1 Approved

Video: https://youtu.be/EqsjzqEXBug In February, The SVO Board of Directors took a position of “support” for Senator Jim Beall’s SB-1, funding for California Transportation.

California’s transportation revenues have not kept up with the need; California’s gas tax hasn’t been raised since 1994. Thus, California’s freeway system faces a $59 billion maintenance shortfall over the next 10 years, while local governments face a $78 billion shortfall for local roads, highways and bridges.

EVENT CALENDAR October 19: SVO Foundation Celebration and Fundraiser Location: Oracle

Nov. 1-3: Destination: Silicon Valley

Location: Monterey Tides Hotel, Monterey, CA

December 14: End of Year Mixer Location: Dolce Hayes Mansion Go to thesvo.com for the most upto-date event information and to register 9

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A 10-year, $6 billion annual investment into repairing and upgrading California’s transportation infrastructure would generate an estimated $111.9 billion in economic activity including 570,000 jobs – nearly 200,000 of which would be in construction occupations earning prevailing wages, $38.7 Billion in personal income and $4.5 Billion in additional local and state tax revenues.

We are pleased that after collaborative efforts, this bill passed in May. None of these developments and policy wins could have been possible without constant advocacy efforts -both behind the scene and front-andcenter. And our work isn’t finished.

Ask us how you can get involved today.

GET INVOLVED Join one of our public policy working groups here.

Subscribe to our monthly Policy Update newsletter here.

PROGRAMFEATURE In the Search for Best Practices — Destination: Silicon Valley An annual visit by key Silicon Valley business and community leaders to another of North America’s great cities, this economic development program lives within our silicon valley IDEA line of business and helps regional leaders to learn to best practices and bring back ideas to make our home an even better place to live and work.

Some of the issues range from developing business investment, transportation, attracting major league sports, and more.

Always trying to find new ways to engage our members, this year we are taking the trip locally and turning the spotlight on ourselves.

What does Silicon Valley do best?

Where can we improve?

What are the big issues that need to be tackled?

Don’t miss the 2017 newly restructured Study Mission — Destination: Silicon Valley, on Nov. 1-3 in Monterey, Calif.

The goals of this year’s program will be priority setting for Silicon Valley IDEA in 2018.

We will hear presentations from speakers/panelists on seven key regional topics:  Housing  Transportation  Downtown San Jose  International Competitiveness  Emerging Technologies  Advanced Manufacturing  Regional Branding

Study Mission Wins

apply them to our own downtown.

Previous cities visited include Pittsburgh, Denver, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, New Orleans, Portland and Vancouver, B.C. Key findings from each trip can be found at https://www.thesvo.com/ study-mission/ In 2015, we traveled to Denver where we learned from both elected officials as well as their local chamber how they leveraged signage — over-sized, digitized and strategically-located — in their downtown to both add sense of place while generating revenue for the city.

This year, our city officials proposed and passed a pilot program — the downtown intensification program — that will effectively take the best-practices learned in Denver and THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

In 2016, we traveled to Pittsburgh where we learned from their elected and civic leadership the true value of brand, an identifying icon and the potential pitfalls of not owning your own story.

We learned that the “Gateway to the West” moniker was coined and owned by Pittsburgh but never really leveraged. When Missouri began construction of its now famous arch, it was Pittsburgh steel and Pittsburgh companies that helped build it. Once complete, Missouri usurped the moniker and tied it to the arch and its story.

Since returning, we have been working with several regional partners on not only identifying a potential identifying icon [possibly the San Jose Light Tower project in its infancy] and cohesive messaging in the telling of our story.

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PROGRAMFEATURE

Advocates for Jobs and a Better Community

ABOVE: The SVO PAC barbecue. BELOW: The SVO PAC timeline.

The SVO PAC is a committee of SVO member investors focused on supporting the election of business-friendly candidates to local and regional public office.

The SVO PAC cultivates, recruits, endorses and supports those candidates for public office who understand the importance of policies that promote job creation and retention.

SVO PAC Wins 2016 2015

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Election of Mahn Nguyen, SJ D-4

2014

Election of Assemblyman Evan Low, D-28 Reelection of Mike Wasserman, SCC Board of Supervisors Election of Larry Stone, SCC Assessor Election of SJ Mayor Sam Liccardo Election of Chappie Jones, SJ D-1 Election of Magdalena Carrasco, SJ D-5 Election of Jeff Cristina, Campbell City Council Election of Susan Ellenberg, SJUSD Trustees

2012

Reelection of Pierluigi Oliverio, SJ D-6 Reelection of Rose Herrera, SJ D-8 Election of Johnny Khamis, SJ D-10

2010

Election of Mike Wasserman, SCC Board of Supervisors Reelection of SJ Mayor Chuck Reed

The SVO PAC BBQ is the largest networking event of the year — and the SVO PAC’s biggest fundraiser.

This annual event, now in its 35th year attracts more than 1,000 movers and shakers in the political arena for an evening filled with high-caliber networking, drinks and, of course, BBQ — all located in San Jose’s History Park. Learn more about it here.

Reelection of Assemblyman Evan Low, D-28 Election of Dev Davis, SJ D-6 Reelection of Johnny Khamis, SJ D-10

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SVOGALLERY

SVO PAC Barbecue, Aug. 24

COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: ABOVE: (from left) Empire Broadcasting Bob Kieve, Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney LEFT TOP: (from left) Lehigh Hanson Thorsten Rotter, Rick Beatty, Matt Mahood, President & CEO, The SVO, & Randy Zimmer BOTTOM RIGHT: (from left) ISDI Digital University Johnathan Hart, Nicolette Song, Luis Pinedo, Parisa Caviani, Amir Mashkoori, CEO, Sue Lipsey CENTER: Buccaneer Demolition staff BOTTOM LEFT: (from left) San Jose Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco and her Chief of Staff Frances Herbert

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: TOP: More than 1,000 guests flocked to the 35th Annual SVO PAC BBQ at History Park.

