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East Bay Leadership Council News for August 2013
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Upcoming Events
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Washington Update with Congressman George Miller
Wednesday, Sept. 4 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord
Register by August 30 at the Council website.
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Health Care and Small Business/ Entrepreneur Task Forces present a California Health Exchange Education SeriesThe Affordable Health Care Act and Your Small Business: Understanding New Insurance Options for You and Your Employees
Wednesday, Sept. 11
Should I Keep My Employee Benefits? What's Involved in Making This Decision?
7:30 a.m. registration, 8 to 10 a.m. program
JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Room N-358, Pleasant Hill
Wednesday, Sept. 25
A Product Expo: What Are My Choices and How Do I Choose?
JFK University, Room S-304, Pleasant Hill
Co-sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce of Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Oakley, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon and Walnut Creek. For more information, contact the Council office at 925.246.1880.
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Energy and Water Nexus Summit 2
Presented by the Bay Planning Coalition
Thursday, Sept. 129 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aquarium of the Bay, Bay Theater, Pier 39, San Francisco Expert panels on the California water bond, energy and water needs for agriculture, desalination and energy and water development Register here. ********
Lunch with Congressman Eric Swalwell
Wednesday, Sept. 2511:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 South Gale Ridge Road, San Ramon Registration will open soon. Watch the Council website or call 925.246.1880. *******Regional Transportation Issues ForumArt Dao, executive director, Alameda County Transportation Commission, and Randy Iwasaki, executive director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority
Tuesday, Oct. 1
7:45 to 9:15 a.m.
Dublin Public Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin
Registration will open soon. Watch the Council website or call 925.246.1880. ******** Welcome reception
for Brian Kelly, Secretary of California's new Transportation Agency
Thursday, Oct. 35 to 7 p.m., Contra Costa Country Club, 800 Golf Road, Pleasant Hill. Registration will open soon. Watch the Council website or call 925.246.1880. *******3rd Annual Contra Costa / Tri-Valley Philanthropy Awards Breakfast
Thursday, Nov. 77:30 to 10 a.m., Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Boulevard, Concord Recognition of 2013 award recipients in 9 categories. Keynote by Microsoft's Sid Espinosa *******Watch for news of our annual East Bay USA event in January 2014. It promises to be a blockbuster!! |
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| WHAT'S NEW? | | |
We're connected!
The East Bay Leadership Council is now on Twitter and Facebook. Join the conversation! And remember that you can always find updates about our activities on our website. Please share the news about the Council with your friends and colleagues. We want as many people as possible to know about our great work! |
| AUGUST 12 TOURNAMENT RECAP | |
 | The 2013 Shell Martinez Refinery foursome
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Shell Martinez, Sunvalley and Garaventa Enterprises take golf tourney trophies
With a great gift selection, excellent golf and a beautiful sunny day, this year's East Bay Leadership Council/WSPA 29th Annual Golf Tournament at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo offered another fun outing for Council members and guests. The overall tournament winner was the awesome Sunvalley foursome. The Petroleum Cup winner was the Shell Martinez team. Both top foursomes scored 55, followed closely by the Garaventa Enterprises team with a strong 57.
(We temporarily forgot that the perpetual Petroleum Cup award is intended for the winning petroleum company competitor. We won't make that mistake again!)
The Sunvalley foursome included Michael Fenley, Jeff Augusts, Scotty Olds and Jeff Carter. The Shell foursome members were
(pictured above, from left) Steve Nielsen, Willie Simmons, Josh Elliott and Dave Olund. Sil Garaventa, Jr., Sil Garaventa, III, Jas Mangat and Ed Lampe made up the Garaventa Enterprises foursome.
Prizes and gift certificates were awarded at the evening banquet. Other principal award categories and winners included:
- Long drive - Jeff Augusts and Jackie Matsumura
- Putting contest - Newell Americh
- Chipping - Jeff Rossalini and Terry Bowen
- Closest to the hole - Boomer Angove (#5 - 6' 9"), Craig Johns (#7 - 8' 10"), Don Silva (#13 - 3' 11") and Josh Elliott (#16 - 5' 3")
Congratulations to all winners, and thanks to all golfers and volunteers, who made this year's tournament better than ever.
View photos of tournament foursomes and activities in our Photo Gallery.
The Council thanks tournament co-host Western States Petroleum Association; tournament sponsor Chevron; and corporate sponsors Contra Costa Times, IBEW Local 302, John Muir Health, NRG Energy and Shell Martinez Refinery. Thanks also to special event sponsors, tee sponsors, generous contributors and door prize donors.
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NEWS & NOTES
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 | | Rep. George Miller |
Congressman George Miller offers Washington Update September 4
Join the Council for the latest from Capitol Hill when East Bay Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) offers his annual Washington Update on Wednesday, September 4, at the Hilton Concord. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m., with luncheon at 12 noon. Please register by August 30 on the Council website.
California Health Exchange Education Series presentations scheduled: September 11 and 25
The Council's Health Care and Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Forces will present the second part of the California Health Exchange Education Series, titled Should I Keep My Employee Benefits? What's Involved in Making This Decision?, on Wednesday, September 11, from 8 to 10 a.m., at John F. Kennedy University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Room N-358, Pleasant Hill. The Affordable Health Care Act and Your Small Business forum will feature Scott Hauge, president, Small Business California, and Tim Oshima, Simpler Benefits & Insurance Solutions. Part 3 of the series, A Product Expo--What Are My Choices and How Do I Choose, will be presented on Wednesday, September 25, in a morning program at JFK University, Room S-304. Please visit the Council website for details or contact Terry Shoaff at the Council office to RSVP. Watch the May 23 video of Part 1 in the Health Education Series, What is an Education Exchange and Why Should I Care as an Employer?
Lunch with Congressman Eric Swalwell September 25 Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Hayward) will join the Council for lunch on Wednesday, September 25, at the Bridges Golf Course in San Ramon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Watch for details on the Council website.
Two transportation events planned in October ... and one in September
On October 1, the Council's Transportation Task Force will host a Regional Transportation Issues Breakfast Forum, featuring a conversation with Art Dao, who heads the Alameda County Transportation Commission, and Randy Iwasaki, who has that role with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. The breakfast event will be held at the Dublin Public Library from 7:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
On October 3, the Council welcomes Secretary Brian P. Kelly, who heads the state's Transportation Agency in Sacramento. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill.
Please join us at these events! Registration for both events will open in September. Visit our website for details.
In addition, on Tuesday, September 17, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., the task force will host Ted Hall, program manager of the Bay Area Toll Authority, who is assisting with design and construction of the new Bay Bridge. The meeting will be at David I. Wendel Conference Center, 1111 Broadway, 19th floor, Oakland (exit at BART 12th Street station). Reserve by September 10 at rsvp@wendel.com.
Council seeks to build broader membership base
In an effort to build the Council's membership base across the East Bay, VP Membership Jim Brandt, with the support of fund development consultant Judith Parker, is fielding a Membership Committee whose members are reaching out to prospective members and sharing information about the multiple benefits of joining the East Bay Leadership Council. The committee is exploring initiatives to stay in closer touch with new members and to support the Council's task forces.
A new membership packet describes the work of the Council and what it offers members. Among the many offerings are significant influence, collective action on issues that matter to your company, direct access to political leaders and stakeholder groups, valuable connections, credible policy recommendations, regional policy expertise and the proven ability to execute and achieve policy outcomes.
If you have member suggestions, are interested in joining the committee or want to learn more about becoming a Council member, please contact Jim Brandt, or Tom Terrill or Terry Shoaff at the Council office, 925.246.1880.
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| CONTRA COSTA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP'S STEM INITIATIVE | |
 | | West Contra Costa campers work with a Contra Costa Water District scientist at Environmental Science Summer Camp. Magnifiers help to identify invertebrates after a benthic grab in Delta waters at Big Break in Oakley. |
Summer camps are great places to learn about careers in STEM
In recent weeks, and every summer since 2004, the Contra Costa Economic Partnership's East Bay STEM Workforce Initiative has offered an array of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) summer camps for hundreds of incoming juniors and seniors at East Bay high schools. The camps are both educational and a lot of fun, report Camp Coordinators Liz Ritchie and Tiffany E. Grant. And teachers and students agree.
The camps are offered each year in partnership with the STEM Initiative's education and industry partners, and are made possible through industry sponsorships and in collaboration with the many professionals working in STEM-related fields who volunteer to work with the students and their teachers. Teachers also benefit from the rich experiences they derive from in-class, laboratory and field-trip camp learning. "This was one of the most rewarding weeks of my entire career in education, and I am so grateful our students were given this opportunity, and that I was able to be there," said Kennedy High School ACET Academy English teacher Ian Bader after completing the Engineering Summer Camp in June.
"Without the involvement of these companies and the terrific energy and knowledge of our business professionals, the summer camps would not be the great success they are," says April Treece, director of the STEM Workforce Initiative. "We're very grateful to our industry partners for enabling us to offer these very important and interesting STEM learning experiences to students who otherwise probably wouldn't have such opportunities."
Activities this summer included Engineering Summer Camp, held June 17-21 at Diablo Valley College; Solar Science Summer Academy, held June 24-28; Biotechnology Summer Camp, held July 8-12 and Environmental Science Summer Camp, held July 22-26. The latter three camps were held at Cal State-East Bay's Concord Campus.
