Experience

City of East Palo Alto

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Community and Economic Development

  • Apr 2020 - Present

  ➢ Oversee Planning, Building, and Housing; supervise a team of 20 permanent staff and several project consultants. ➢ Developed elevated Building Reach Codes to encourage more efficient development and more sustainable design, adopted by City Council and effective Jan 1, 2021. ➢ Developed a Local Minimum Wage Ordinance that was adopted by City Council and effective January 1, 2021. Raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and increases automatically every year thereafter. ➢ Supported development of a Transportation Demand Management Ordinance, adopted by City Council and effective June 1, 2021, will reduce up to 40% of vehicle trips in EPA. ➢ Developed the first Urban Forest Master Plan in East Palo Alto and updated related tree ordinances, adopted by City Council in April 2022, this roadmap is a shared vision to increase the tree canopy in EPA. Show less



City of San José

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Development Officer - Inclusionary Housing Program Manager

  • Jun 2017 - Apr 2020

  ➢ Led implementation of San José's Inclusionary Housing Program; supervise a team of four staff. ➢ Developed multi-year revenue projections to show revenue available to fund affordable housing projects.➢ Reviewed planned development applications and coordinate with residential developers to determine if the projects have an affordable housing obligation.➢ Monitored projects throughout the entitlement and development processes to ensure compliance with housing policies.➢ Analyzed regulations and policies; prepare complex written reports and agreements; improve development review procedures for new residential developments in order to create more affordable housing San José.➢ Oversaw asset management and compliance of first-time home buyer loan portfolio of over 3,600 affordable ownership units.➢ Created communications and public outreach materials including revisions to housing policy implementation guidelines, marketing flyers, and online web content; facilitate in-person workshop presentations. Show less

• Associate Transportation Specialist - Grants Manager

  • Feb 2015 - Jun 2017

  ➢ Led the successful acquisition of $100 million in grant funding for multi-modal safety enhancement projects; coordinated with cross-departmental teams and external stakeholders; tracked legislation; supervised a technician and graduate student intern.➢ Implemented comprehensive education & outreach strategy for the Vision Zero initiative, including the development of marketing collateral, managing the Partnerships to Improve Community Healthy grant ($90,000) from County of Santa Clara, and coordination with stakeholders, e.g. San Jose Police, Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, and California Walks. ➢ Analyzed impacts of local funding measures, tracked updates in engineering and design standards, and analyzed state and regional policies to help position San Jose as a leader in sustainable transportation projects, policies and planning. Show less

• Associate Transportation Specialist - Capital Projects Manager

  • Feb 2014 - Feb 2015

  ➢ Oversaw 15 transportation capital infrastructure improvement projects through the design phase including completing required documents for environmental review and monitoring reports in order to seek reimbursements from Federal and State grant funding. Managed an Engineer I.➢ Led four procurements, including three for on-call services: surveying, traffic analysis, and geometric design. Final procurement to obtain consultants to update the City’s complete street standards; executed contracts totaling $1 million. Show less

• Transportation Specialist - Project Delivery Analyst

  • Jun 2013 - Feb 2014

  ➢ Analyzed and submitted projects for State/Federal environmental clearance, compiled conceptual plans and estimates from technical staff, and conducted field assessments for 7 capital improvement projects that were also grant-funded.➢ Managed one graduate student intern.

• Executive Analyst - Green Vision Program Manager

  • Aug 2010 - Jun 2013

  ➢ Coordinated with 10 department directors and 30 staff across six City departments to implement the San José Green Vision, the City’s comprehensive plan for environmental sustainability, economic growth, and enhanced quality of life. ➢ Tracked 26 performance metrics of the Green Vision goals and prepared the annual progress report to City Council.➢ Managed marketing collateral, including website content and fact sheets. Led overall public/media correspondence.

• work2future Business Service Analyst

  • Aug 2009 - Aug 2010

  ➢ Managed BusinessOwnerSpace.com, a regional web-based resource to help businesses launch, expand, and collaborate.➢ Led marketing on tax rebates and on-the-job training incentive program; hosted two job fairs totaling 1,000 attendees.➢ Defined scope, set up evaluation criteria, and led four procurements; executed consultant contracts totaling $500,000.