CENTER RIGHT: (From left) Former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Jae Pyeon, SJSU BOTTOM RIGHT: (from left) Team San Jose’s Lara Chmielewski, Janette Sutton BOTTOM LEFT: (from left) Thomas Duong, Madison Nguyen, Brock Hill CENTER LEFT: (from left) San Jose City Council District 10 Shane Patrick Connolly, Chief of Staff, Councilman Johnny Khamis 13

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PROGRAMFEATURE

Public Policy Working Groups The SVO, through its commerce san jose line of business offers multiple policy working groups for our members to take part in, allowing you the benefit to meet, work with and develop important connections with Silicon Valley’s leading businesses and organizations.

Working groups include: •Labor, Employment & Regulatory Reform - The Labor, Employment & Regulatory Reform working group invests arduous work to protect employers’ rights to organize, direct and manage their companies’ employees in an efficient, safe and productive manner.

•Health Care & Human Rights - The health care aspect of the working group promotes a sound and affordable health care system by containing costs and avoiding unnecessary and expensive regulatory controls, including mandates. The human rights aspect of the working group takes

positive action to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, cultural background, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or other factors.

•Transportation & Environment - The transportation side of this working group aims at supporting the development of a statewide transportation network that is adequate for the needs of business, agriculture and individual citizens. The environmental side of the this working group advocates on policies that meet the mutual objectives of protecting human health and the environment while conserving the financial resources of business to the fullest extent possible in order to help California businesses grow and promote their services.

•Intellectual Property & Immigration (Federal) - The Intellectual Property & Immigration Working Group addresses IP protection and regulatory issues and advocates for sound immigration policy that promotes jobs and a healthy local econ-

omy tailored to the needs of Silicon Valley business.

•Planning, Land Use & Housing PLU & H working group addresses the needs of the development and housing community by advocating for policies that encourage smart growth, and proper land uses to address the lack of housing in Silicon Valley. Housing continues to rise to the top as a key issue.

We work together with elected leaders to solve key issues and obstacles for growth.

•Workforce Development & Education - Our Workforce Development and Education group focuses its efforts on a well-educated and thriving workforce in Silicon Valley.

Working with local school distreicts, WD & E serves as a policy bridge between our local schools and the future needs of Silicon Valley businesses.

All of our working groups (listed here) meet via conference call once a month for 30 minutes.

NUMBERCRUNCH

Annual Member Survey Results 2016 25%

of members joined The SVO for government advocacy

39%

of members took advantage of public policy events (Access Silicon Valley; Study Mission; Legislative Summit)

10%

of members who took advantage of public policy events said The SVO fulfilled their business needs

87%

2017 Top 10 Public Policy ranking, as shared by members, by importance:

8%

1. Transportation & Infrastructure 2. Labor & Employment 3. Workforce Development 4. Planning & Land Use 5. Housing & Homelessness 6. Education 7. Regulatory Reform 8. Water 9. Immigration Reform 10. Healthcare Access

of members said The SVO should focus on local political action & advocacy in 2017; said federal; and

4%

said state

83%

of members said The SVO policy positions represented their business interests THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

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MEMBERSPOTLIGHT

Re-envisioning A Valley Icon

Westfield leverages technology, customises user experience

I

n Silicon Valley, innovation is part of life.

Early adoption of technologies birthed here offers businesses an edge. This is true for all industries, including retail.

Westfield is no stranger to innovation. The industry leader has invested time and time again into Westfield Valley Fair to offer a unique shopping, dining and entertainment experience in the heart of Silicon Valley.

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Westfield’s latest investment — an unprecedented $1.1 billion expansion — will offer a bold new experience beyond the expected.

Always offering something new and unique Since Westfield acquired Valley Fair in 1998, its evolution has been continuous. Today there are over 200 retailers, a renowned Luxury Collection,

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The Evolution of An Icon 1956: Valley Fair Shopping Center opened 1957: Stevens Creek Plaza opened 1986: Both centers were merged and acquired by The Hanh Company 1998: Westfield acquired the property 2013: A major remodel including a new Dining Terrace and inclusion of luxury brands 2015: announcement of next major remodel was made 2019: Renovation complete in Spring

Renderings courtesy of Westfield Valley Fair.

Nordstrom and Macy’s. In fact, the Luxury Collection has grown to be Westfield’s largest in the world.

The Dining Terrace, which underwent a multi-million-dollar expansion and redesign completed in 2013, features local favorites to chef-driven restaurants, along with local entertainment and views of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range.

Personalization is Front and Center Valley Fair’s customer services and technology are designed to make every visit seamless, efficient and enjoyable — from personalized concierge service to service-oriented robots.

The Concierge Team provides services such as dinner reservations, package check, gift suggestions, itinerary planning, transportation assistance and language assistance.

A full suite of digital services is offered, like Answers on the Spot, which connects visiting customers with the Concierge Team to answer questions by text. Of course, there’s complimentary Wi-Fi and mobile device charging stations too.

