REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint Diana Bautista, Brad De Young, and Avanish Sahai to the NOVA Workforce Board
Report
BACKGROUND
The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) stipulates the composition, roles and responsibilities of the local workforce board. The local chief elected official appoints the local workforce board. The Sunnyvale City Council serves as the Local Chief Elected Official for the NOVA consortium. The local workforce board (NOVA Board) determines how many seats are on the board. The NOVA Board currently has 19 members, all of these appointees will be replacing outgoing members. Members may serve up to three consecutive two-year terms. NOVA Board Membership numbers can fluctuate, but the overall composition must continue to meet the required federal statute of maintaining membership from the following areas: majority private sector, twenty percent labor, two higher education, one Employment Development Department, one Department of Rehabilitation and one Economic Development. The Board composition is certified by the State Workforce Board every two years. The NOVA Board is required to have a majority of representatives from business, and representation from the following stakeholders:
• Business executives (majority and chair).
• Education providers of adult education and higher education.
• Labor and community-based organizations representing the workforce.
• Economic and community development agencies.
• State agencies representing employment development and vocational rehabilitation programs.
The roles and responsibilities of NOVA Board members include (but are not limited to):
• Taking a leadership role in forging a strong and vital partnership between businesses and the workforce development community, resulting in an entrepreneurial, market-driven, accountable, and exceptional workforce development system.
• Contributing specific expertise from key industries and articulating evolving industries’ needs, critical to aligning the workforce with the current job market.
• Developing and approving policy for workforce initiatives in NOVA service-delivery areas.
• Helping create and providing oversight of a local strategic plan and participating in the development of a regional plan.
• Evaluating and monitoring program performance according to specified outcomes and measures.
• Promoting the NOVA Board and workforce through collaboration and relationship building with other businesses, local workforce boards, organizations, and groups.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 5.1.1: Socio-Economic - Goals and Policies: Education and Training Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental, organizational, or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
The NOVA Board Nominating Committee is comprised of NOVA Board Co-Chairs Andy Switky and Rosanne Foust and is charged with recommending NOVA Board candidates to the City Council. The Nominating Committee is recommending the appointments of Diana Bautista, Brad De Young, and Avanish Sahai based on their individual strengths and assets they can bring to the NOVA Board. In addition, the Nominating Committee nomiates Ms. Bautista and Mr. Sahai to fill WIOA-mandated seats representing business, and Mr. De Young to fill a Labor seat.
About the Candidates:
Ms. Diana Bautista
Government Relations Manager, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is the largest health care system in the San Francisco Bay Area. Headquartered in Palo Alto with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford at the center of the network, the health care system has more than 85 locations across the Bay Area and U.S. western region. It was recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation in 2025/26. Stanford Medicine Children’s Health employs approximately 5000 employees. As Government Relations Manager, Ms. Bautista focuses on local, state and federal policies affecting the health care industry. In addition, she is tackling the workforce skills shortage for current and future jobs in this industry. Ms. Bautista brings to the NOVA Board over 20 years of nonprofit and government experience and is knowledgeable of and active in the local community. She currently serves on the boards of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, Chamber San Mateo County, and Foothill-De Anza Foundation. Ms. Bautista will be invaluable to the NOVA Board in preparing workers for future employment opportunities in the growing health care sector; forging new partnerships with the community colleges and other key stakeholders; and expanding connections across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Mr. Brad De Young
Sheet Metal Workers (SMW) 104 Apprenticeship Training Coordinator, SMW Local 104 Bay Area Industry Training Fund
SMW Local 104 Bay Area Industry Training Fund offers five-year apprenticeship programs in building trades sheet metal, service/air conditioning mechanic position, and for the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) technician. The programs offer opportunities to develop work-based skills for high-paying careers as an alternative to traditional careers requiring a college degree. There are four training facilities across the Bay Area, including San Jose. The SMW Local 104 Bay Area Industry Training Fund has trained over 1400 apprentices during its peak enrollment. As SMW 104 Apprenticeship Training Coordinator in San Jose, Mr. De Young oversees the training program and works with apprentices and newer journeypersons to prepare them for successful careers in the sheet metal union. He is a SMW Local 104 Executive Board member, certified OSHA Outreach and North America’s Building Trades Union Multi-Craft Core Curriculum instructors, and Registered School Certifying Official with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. De Young brings to the NOVA Board over 30 years of experience in the sheet metal industry in primarily leadership roles. He will be invaluable to the NOVA Board in ensuring workers have access to diverse pathways that will lead to opportunities with livable wages and fulfilling careers.
Mr. Avanish Sahai, Managing Director, Exbourne Group LLC
Exbourne Group LLC, headquartered in San Carlos, was established in 2021 and provides consulting and business advisory services. As Managing Director, Mr. Sahai oversees all business operations. He is a skilled technology executive with more than 20 years of experience with established Silicon Valley companies, such as Oracle, ServiceNow, and Google, and with several startups. He brings passion to his work and is committed to forging solutions to the growing economic disparity; impact of Artificial Intelligence on careers that may be eliminated; affordable housing for an increasingly diverse workforce; relocation of employers and jobs to other states; and the impact of climate change on the region’s appeal for employers. Mr. Sahai serves on various for-profit and nonprofit boards and is a fellow at the Stanford Center for Longevity. He brings to the NOVA Board a deep understanding of and analytical perspective on both the positive and negative impacts tech innovation has had in this community. Mr. Sahai’s extensive leadership, expertise in future economic trends, investment experience, and networks with key companies will be invaluable as the NOVA Board forges new partnerships and strategies that will ensure an effective and sustainable workforce and economy.
These appointments comply with the requirements of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve and appoint Diana Bautista, Brad De Young, and Avanish Sahai to the NOVA Workforce Board.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Eileen Stanly, Administrative Analyst
Reviewed by: Marléna Sessions, Director, NOVA Workforce Services
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager