Officers
Gary J. Schoennauer, FAICP, Chairman [Principal, The Schoennauer Company]
As the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, Gary Schoennauer was one of the most influential planning officials in the City of San Jose for 25 years. In 1997, Mr. Schoennauer was given the American Planning Association’s highest honor, the National Planning Award for Distinguished Leadership as a Professional Planner. He is currently in private practice as a planning consultant.
Tim Henderson, LEED AP, Vice President [Partner, Cypress Group]
Since 2002, Tim has been a partner at the Cypress Group, a multi-disciplinary, highly experienced real estate development firm focused on residential projects in Silicon Valley. Tim has served as an investment banker at Banc of America Securities, and as a venture capitalist and Principal at Citizens Capital. Tim served for five years as a submarine officer and nuclear engineer. Tim is a licensed general contractor, real estate broker and LEED Accredited Professional and serves on the Government Relations Committee of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors.
Richard Conniff, Treasurer [President & CEO, Focus Business Bank]
As a banking executive in Silicon Valley for nearly thirty years, Dick Conniff’s position in the financial services industry provides a broad perspective on housing issues, and he understands that the shortage of suitable living space for working families plays a crucial role in the welfare of Silicon Valley.
Ross G. Adler, Secretary [Shareholder, Attorney at Law, Hopkins & Carley]
Mr. Adler has worked for over twenty-five years as a real estate attorney at the San Jose business law firm of Hopkins & Carley, where he has had extensive experience representing developers, property owners, and lenders. He has previously served on the boards of the American Red Cross and Young Audiences.
Mary Gilbert [Resident, Craig Gardens]
Ms. Gilbert is a native of Canton, New York, moving to the Bay Area where she raised her three sons (San Mateo). She received a BS in Business Administration and Accounting in 1993 from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. Ms. Gilbert retired in 1997 from San Mateo County as a Payroll Specialist and from Community Services in St. Lawrence County in Canton in 2008. Mary currently resides at Craig Gardens Senior Apartments in San Jose.
Ted Nakada [Senior VP & Manager, California Bank & Trust]
Mr. Nakada has over twenty years of experience as a banking executive with California Bank & Trust (formerly Sumitomo Bank) and has been with the San Jose branch for 10 years. He also serves on the Board of Fuji Towers Senior Housing in San Jose’s Japantown.
Dunia Noel, AICP [Senior LAFCO Analyst, Santa Clara County]
Ms. Noel has been involved in Santa Clara County planning for more than 10 years. She is currently the Analyst for the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Santa Clara County, which regulates the boundaries of cities and special districts. She brings an extensive knowledge of the area’s housing needs and growth issues to our Board.
Sonia Park [Organizational Development & Strategic Planning Consultant]
Ms. Park brings housing experience as a former Public Housing Revitalization Specialist with HUD, and as a former Housing Program Director with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Ms. Park also brings experience in working with community partners, including the Federal, State and Local Governments as well as Social Service Agencies.
Sandra Soellner [President, University Neighborhoods Coalition]
As President of the University Neighborhoods Coalition and SNI NAC, Mrs. Soellner brings a wider community input to the FCH Board. Now retired, Mrs. Soellner has served as Executive Director of the Nevada State March of Dimes, and Executive Director for the Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey County March of Dimes. She has served the Santa Clara County Big Brothers/Big Sisters and enjoyed a career in the insurance industry (State Farm).