Valley Fair’s newest family member, Pepper the Robot, offers IRL [in real life] experiences, such as impromptu “selfies,” learning to say ‘hello’ in six languages, interac-

Old image of Valley Fair courtesy of The Mercury News’s 1973-1974 Metropolitan San Jose Shopping Center Guide.

tive games, and assisting customers in finding shops and restaurants.

21st Century Solutions for Parking Valley Fair also has invested in technology to make parking easier.

The new 2,000-space Monroe Street parking structure has a digital navigation system with green lights that point the way to open spaces. Parking tips and open space locations can be viewed on the Westfield Valley Fair live website parking feed or by texting the Concierge Team at (408) 610-1579 during center hours.

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Not sure where you parked? Type your license plate number into one of the Park Finder kiosks and it will identify the car’s location.

exciting expansion. New additions will open in ripples in 2018 and a final wave in 2019.

If you prefer valet parking, there are two locations — one along Forest Avenue and the other along Stevens Creek Boulevard.

Innovating for Tomorrow A bold tomorrow of fashion, commerce, technology, and community at Valley Fair is underway with its

A taste of what’s being added includes: •A new three-level Bloomingdale’s •A new ShowPlace ICON Theatre offering a movie-going experience unlike any other in Northern California with a bold, modern design, sleek lounge paces, fine dining, adults-only seating areas and much more •An all-new Dining District nestled amidst open-air promenades and

outdoor lounges •Refinement of the current Luxury Collection –including 90 new boutiques showcasing the world’s finest fashion brands, from cutting edge local labels to timeless and luxury brands •A new events and entertainment space, art and cultural programming, and health and wellness amenities Valley Fair’s expansion is yet another investment by Westfield in Silicon Valley to create a unique experience for all us — grounded in innovation.

Tangible Economic Impact CURRENT

PROJECT

250

$1.1B

Total Retailers

Project Cost

1.5M

Square Feet of Gross Lettable Area

22M

650K

Total Square Feet Expansion Post Completion

+360

Annual Customer Visits

$904M

Total Retailers Post Completion

Total Annual Retail Sales

2.2M

Square Feet of Gross Lettable Area Post Completion

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MEMBERTESTIMONIAL

Triware Network Systems Tell us a little about Triware Networld Systems, LLC, its services and how it sets itself apart.

Triware Networld Systems (TNS), founded in March 1991, is an Information Technology full-service consulting and integration company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The associates of Triware Networld Systems consist of well-educated, dedicated, and hard-working individuals who have years of combined technical expertise with a high level of commitment to client satisfaction. Many of our engineers have joined us from major corporations where their experience has been honed during hands-on, real world, day-to-day requirements. Triware Networld Systems has a proven and successful track record exemplified by the fact that 100% of our new business is generated from existing clients and business partners’ referrals.

Triware Networld Systems has developed and continued to enhance the Security Framework™ and eight TNS security domains covering all aspects of the security issues from human resource procedure review, security policy review or creation, vulnerability assessment, penetration test, real-time security monitor and management, Operating Systems hardening, biometric authentication, Rights Management Services, virus and content filtering, forensics investigation, eDiscovery, litigation support to high-availability systems design, disaster recovery plan and

security training. Our Security Engineers are trained alongside with FBI agents and Department of Defense staffs in some of our security trainings. Each year our Security Engineers have continued to spend time on training and updating both Legal and Technical aspect of the security issues.

Triware Networld Systems believes in a strong community. Teamwork, integrity and moral values are not only important to Triware Networld Systems, but we also promote these ideals within the community. Each year, a percentage of our profit is donated to local and national non-profit organizations as our way of sharing and fostering these ideals.

Why was SVO membership important to Triware Networld Systems, LLC?

SVO is one of the oldest if not the oldest regional non-profit powerhouse in promoting business and community development.

It advocates for and represents 1,400 businesses including the San Francisco 49ers, Cisco, Microsoft, Google, Intel, LinkedIn, Sobrato, THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

etc. collectively employed 300,000 employees throughout the greater Silicon Valley region. It is really in every business’s interest to be part of this community regardless the size of one’s organization.

How has Triware Networld Systems, LLC engaged with The SVO and its programs over the last year?

There are so many ways and so many events and committees to be part of. TNS has benefited from events, meet-ups and committees, participating in the areas of networking with our peers, getting involved in policies, advocacy, etc.

TNS firmly believes there will not be a better business environment unless there is better community environment. SVO provides a great platform for TNS to participate accomplishing both of our community and business goals.

From Triware Networld Systems, LLC’s perspective, why should businesses within the Silicon Valley consider engaging with The SVO?

The SVO is well-tuned and has a great track record for promoting and advocating for businesses – big, medium or small. There is no barrier of entry to be a part of this great organization, regardless of the size of one’s business — from a one-person firm to one with 100,000 employees. And there are so many ways all can benefit from these combined resources.

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NEWMEMBERS

New member Highlight: On.Site. com On-Site.com is an online tech company that helps people rent apartments.

Most people would agree that finding, renting and moving into a new apartment is stressful. At On-Site we’re trying to alleviate that stress by using technology to simplify the whole renting process. Our end-toend leasing platform includes, but is not limited to: websites and marketing, online applications, screening, digital lease documents and payment processing.

On-Site was founded in 1999. We have a nationwide presence, serving some of the largest property management companies in the country.

But we also have a simplified leasing solution for smaller, independent landlords with a single condo or duplex. We call it Rental Express and it is completely free to all landlords. Using Rental Express, a landlord can collect rental applications online, conduct a background check and generate an e-signable digital lease. And, again, it is totally free for landlords. SVO members can learn more at rentalexpress.com Joining The SVO was important to On-Site for two reasons. First, as a company, we want to be engaged with our community and joining business advocacy groups like The SVO is the fastest and easiest way to connect and find ways to give back.

Second, we want to revolutionize the

Be SEEN Advertise with us

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way people rent apartments. Joining The SVO is one conduit we can use to share our technology with landlords and help them move their leasing online.

On-Site is every excited to partner with The SVO’s Strive Internship Program. We appreciate having access to a turnkey internship program that places trained interns from across the bay area into roles within our company where they can contribute in an authentic and valuable way. For our part, we’re delighted to help mentor these students and expose them to a lot of different roles and potential career paths within both the apartment industry and a typical Silicon Valley tech company.

Anyone who wants to learn more about On-Site should visit www.on-site.com

Armanino LLP amllp.com

Little Orchard Self Storage littleorchardselfstorage.com

CareNow Urgent Care – North San Jose sanjose.carenow.com

McSherry and Hudson mcsherryandhudson.com

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County catholiccharitiesscc.org Century Towers essexapartmenthomes.com/california/san-francisco-bay-area-apartments/san-jose-apartments/century-towers Hunger at Home hungerathome.org labarre studios labarrestudios.com Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Silicon Valley & Monterey Bay Chapter lls.org/silicon-valley-monterey-bay-area

Nunez Community Foundation nunezcommunity.org On-site.com on-site.com Sandler Training by Silicon Valley Sales Group web.sjchamber.com/Sales-Training/ Sandler-Training-by-Silicon-ValleySales-Group,-Inc-20719 Silicon Valley Forum siliconvalleyforum.com Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development web.sjchamber.com/Associations/ Silicon-Valley-Nigeria-Economic-Development-20720

Innovate Cost Management Services, Inc. Icmsbenefits.com KW Silicon City Kwsiliconcity.com Ohlone College/Tri-Cities One-Stop Career Center Ohlone.edu Overaa Construction Overaa.com Ponderosa Homes II, Inc. Ponderosahomes.com Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Rencenter.org Sea Goddess Whale Watching Seagoddesswhalewatching.com The Golf Club at Boulder Ridge Bayclubs.com/boulderridge

Community Banking with local perspective Heritage Bank of Commerce has been building relationships and trust in Silicon Valley for over 20 years. Our team of banking professionals care about your business; we believe in building strong relationships with our clients and creating custom solutions that work for you.

Call today to experience the local banking difference.

Visit our website for a complete list of Bay Area locations

HeritageBankofCommerce.bank THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

SAN JOSE

Roxanne Vane

408-792-4019 150 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

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Celebrating S

T

Diverse Teams Make

his is more than just a belief. It’s a business strategy adopted by many Silicon Valley companies vying to stay ahead of their competition.

SVO members like Apple, Google and Microsoft are onboard as are countless others who recognize that increasing diversity increases the bottom line. An important aspect of diversity is gender diversity.

At The SVO, 75% of the team, or 12 out of its 16 employees, are women.

The SVO’s internal leadership team, 66% are women.

On August 26, 2017, Women’s Equality Day is celebrated across the nation.

To celebrate, The SVO highlighted some of the women who choose to make their mark in Silicon Valley business - SVO members & SVO staff - through the SVO Women series.

business is now starting to be appreciated and backed up by research.

In CNBC’s Inaugural Upstart 25 list, 10 of the listed start-ups are founded by women.

Recently released by the SBA Office of Advocacy, Women’s Business Ownership: Data from the 2012 Survey of Business Owners shared hard data on the economic impact of women-owned business.

BONUS: Check out Business Insiders’ 25 Coolest Women in Silicon Valley.

One stand-out stat states: The 9.9 million businesses that are majority-owned by women contribute $1.4 trillion in sales to the economy. Read the full report here.

Did you know that women make up 40% of all new entrepreneurs in the United States - the highest since 1996?

Our features include stories about first jobs, current jobs, career highlights and advice to other women working in Silicon Valley.

Our contributors include women who own and run their own businesses to women who lead their business as part of upper management; women who leave a mark at the companies they choose to work at; women starting out in their careers; women who are established in their careers; even those who made the jump from one career to another.

The narrative around women in business has been evolving over the decades. The impact of women in

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But while the importance and impact of women in business is being seen more and more, throughout the country and right here in Silicon Valley, there’s still much work to be done, as evidenced by these survey results and the subsequent media coverage.

If you feel moved by these and are curious about what you can do about it, join us this fall for the return of our second Women Engaged! series to meet with and learn from other engaged women in the Bay.

SVO Women

e Stronger Business TRACEY ENFANTINO, ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC. Company: Environmental Systems, Inc

for you thus far?

Profession: General Manager How long has your business been a part of The SVO? Seven years Why is it important to your business to be a part of The SVO? Involvement in issues with like-minded companies we do business with (critical mass) Advocacy for important issues, such as jobs, economic advancement, and workforce education Networking with businesses and involved members of the community to share ideas and solutions What was your first job like?

My first job, was at the company I am still with, a mechanical contractor.

I started in service dispatching and field technician coordination for our company. It was very intimidating working with all men at first. After about a year of learning more about the field labor and technical side of our business, and taking my knocks; I and our field techs started to develop a more mutually respectful relation-

ship. I had an understanding of their processes of manpower, and materials; and they came to appreciate the time and need for documentation and information required on the office side to maintain strong customer service.

Describe your current job.

