Press Releases
Silicon Valley REALTORS® Install 2006 Leadership
Cupertino, California — The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors® (SILVAR) has inducted its leadership team for 2006. The Association's 2006 officers and directors were installed at a gala held at Villa Ragusa in Campbell the evening of January 11, 2006.
One of the largest trade associations in Silicon Valley, SILVAR represents over 4000 Realtors® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business and serving clients on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
John Tripp, 2006 President, has spent his entire professional career in real estate. He is a member of Santa Clara Housing Bond Trust Fund subcommittee for the analysis of applications for loans and grants. He is involved in arbitration, mediation and negotiations concerning real estate issues. His business practice includes real estate advisory for pension plans, IRA accounts and estate management. He has served as an Officer, Director, or Chairperson at SILVAR several times and has been selected as Realtor of the Year twice.
Tripp outlined an ambitious agenda for 2006 with the dual aim of enhancing the value of membership and increasing active member participation in the Association. He underscored the importance of education, mediation, and dispute resolution to the continued vitality of organized real estate. "A proactive, solution-based, and regional approach to legislative and governmental affairs, coordination with other associations to bring unaffiliated licensees into the associations and under the strict REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, and the development of common tour policies with neighboring associations in adjacent marketing areas are my goals for 2006," Tripp said.
Mark Burns (Cupertino) is president-elect, Gerry Lawrence (Los Altos) is treasurer, and Ron Gates (Los Gatos) is Region 9 Chair for the California Association of Realtors®. The evening culminated with the presentation of the 2005 Appreciation Awards.
Among SILVAR's honored guests were elected officials from Santa Clara County and cities and towns on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, including Santa Clara County Tax Collector Larry Stone, Atherton Mayor Charles Marsala, Menlo Park Mayor Nicholas Jellins, Palo Alto Mayor Judy Kleinberg, Palo Alto Councilmember John Barton, Mountain View Councilmember Matt Pear, Sunnyvale Councilmembers John Howe and Tony Spitaleri, Saratoga Councilmember Kathleen King, and San Jose Councilmember Ken Yeager.
Mark Burns, 2006 president-elect and a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Cupertino, was named "Realtor of the Year." In her commendation, Willi Krauss, SILVAR 2005 president, noted that Burns "has displayed such consistent and passionate support for our organization over time… as a board member and a steady volunteer for a seemingly infinite number of SILVAR and community activities, this Realtor's knowledge, business sense, and truly 'one of a kind' perspective are difficult to imagine doing without."
Burns has twice been awarded the SILVAR community outreach award. Over the past 17 years, he has been a regular contributor and volunteer for Cupertino Community Services, Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation, Northwest YMCA, Organization of Families with Special Needs, Pacific Autism Center for Education, the Cupertino Rotary Club, and Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. He has chaired the Cupertino/Sunnyvale tour meeting for nearly two decades and headed the Tour Policy and Sign Ordinance committee for two years.
Burns serves on the SILVAR Board of Directors, has served as a CAR director, chairs the Cupertino/Sunnyvale tour meeting, chaired the Tour Policy and Sign Ordinance committee for two years, and has served as a Trustee on the SILVAR PAC for seven years.
Recognized by Janet Case, SILVAR Executive Officer, as a "model to the community showing the valuable contributions a Realtor can make to society," Josie Gambera (Cashin Company in Los Altos) received the "Spirit of SILVAR" award for her enthusiasm and service to membership in over a dozen leadership roles for the association.
Jimmy Kang, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, was recognized as SILVAR's "Affiliate of the Year" for his dedication and countless efforts on behalf of the Association, which has experienced a 30 percent growth in affiliate membership over the past two years.
Gary Bulanti (Alain Pinel in Menlo Park) and Jeff Barnett (VP and Manager, Alain Pinel in Los Gatos) each received President's Awards for their distinguished and exceptional service to the association.
In addition to the three lead officers, the following members sit on the 2006 Board of Directors: Willi Krauss (Past President), Ron Gates (Region 9 Chair), Adam Atito (Palo Alto), Jeff Bell (Cupertino), Brian Bernasconi (Los Gatos), Gary Bulanti (Menlo Park), Bo Chang (Sunnyvale), Josie Gambera (Los Altos), Lehua Greenman (Woodside), David Hunt (Cupertino), Leannah Hunt (Palo Alto), Aileen La Bouff (Los Altos), Mindi Oie (Cupertino), Susan Tilling (Menlo Park), and Dave Tonna (Los Gatos).
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.