San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership Announces Luis Portillo as New President and CEO

The San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership announced the appointment of Luis Portillo as its new President and CEO.

The appointment is effective Dec. 16.

“We are most fortunate that Luis Portillo has emerged as the outstanding candidate from a competitive field of several highly qualified applicants for this key leadership position,” said Alex Eng, Chair of the Partnership Board of Directors and Senior Vice President and Private Bank Market Leader at Bank of America.

“His deep experience within the public policy realm and connections to local and Sacramento elected officials will be a huge asset to the Partnership. Among his many strengths, Luis has a strong connection to the San Gabriel Valley community, where he has spent much of his life, which will enable him to be an effective leader in helping the Partnership to move forward.”

The Partnership Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Portillo, who until recently served as Director of Public Policy for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, to succeed Bill Manis, who retired this month.

Portillo brings more than 18 years of experience working in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Previously, he managed the Inland Empire Economic Partnership’s advocacy efforts.

During that time, he helped establish a grassroots coalition that brought together more than 20 business organizations throughout the Inland Empire to advocate on behalf of pro-growth economic policies. He also worked at Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, as part of its Government Affairs team focusing on the analysis of legislation proposed in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Portillo also spent nine years working in the state capitol. There he served as a senior staff member working for then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also led the Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Unit of the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs, and worked as a senate fellow/legislative aide in the state senate.

“I am truly honored and extremely excited about taking on this opportunity with the Partnership, and serving our members,” Portillo said, stating his appreciation for the Board’s decision in selecting him as the new President and CEO. “This is an exciting time for the Partnership as the reopening of the San Gabriel Valley is really taking off – from healthcare, aerospace, bioscience, and tourism to what is taking place at the Ontario International Airport. This growth all equates to amazing economic opportunities for the San Gabriel Valley, and the Partnership plays a key role.”

For media inquiries, contact Paul Thomas, Deputy President and CEO, at 626-856-3400 or pthomas@sgvpartnership.org.

For more information, visit www.sgvpartnership.org.