My current job as general manager of our company involves managing the service side of our mechanical firm. This ranges from on-going client relations, to new clients and potential opportunities. With a range of mechanical services, from HVAC to building automation and energy management that’s a broad spectrum from minimizing down-time on a routine mechanical project, to presenting opportunities for automation and energy analytics.

What has been a “career high point”

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Convincing a long-time client in the private education sector, to implement energy analytics campus-wide for a year of beta-testing; and asking them to trust in our solution to address some of their long-term initiatives. As a school that has tasked itself with being a cutting edge leader in environmental impact, and sustainability, and incorporating that into recruitment of students, as well as their science curriculum, quantifiable results were everything.

I assured them that after a year, they would have the outcomes they were seeking. They achieved the desired outcomes. That evolution from traditional contractor to someone helping a school and the students, achieve their social responsibility goals, and making a sustainable impact on the environment was so different from where I had developed over the last few decades.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

There are situations in your career that may seem to call upon skills that are outside of your comfort zone. Remember that none of these situations is a waste. Each one of them expands your opportunities.

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Celebrating S SUSAN ELLENBERG, SR. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Company: The silicon valley organization

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Title: Senior Director of Community Development

My high point at The SVO thus far has been the creation of a program called Women Engaged!, a series of salon-style conversations around topics of social urgency that conclude with a call to action. The salons have been extremely well attended and the feedback has been that a program of this type has been needed for quite a while. The next series is schedule to begin in September!

How long have you been a part of The SVO? Just over 1 year Why did you choose to work at The SVO? What about what you do keeps you here?

I chose to work at The SVO because of the opportunity to engage members of the business community in issues of social urgency and to cultivate a strong commitment to civic, social, philanthropic and political engagement. What keeps me here is the feedback I receive from program participants who are excited about the community development programs and want to become even more deeply involved in their communities.

What was your first job like?

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

This job combines my passions for curriculum development, civic engagement and social justice learning and positions me to empower others to use their talents for the greater good.

My first job was as a Hebrew School tutor. I was 16 years old and felt totally empowered that I could DRIVE to work. I also loved working one on one with students and seeing their progress as a result of my efforts and abilities to engage them.

Describe your current job.

Every day is different. I get to spend a good amount of time in the community, learning about a wide range of issues, from public transportation and affordable housing to the criminal justice system, land use, health care and civic tech. As I learn, I’m able to create programs with fascinating speakers, behind the scenes experiences and interactive workshops for SVO members and prospective members.

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Try to learn something new every day.

Don’t shy away from what you don’t know — jump in and ask questions.

And speak up in the face of injustice wherever you find it — even (or especially) when it’s inconvenient to do so.

SVO Women

JOAN ESCOVER, JP GRAPHICS Company: JP Graphics, Inc.

from digital to offset to specialty finishing like foils and letterpress. We have 45 employees that are true craftsmen, and I am proud to be a woman-owned business in a male-dominated industry.

Profession: Printer/Communications Professional How long has your business been a part of The SVO? 10 years

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Why is it important to your business to be a part of The SVO?

Surviving the Dot.com Bust. A LOT of printers didn’t. I used every bit of my education and resources to stay alive and it has paid off .

I enjoy the networking AND more importantly the education — especially the Monthly Breakfasts … really helps in your ability to know what is going on in Silicon Valley.

What was your first job like?

I got my first job at Wendy’s on my 16th Birthday. I have never worked that hard again. But you do appreciate working with the public and what its like to clean up after

someone who doesn’t care … So I teach my children to CARE and be respectful of everyone’s things.

Describe your current job.

I run a large printing company that covers the whole realm of print —

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley Support one another. From a Yelp review, to a referral, to just be listening support. We make the best sales team because we are fair and have great follow-through.

MARIANA FAERRON-GUTIERREZ, TICO COFFEE ROASTERS Company: Tico Coffee Roasters

What was your first job like?

Profession: Agricultural Economist, Business Administration. As the CEO of the company I wear many different hats, the most important are development and marketing.

I worked on the Account Payable department for Procter and Gamble in Costa Rica. It was interesting since this is the service organization and my counter part was in Brazil so I got to practice my Portuguese. But there is nothing like working with coffee!!

How long has your business been a part of The SVO?

Describe your current job.

Four years Why is it important to your business to be a part of The SVO? As an immigrant and now a business owner is important for me to build my network and let people know what Tico Coffee Roasters is about. I like to meet new persons,

learn about what they do and see how we can help each other.

The SVO is a great place to find resources for products and services I need only personal and professional life.

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My job is to work directly with coffee farmers in different countries to achieve three things: 1. Find outstanding coffees that have unique flavors and provide a great experience Continued on next page 24

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2. Work with farms that are sustainable and support as much as possible farmers that are working on improving the conditions in the environment 3. Support social responsible practices that will improve the life of the families as we as the seasonal coffee pickers.

My daily activities here in California are cupping coffee samples to approve purchases, cupping for quality control, meeting with current and potential customers and organizing events for promotion and as an opportunity for people to enjoy and learn about coffee.

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Company: Comcast

What was your first job like?

Title: Director of Government Affairs

My first summer job during high sc ing at my Dad’s law office filing pap small town, Dixon, California and w school jobs were limited to young s ing at my Dad’s law office gave me to earn money for back to school a see what my Dad did on a daily bas of very few Spanish-speaking attor County and was always working ha good life for his family and concurr active in community organizations community involvement, professio and celebrating my culture are all a my parents.

