Mission Statement
"Giving People the Power to be Green"
The California Smart Building Association is an advocacy organization dedicated to establishing and strengthening public policies that promote the development of smart buildings in California for commercial, residential and public projects. In addition to state legislation, the Association will work to change local government ordinances and general plan policies to achieve its objectives.
Board members
Robert King Fong
President/CEO and Board member
Robert King Fong has extensive experience in the education arena previously serving as an elected Board Member and Board President for the Sacramento City Unified School District.
Fong brings a wealth of local government experience to the California Smart Building Association. In March 2004, Fong was elected to the Sacramento City Council and he recently was re-elected to a second term in November 2008. He currently serves the citizens of District 4.
Fong received his B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley (Phi Beta Kappa) and his J.D. from the University of California at Davis King Hall. He is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of California, and Sacramento County Bar Association. Fong is a former President of the Asian Bar Association of Sacramento and has served as the President of the Sacramento Asian Chamber of Commerce.
Marc Jasso
Chairman of the Board
In 2006, Marc Jasso formed Millennium Real Estate Services, Inc. (MRES) to develop a portfolio of real estate projects with an integrated building technology system that is managed from a network command center. He brings to the California Smart Building Association a developer's perspective to implement smart building technologies for multi-family mixed-use projects with office and retail.
Jasso has 19 years of commercial real estate experience and he was formerly the Director of Real Estate for Kimco Realty Corporation; one of the largest Real Estate Investment Trust for shopping centers in the U.S. Jasso was responsible for leasing and re-merchandising strategies for the firm's northern California properties. Jasso brings a conservative republican perspective with experience in all aspects of development to the California Smart Building Association.
In 2007, Jasso formed 1901 Broadway MRES, LLC to develop a 150,000 SF transit oriented development with technology applications identified while traveling to Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo in 2005. With a team of experts, Jasso toured the ubiquitous City of Dubai and studied the convergence of technology to remotely operate a portfolio of properties with LEED certification in 2007.
In 2008, Jasso formed KOAR-Millennium Broadway LLC as a joint venture with KOAR Development Group, LLC to develop the Broadway Lofts project consisting of 136 apartments with 22 affordable units, live/work and retail spaces. KOAR-Millennium Broadway, LLC brings $2 billion dollars of development experience, plus long term equity relationship with the Construction Laborers Pension Trust for Southern California.
SMUD
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District is the nation's sixth-largest community owned electric system in terms of customers served. SMUD provides services to more than 550,000 customers (more than 1.3 million residents) over a 900-square-mile area that includes Sacramento County and a small portion of Placer County.
Paul Lau
Board member
He will oversee SMUD's "smart grid" roll out.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has named Paul Lau as assistant general manager of Customer Distribution and Technology. In his new role, he will take over the responsibilities formerly overseen by two retiring senior executives. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the District's retail and technology operations including customer services, energy delivery, energy efficiency, customer renewable programs, telecommunication and enterprise business applications.
Lau will also lead SMUD's smart meter implementation, which includes the installation of more than 600,000 new meters that will eventually provide new capabilities for customers to make more informed decisions about their energy use.
"Smart meters are the key to the Sacramento region's energy future," said John DiStasio, SMUD's general manager and chief executive officer. "Paul's leadership experience overseeing customer services as well as distribution services will be invaluable in ensuring the success of this initiative."
Lau has worked at SMUD for over 25 years in the Distribution Services and Customer Services departments. He most recently worked as deputy assistant manager of Customer, Distribution and Operations. Lau is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento and a certified professional electrical engineer in the state of California.
Brian Turner
Board member
Turner is LEED AP BD + C certified and a leading expert in the Smart Building and System Integration industry. He is internationally recognized and provides many years of hand on experience to architects, engineers, and building owners assisting with the design and implementation of integrated building systems. He believes that the future of buildings and our environment are full of connected intelligent devices and unified data highways allowing humans and devices to interact seamlessly to make better decisions. Brian supports education and continued growth in the smart buildings industry by serving as an advisor to the education curriculum for Laney College's Environmental Control Technology Program. He is currently working on a smart building integration project for Stanford University.
Jim Sinopoli
Board member
For over 25 years, Mr. Sinopoli has worked extensively on projects involving the configuration and optimization of building technology systems and networks. Mr. Sinopoli is the Managing Principal of Smart Buildings, which provides engineering and consulting services for the design and operation of integrated building technology systems.
The firm has experience in the healthcare, corporate, education, manufacturing, finance, construction and government industry sectors. His clients have included Fortune 100 corporations, major school districts, university systems, airports and ports, national government agencies, large private and public hospitals, technology companies, and nationwide developers. His international experience includes projects in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Africa. United States federal clients have included the Internal Revenue Service and the US Postal Service.
Mr. Sinopoli's educational credits include a B.S. in Engineering from Purdue University and a M.A. in Applied Science and Management from Governor's State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, an Accredited LEED Professional and a Registered Communications Distribution Designer. Mr. Sinopoli is Chairmen of the Continental Automation Buildings Association's Task Force on Industry Training and Education.
Mr. Sinopoli has spoken on numerous occasions at conferences and seminars focusing on high technology issues, including AIA, BOMA, Builconn, Realcomm, BICSI and CEFPI conferences. He is a contributing editor for the web site AutomatedBuildings.com, and has written for many industry publications worldwide. Mr. Sinopoli has received the international "Harry J. Pfister" award from the Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI). His most recent publication is a book titled "Smart Buildings".
Tom Shircliff
Board member
Tom Shircliff has 20 years experience in consulting, marketing and sales of technology to real estate developers, commercial businesses, government, medical and higher education. Tom has been a regional executive for AT&T/BellSouth, Broadriver VoIP and The Price-Davis Company. He is currently Co-founder and Managing Director along with Rob Murchison, of consulting firm IntelligentBuildings.
IntelligentBuildings is a nationally recognized specialist in real estate technology consulting including strategy and standards development, organizational alignment and financial analysis. He has a BA degree in political science from North Carolina State University and also maintains a real estate license. He is on the Continental Automated Buildings Intelligent and Integrated Buildings Council, The Realcomm Real Estate Solutions Advisory Group and speaker or moderator at multiple conferences and Universities including The Georgia Institute of Technology College of Architecture and School of Building Construction. Tom also serves on the board of directors for the Children and Family Services Center, volunteers on the United Way Technology Committee and regularly teaches Junior Achievement.
Profile of Ross Communications
Richie Ross
Legislative Strategist
Richard Ross has nearly 40 years of experience in political strategy and campaign management. His experience on issue advocacy advertising spans a range of subjects--from AIDS and prenatal care to consumer and small business protections--has won local, state and national awards.
Ross began his career in 1970 as a young organizer for Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union. He later worked in the California State Assembly, where he eventually held each of the top three posts during Willie Brown's tenure as Speaker --Chief Administrative Officer, Speaker's Chief of Staff, and Director of Majority Services.
Ross opened his own political strategy, campaign management and government relations firm in 1983, providing political strategy for candidates, advocacy associations and industry leaders. He has managed the campaigns on some of California's historic ballot measures, including the passage of Proposition 98, establishing a minimum floor for school funding. In 2008 Ross managed the campaign for Proposition 3, the California Children's Hospital Bond. He has also managed campaigns on growth, transportation, water and schools.
Ross is widely recognized as one of California's most effective governmental advocates. His firm was named "Best Grassroots Lobbying Firm" in California for their work on behalf of farm workers.
Esperanza Ross
Legislative Advocate
After completing her Juris Doctor degree and earning a Master's degree in Public Policy at Georgetown University, Esperanza Ross served as an organizer for Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union in Los Angeles. She was responsible for coordinating the campaign to reform U.S. immigration laws.
A lobbyist since 2002 Ross represents a broad base of clients with a variety of interests including farm worker rights, school facilities, transportation infrastructure, special education, tribal curriculum and other education issues. Ross has been successful in helping to secure over $400 million in school facility funding and several million for other local infrastructure projects.
Esperanza is the daughter of a farm worker and political consultant and was born in Salinas, California. Her personal references include dozens of current Members of the State Legislature as well as former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, former Senate President Pro-Tem John Burton, and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo among several others.