Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Carl Guardino, one of Silicon Valley’s most distinguished business and community leaders, is the President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy trade association that represents more than 375 of Silicon Valley’s most respected employers.

IIn 2000, the San Jose Mercury News named Guardino one of the “Five Most Powerful” people in Silicon Valley, in a once-per-decade “Power Study.” He received similar recognition in 2010.

Guardino has been the chief executive of the Leadership Group since January 1997. He previously served as vice president of the organization between 1991 and 1995. He also held an executive position in governmental affairs with Hewlett-Packard and he spent six years on the staff of Central Valley Assemblyman Rusty Areias, the last three as his chief assistant.

His transportation leadership includes successful management of ballot Measures A & B in 1996 that funded 19 key road and rail improvements with $1.4 billion; and co-managed a 2000 traffic relief initiative that will generate some $7.5 billion in local funds to bring BART to Santa Clara County, improve CalTrain and other transit improvements. In 2008, Guardino managed the successful Measure B (BART) campaign which earned nearly 67 percent voter approval. It authorized a 1/8-cent sales tax for 30 years to fund a 16-mile Santa Clara County BART extension. Most recently, Guardino led a 3-year effort that culminated in “Measure B” on the November, 2016 ballot, which will generate an additional $6.5 billion in local funds for traffic relief improvements. Measure B passed with 71.74 percent of the vote.

As a housing advocate, he co-created the Housing Trust Silicon Valley, which has helped 25,000 people afford homes in high-cost Silicon Valley by raising more than $90 million in voluntary contributions. He also co-managed Prop. 46, the statewide Housing Bond, in 2002 and co-chaired Prop. 1-C, the November 2006 statewide Housing Bond.