How long has your business been a part of The SVO? Since 1977 Why is it important to your business to be a part of The SVO? Comcast is a Fortune 50 company and offers services in 39 states. Locally, by being engaged with The SVO via the board and committees I get information on current policy issues from one organization. In turn, there are opportunities for my business counterparts to be active and attend receptions, events, or engage in more active roles like SVO Ambassadors. The recent rebranding of The SVO was also received well as it showcases the organization as innovative and willing to engage in more regional issues like economic development, workforce education initiatives, and emerging technologies, while maintaining a local pulse on issues effecting businesses.

I have had several things that make me feel happy and proud but one particular thing is that I own a business in a place that I never thought before. I bootstrapped my business, and grew it with no previous record of owning or working in the coffee roasting industry before. The recognition and the satisfaction of my customers whether they are a person or a big company is the best reward.

I am currently the Director of Gove for Comcast for the Southern Penin County, and Counties of Santa Clar Santa Cruz. I describe my job as wo buckets; policy issues, political issu munity engagement. Every day bri different to the table. As a woman

MAYRA FLOR

Company: The silicon valley organizatio Title: VP, Communications

How long have you been part of The SV 2 years

Why did you choose to work at The SVO about what you do keeps you here?

I believe in the mission of the organizatio team that works endlessly behind the sce Silicon Valley the best place to live, work, business in. I want to put my knowledge a to good use at a place that had a positive the place I called home. That’s exactly wh does every day. Bonus points if there’s au which there is.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

Join The SVO! Networking is very important and is an opportunity to learn from other women who are successful and/ or have her own business.

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Describe your current job.

What was your first job like?

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SVO Women

S GUTIERREZ, COMCAST I have had the pleasure of having several career high points. In my previous job at the State Capitol, getting my first bill signed by the Governor was a highlight. Now at Comcast, engaging with the community on our internet Essentials program and making a difference in the lives of families by helping bridge the digital divide has been a career high as well.

chool was workpers. I’m from a when I was in high students. Worke the opportunity and I also got to sis. He was one rneys in Solano ard to provide a rently, was also s. My love for onal development attributed to both

ernment Affairs nsula/San Mateo ra, Monterey and orking in three ues, and comings something of color in tech,

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

I appreciate the opportunities this job has afforded me and also recognize that it wasn’t by chance that I am where I am today. It took a lot of work and a lot of ganas and I’m here to work hard, and play hard!

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

In order to be good at what you do, you need to love what you do. I really do love engaging in the community, geeking out on policy issues when I can and engaging in political discussions. I think that’s why my current job suits me well.

I would also say that own being uncomfortable in situations where you might not consider yourself the expert. These are opportunities to grow.

Find a mentor and mentor someone.

When I came to San Jose in 2010, I found the private and public sector community welcoming which continues to make my job fun and exciting.

RES DE MARCOTTE, VP OF COMMUNICATIONS

on

VO?

O? What

on and the enes to make , play and do and network e impact on hat The SVO utonomy -

My parents had a booth at the Capitol Flea Market when I was growing up. I worked most weekends and, during the summers, week days since the age of 9 up until high school, first with the assembly of the tent and tables for our merchandise and then as a sales woman driving hard bargains with unsuspecting customers.

Describe your current job.

Every day is different. Some days I spend creating content for our social media channels, visuals to aid the story and more while other days I’m writing talking points for speaking engagements, messaging documents to support our programs, even rebranding a 131-year-old organization. Most days I get to spend ideating with my awesome coworkers on how to keep pushing our organization forward, new ways to tell the story and new angles to approach things. I even get to convene my colleagues at partner organiza-

tions to ensure that our collective efforts are driving impact and brand awareness for this place we like to call home.

What has been a career high-point for you thus far?

I am fortunate enough to be in the position of answering MANY! Being recognized for my work in the journalism field with multiple John Swett Awards, taking a Silicon Valley company from stealth mode to launch as a digital PR professional; and most recently working with an incredibly dedicated team to rebrand, re-envision and relaunch a 131-year-old organization.

What words of advice can you share with other professional women working in Silicon Valley?

Here in Silicon Valley, we are surrounded by extremely bright and creative individuals. Be an active part of the discussion and bring others to the table. Collaboration can take you everywhere.

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Celebrating S LINA GUZMAN, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & HR ADMINISTRATOR I believe in the vision and mission of The SVO and our partner organizations. Watching people grow their membership to make connectionsand increase brand awareness is something special to witness.

Company: The silicon valley organization Title: Executive Assistant and HR Administrator How long have you been a part of The SVO? 13 years Why did you choose to work at The SVO? What about what you do keeps you here?

I believe in the vision and mission of The SVO and our partner organizations. Watching companies and their people grow by using their membership to make connections and increase their brand awareness is something special to witness. I also admire the work of our various departments for their dedication to our members and to the community. It’s not only members who grow due to the efforts of our staff — our city and neighborhoods thrive as well.

ance brokers. My days are far more unpredictable than my title suggests, and it keeps me interested and on my toes.

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

The minute I realized how much I could do on my own. It’s easy for executive staff to want to baby or mother you. The minute you don’t have that anymore, you panic. The

I’m here to support our CEO, staff and volunteers. We have an impressive and diverse group of people who use their talents to improve our quality of life in Silicon Valley and anything I can do to the benefit of those individuals is well worth my time.

What was your first job like?

I was a sales clerk at the Macy’s Juniors Department. I just remember having way too much fun.

Describe your current job.

I never know what to expect when I wake up in the morning, which is kind of great. One day I am absorbed by board work and the next day I am immersed in IT or building maintenance, taking care of employee matters or chatting with our insur27

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second you realize you don’t need it anymore, you fly.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

Generally speaking, women second guess themselves, and apologize — a LOT. Stop apologizing and start believing in your abilities. You are not here by accident, but by your own design.

