BENJAMIN CORRALES
San José, CA 95119
ben@bencorrales.com
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- City Planner. Over five years of experience as a Planner II in the Planning Building and Code Enforcement Department, and less than one year of experience in the Parks, Neighborhood and Recreation Services in the Trail Program as manager of the Geographic Information Systems needs of the Trails Program.
- Architect. Over seven years of experience in residential architectural design and project management.
- Bi-lingual. Fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish.
- Computer software proficiency or experience:
Mapping applications such as MapInfo, and ArcView, ArcGIS 9.3. Technical drafting/graphic design applications such as AutoCAD, Corel Draw, PhotoShop, Illustrator, Publishing applications such as PageMaker, Frame Maker, MS Word, Proficient in the MSOffice series, Power Point. Knowledge of HTML and Dreamweaver CS4; devices such as GeoExplorer hand-held unit, and GPS Trimble TerraSync mobile unit.
EMPLOYMENT
Planner II - (2011)
PLANNING DIVISION, CITY OF SAN JOSE, San Jose, California
Project Manager for the Coordinated Expedited Review pilot program. The main objective of this program is to streamline development review by processing projects that are mainly exempt from CEQA review and at the same time projects that eventually will open up for more jobs in San Jose, making this large city more economicaly viable.
Planner II - (2009)
TRAIL PROGRAM, PARKS, RECREATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, CITY OF SAN JOSE, San Jose, California
In charge of the mapping efforts for the Trail Program of the Parks Department. Duties include but not limited to map creation and design, database maintenance, data collection. Map creation for the Greenprint Update 2009. Coordination with other departments and agencies for future or proposed trails in San Jose.
Planner II - (2005 -2009)
PLANNING DIVISION, CITY OF SAN JOSE, San Jose, California
For about two years I provided information and direction to walk-in customers that require consultation on a variety of planning related issues. Reviewed and analyzed administrative permit applications for home and business property owners, architects, engineers, contractors. Reviewed and coordinated a wide variety of projects, mostly long-range planning, zoning applications, and environmental review. Coordinated, as project manager, the review and process of General Plan amendments, Rezonings and Development Permits. Prepared staff reports to present to Planning Commissioners and City Council members. Calculated the amount of new/loss housing and jobs for traffic models based on the land use changes. Prepared information and associated maps for the property assessment of the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve (SAVUR). Supervised a Planning Technician staffer.
Planning Technician - (2001 - 2005)
PLANNING DIVISION, CITY OF SAN JOSE, San Jose, California
Provided information and direction to walk-in and phone customers in both, English and Spanish. Coordinated, as project manager, the review of General Plan related projects as well as Rezoning. Prepared environmental documents to meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Responsible for the maintenance and production of the General Plan Land Use/Transportation Diagram and related geo-referenced layers of information. Conducted geographic analysis for on going Industrial land conversions. Created maps related to the General Plan, and most recently in charge of re-designing, and updating the General Plan web page. Created maps as products of land use studies and other planning materials, including a series of templates for maps and its guidelines. Provided technical graphic support for planning reports, displays and presentations. Gathered factual data in the field to ascertain the present use of land and the location of structures in areas under study, acquired familiarity with and an understanding of basic principles of municipal urban planning. Prepared supporting visual material for oral/written Spanish/English translation in site for community meetings as well as supporting visual materials for Planning Commission hearings.
Urban Design Instructor - (2001)
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, San Jose, California.
Lecturer of the introductory course of AutoCAD for graduate students in the Urban and Regional Planning program and undergraduate students of different schools departments.
Graphic Designer - (2000 - 2001)
NORMAN Y. MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE, San Jose, California
Designed the Institute's graphics and original artwork for the existing and new hardcopy and online creative endeavors as well as the quarterly newsletter, annual journals, research reports and miscellaneous publications. Coordinated and tracked projects including the pre/post-print processes with local print shops.
Planning Technician - (1997 - 1999)
PLANNING DIVISION, CITY OF SAN JOSE, San Jose, California
Conducted land use and zoning research, worked with other departments to produce consolidated reports, did field research on city planning issues. Created maps using MapInfo for analytical and decision making purposes. Managed and implemented database for environmental studies. Recommended creative solutions for parking density study and creation of displays for neighborhood revitalization projects. In charge of designing graphic illustrations for reports and exhibits. Performed oral translation in Spanish/English at community meetings including the coordination of written translation of numerous documents.
Coordinator, Infrastructure Component - (1994 - 1996)
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION - WORLD BANK, Managua, Nicaragua
Coordinated the activities pertaining to the Infrastructure Component of the BASIC Education Project. Worked
in a multicultural setting supervising the activities and workload of the international consultants mainly to create
a national plan to remodeling and rebuilding primary schools throughout Nicaragua based on school
requirements as well as reviewing architectural proposals for the design of school buildings.
Project Manager/Designer - (1994 - 1996)
INDEPENDENT ARCHITECT, Managua, Nicaragua
Designed residential development projects, as well as supervised the construction until completion of the project. Coordinated the structural, electrical and plumbing designs with correspondent engineers.
Creative Director Assistant - (1992 - 1993)
CIMA ADVERTISEMENT AGENCY, Managua, Nicaragua
Assisted in small advertisement campaigns for newspaper and TV. Performed copywriting and supervised draftsmen. Acted in TV campaign.
EDUCATION
Masters of Arts, Geography
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, San Jose, California
Second masters degree (thesis in progress). Relevant course work completed: GIS projects: development and database management, GIS statistical analysis, spatial analysis and site location, cartography, geographic visualization and cartographic design, field survey seminar, remote sensing, GIS and GPS applications (as well as learning how to use GPS devices) dynamic and interactive mapping, introductory courses in ArcGIS, Arc Objects, ArcIMS and Map Guide.
Masters in Urban Planning - (2000)
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, San Jose, California
Bachelor of Science, Architecture - (1990)
UNIVERSIDAD ALBERT EINSTEIN, San Salvador, El Salvador