About Aaron Silva
Our current Board of Trustees has an excellent resume and have accomplished much for our district. However, there are two critical elements that the board needs more of - parents of Eanes students, and a person with fiscal and business acumen. I would bring those skills to the board and better round out the ability of our board to lead our school district.
Personal History
Aaron was raised alongside his two younger twin brothers, Mark and Marty. Growing up in a lower-middle-class family with his late father who once served as a Marine and a mother who worked as a telephone operator, Aaron's childhood was far from easy. At times life was "very tough" on him and his siblings. However, it was within these formative years that he developed the resilience and determination that would shape his successful future.
Aaron attended public elementary and middle school in San Jose, California, in a neighborhood that exuded diversity long before it became trendy. Compelled to help support his family from a young age, Aaron embraced the value of hard work and hustle. He mowed lawns, managed a large paper route, and even ventured door-to-door selling Christmas cards during the holiday season. By the age of 13, Aaron was already washing dishes in local restaurants, and by 15, he found himself a laborer building homes.
Graduating from Ponderosa High School (1987) in Shingle Springs, California, situated in the "Gold Discovery" region of the Sierra Nevada foothills, Aaron's entrepreneurial spirit began to blossom.
By 17, Aaron formed his first company ExactTax - preparing returns using his Commodore64 PC for friends and neighbors. All the while, he never lost sight of his love for sports, playing baseball and football throughout high school. The pinnacle of his athletic journey came when Ponderosa triumphed in the state championship in 1986.
In high school, he was elected as the Commissioner of Entertainment, which propelled him into the spotlight, leading spirit-filled pep rallies and engaging halftime celebrations. Comfortable behind a microphone, speaking before large crowds became second nature to him. These experiences foreshadowed his future as a professionally paid speaker, training thousands of C-level executives nationwide in the art of technology contract negotiations.
Despite leaving home in the midst of his junior year at the young age of 17, Aaron managed to graduate within the top 10% of his high school class. Although he possessed the academic prowess and test scores to attend any four-year university, Aaron had been bitten by the entrepreneur's bug.
In a twist of fate that seemed destined, Aaron's path crossed with a certain someone on July 7, 2007. At a James Bond-themed party in San Francisco, he met his future wife, Ivana Otahalova. Exactly one year later, they eloped to South Lake Tahoe. A year after that, they reaffirmed their commitment in the enchanting Moravian region of the Czech Republic, Ivana's village. Aaron and Ivana are now proud parents to two beautiful children, Lidia (15) and Auggie (12).
In 2013, seeking new horizons, lower taxes and fresh opportunities, Aaron and his family bid farewell to California and embraced Austin. Landing in the Eanes school district, they discovered the perfect environment for their children's growth and development. Since kindergarten, Lidia and Auggie have been attending Eanes schools.
Aaron's story is one of triumph over adversity, fueled by an unyielding spirit and a commitment to making a difference. With his love for work and leadership at the core of all his pursuits, Aaron emerges as a true testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence
Business Experience
President & CEO, Paladin fs, LLC
July 2007 - Present
A hard-hitting technology contract negotiations company that secures both better contract terms and pricing for community banks and credit unions. A banking industry veteran, entrepreneur and professional speaker, Aaron founded Paladin fs after realizing that community financial institutions needed someone to help them level the negotiating playing field against Core and IT vendors and their anti-competitive bargaining position.
Managing Partner, HA DeSilva, LLC
2019 - Present
An Austin-based residential real estate development company.
President & CEO, The Golden Contract Coalition, LLC
2016 - Present
A buying coalition of several hundred community banks and credit unions leveraging their $1 Billion in Total Contract Value to reset industry standards in technology contract promulgation.
Director of Corporate Development, Compushare, Inc
October 2005 to November 2007
Senior executive in charge of all business development, marketing, communications and strategic alliances for the United States. Compushare serves over 600 community financial institutions nationally.
President & CEO, OASYS Network Solutions, Inc.
July 1990 to October 2000
Bay Area Systems Integration and IT Services company focused on the community banking, credit union and SEC marketplace. Company developed the InterNetworking Services Provider (INSP) business model allowing institutions to securely connect over a secure, private and regulatory compliant network - accessing financial applications, services and business continuity & DR systems.
Community Involvement & Awards
President, Rob Roy Homeowners Association
Mentor, Business Incubator at Westlake High School
Little League Baseball Coach (3 years Westlake LL)
JV Baseball Coach (10 seasons, Clayton Valley HS)
Board Member, The Wellness Community Cancer Organization
Board Member, The Contra Costa Council
Founding Board Member, Opportunity Junction
The Alliance of CEOs (25 years)
Founder, Chief Executive Program, California State University - Hayward
Entrepreneur of the Year 1995, 1996, 1998, Contra Costa County, California
Board Member, Diablo Valley College Foundation (10 years)
Instructor, Computer Science and Networking, Los Positas College
Instructor, History of Internet, St. Mary's College