Dennis Cima
408.501.7854
dcima@svlg.net

Dennis joined the Leadership Group in 2004 to direct the organization’s educational policy objectives.  In 2007, Dennis was named vice president and is responsible for advancing the organization’s legislative agenda, in addition to his education and workforce policy portfolio; he was named Senior Vice President in December, 2008.

Prior to joining the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Dennis was the Assistant to the former Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools where he assisted in managing the day-to-day operations of the superintendent’s office and provided policy support to the Superintendent and her cabinet, the County Board of Education, and local school districts.  Dennis also served for five years as a legislative assistant to former-Congressman Tom Campbell during Mr. Campbell's service in both the U.S. House of Representatives and California State Senate.  In that capacity, Dennis provided policy support and constituent service in the areas of national defense, veterans affairs, and transportation, among others.

In 2008, Dennis was appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, to serve on the statewide P-16 Council.  Dennis also serves on a number of local boards and councils, including the NOVA Workforce Investment Board, which serves northern Santa Clara County; the board of directors for IISME, or Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education, which places teachers in enriching summer fellowships in industry and research; the Metropolitan Education District’s Budget Advisory Council; and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s STEM advisory board.

Dennis received a B.S. degree from Santa Clara University in political science, with an emphasis on American public policy.  He is the son of two public school educators (with over 55 years of classroom experience between the two) and a proud Bay Area native. 

Dennis resides in San Jose with his ever-supportive wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters.