MORE ABOUT ME
Vianey (Nava) Gibbons, MURP, LEED AP
Affordable Housing Professional
I was born in Mexico City for the sole purpose of ensuring that I learn my language and culture, in spite of my mother having been raised in San Jose, California the previous 20 years. I was engaged in history and folklore as well as art and nature, which permeates in everyday life in Mexico. As a college student I returned to attend Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), which experience deepened my knowledge of history and sparked my interest in literature, politics and the urban form. This experience shaped my views of community and how it is the center of safety, celebration and everyday needs; neighbors look out for each other, bring food and drink to block parties (oh, how I miss the posadas!) and walkable streets with every neighborhood service you need like bodegas, medical care, schools, theater, eateries, parks, public transportation, etc.
Fast forward...
For the last 20+ years my focus has been in housing, more specifically moving forward affordable housing that improves the financial, health and educational outcomes of individuals and families so they can become self-sufficient and thrive. I take part in this by protecting, producing and preserving housing through development/managing programs that focus on affordability as well as sustainability.
As a professionally trained urban planner, I value thriving, shining, diverse communities in both culture and socio-economics. I believe that a vibrant and well maintained built environment can positively affect how we feel about ourselves and how invested we can become in our communities. For this reason, preserving, producing and protecting affordable housing as well as supporting policies that are good for thriving communities that offer economic opportunities are important to me.
Resume
Education
Master's Degree in Urban & Regional Planning
San Jose State University
Bachelor's Degree Law & Society and Latin American & Iberian Studies (with honors)
University of California, Santa Barbara
Accreditation
LEED AP Homes
US Green Building Council
October 2010
Skills & Expertise
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Analyze issues and define needs
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Bilingual in Spanish
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Champion DEI awareness
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Collaborator
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Conduct public outreach
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Delegate work
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Develop and implement marketing strategies
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Develop growth and problem-solving strategies
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Develop professional contacts
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Effective communicator
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Envision and implement ideas
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Experienced panelist
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Facilitate public meetings
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Grant management
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High Emotional Intellegence
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Identify gaps/problems
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Inspire and motivate
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Lead groups through implementation
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Leader and mentor
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Manage project schedules
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Resourceful
Experience
June 2024 - Present
Bay Area
Housing and Development Manager
FORWARD City Labs
Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of consultants to provide real estate development services.
March 2023 - Present
East Palo Alto, CA
Consultant
East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO)
As a thought partner to the Executive Director assist the organization with preservation and anti-displacement efforts to acquire single family homes and bring them into the community land trust portfolio in order to provide affordable housing ownership opportunities to the tenants.
July 2021 - Present
San Jose, CA
Sr. Project Advisor (Consultant)/
Director of Housing
Development
First Community Housing
A thought partner to the Executive Team as the organization undergoes a major transition. As part of the transition, provide real estate transaction services, manage a CDBG rehabilitation project and construction defect litigation.
Previous roles include Director of Housing Development managing a team of 11 members and a robust pipeline while taking on a leadership role within the Executive Team.
Sep. 2023 - April 2024
Aug. 2019 - Aug. 2021
San Jose, CA
Housing Program Director (Consultant)
San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School
As a thought partner to the Executive Director implemented the organization's vision to provide affordable housing to Corpsmembers who lacked housing or were housing unstable. I was responsible for tying all the components together to create a cohesive housing program utilizing tiny homes on wheels (THOWs). This included third party inspection, work flow, policy and procedures, finance modeling, marketing, legal research and creating contracts as well as successfully amended the zoning ordinances in Santa Clara County and the City of San Jose to allow THOWs in designated single family home areas.
Other responsibilities included real estate advisory services analyzing acquisition deals and guiding the development process including financial modeling, land use research, liaison with public agency departments and researching policy and ordinance/legislation that could be leveraged and/or supported to help move the initiatives forward.
Jan. 2018 - Aug. 2019
San Jose, CA
ADU Program Manager
Housing Trust Silicon Valley
Developed a program that aligned homeowners, contractors, designers and cities to produce accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a form of affordable housing.
Developed a comprehensive educational program for homeowners to understand the development process as explained by general contractors, designers, city planners and building officials, lenders, insurance agents and property management. The events included a vendor fair and tiny home demos.
Conversely, also held a conference for public officials and staff and provided data from homeowners' and builders' perspective collected through the program as well as data and research from other professionals organizations that could be utilize to improve the permitting process.
With the assistance of Citibank volunteer technical team developed specifications to develop a website that would would provide referrals and reviews to connect homeowners with all of their needs to build ADUs (think Yelp for ADUs).
Testified at a committee hearing at the California State Capital in support of Senator Bob Wieckowski's legislation to move ADU production forward across the state.
Aug. 2015 - Jan 2018
San Jose, CA
Project Manager
Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Developed multifamily affordable housing projects financed through low-income housing tax credits and project-based vouchers.
Sept. 2010 - July 2014
San Jose, CA
Sr. Project Manager
First Community Housing
Developed several multifamily affordable housing LEED certified projects financed through low-income housing tax credits.
Sep. 2007 - Sep. 2010
Santa Monica, CA
Sr. Project Manager
Left Coast Management
Responsible for every aspect of development as a two-person development firm. Developed for-sale luxury condominium projects in W. Los Angeles. Responsible for managing design, entitlements, subdividing, subdivision clearances, expediting permits, DRE process and sales and marketing.
June 2006 - Sep. 2007
Santa Monica, CA
Project Manager
Cedar Signature Homes
Resolved construction issues and expedited permits for several apartment and condominium projects in the greater Los Angeles area.
San Ramon, CA
July 2005 - June 2006
Assistant Project Manager
The Olson Company
Provided entitlement and financial closing support for several work-force condominium projects, all private/public partnerships.
Oct. 2002 - July 2005
San Jose, CA
Community Organizer
City of San Jose, City Manager's Office/Redevelopment Agency
As part of Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, developed community leadership (ensuring access and inclusion) and facilitated the implementation of neighborhood improvement plans.