Northern California’s largest private real estate firm turns 20

Firm foundation

The largest privately owned real estate firm in Northern California marked its 20th anniversary this month.

Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno was founded in 2006 by chief executive officer Chris Trapani and chief experience officer Ryan Iwanaga. It is the largest locally owned and operated independent real estate company in Northern California, with 20 offices–including one in Los Gatos–and over 650 agents.

Trapani and Iwanaga founded the their own brokerage in 2006 called Sereno Group. It became affiliated with Christie’s International Real Estate in 2022. The total sales volume for the company was $6.5 billion last year and is projected to grow to $7.4 billion this year.

The company ranked among the top philanthropists in the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2025. The Sereno 1% For Good Charitable Foundation is on track to donate $7.5 million by the end of this year.

Midpen midterms

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has four board seats up for grabs in the Nov. 3 general election, including Ward 1, which encompasses Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga and the Lexington Hills.

Members of the public interested in running for office have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, to file the required paperwork. As of July 24, Ward 1 incumbent Craig Gleason was being challenged by Tina To.

Candidate filing for non-incumbents is extended only if an incumbent does not file nomination papers by the deadline.

Midpen is a public agency created by local voters and governed by a publicly elected board of directors. Each of Midpen’s seven directors serve four-year terms on the board, representing the residents of a geographic area, or ward, within Midpen’s boundaries. Directors help set strategic direction for the agency, overseeing policies, annual budgets and work plans. The board generally holds its regular public meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Eligible board candidates must be at least 18 years old and be registered to vote and reside within the ward they seek to represent.

Potential candidates are required to gather signatures from 50 registered voters in their ward on a nomination form provided by Midpen’s clerk.

To file nomination papers, contact Midpen’s clerk at 650-691-1200 or [email protected] to make appointments to receive and submit the required paperwork. For more information, visit openspace.org/election-information.