Since 2000, Mr. Carrillo has co-founded and has been a partner of Silicon Valley Advisors, a San Jose-based land use consulting firm providing real estate consulting, government relations and strategic land use planning services to advice to many private entities and developers in Arizona and the Bay Area. In 2005, Mr. Carrillo became Founder and Senior Partner of Legislative Leadership Group, LLC, providing a full range of legislative and strategic planning services for a diverse base of clients.
In 1984, Mr. Carrillo began his public policy career as Chief Policy Advisor to former San Jose Vice-Mayor and current Santa Clara County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado. In 1992, Mr. Carrillo became the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mexican Heritage Corporation. Using his extensive experience in government relations, strategic and land use planning, Mr. Carrillo successfully spearheaded a $35 million capital campaign to build the Mexican Heritage Plaza, a nationally recognized arts and culture center.
He has served on two significant master planning committees for the City of San Jose dealing with housing, commercial and retail development. In 1994, Mr. Carrillo won election to serve on the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority. He also served on the Governing Board of the West Valley–Mission Community College District.
He is a former member of the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, current member of the Silicon Valley Latino Democratic Club, current member of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Hispanic Political Action Committee of Silicon Valley. Mr. Carrillo is a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Public Administration.
For twenty years Christine has actively worked with elected and administrative officials in local government entities including local municipalities, special districts, and school districts to formulate and move public policy in the areas of land use development and general planning, public transportation, sustainability of the natural environment, and economic and community development. She has served as chief of staff for San Jose City Councilmember Nora Campos, and staffed special projects for Vice-mayor Cindy Chavez and former City Councilmember Manny Diaz. She staffed San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales on land use when he served as a Santa Clara County Supervisor.
She has extensive experience working on the development of unique mixed use housing, retail and commercial opportunities. She is practiced in the areas of Smart Growth policies and practices as well as transit oriented development. She has considerable hands-on knowledge of the fundamentals of working on projects located in redevelopment areas.
Christine has a proven expertise creating partnerships between diverse stakeholders and moving projects to successful completion. She played a lead role in the revitalization of a longtime blighted area of East San Jose known as King and Story. Her work in support of the City Councilmember and with City officials, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, neighborhood groups and private developers was instrumental in sustaining a public-private partnership and investment of over $50 million dollars into the area that is now a vibrant shopping district known as Plaza de San Jose.
Her background includes work in economic and workforce development. Her efforts in developing training and career ladders for workforce development led to her contributions at various workforce development conferences, including workshops held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale University.
Christine is a former member and president of the Governing Board of Trustees for the Cambrian Elementary School District in San Jose, California. While a board member she successfully worked with members of the state legislature to establish funding priorities for K-12 public education. She has also been a board member for the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and many non-profits organizations.
Manuel J. Sandoval Principal, Land Development - Arizona
Manuel's keen grasp of land use policy and planning issues began in 1979 with his distinguished service, for nearly eight years, as a member, and later Chairman, of the San Jose Planning Commission. His expertise in city redevelopment, retail revitalization strategies and neighborhood issues earned him a strong reputation in resolution of growth policy conflicts during Silicon Valley's greatest period of economic growth. In 1986, he founded a highly successful land use consulting firm, MJS Associates, and built an impressive record of advocacy for his clients.
From its inception, the firm's impressive list of "industrial, retail, office and housing developers" included such notable companies as, Cristina-Hall Investments, co-developers of IBM's Office Headquarters in San Jose; Lincoln Property Company, developers of River Park, a twin 16-story tower and 10 story garage in San Jose's core area; Summerhill Development, the apartment builder investment arm of Marcus and Millichap; Citation Homes, among northern California's largest first-time homebuyer residential builders; ROEM Development, a diversified developer of custom, townhouse and condominium projects, and a broad array of industrial and commercial development companies.
Manuel's public and urban policy expertise is equally well established. As an assistant to former San Jose Mayor and now U.S. Transportation Secretary, Norman Y. Mineta, he gained extensive knowledge in the myriad of urban programs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Commerce, and the Department of Transportation. For over three years, he served as the City of San Jose's representative on the Santa Clara County Transportation Commission, during planning of the county's multi-modal transportation program and San Jose's Light Rail System.
As a partner in Phoenix based, Strategic Land Advisors, Manuel's knowledge of both urban and rural development strategies is especially critical. He served, from 1982-1985, as a major public policy advisor on growth and land use for the former Chair of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, now Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California. Later, as Chief of Staff to San Jose's Councilwomen from the Evergreen District, Manuel's policy expertise was critical in crafting major changes on growth management, General Plan provisions and zoning ordinances and policies, including the Silver Creek Master Plan Community, the City's first master plan effort.
Stephanie Valencia
Office Manager San Jose, CA Corporate Office
Stephanie’s office management experience ensures an organized flow of operations at Silicon Valley Advisors since March 2001.
Her array of responsibilities includes assisting the executive team, accounting, contract management, and information technology support as well as overseeing the operations of the office. Her 14 years of experience include computer sales and marketing, web design, graphics design, administrative support for marketing, research and development, and engineering teams. Prior to joining SVA, Stephanie worked as a marketing representative with IBM Philippines, office manager for the MCI Engineering Team and Web Designer and Marketing Assistant at WTS in San Jose, an electronic testing manufacturer. Stephanie has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines and holds several certificates in Graphics, Web Design and Financial Analysis.
