2026-224

TO THE COUNCIL:

As Mayor of the City of Portland, I Keith Wilson, request City Council confirmation of the following reappointments to the Prosper Portland Board of Commissioners:

 Respectfully submitted,

 Keith Wilson

 Mayor

Candidate Biographies and Statements of Interest

Marcelino Alvarez

Bio:

Marcelino Alvarez is the CEO of Photon Marine, which is building the world's most powerful and intelligent electric outboard motor system, tailored to commercial boat fleets. Marcelino began his career in advertising, producing digital campaigns at Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Wieden + Kennedy. Afterwards, he founded Uncorked Studios, a product design firm that helped companies such as Samsung, Nike, Google, Intel, and adidas bring innovative software and hardware products to market.  Marcelino serves as a mentor for PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment) and is a member of Board of Directors for The Freshwater Trust.

Statement of Interest:

"As a passionate advocate for Portland's economic growth and innovation, I am honored to express my enthusiastic interest in serving on the Board of Prosper Portland. With a career spanning impactful leadership roles in advertising, product design, and now climate technology, I bring a unique blend of experience that aligns seamlessly with the agency's mission to drive our city's economic development.

My decade-long collaboration with Prosper Portland has been deeply rewarding. From partnering on neighborhood development projects like Produce Row to actively participating in initiatives such as TechTown PDX, I have witnessed firsthand the agency's unwavering commitment to propelling our city forward. This synergy between our efforts underscores my belief in the agency's pivotal role in cultivating a thriving and inclusive economy for all. My vision for Portland revolves around harnessing innovation to address pressing challenges while fostering a vibrant ecosystem for business growth. By channeling our collective resources into programs that leverage empathy, technology, and creativity, we can create sustainable solutions that benefit our entire community.

As a founder, a father, and a member of the startup community, I believe that I can offer a unique voice to Prosper Portland. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with my fellow Portlanders to shape an economically robust, equitable, and innovative future for our city."

Eric Cress

Bio:

Eric Cress is a real estate principal and civic leader. He currently serves as President and Founder of Urban Development + Partners (UDP), where he oversees company strategy, supports daily operations, and leads the investment committee. With nearly two decades of executive leadership in the real estate sector, Eric has built a reputation for managing complex urban mixed-use projects that drive economic activity. He has organized seven private-equity funds, deployed across projects in Oregon and Northern California. His leadership is characterized by a long-term, systems-level perspective, having managed the acquisition, development, and asset management of projects valued at over $500 million, including multiple LEED Platinum, Gold, and Silver registered developments.

Prior to co-founding UDP, Eric managed development projects for Pacific Bay Investments in the San Francisco Bay Area. He brings a unique analytical perspective to the board, originally training as an engineer. His earlier career included roles as a design manager and researcher for technology firms such as Cypress Semiconductor and Maple Optical Systems, as well as the National Science Foundation's Research Center for Computational Field Dynamics. This technical background is underscored by his holding of eight U.S. patents and multiple publications in error-correcting code research.

Eric's service extends into Portland's civic and economic sectors. He served as a member of the Advance Portland Economic Development Initiative and currently serves on The Urban Land Institute (ULI) SSDC National Product Council. His volunteer leadership includes serving as the former Board Chair of the Central Eastside Industrial Council—representing Portland's second-largest business district—and as a former Chair of ULI Northwest. Eric holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and both Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Statement of Interest:

My interest in joining the Prosper Portland Board derives from my role as a parent raising three children in the city, appreciating all that Portland has to offer families; as a community-oriented developer who continues to invest in Portland; and as a champion for Portland - working outside the city and state to bring additional needed investment in support of housing production and equitable job growth. It is an honor to be nominated for a Prosper Portland Board position, and I am excited for the opportunity to serve the community and the Prosper team.   

Having worked in civic and private-sector roles in Portland and beyond, I have a deep respect for the importance and difficulty of balancing short-term and long-term capital-allocation requirements for economic development; providing for short-term needs and long-term vision - both of which are needed for an organization and a community to prosper. This work is complicated by the fact that devising and forecasting the outcome of an economic strategy is complex and uncertain. Communicating that complexity to stakeholders with diverse interests and perspectives is even more vital and challenging. In my capacity as an investment and development principal, reporting to multiple financial and community stakeholders, I hope to bring my experience in financial and investment strategy and communications to this role.    

I have also had the opportunity to work with Prosper Portland on the delivery of multiple LEED-certified mixed-use buildings and on investments in the Central Eastside in my capacity as former Central Eastside Industrial Council board president. These engagements have deepened my appreciation for Prosper Portland's vital role in supporting Portland's path toward equitable long-term economic growth.      

Thank you for your consideration.