Home Highlights Issues Background Endorsers Contact

Val advising members of
Girl Scout Troop 321
"I worked with Val on the Los Altos Historical Commission as well as the Los Altos History Museum 50th anniversary exhibit committee, where I learned that she's an effective leader who knows how to organize and motivate a team to get things done. More recently, I've followed her work on the Council with admiration for her effectiveness, especially when it is confronted by complex problems and problems where any practical solutions require unpopular decisions."

Don McDonald, Historian, Association of the Los Altos Historical Museum

Val Carpenter and family

Community Service

  • Mayor of Los Altos (2007-2008)
  • Los Altos City Councilwoman (2005-present),
    having received a record 6,369 votes (35.65%) in Nov. 2005
  • Los Altos Planning Commissioner and Board of Adjustments Committee Member (2005)
  • Los Altos Historical Commissioner, Vice Chair, and Chair (2001-2005)
  • Peninsula Division representative on League of California Cities Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee (2010-present), and Community Services Policy Committee (2008-2009)
  • Los Altos Village Association Board of Directors (2008-present)
  • Rotary Club of Los Altos, Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, Los Altos Village Association, the Association of the Los Altos Historical Museum, and Los Altos Community Foundation member
  • Chaired Los Altos History Museum "Los Altos: Celebrating 50 Years of Community" Exhibit Committee (2002)
  • Non-profit Board of Directors member for AchieveKids/Zonta Services (1988-1996), Marin Child Abuse Prevention Council (1993-1994), Child Abuse Prevention Center (1996-1998), and San Jose Symphony (2001)
  • The Girls' Middle School Entrepreneurial Coach (2001-2002)
  • Lifetime Girl Scout and Los Altos Girl Scout Troop 321 Gold Award Advisor (2003-2006); guided 7 high school girls through earning the highest honor in Girl Scouting
  • Partners for New Generations mentor (2010-present)

Career

  • Began marketing career in brand management with Procter & Gamble in 1975
  • Personal computer software industry Vice President of Marketing with publicly-held Broderbund, Caere and Apple's Claris subsidiary; venture-funded startups Ashlar and Bellamax (1988-2005)
  • Part-time instructor at Menlo College and Mission College (2006-present)
  • YWCA of Santa Clara Valley Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Honoree (2000)
  • Owned and operated Market Savvy Consulting in Los Altos since 1991

Education

  • MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • BS in Business, Indiana University

Personal

  • Los Altos resident since 1991
  • Age 56; married; 2 adult daughters
  • Managed design and construction of current Los Altos home after completing 50-hour general contracting course