The Santa Maria Valley Chamber, in partnership with the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast will hold the 2025 Santa Maria Valley Housing Summit, 4-6:30 p.m. March 27 at the Allan Hancock College Fine Arts Complex, 800 S. College Drive.
“Like many communities across California, Santa Maria faces significant challenges related to development of housing,” the chamber said. “The summit aims to engage a diverse group of professionals, from developers to government officials, real estate experts, and local businesses, on topics ranging from the current state of housing inventory to future market trends and the impacts of state mandates.”
Attendees can participate in relative discussions, and hear from thought leaders about the obstacles and opportunities in homebuilding.
This event is free to attend, but registration is required here.
Featured speakers are:
Chenin Dow, a public sector leader with 17 years of experience in municipal governance and community development.
Dow serves as the community development director for the city of Santa Maria, where she oversees planning, economic development, housing, code enforcement, and community programs to drive sustainable growth and revitalization efforts.
Mark Schniepp, director of the California Economic Forecast in Santa Barbara. California Economic Forecast Schniepp prepares forecasts and economic commentary on the regional economies of California.
Schniepp prepares economic analysis and county level forecasts for Cal Trans, Kaiser Permanente, the California Association of Realtors, and the Southern California Association of Governments.
Chris Guillen, a lawyer with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Guillen acts as an advisor on complex projects as they relate to natural resources issues.
His expertise spans the intersection of land use and water law, with an emphasis in the on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), housing law, and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
Guillen advises landowners, developers, agricultural interests, and energy companies on land use-permitting requirements and environmental review under CEQA during all phases of project development and litigation
Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson, appointed by the Grover Beach City Council in May 2016, oversees the day-to-day operations for the city with a total budget of $35 million and a workforce of about 80 employees.
Bronson has 25 years of local government experience working for cities and counties in California and North Carolina.
Jeff Pemstein, currently the Western Region Governmental advocate for the National Association of Home Builders. He has some 38 years of professional leadership experience in home building, land development, entitlements, environmental permitting, home building, and construction.
Serving as the former division president for Towne Development/Homes by Towne – Sacramento Division (a Zilber Brand) from 2003-24), Pemstein oversaw the growth of the operation into four business lines in California and Nevada.