SVO Women

JANIKKE KLEM, TECH CU Company: Tech CU Profession: Community and Government Relations

Company: The silicon valley organization Title: Program & Events Coordinator

How long has your business been a part of The SVO?

How long have you been a part of The SVO? For about 9 months!

Over 5 years (not really sure, but I have been here 4 years so at least that long!)

Why is it important to your business to be a part of The SVO? The SVO focuses on economic development of our region and insures policy aligns with this growth mindset. The SVO is also engaged in training our next generation of community leaders and exposing our local high school students a variety of careers, growing our local talent and workforce.

What was your first job like?

I worked at my neighborhood pool, Pinehurst Cabana Club, and greeted members and sold snacks. It was a summer gig where I got to see my friends and hang out with cute lifeguards!

Totally set my expectations that future jobs would be as cool!

Describe your current job.

I get to invest in my community and it’s families on behalf of Tech CU. Being able to make a difference, help people in need, and change the trajectory of local kids and families for the better is an amazingly rewarding feeling and career.

AMANDA LLERENA, PROGRAMS & EVENTS COORDINATOR

I also get to advocate in Sacramento and DC on behalf of Tech CU and its employees, bonus!

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Hearing from middle school students about the life changing program they were able to participate in because of Tech CU’s investment and learning that those students are on the path for college, first in their families!

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

Why did you choose to work at The SVO? What about what you do keeps you here?

I love that The SVO works hard and passionately to help the people of the Silicon Valley get engaged and connected with their community, local businesses, local government and people. We are a strong voice with valuable knowledge of our surroundings, and serve as a huge hub of information and resources that allow people to become more informed citizens and well-rounded employees.

What was your first job like?

I worked in retail ... at Hollister folding clothes in the dark, with loud music, spraying perfume on clothes …

Describe your current job.

My current job today is about going Continued on next page

You are your best advocate.

Be sure to share all that you do with those around you and in front of you.

Most of us women way undervalue the contributions we are making to our companies, community, and families.

Own it, be proud!

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around in the local community to learn about new spaces, venues, restaurants and businesses. It is through these efforts that I am able to meet new people and create new partnerships that translate into the monthly events we put on for all of our members. The best part is creatively brainstorming events and opportunities for the Young Professionals of the Silicon Valley to get engaged in each month. I get to connect with new people and organizations to put on events like professional development seminars, community service projects and networking mixers.

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

I have been in love with San Jose my whole life, so proud of the city I grew up in. However, now more than ever in my life am I finally becoming a true San Josean.

The SVO has been an important part of my career by keeping me connected and informed about my surroundings, the people, the businesses, local government and much more.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

“Keep on learning because life will never stop teaching.” This is a quote I live by. The world will continue to evolve. Now faster than ever, and it is important that we keep up, work hard and continue to absorb new knowledge so we may have wisdom later.

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KELLY PEATON, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & WORKFORCE Company: The silicon valley organization Title: Director of Education and Workforce How long have you been a part of The SVO? A little over a year ... a year and a half if you count my internship!

Why did you choose to work at The SVO? What about what you do keeps you here?

There are many different ways to organize your career. You can try to maximize money, status, expertise, prestige, impact. The values I focus on are impact, mastery, and autonomy.

I want to work somewhere where I can have an impact on an important problem (for me, that’s educational inequity). I want to be somewhere I can use my strengths and have opportunities to continue learning and improving. Additionally, I want autonomy to pursue what I think is important. The SVO hits the mark on all three.

What was your first job like?

My first job was a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA. I was just 16, and to be honest, it was mostly boring.

There were long hours sitting in the stand, watching over the indoor pool, and smelling chlorine. Teaching swim lessons was much more entertaining. It was pretty satisfying to see a kid start out scared of the water and two weeks later be jumping in with a big smile on their face.

Describe your current job.

As Director of Education and THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

Workforce I wear many hats in developing and implementing our workforce education initiative Strive San Jose. I also organize and oversee fundraising efforts. I’m responsible for maintaining relationships amongst our partners. I sometimes write grant proposals and manage large scale donations. I also assess needs and ensure that program objectives are met. I coordinate program activities and events.

I also provide direction and coaching to the four strive san jose liaisons who coordinate work-based learning with our district partners.

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Honestly, my first reaction to this question was that I don’t have one yet.

Ira Glass has an excellent interview where he talks about why people with good taste struggle so much when they first start trying to write, or act, or in his case, be a radio performer. It’s because they know the level they are trying to perform at and they know they aren’t there. And it’s painful to see

SVO Women your work and the gap between where you are and where you want to be. In many ways when I think about my career so far, this gap is what comes to mind.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

These aren’t my words of advice, but they’re ones I often turn to.

Richard Hamming was a mathematician whose work had a big impact on computer engineering and he had three questions he’d often ask colleagues.

What are the biggest problems in your field? Are you working on them? Why not? So I’d advise you to focus on working on hard problems.

TONETTE SLAVIERO, SR. PUBLIC POLICY & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - CUHSD Company: The silicon valley organization Title: Sr. Public Policy & Workforce Development Manager / Work Experience Educator How long have you been a part of The SVO? Almost a year Why did you choose to work at The SVO? What about what you do keeps you here?

I enjoy connecting businesses with high school students in order to offer them work-based learning opportunities.

What was your first job like?

