Leadership

The right organization. The right people. The right time.

Leadership Council SMC is solely dedicated to building cross-sector, diverse leadership capacity in San Mateo County. Co-Founders Kaarin Hardy and Margi Power lead the organization with their years of cross-sector experience in community leadership development and public service.

Portrait of Kaarin Hardy, Leadership Council SMC Co-Founder and Co-President.
Kaarin Hardy
Co-Founder, Co-President
Portrait of Margi Power, Leadership Council SMC Co-Founder and Co-President.
Margi Power
Co-Founder, Co-President

Our Leaders, Across All Sectors, Want and Need

A trusted network of leaders in their industry, their issue area, and at their level within San Mateo County to collaborate with and learn from, to help solve complex problems.

A better understanding of the connectivity of the issues facing our county, and the resources available to solve problems and develop innovative solutions across sectors and organizations.

Continuous learning opportunities to grow their leadership skills and learn from thought leaders.

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors and Advisory Council are an impressive and diverse group of business, nonprofit, and government leaders who are committed to Leadership Council SMC’s vision and mission.They give their time and expertise to ensure Leadership Council SMC’s impact on our communities, and are deeply involved in setting goals, guiding the strategic direction, and holding the organization accountable to our purpose.

Anthony Au-Yeung, Financial Controller, Cypress Lawn Cemetery Association
Anthony Au-Yeung
Financial Controller
Cypress Lawn Cemetery Association
Headshot of Rafael Avendaño
Rafael Avendaño
Executive Director
Redwood City Together
Noemi Avram, President, Gumbinger Avram Architects
Noemi Avram
President
Gumbinger Avram Architects
Nirmala Bandrapalli, President, Commission on the Status of Women, County of San Mateo
Nirmala Bandrapalli
President, Commission on the Status of Women
County of San Mateo
Aisha Baro, Executive Director, Life Science Cares
Aisha Baro
Executive Director
Life Science Cares
Tish Busselle, Assistant Superintendent (Retired), San Mateo-Foster City School District
Tish Busselle
Assistant Superintendent (Retired)
San Mateo-Foster City School District
Headshot of Matthew Chidester
Matthew Chidester
City Manager
City of Half Moon Bay
Headshot of Noah Christman
Noah Christman
Partner
Lighthouse Public Affairs
Marie Chuang, Council Member, Town of Hillsborough
Marie Chuang
Councilmember
Town of Hillsborough
Drew Combs, Council Member, City of Menlo Park
Drew Combs
Council Member
City of Menlo Park
Gayl Del Pero, Sales Director, Mary Kay Cosmetics
Gayl Del Pero
Sales Director
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Georgia Farooq, Executive Director, Thrive Alliance for Nonprofits
Georgia Farooq
Executive Director
Thrive Alliance for Nonprofits
Claudia Ferguson, SVP, Deposit Relationship Manager, Commercial Lending
Claudia Ferguson
SVP, Deposit Relationship Manager, Commercial Lending
Heritage Bank of Commerce
Linda Fitzpatrick, Chief People and Communications Officer, Sutro Biopharma, Inc.
Linda Fitzpatrick
Chief People and Communications Officer
Sutro Biopharma, Inc.
Eddie Flores, Councilmember, City of South San Francisco
Eddie Flores
Councilmember
City of South San Francisco
Lisa Goldman, City Manager, City of Burlingame
Lisa Goldman
City Manager
City of Burlingame
Joseph Ibe, Chiropractor, True Health Centers
Joseph Ibe
Chiropractor
True Health Centers
Kate Korsh, Fundraising Professional
Kate Korsh
Fundraising Professional
Rita Mancera, Executive Director, Puente de la Costa Sur
Rita Mancera
Executive Director
Puente de la Costa Sur
Laurel Miranda, Board Chair, CuriOdyssey
Laurel Miranda
Board Chair
CuriOdyssey
Bryan Neider, CEO, AbilityPath
Bryan Neider
CEO
AbilityPath
Kletra Newton, Founder and CEO, Urban Culture Agency
Kletra Newton
Founder and CEO
Urban Culture Agency
Tim Russell, Program Director, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Tim Russell
Program Director
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Jack Tang, President and Co-Founder, The Pixelmakers
Jack Tang
President and Co-Founder
The Pixelmakers
Jason Ting, Wealth Management Advisor, Ting & Associates at Merrill Lynch
Jason Ting
Wealth Management Advisor
Ting & Associates at Merrill Lynch
Gilbert Wai, Trustee, Hillsborough City School District
Gilbert Wai
Trustee
Hillsborough City School District

Past Board of Directors

Tracy Avelar, Chief of Police, City of Foster City
Tracy Avelar
Chief of Police
City of Foster City
Emily Beach, Councilmember, City of Burlingame
Emily Beach
Councilmember
City of Burlingame
John Delaney, Managing Director, Private Banking, SVB Private
John Delaney
Managing Director
Private Banking, SVB Private
Carole Groom, San Mateo County Supervisor (Retired), San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
Carole Groom
San Mateo County Supervisor (Retired)
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
Sarah Lucas, General Partner, Lucas Venture Group
Sarah Lucas
General Partner
Lucas Venture Group
David Mendell, Owner, Kern’s Fine Jewelry
David Mendell
Owner
Kern’s Fine Jewelry

Advisory Council

Michael Brownrigg
Councilmember,
Burlingame City Council
Michael Claire
Former Chancellor, San Mateo County Community College District
Noelia Corzo
Supervisor,
County of San Mateo
Rachel Del Monte
District Vice President, YMCA
Quita Highsmith
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Genentech
Tiffany Hong
Chief Administrative Officer, Franklin Templeton
Jennifer M. Johnson
President and CEO, Franklin Templeton
Sarah Lucas
General Partner, Lucas Venture Group
Dave Pine
Supervisor,
San Mateo County
Jackie Speier
Former U.S. Congresswoman
Kate Wilson
President, Gilead Foundation

Staff

Amy McHugh
Amy McHugh
Director of Finance and Operations
Isabella Brown
Isabella Brown
Leadership Immersion Program & Outreach Manager
Dianne Willoughby
Dianne Willoughby
Marketing and Communications Director
Claire Moten
Claire Moten
Leadership Program Manager

We connect, inspire, and educate established and emerging leaders from the business, nonprofit, and government sectors to positively transform San Mateo County and find solutions for the biggest issues facing our communities.

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