Robert Buente: Board Member
President and CEO, 1010 Development Corporation
Bob’s commitment to building affordable housing and his broad experience in all aspects of development uniquely qualifies him to lead 1010. For more than 20 years, Bob has managed affordable housing development, financed affordable housing projects and consulted with other developers of affordable housing. As founder and managing partner of Trafford Associates LLC—a consulting and development company—Bob has worked extensively with the acquisition, construction, and development of affordable housing communities. Trafford was the project manager/co-general partner for planned affordable projects in Bakersfield, San Clemente, and Stanton.
Bob is a full member of the Urban Land Institute and has served as Co-Chair of the Los Angeles District Council’s Urban Marketplace Committee. He is a member of the Executive Board of Rose City Counseling Center, a Pasadena-based nonprofit mental health center. He is also the Secretary-Treasurer of the South Park Business Improvement District and sits on the Advisory Board of the California Hospital Medical Center, a Dignity Health hospital.
Education. B.A. English & Journalism, University of Missouri; MBA, University of Southern California Marshall School of Business
Matt Goulet: Board Chair
Principal, Urbanomics Planning
As Principal of Urbanomics Planning Group, LLC, Matt manages land use, entitlement and development incentives for infill real estate projects in Southern California communities. With a nearly 20 year background in engineering, business development, economic development, and urban planning, he has worked with industries that form the backbone of the Southern California economy and job base including aerospace, manufacturing, theme parks and motion pictures. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland (UMBC), a Masters in Business Administration from California State University Northridge, and a Professional Certificate in Real Estate Investments from UCLA. In addition, Matt holds an FE/EIT in Mechanical Engineering, is a licensed Real Estate Broker and has served as a docent giving architectural tours of Downtown LA for the Los Angeles Conservancy.
Vivien Villaverde, MSSW, PPSC, LCSW: Board Member
Clinical Associate Professor of Field Education, USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Vivien is currently a professor of Field Education within USC's School of Social Work's Children Youth and Family Department. She is responsible for developing and maintaining all community collaboration and partnership with local agencies and organizations to host MSW student internships. She also manages, coordinates, and monitors an internship placement program for MSW students. Prof. Villaverde is also the Teaching Institution (TI) Coordinator for the Department where she led the development of the TI structure, protocol, and documentation. She is sought after speaker at national conferences such as the Council on Social Work Education, Network for Social Work Management, School Social Work Association of America, and American Council for School Social Work.
Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez: Secretary
Executive Director, Los Angeles United Methodist Museum of Social Justice
Jennifer is the Pastor of St John’s United Methodist Church in Watts. She was formerly Director of Justice and Compassion for California-Pacific Annual Conference and, before that, Director of Urban Ministries. Jennifer continues to work for immigration reform and has launched Cal-Pac Neighborhood Clinics, a program that assists with legal services provided to community members by local churches. She is currently completing her Doctor of Divinity degree at the Claremont School of Theology.
Carrie Gillis: Board Member
Jones Lang LaSalle Senior Project Manager, LEED AP O+M
Ms. Gillis is a Senior Project Manager with JLL’s Project and Development Services Group. Her project portfolio includes creative commercial/tech office tenant improvements, new construction, LEED and retail multi-site. Ms. Gillis previously served as Portfolio Energy Manager for Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market conducting energy monitoring and tracking for more than 160 sustainable grocery stores located throughout CA, AZ, and NV. In this role, she implemented Fresh & Easy’s first-ever Energy Star certification program achieving 10 Energy Star certifications and establishing the baseline for future certifications for qualified stores.
In addition to LEED certification projects earning Silver, Gold, and Platinum certifications and creative/tech TI projects, Ms. Gillis’s multi-site project portfolio includes Bridgestone Retail Operations ground-up construction of auto care retail centers in Las Vegas, NV, roll out of more than 50 Starbucks store minor renovations, and minor renovations of more than 50 Bank of America Retail banking centers throughout Southern California.
Carrie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and is a member of the USGBC and Urban Land Institute. Ms. Gillis also co-founded the ULI Los Angeles Urban Marketplace Conference in 2000, a first in its kind half-day conference aimed to create investment and development opportunities for Southern California’s underserved markets. The conference has been replicated across several ULI local chapters throughout the country.