Airport Director/Team San Jose CEO Named Businessman of the Year
(March 2, 2012) – At the inaugural year of the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Membership luncheon, the organization named Airport Director and Team San Jose CEO Bill Sherry as Businessman of the Year at an awards ceremony this afternoon. Sherry, the Director of Aviation at Mineta San Jose International Airport as well as CEO of Team San Jose, has been recognized for outstanding results related to managing the Airport, leading the re-invigoration of Team San Jose and overseeing the San Jose Convention Center expansion and renovation project that broke ground in 2011.
“Our naming of Bill Sherry Businessman of the Year recognizes the major role he has played in improving airline service at the airport and in a short time reinvigorating the Convention Center work by Team San Jose—while simultaneously overseeing the construction of a new Convention Center building,” said Matthew Mahood, President and CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. “The work that he is leading is benefiting businesses and individuals across the region—making it easier to fly in and out of San Jose and supporting our convention services that draw in thousands of visitors and convention attendees and bring in millions of new dollars to our economy. Truly, an outstanding performance.”
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber established this new annual event to recognize individuals and businesses for their entrepreneurial success and civic commitment. The Membership Luncheon will be a springboard for the Chamber’s year-long activities and programs, providing insight into the 2012 Business Plan on how the Chamber will place a new emphasis on advocacy, jobs and the community.
“Bill (Sherry) has done a great job and I’d like to thank him for his leadership on two important economic development efforts for San Jose,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “Bill has done a tremendous job managing our state-of-the-art airport, overseeing both the successful airport modernization project and efforts to attract new flights to San Jose. In addition, he has led the expansion of our Convention Center while revitalizing Team San Jose’s efforts to bring new meetings and conventions to San Jose.”
Sherry joined the City of San Jose staff in 2005 as Director of Aviation. During his tenure at SJC, Sherry led the comprehensive $1.3 billion airport modernization program to create the nation’s most technologically advanced airport for the residents and businesses of Silicon Valley. The program included the design and construction of Terminal B and the new Consolidated Rental Car Center, a total remodel of Terminal A, and improved all airport roadways and parking facilities. The new terminal facilities opened in June 2010, and the overall program came in $160 million under budget and ahead of schedule.
At the beginning of 2011, Team San Jose named Sherry as the new CEO, who came to the organization with strong construction project management experience and background in public accounting and public administration. His accomplishments leading the airport modernization project, bodes well for the success of the San Jose Convention Center expansion and renovation project.
In April 2011, the City of San Jose and Team San Jose officially announced plans to move forward with a $120 million Convention Center expansion and renovation project for the San Jose Convention Center. The project will add 125,000 sq. ft of flexible meeting space and renovate the existing space. The Convention Center is open throughout the project with the newly remodeled and expanded Center to debut Fall 2013.
In addition to managing the Convention Center expansion and renovation, since his tenor at Team San Jose, the organization has seen fiscal and economic success, including a renewed commitment by the City of San Jose for their management of the Convention Center, various theaters and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC serves approximately 8.3 million passengers per year with approximately 114 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 28 nonstop destinations. The $1.3 billion modernization project, completed in 2010, makes SJC the most technologically advanced airport in the nation and the first to be awarded LEED Silver certification. Silicon Valley’s airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. For more airport information, visit www.flysanjose.com.
About the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber
The SJSV Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit business association representing nearly 1,500 employers and 250,000 employees throughout the greater Silicon Valley. Its mission is to create a strong local economy, provide premier business connections and visibility, represent the interests of business to government, promote the community and initiate political and community action. For more chamber information, visit sjchamber.com.
