Coffee with a Legend

Lew Wolff on the Valley's Future

• 

  Lewis Wolff

  Since 1968, Lewis (Lew) N. Wolff has developed over 4,000,000 square feet of urban real estate, including hotels, office space, retail, town-homes, and commercial parking properties. Mr. Wolff is Chairman and CEO of Wolff Urban Development, LLC, a real estate acquisition, investment, development and management firm. Mr. Wolff co-founded and, since 1994, has served as Chairman of Maritz, Wolff & Co., a privately held hotel investment group that owns and asset manages top-tier luxury hotels. It has over $1.0 billion of assets under management.

  Wolff Urban Development

  Chairman & CEO

  Keynote

  Lewis Wolff

  Chairman & CEO

  Wolff Urban Development

• 

  Larry Stone

  San Jose Magazine named him one of Silicon Valley’s 100 most powerful leaders. Pulitzer Prize winning author and Washington Post reporter, Haynes Johnson, described Larry Stone in his best selling book, Sleepwalking Through History, as ”bright, articulate; an American rarity, a proven political success in a time of political failure.“ Longtime San Jose Mercury columnist Scott Herhold said Stone is one of the top 25 most powerful leaders in San Jose, and the third most powerful elected official. He was first elected Assessor in 1994 and overwhelmingly re-elected five times by the residents of Santa Clara County, which stretches north to Palo Alto, south to Gilroy, and includes San Jose, the "Capital of Silicon Valley." The county boasts a population of 1.9 million - greater than that of 13 states. Stone has been a financial manager on Wall Street and co-founded a successful Bay Area real estate investment and development firm. He served 16 years as a council member and mayor of Sunnyvale, a period during which the city earned an international reputation for effectiveness and became a model for President Clinton and Vice President Gore’s efforts to reform the federal bureaucracy. President Clinton said, ”The National Performance Review was modeled in part upon the remarkable reinvention efforts pioneered by the City of Sunnyvale, where Larry Stone served as mayor.“ As County Assessor, Stone has overseen remarkable improvements to streamline the operations of his office, eliminate backlogs, and achieve higher levels of public service, all while consistently operating substantially under budget. The State Board of Equalization acknowledged his office as one of the best-managed assessors’ operations in California. Larry Stone also has been an active and effective civic leader in many fields ranging from the arts, to education, to the environment. A native of Seattle, he has an MBA from the University of Washington and has studied at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He and his wife Carmen have lived in Sunnyvale since 1970, where they raised three sons.

  County of Santa Clara

  Assessor

  Moderator

  Larry Stone

  Assessor

  County of Santa Clara

Future of Silicon Valley

How are Multifamily, Office, and Retail CRE Professionals Navigating the Needs of the South Bay?

• 

  Nuria Fernandez

  With more than 35 years of experience, Nuria Fernandez has made a name for herself as an inspiring leader in the transportation industry. As the General Manager and CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), she is responsible for 2100 employees, delivering projects, programs, and transit services that provide mobility solutions for more than 2 million people who live and work in Silicon Valley. Among the highlights of her tenure at VTA is the construction of the $7 Billion extension of the heavy rail service, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) into Silicon Valley. When completed, the two-part project, including 16 miles of rail and 6 news stations, will provide transit alternatives for tens of thousands of commuters to Silicon Valley. The first two stations, Phase I of the project, are slated to begin passenger service in 2020. Fernandez is also responsible for the creation of VTA’s “Innovation Center,” an incubator to encourage collaboration, test the latest technology, and imagine new ways to keep the valley moving forward by leveraging the expertise of Silicon Valley’s high-tech corporations and universities. Prior to leading VTA, Fernandez served in leadership positions at some of the busiest transit agencies in America, including Chief Operating Officer of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Sr. Vice President of Design and Construction for the Chicago Transit Authority and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, consecutively. She also served as Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Aviation, overseeing O’Hare and Midway Airports. Fernandez was appointed Acting Federal Transit Administrator by President Bill Clinton, where she enabled the administration of more than a billion dollars in annual grant funding to local communities for planning, design, and construction of new and expanding rail and bus systems. Fernandez serves as Chair of the American Public Transportation Association for 2019-2020, leading the national organization in the advancement of advocacy, innovation, workforce development and membership growth. Fernandez was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, immigrating to the U.S. to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Master of Business Administration.

  Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

  CEO

  Nuria Fernandez

  CEO

  Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

• 

  Erik Hayden

  Responsible for developing more than $3.5B in real estate projects, including over 2,300 residential units in the California Bay Area, Mr. Hayden has experience in acquisition, contract negotiation, due diligence, risk assessment, financing, construction, and disposition of multifamily, single family and large mixed-use and master planned developments. He maintains relationships with a broad network of property owners, enabling him to identify and acquire prime investments. Mr. Hayden also has expertise navigating projects through the entitlement process by working with elected officials, community groups, and political organizations to gain support and get projects approved.

  Urban Catalyst

  Founder

  Erik Hayden

  Founder

  Urban Catalyst

• 

  Jeffrey Rogers

  Jeffrey Rogers has conducted commercial real estate transactions for more than twenty years. He has led value added development projects with private and institutional equity partners, delivering attractive financial returns relative to the market. He founded Briggs Development in 2011 where his team’s projects have exceeded $200 Million in total value. From 2006 through 2008, Jeff was a partner in MJ Core Holdings focusing on land entitlement. He previously consulted for GEOMAX and the Quinn Family Trust in the development and stabilization of various projects in the Silicon Valley from 1999 to 2007. Mr. Rogers began his career in 1994 at CB Commercial (CBRE) as an office leasing professional in Southern California. In 1996, he joined Colliers International in Northern California. In the Colliers Advisory Group (CAG), Jeff managed leasing transactions and provided financial statement impact analysis for enterprise tenants until 2011. He has served as a board member and/or fund raiser for the San Jose Police Activities League, Links for Life and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

  Briggs Development

  President

  Jeffrey Rogers

  President

  Briggs Development

• 

  Jeffrey Current

  Studio Current is passionate about creative urban infill. Our focus is to bring vitality to the streetscape and interest to the skyline of San Jose by designing engaging & captivating architecture. Jeff Current received his Architectural degree at USC in Los Angeles. He worked as Director of Architecture at Barry Swenson Builder (SJ based Design-Build / Development Company) for 28 years. Jeff started Studio Current – Urban Design + Architecture in 2013 to engage in San Jose’s transformation to a vibrant urban city. Studio Current is working to create new places to live – work – and play in San Jose & The Bay Area. Our talented design team is working with several non-profits, real estate developers and property owners to reinvent old buildings and create new & dynamic communities. Recent projects include architectural design for The Fountain Alley Building for Urban Catalyst (San Jose’s Opportunity Zone Fund). Our studio is also designing a Marriott Hotel in the Diridon Station Area and a high rise Co-Living tower over retail and office in the heart of downtown San Jose, also for Urban Catalyst. Our design for “The Buena Vista” is in the West San Carlos Urban Village and includes a Mixed Use Building with 175 residential units over retail & office. Our team has recently completed a Boy Scouts Camp in the High Sierras and two Private High School (College Preparatory) Classroom + Admin Buildings in San Jose along with the popular Midtown Arts Mercantile which restored a 100 year old warehouse for local makers (including: Hapas Brewing, Good Karma Bikes, Chromatic Coffee & Terra Amico) Education: Professional Licenses: Professional Affiliations: University of Southern California Bachelor of Architecture, 1984 Registered Professional Architect California # C19444 / Nevada #7681 American Institute of Architects – Santa Clara Valley Chapter Member 1982-2019/ Board Member 2010-2015/ President 2012 SPUR – SF Planning & Urban Research (Policy Board Member) 2014-19 SJ Downtown Assoc. – Downtown Design Committee 2012-2019 ULI – Urban Land Institute, 2015--2019 CSI - Construction Specifications Institute, 1993-2019 ICC - International Code Council, 1996-2019

