Rebecca Garcia recognized by Silicon Valley Business Journal

Published in the July 11 – July 24, 2018 issue of Gilroy Life

Rebecca Garcia

Gilroy High School graduate and Morgan Hill’s Housing Manager Rebecca Garcia was recently named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2018 40 Under 40. Each year the business newspaper honors up-and-coming leaders in Silicon Valley who have distinguished themselves in their fields before the age of 40. These 28- to 39-year-olds are chosen each year for their leadership, community work and impact in their respective fields.

“Rebecca is creative and talented, and a real force in the affordable housing arena,” said Leslie Little, city of Morgan Hill assistant city manager for community development. “With a passion for homelessness issues, she has a proven track record executing programs with meaningful outcomes, placing people and families on a pathway toward success. We are incredibly fortunate to have her in Morgan Hill.”

Garcia was born and raised in Gilroy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Francisco State University in 2002, and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Georgia in 2004.

While in Athens, Georgia, she worked for the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education managing a state-wide education initiative designed to nurture and respond to the increase in the K-12 student Latino population.

Upon returning to the Bay Area, Garcia spent the past 10 years leading efforts to better serve the needs of individuals and families, creating housing opportunities for families of all incomes. She has worked in the housing and homeless realm supporting the city of Morgan Hill, the city of San Jose and the county of Santa Clara.

“Rebecca’s relentless energy and style builds bridges between people and organizations,” said Ky Le, director, Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing. “Her style makes an impossible task seem like a worthy challenge.”

As the city’s housing manager, Garcia manages the below market rate portfolio of 516 owner-occupied units, with 30 new construction units in the pipeline in 2018.

This program is one of the region’s oldest, largest, and most active affordable ownership housing portfolios.

 

Staff Report