• Associate Environmental Service Specialist - Go Green Schools Program Manager

  • Jan 2009 - Jul 2009

  ➢ Led the City’s Go Green Schools program, an initiative to increase awareness about recycling, sustainability, and climate change among 15 San José K-12 school districts; partnered with students, teachers, and school administrators.➢ Administered the Youth Education & Improvement Grants, which provided grants to 20 community organizations to implement recycling, composting, and garden projects to help divert landfill waste and pursue zero waste in San Jose.➢ Managed three graduate student interns. Show less

• City Management Fellow

  • Jul 2008 - Jan 2009

  ➢ Created a reporting framework and performance metrics for the Green Vision; then developed the first Annual Report.➢ Researched legislation and analyzed the potential value of carbon offset credits from the Statewide Cap and Trade plan.



San Jose State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Faculty - Lecturer

  • Aug 2012 - Jun 2016

  ➢ Instructed a graduate and undergraduate course on environmental health. Topics include the interrelated impacts between health and the environment, climate change, occupational exposures, and sustainable policies in urban environments. ➢ Developed lesson plans, hold office hours, grade papers, and guide students in selecting research topics. ➢ Instructed a graduate and undergraduate course on environmental health. Topics include the interrelated impacts between health and the environment, climate change, occupational exposures, and sustainable policies in urban environments. ➢ Developed lesson plans, hold office hours, grade papers, and guide students in selecting research topics.



GreeningUSA Inc

• Syracuse, NY

• Graduate Intern

  • Nov 2007 - Jun 2008

  ➢ Designed and launched the nonprofit's mission statement and guiding principals, including leading brainstorming workshops among the Board of Directors. ➢ Applied for grant funding, created marketing materials, and developed an outreach strategy to recruit members. For more information please see: http://www.greeningusa.org/ ➢ Designed and launched the nonprofit's mission statement and guiding principals, including leading brainstorming workshops among the Board of Directors. ➢ Applied for grant funding, created marketing materials, and developed an outreach strategy to recruit members. For more information please see: http://www.greeningusa.org/



Sightline Institute

• United States
• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Leadership Intern

  • Jun 2006 - Nov 2006

  ➢ Designed a Board of Directors governing manual to orient new members and improve decision-making process. ➢ Developed content for various social media sites including MySpace and Facebook. ➢ Assisted the Executive Director, Alan Durning, in daily meetings with potential donors and partner organizations. ➢ Co-authored Sockeye magazine article about “Tax Shifting,” taxing “bads” (e.g. pollution) versus “goods” (e.g. jobs). For more information please see: http://www.sightline.org/ Show less



United States Air Force

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Intern

  • Mar 2006 - May 2006

  ➢ Awarded the Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta’s Internship Program Scholarship by The Washington Center. ➢ Analyzed retention rates of pilots in international airline industry for the Rated Force Policy Office, Pentagon. ➢ Awarded the Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta’s Internship Program Scholarship by The Washington Center. ➢ Analyzed retention rates of pilots in international airline industry for the Rated Force Policy Office, Pentagon.



County of Santa Clara

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• County Intern

  • Sep 2005 - Mar 2006

  ➢ Supported Santa Clara Board of Supervisor, Liz Kniss. ➢ Researched and developed a Municipal Green Building policy to conserve energy usage and reduce carbon footprint of the County. ➢ Organized stakeholder meetings with County operations staff. ➢ Supported Santa Clara Board of Supervisor, Liz Kniss. ➢ Researched and developed a Municipal Green Building policy to conserve energy usage and reduce carbon footprint of the County. ➢ Organized stakeholder meetings with County operations staff.



US Congress

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Press and Media Assistant

  • Aug 2003 - Dec 2003

  ➢ Served as a Press and Media Assistant to Congressman Earl Blumenauer ➢ Tracked and maintained news coverage about the representative and responded to constituent letters and calls. ➢ Gathered information about flood insurance industry to support proposed legislation to reduce flood insurance fraud. ➢ Served as a Press and Media Assistant to Congressman Earl Blumenauer ➢ Tracked and maintained news coverage about the representative and responded to constituent letters and calls. ➢ Gathered information about flood insurance industry to support proposed legislation to reduce flood insurance fraud.