September 30, 2025

Welcome Class of 2026!

The members of the Emerging Leaders and Leadership CORPS Class of 2026; Photos taken at Opening Session, September 11-12, 2025. (Photo credit: Jeff Hosier Photography)

How are leaders in San Mateo County preparing to shape the future?

"I’m excited to start my journey!" This sentiment, echoed in countless ways, illustrates the energy and enthusiasm of the Immersion Programs’ Class of 2026 at their two-day Opening Session. Together, as the year unfolds, these leaders will travel together, taking their leadership to a new level. 

Setting the Stage for Leadership

Opening Session began with a comprehensive overview of San Mateo County, presented by County Executive Mike Callagy. His insights into the County’s organizational structure, community services, and ongoing initiatives provided a critical foundation. His words resonated: "Mike Callagy is an effective, accomplished speaker, and I am inspired by the efforts of San Mateo County,” said one participant. “And it was wonderful to hear about his public service journey.” Another said, “I learned so much,” and another felt inspired: “Mike Callagy is truly an inspirational leader. How lucky for us that we could learn about our County and hear from a positive leader at the same time."

Cultivating Purpose

Expert coaches Rahul Khatod and Sharvari Sheti guided participants through thoughtful reflections and discussions aimed at crafting their own Personal Purpose Statement. This exercise in self-reflection is foundational to the work of the program, and many found it exciting. “I loved this self-reflection time and found the exercises to be energizing and satisfying.”

Imagining the Future

Visionary leadership demands the ability to envision, anticipate, and shape the future. In a two-part session moderated by Futurist Ilana Lipsett, Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA District 15) shared his perspectives on "foresight in government." Ilana then led a workshop to help leaders move beyond reactive responses and into strategic imagination. One participant shared, "Congressman Mullin's comments on hope really resonated with me. He framed it well against the current challenges of today's political environment. Ilana did a terrific job both reflecting back and directing the conversation forward.”

Another participant noted, “Congressman Mullin is a great speaker—able to convey the challenges of addressing critical issues during a difficult time in an approachable, interesting, and engaging fashion.”

Moving from Immersion to Influence: Just the Beginning

The two days wrapped up with a presentation by Tiffany Hong, SVP Chief Administrative Officer to the President & CEO at Franklin Templeton, and a panel of Leadership Council SMC alumni. These alumni came to share how they turned their Immersion Program experience into civic action, from running for office to serving on boards, shaping the future of our communities. “It was wonderful to connect with alumni and learn about how this program helped them and what they are doing now. I felt a strong connection to the work.”

Celebrating with Alumni

Thank you to the many Leadership Council SMC alumni, board members, sponsors, city partners, and members of our extended community who attended the reception to welcome the Class of 2026. It is always a thrill to see our alumni community show up for the incoming class! 

Looking Ahead: The Journey Continues

As the Class of 2026 embarks on the months ahead, the foundation set at the Opening Session serves as a reminder of the transformative journey ahead of them. Each month, they will participate in Learning Days, sometimes with their Leadership CORPS and Emerging Leaders cohorts, and sometimes as a unified class. Through these experiences, they will continue to gain civic knowledge, enhance leadership skills and develop new ones, and build strong, collaborative relationships with one another. We can’t wait to see what is to come for this great group of SMC leaders.

“Such a great program so far. I can just imagine what the next months will look like.”
“The content, volume of content, pacing, and presentation were all excellent; I really appreciated it accommodated different learning styles, and as very hands-on, each section built on the other, and all activities were very pragmatic. Also appreciate the balance of personal and professional.”

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Opening Session a great success: The Team at Burlingame Community Center, Congressman Kevin Mullin, San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy, Burlingame  Vice-Mayor Michael Brownrigg, Franklin Templeton SVP Chief Administrative Officer Tiffany Hong, our Leadership Coaching Team, Ilana LipsettAntigua Coffee Shop, Arguello Catering, Chef Gilly’s, Jeffrey Hosier Photography, and the many Leadership Council SMC board members, alumni, sponsors, and partners who joined us!

Meet the Emerging Leaders Class of 2026

Heidi Alvarado, Director of Operations, Miramar Farms

Orly Amey, Assistant to the City Manager, City of East Palo Alto

Mollie Brown, Management Analyst, City of Brisbane

Jen Bue, Senior Property Manager, CBRE, Inc

Shirley Chan, Acting City Engineer, City of Daly City

Shannon Coyne, Senior Manager, People Experience Research and Data Specialist, Genentech

Mariaelena Crockett, Health and Wellness Director, YMCA

Janaina Dargell, Associate Director, Human Resources, Teremoto Biosciences

Jeraldine Dispo, Administrative Assistant, Cypress Lawn

Cody George, Recreation Manager, City of Belmont

Amaal Greenwood-Goodwin, Wellness Director, Heart and Soul, Inc.