  Studio Current

  President

  Jeffrey Current

  President

  Studio Current

• 

  James Heilbronner

  James Heilbronner is the founder and President of Architectural Dimensions, a full-service architecture and design firm that tackles complex projects in multiple sectors. The Oakland based firm’s design approach is to work hard at responding to the natural surroundings and public attitudes toward a project. As Principal Architect, he is responsible for the project management of all phases of development- from feasibility analysis and design, through construction. He specializes in navigating the entitlement and stakeholder/public engagement process to reach consensus and clear coordination for any project. He has spent most of his career designing and managing a truly wide variety of projects that span several industries, including hotels, retail, restaurant, shopping centers, office, industrial, civic, entertainment, and historic. Mr. Heilbronner has broad expertise in every stage of project delivery, team leadership, culture & communications, marketing & operations, business strategy, PR & media, strategic partnerships, and alternative delivery. This expertise has led to the successful design of numerous multiunit roll-out development programs for nationwide retailers such as Starbucks, La Boulangerie, and 7-Eleven. As the Program Manager for Hilton International, he assisted in the expansion of the hotel chain throughout Northern California with the architectural design of 15 facilities. His background is filled with expertise in the expansion of other leading hospitality chains such as Extended Stay America, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hilton Garden Inn & Suites; designing multiple locations for each throughout Northern California. Most notably, Mr. Heilbronner has served as the Principal Architect for the highly publicized Fox Theater in Oakland, the Historic Rotunda Building of Oakland, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Historic Renovations, Golden State Warriors’ Oracle Arena Mezzanine Suites, and over 2 million square feet of retail projects. He also served as the Program Manager on the multi-faceted Oakland Army Base Reuse Plan; a $220M+ public/private Bay Area mega-project that spans over 300 acres. A licensed architect in California and registered in 13 other states, Mr. Heilbronner received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kentucky. He is an active member in a number of organizations – including leadership, trade associations, and industry groups – that support the development of underserved populations, economic development, and sustainable practices, both in the Bay Area and around the world. For his work and commitment to excellence he has been recognized by several entities. A few such recognitions include: Business Journal’s Top Projects in the North Bay, Hospitality Award, American Institute of Architects California Council Merit Award for Architecture, Hilton Hotels Corporation Architects Roundtable Award for Superior Service, and the National Preservation Foundation Renovation Award.

  Architectural Dimensions

  President

  Moderator

  James Heilbronner

  President

  Architectural Dimensions

State of Silicon Valley Supply

What Factors Are Impacting the Delivery of New Construction in the Region?

• 

  Candice Gonzalez

  Real Estate Developer, Affordable Housing Builder, Housing Leader, Community Builder, Attorney Passionate about equality of opportunity through housing and education for all income levels. Passionate about inclusion and diversity. • 17+ years in real estate acquisitions, contract negotiations, site selection, and brokerage. • 10+ years of experience in a corporate real estate environment (multi-family and mixed-use real estate development and portfolio/asset management leadership) • Strong focus on political and community engagement, advocacy, and building relationships with local organizations, community leaders, policy makers, and government agencies. This involves close monitoring of the political environment in order to advocate for and advance policies, programs, and projects that will positively impact the housing industry and community at large. • Exceptional relationship-building skills and people skills – ability to relate well to others and be relatable to others. • Focus on all aspects of development at a strategic level including acquisitions, feasibility, entitlements, consensus building, complex loan closings, design, construction, and sale/lease-up. • Ability to drive the planning of multiple, fast-paced and complicated projects. • Team management – up to 50 FTEs plus all vendors and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. • Participate in speaking engagements, panels, and media interviews regarding the Silicon Valley housing crisis.

  Sand Hill Property

  Chief Housing Officer & Managing Director

  Vallco Town Center

  Candice Gonzalez

  Chief Housing Officer & Managing Director

  Sand Hill Property

• 

  Regina Celestin Williams

  Regina is responsible for securing funding for and managing the design and development of FCH’s affordable housing pipeline. Previous to joining FCH, Mrs. Celestin was a member of the National Development Council’s East Team providing housing and economic development consulting services to several East Coast municipalities and leading NDC’s green initiatives. She has also worked at the National Housing Trust, structuring the financing for and overseeing the rehabilitation of affordable housing properties while employing green construction features. Regina received her Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelors in Urban Studies from Stanford University.

  First Community Housing

  Director of Housing Development

  Regina Celestin Williams

  Director of Housing Development

  First Community Housing

• 

  Ralph Borelli

  A San Jose native, Ralph began his career in local commercial and industrial real estate by following in the footsteps of his father, Nelo, who founded N. G. Borelli Realtor in 1955. Ralph joined the firm in 1973 at age 19, when he obtained his first real estate license while still in college. He continued to work part-time until graduation and then entered the field full-time—becoming president of the company when his father retired in 1977. Ralph soon began expanding the firm’s capabilities—from brokerage, development, and management of residential, retail, and industrial properties to the broad range of services it offers today. In 1979, Ralph directed the formation of Borelli Investment Company’s first syndicated partnership to acquire multi-tenant industrial and office properties. In its history, Borelli Investment Company has formed over 35 partnerships with a portfolio of more than four million square feet, valued at over $600 million in property management accounts. Currently Borelli has 11 partnerships operating a total of nearly 1,000,000 sq. ft. that is valued at over $250 million. In addition to providing overall direction for the company, Ralph has negotiated several joint ventures on various industrial and office developments. He has also sold in excess of 2,000 acres of land, 150 buildings, and negotiated more than 4,000 leases. Ralph received his degree in real estate from San Jose State University in 1976. In addition, Ralph has worked with numerous industry groups and earned many distinctions within his profession.

  Borelli Investment Company

  Chairman

  Ralph Borelli

  Chairman

  Borelli Investment Company

• 

  Amory Shaffer

  Nearly eight years managing high-end tenant improvement projects on technology campus programs in Silicon Valley has helped Amory forge strong, trusted working relationships with local inspectors and local permitting departments. For the last three years, the Swinerton Special Projects team at PayPal has continuously brought the client’s vision to life for their San Jose campus. As Project Manager, Amory oversees the construction process for the duration of these projects, working with representatives from the Owner, the Architect, subcontractors, and suppliers. She resolves any issues that may arise during the course of construction, is responsible for budget and schedule adherence, the performance of on-site construction, coordination of activities with the Superintendent, and the handling of reports and documents. She also taps into Swinerton’s self-perform drywall, doors/frames/hardware, demolition, and millwork groups to advance the delivery of fast-paced, high-quality projects. Amory’s successes have resulted in multiple assignments for Swinerton with other Valley clients. Amory is a US Army veteran.

  Swinerton

  Project Manager

  Amory Shaffer

  Project Manager

  Swinerton

• 

  Jesse Gundersheim

  Jesse Gundersheim is a market economist for CoStar, the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces. Jesse analyzes real estate tends and maintains market reports for the San Francisco Bay Area, helping investors, property managers, and lenders minimize risk and maximize returns. Jesse regularly speaks at industry events to discuss his findings, and has been quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Business Times, Bloomberg, and BisNow. Jesse was raised in Marin County and studied finance at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Previously, he led Bay Area market research departments at the brokerage firms of Grubb & Ellis, Studley, and DTZ. Jesse has also worked for private apartment investors, providing due diligence and pro-forma analysis. Jesse enjoys hiking in the North Bay in his free time, and has traveled to nearly 50 countries.

  CoStar

  Director of Market Analytics, San Francisco Bay Area

  Jesse Gundersheim

  Director of Market Analytics, San Francisco Bay Area

  CoStar

• 

  Ray Hashimoto

  With over 37 years of land use planning experience including over four years with the City of Palo Alto and nearly ten years with the San Jose Department of City Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, Ray provides the expertise in land use and entitlement for land development projects. Ray has been involved with the management and planning of a wide range of projects from inception through construction including multi-use and industrial/commercial projects, large transit-oriented development projects, large-scale residential projects, and specialized projects such as operating and post-operation landfill sites. His portfolio of work includes Samaritan Medical Center, Japantown Corp Yard, Market Park, Lawrence Station, Tamien Station, and Gateway at Millbrae Station to name a few. Ray has extensive experience working with the cities and other governmental agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He was also a BIA rep to the VTA Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) from 2000-2018 and is currently on the Cal Poly Dean’s Leadership Council and the Advisory Council for the City and Regional Planning Department and is an active member with the San Jose Rotary Club.

  HMH

  VP, Principal, Land Development Manager, AICP

  Moderator

  Ray Hashimoto

  VP, Principal, Land Development Manager, AICP

  HMH