Take The Next Step Toward Success • Small Group Classes • 1-on-1 Training • Corporate Fitness Programs • Biomechanics Lab/Gait Re-training • Nutrition Coaching • Senior Fitness •Athletic Performance Training www.svappliedbiomechanics.org 408-644-5258

My first job was in retail sales which led to merchandising manager and eventually Human Resource Manager.

I loved helping my customers make wise buying decisions and helping my employees succeed with their sales goals and career advancement.

Describe your current job.

In my current position as Campbell Union High School District Liaison at The SVO I assist our other three school district liaisons in making work-based learning available to as many of our students as possible.

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Since I have been teaching for 30 years, my biggest career high has been taking some of my students to DECA competitions, watching them get excited when they won, and now staying connected with them on Facebook to follow how their lives have evolved over the years.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

Remember that you (we all) have a special gift to share with the world.

Don’t withhold it; share it with others.

A 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Celebrating S CAT UONG, SR. PUBLIC POLICY & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - SJUSD Company: The silicon valley organization

with corporate executives to understand what talent needs they have at their business.

Other days, I am meeting with teachers and principals to offer student opportunities that would align well with businesses.

Title: Senior Manager of Public Policy & Workforce Development How long have you been a part of The SVO?

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

Just under a year.

Why did you choose to work at The SVO? What about what you do keeps you here?

I love that The SVO brings local businesses and school districts together to make Silicon Valley a great place a live, learn, and thrive.

Every day, I hear a new story about one of our student interns who identified a passion they will pursue in the future, with the help of our internship program.

What was your first job like?

In high school, I tutored young students (ages 4-8) and was paid $7.00/hour. Young students were a blast to work with, but they had

Launching Silicon Valley’s first cross-district, regional internship program for 200 students has been a clear highlight for my career so far.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley? infinite amounts of energy!

Describe your current job.

Every day is different for me here at The SVO. Currently, I am engaging internship program employers for their feedback on this summer and getting ready for the upcoming school year. Some days, I am meeting

GERI WONG, NEWMARK CORNISH & CAREY Company: Newmark Cornish & Carey Profession: Commercial Real Estate Broker How long has your business been a part of The SVO? 2-3 years Why is it important to your business to be a part of The SVO? The SVO is an excellent organization that represents the interest of all businesses, regardless of size, advocates on issues that concerns busi31

nesses; and offers great networking opportunities.

What was your first job like?

I started working when I was 5 years old in my family’s business doing whatever my dad told me to ... and have never stopped.

Describe your current job.

I represent Tenants/ Buyers and Landlords/Sellers in leasing and sales of commercial real estate.

What has been a career high point THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

Don’t let work get in the way of life, and don’t let life get in the way of work. I often think about what kind of life I want to have, and work-life balance can be incredibly hard to find, especially here in Silicon Valley.

I try to dedicate time to my hobbies, which helps me stay true to myself and see connections to my work I hadn’t seen before.

SVO Women for you thus far?

I have to think on that one, I feel like there have been so many great projects that I have worked on with many incredible clients and professionals. I am proud of the real

estate work I have done in Downtown San Jose professionally and the leadership and civic work through the San Jose Downtown Association.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women work-

ing in the Silicon Valley?

Silicon Valley is a very dynamic area with lots of opportunity for women that is limited only by your imagination and willingness to apply yourself.

KRISTEN WELCH, TAP SNAP 1050 Company: KPAW Inc dba TapSnap1050

several of these types of relationships and many are in the works. To have a client or partner acknowledge my integrity means everything to me and fortunately I have a technology that is impressive and unique to the photo booth industry.

One year ago, I met four people who started as part-time staff and I am very proud of them!

It was a tough transition for me and I am so grateful to work with this trustworthy crew which is now six to eight people.

Title: Franchise business owner How long has your business been a part of The SVO? Since 2013 Why is it important for your business to be a part of The SVO? As a small business owner, it is imperative for me to network and get as much exposure as possible and to connect with other SVO members and their peers. It has provided the opportunity for others to get to know me as a business owner and a person.

I have, and continue to learn from other experienced members.

The ongoing support of The SVO staff and to be included in their events has been a great benefit to my growth.

What was your first job like?

First job?? As in newspaper routes, baby sitting, Sizzler, Ice Cream Store, Lifeguard and swim teacher? Ha!! I have always kept very busy and super motivated to work hard and be a valued member of a workforce. I was in junior college when I got the job that led me to a 30-year career in the electronics industry.

Describe your current job.

I am the owner of KPAW Inc. which

began as a business owner for TapSnap1050. CEO, Sales, Marketing, Events, Facilitator of Fun, and did I mention MARKETING?!!!

What has been a career high point for you thus far?

I just celebrated my 4th anniversary and each year has presented many high points and what was incredible to me in the first year is now a common occurrence. Working with Fortune 500 companies is top of mind and what I am truly proud of is the repeat business I get from them which says so much!

The other “high point” has been the partnership of Club Auto Sport who trusts me to impress and entertain their clients. My goal is to have THESVO.COM | SEPTEMBER 2017

Lastly, I must include my relationship and business with the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

It began with Robert Robledo who provided guidance when I was brand new and the encouragement to succeed. I didn’t want to believe that it would take three to five years to get my business established so my final mention of a ‘career high point’ is that at the three-years mark, my business began to explode.

What words of advice can you share for other professional women working in the Silicon Valley?

Always push forward. Don’t doubt yourself. Hire an accountant day one [for those who start a business]. If you don’t ask questions, the answer is no. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Don’t be so hard on yourself (tough one) and don’t expect to be perfect — Just go for it!

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