Board of Directors

I’m from the Bay Area originally and was relocated to Sacramento just before my senior year in high school. I quickly came to realize that there isn’t a better family town in the country. I spent my college years and career here surrounded by the mountains, ocean, wine country and river ways.

For generations, Von Housen Automotive Group has been dedicated to supporting economic development initiatives across our region through the commitment of our time, talent and investments. We are proud to work alongside this community’s amazing leaders and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council to act as catalysts for innovative and positive growth in our six-county region.

High-quality schools that offer a continuum of educational options is a huge asset that Placer County is able to offer to businesses and families considering moving to the region. Education is a critical piece of why people move here, alongside work, housing and lifestyle. Placer County is one of the largest counties in the Greater Sacramento region and I’m proud to bring this perspective to GSEC’s Board of Directors.

It is important to be a GSEC Board Member as it allows me to listen to other business and government leaders in our community share what they are executing within their own organizations and how we can develop our marketing and business plans in concert to allow all of our entities to become one giant orchestra operating in harmony, creating a better and more powerful Greater Sacramento region. If we can attract and create new employment opportunities in the region, it will drive needed tax revenue and can provide additional public services while enhancing quality of life.

A number of years ago, myself and other business leaders from the Greater Sacramento region realized we needed to diversify our economy. We believed our region’s economic development group should take an aggressive approach to bring private industry and high-wage jobs to our region. I joined the Board because I believed in Greater Sacramento’s vision. It’s amazing to see what the organization has accomplished in such short time. They continue to work hard and lead our region into the future.

The Greater Sacramento region is finally serious about sustainable economic development. GSEC is a powerful partnership between government and business that is focused on improving the economic environment of our region so that all of our citizens benefit through increased jobs and investment. I feel it’s important to serve on the GSEC Board to help guide our region through this time of increased growth and competitiveness.

Greater Sacramento is a spectacular region, and I know of many other business leaders who feel the same way. I watched from a distance as some of the business leaders in our community banded together to form the Greater Sacramento Economic Council to get us back to where other business leaders see this area as a great place. As the Council went from idea to reality, I’ve been very impressed by the leadership, the message and the results. I joined the Board to help with the funding so that we can bring more non-government jobs to the region, and move our reputation from an outdated Cow Town to the world-class city that we are.

I believe in Greater Sacramento. The power of our community is inspiring and I’m thrilled to advocate for this region. Early in my career, my office was at the corner of 5^th and J Street – overlooking Downtown Plaza. Now, I’m in The Sawyer Tower, overlooking Golden 1 Center, Downtown Commons and the Koons sculpture – an incredible testament to what this city can do. I believe the transformation of Greater Sacramento has just begun and I’m excited to play a role in it.

I look forward to being an active participant in the pursuit of GSEC’s aspirational goals, as well as, a stakeholder in the creation of a high yield Greater Sacramento ecosystem that is competitive, productive and works for everyone.

The fun of our business is finding new ways to grow and add value into the next generation. Sacramento’s our home base for development in the Western US, and it has a deep pool of talented, well-educated young people to help us drive that growth. We’re looking forward to the next 75 years!