Val is a former Apple executive, now working as a sales and marketing consultant. While at Apple, Val created the iTunes Gift Card program and turned it into a $5B business. Prior to joining Apple, he held leadership positions at Hewlett-Packard and several Silicon Valley start-ups. Val has two great teenagers, has lived in Santa Cruz for over 28 years and plans to stay here forever. For the past nine years Val has served on the board of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, most recently as Vice Chair. Val has been on several other non-profit boards including Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History and the DigitalNEST. Val earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and his bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College.