SAN JOSE, Calif., June 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Housing Trust Silicon Valley announced today the appointment of George H. Brown and Supervisor Cindy Chavez to its Board of Directors. Brown is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, and an expert in accounting, economic and finance litigation. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez chairs the Children, Families and Seniors Committee and serves as a Director of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
"We are thrilled to have George H. Brown and Supervisor Cindy Chavez join the Housing Trust Silicon Valley Board," said John Barton, Board Chair. "George has had a lifetime commitment to civil rights and social justice, and has seen firsthand the importance of affordable housing in stabilizing families. Supervisor Chavez has long been an advocate for improving the quality of life in the Bay Area. Both have extensive knowledge and experience that will help further our goal of making the Silicon Valley an affordable place to live for everyone."
During Brown's tenure at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, he has specialized in complex mutli-party disputes, advising audit committees, boards and global companies on shareholder disputes and other corporate governance issues. He also teaches accounting and finance for business litigation at Berkeley Law School, and previously was a law professor at UCLA.
Additionally, Brown serves on several non-profit boards in the community, and was past co-chair of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR) of the San Francisco Bay Area. He received the LCCR's Jack Londen award this year for his work on education issues. He is also a National Trustee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and a senior leadership fellow with the American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley.
"The Housing Trust is a critical institution in Silicon Valley for promoting affordable housing, helping first time home buyers, and preventing homelessness," said Brown. "I am pleased to have the opportunity to help the Housing Trust advance those goals."
Prior to joining the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Chavez was a two-term member of the San Jose City Council and served two years as vice mayor. She helped develop programs to improve education, fight crime, revitalize neighborhoods and enhance small businesses. She also acted as Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and Executive Director of Working Partnerships USA. These roles included implementing a health insurance program for San Jose children that was considered a national model, and the construction of diverse housing projects in downtown San Jose.
Supervisor Chavez has been a member of the Joint Ventures Board of Directors, Silicon Valley Network and the California Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology. She recently served on the National Board of Planned Parenthood and is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum. She has earned numerous accolades including being featured on the Silicon Valley Business Journal's "Influential Women in Business" survey, being named 2012 Woman of the Year by the California State Assembly, and receiving the Blue Cross of California's Community Service Award.
"Since my time on the San Jose City Council when the Housing Trust was just getting off the ground, I've seen the organization grow and have a tremendous impact in helping Silicon Valley become more affordable and in encouraging our employers to support housing initiatives," said Supervisor Chavez. "I'm excited to join the Housing Trust Board as it continues its mission."
About Housing Trust Silicon Valley
Housing Trust Silicon Valley (HTSV) is among the largest housing trusts in the nation financing housing and assisting first-time homebuyers. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), HTSV is nationally recognized for providing the resources and leadership needed to make housing more affordable for those who want to live in Silicon Valley. Since 2001, HTSV has invested more than $76 million and leveraged $1.9 billion to create more than 10,000 housing opportunities. Of those served, 83% had household incomes below 80% of the Area Medium Income (AMI).