Vikki Grundmann, Building & Planning Technician, Town of Hillsborough

India Hargett, Consultant, Retraining the Village

Greg Henry, Financial Services Manager, City of South San Francisco

Mai Le, Community Health Planner, First 5 San Mateo County

Jenel Lim, Human Services Analyst II, County of San Mateo, Center on Homelessness

Robert Malone, Corporal, Brisbane Police Department

Hayley Martinez, Senior Sustainability Specialist, County of San Mateo

Jennifer Martinez, Interim Clinical Operations and Program Director, One Life Counseling

Monica Mejia, Director of Operations and Programs, Friends for Youth

Jazmine Miranda, Assistant City Clerk, City of South San Francisco

Anwar Mohamed, Human Services Agency, County of San Mateo

Gabi Morales, Strategic Initiatives Lead, Pal Center

Nicole Nash, Programs and Operations Manager, Thrive Alliance

Jerome Olimpiada, Associate Director of CES, Samaritan House

Jordy Pascual, HR Manager- Talent Pipeline Programs, County of San Mateo

Jessica Paxton, Sr. Manager, Public Affairs - Corporate Giving, Gilead Sciences

Liza Rebortura, Admin Assistant/ Programs Coordinator, Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center

David Rennie, Coordinator, District Improvement and Supports, San Mateo County Office of Education

Stacey Routt, Procurement Administrator II, San Mateo County Transit District

Julia Rubin, Upper School Director of Teaching and Learning, Crystal Springs Uplands School

Lalo Rubio, Alert and Warning Coordinator, Dept. of Emergency Management, County of San Mateo

Kevin Salinas, Human Services Supervisor, County of San Mateo

Jennifer Senecal, Executive Director, Big Wave

Sanya Singhal, Municipal Sales Manager, Republic Services

Vanessa Smith, Legislative Aide, County of San Mateo, Board of Supervisors

Shawneece Stevenson, Manager of Family Success Coaching/ Co-Manager, Resilience and Mental Wellness Program, The Primary School/Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council

Jonathan Strange, Systems Analyst II, City of San Mateo

Anca Stratianu, Community Leader, City of San Mateo

Elizabeth Tatola-Joachim, Community Service Officer, San Mateo Police Department

Jamie Vizmanos, Digital Communications Specialist, San Mateo County Transit District

Austin Walsh, Communications Manager, City of Foster City

Beto Wetter, Senior Research Analyst | Defensible Space Inspector, The American Energy Society | North Tahoe Fire Protection District

Meet the Leadership CORPS Class of 2026

Laurie Davies Adams, Hillsborough Town Council Member, Town of Hillsborough

Renee Anderson, Head of Product Strategy, Franklin Equity Group, Franklin Templeton

Susan Baker, CEO, Burlingame/SFO Chamber of Commerce

Stephanie Balon, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Kapwa Kultural Center & Cafe

Mia Bernardino, Director, Real Estate Investments, Emerson Collective

Maz Bozorginia, Public Works Director/City Engineer, City of Brisbane

Kendra Calvert, Public Engagement Manager, City of Menlo Park

Cecilia Chu, Executive Director, Friends for Youth

Erick Colomer, Regional Director - NSMC Career Centers, JobTrain

Maggie Cornejo, Principal, Cornejo Consulting

Joy Dardenelle, Executive Director - District Improvement and Support, SMCOE

Sarah Minczeski Delisle, Owner, Kalorama Strategies

Mark Dinan, Vice Mayor, City of East Palo Alto

Angela Duldulao, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, City of South San Francisco

Amira Elbeshbeshy, Directing Attorney, Legal Aid SMC

Michelle Estabillo, City Clerk, Town of Colma

Jeff Fornesi, Assistant Director of Public Works, City of Daly City

Cari Guittard, Strategist, Department of Emergency Management, County of San Mateo

Francine Hunt, Director of Administrative Services, Menlo Park Fire Protection District

Zoe Hunton, Associate General Counsel, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation

Jeremy Kirshner, Deputy City Manager, City of Burlingame

Shiri Klima, Assistant City Manager, City of East Palo Alto

Felicia Leong, CEO, Daly City/Colma Chamber

Michele Lew, SVP & Chief Gov. Relations Officer, Stanford Medicine Childrens Health

Leah Lockhart, Human Resources Director, City of South San Francisco

Ernesto Lucero, Economic Development Manager, City of South San Francisco

Bani Malhotra, Senior Director, Product Management, Ex-Walmart

Julie Mau, Assistant Deputy Chief, San Francisco Fire Department (Ret.)

Amar Mehta, Chief Legal Officer, Waymo

Effie Milionis Verducci, Director, Strategic Communications, County of San Mateo

Andrea Pappajohn, Environmental Program Manager, City of Millbrae

Daniel Platt, Principal, Neumann Capital Management

Mary Prem, CEO, South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Ryan Reynolds, Assistant Director, Department of Emergency Management, County of San Mateo

Shane Ross, Labor Standards Manager, County of San Mateo

Julie Sims, Founder, Elevate Your Story

Michelle Stulbarg, Chief Operations Officer, One Life Counseling Center

Angela Taylor, Director, San Mateo Adult and Career Education

Desiree Thayer, Councilmember, City of Burlingame

Crystal Tilton, CEO, Foster City Chamber of Commerce

Jennifer Torai, Senior Director, Local Government Affairs, Stanford Health Care

Elizabeth Wells, Executive Director, Foundation for a College Education

Karina Wilhelms, Executive Director, San Mateo-Foster City Education Foundation

Kwanée Womack, Senior Director of Career Training and Education, JobTrain