Presenting sponsor of the Contra Costa STEM Summer Camps is Chevron, with major sponsorship from Diablo Valley College, Bio-Rad Laboratories, John Muir Health, Contra Costa Water District, East Bay Regional Park District and the Contra Costa Building Trades Council, including IBEW Local 302 and Carpenters Union Local 152. SunPower was the sole sponsor of the Solar Science Summer Academy. Camp collaborating partners included Cal State-East Bay, the Contra Costa County Office of Education and the Colleges of Contra Costa. For more information on the summer camps, visit the current Summer Camps website.
Science fair winner Julienne Sauer goes to Washington
Julienne Sauer, one of the Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair's award-winning middle school students, has been named a finalist at this year's National Science Fair (Broadcom Masters competition). The former eighth grader at San Ramon's Windemere Ranch Middle School (she started classes as a ninth grader this week!) will compete in Washington, D.C., with her science project, Quantum Locking: The Future of Frictionless Motion. (See the announcement of competition finalists here.)
While the Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair has sprouted several semi-finalists since the competition affiliated with Broadcom, this is the first time one of our fair's students has made it to the middle school finals. Congratulations, Julienne! |
VIEW FROM THE CHAIR
| |  Doing our best work to foster a strong regional economy
By Teresa Bowen, Chair, East Bay Leadership Council
It is an honor and a privilege to chair the East Bay Leadership Council for the coming board year. As I noted in my remarks at the Installation and Awards Dinner in June, the theme for the year ahead is new and exciting beginnings. New beginnings mean flux and change, which can bring uncertainty, but I know the Council will demonstrate, under the leadership of our new President and CEO Tom Terrill, that change will be good, both for the Council and the region.
I have a lot of people to thank and commend for bringing the Council to where we are today. These include David Bowlby, past Council chair, for challenging us to think big; Bob Brown, immediate past chair, for taking us through a very thoughtful and deliberative process this past year; Linda Best, our recently retired Council president and CEO, for being our steady and savvy force; and our board of directors, for its forward thinking.
My personal vision is to see to it that this new beginning is successful, and that it takes the Council to another level in terms of our growth and influence on public policy in the region. Our Executive Committee is a talented and passionate group, and together with Tom Terrill, our many longtime partners in Contra Costa County, and our new friends and colleagues in the Tri-Valley, I am confident we will make great strides and will continue to build on the strong foundation established by Linda Best, Terry Shoaff, past chairs and many others.
Contra Costa Times columnist Tom's Barnidge's description of the Council in his well-written tribute to Linda Best validated the Council's contributions and relevance to the community. As he said, the Council has played "so many meaningful roles--engine for economic development, public policy advocate, informed decision making voice." We are effective in advocating for sustainable solutions to the issues that confront our region because the sum of the Council's interconnecting parts produces a force greater than the whole. Another strength is the diversity of our membership, which includes not just businesses, but nonprofits, labor organizations and public agencies. These entities also make business decisions and deliver services.
My first job out of school was with the Contra Costa County Public Works Department as a junior civil engineer. It was there I learned about an influential organization, the Council's predecessor, the Contra Costa Development Association. County government is where I cut my teeth and where I started a career in transportation. My husband Cliff and I chose to move to the East Bay because of the opportunities and the quality of life here. And we're staying.
So what are the drivers of a healthy economy and quality of life? To quote Peter McGaw, a Council director and past chair, all our initiatives are aimed at jobs, jobs and jobs. We recognize that these jobs should be sustainable and enable a person to earn a living wage. That's why we focus on health care, transportation, infrastructure, education, workforce development, and being good stewards of the environment. And thanks to the collaborative and productive partnerships we have with elected officials and other partners, the Council will continue to do its best work: to foster and grow a strong regional economy. |
| TASK FORCE BRIEFINGS | | August and September meetings and speakers
New and prospective Council members are welcome to attend task force meetings. Please notify a task force co-chair prior to the meeting to confirm meeting topics, time and location, as details may change. To view task force agendas, policy papers and recent presentations, visit the task force pages on the Council website.
Workforce Development/Education Task Force . . . Wednesday, August 7, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Contra Costa Workforce Development Board, 300 Ellinwood Way, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill. Joyce Davidson Seitz, outreach coordinator for the JFK Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership, presented Unlocking Entrepreneurial Capabilities for Economic and Workforce Development. Also discussed were task force "policy points" and common issues with the Tri-Valley. Next meeting is Wednesday, September 4, with a presentation by Ruth Fernandez, manager of educational services/LOC coordinator, Contra Costa County Office of Education; a STEM Scorecard data update and an Education/Business Collaborations survey update. Co-chairs: Joanne Durkee and Kathleen Robinson
Health Care Task Force . . . Thursday, August 8, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Burr Pilger Mayer, 2001 N. Main Street, Suite 360, Walnut Creek. Discussed the rescheduled second installment of the three-part California Health Exchange Education Series, set for Wednesday, September 11, 8 to 10 a.m., at JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill. The third installment will be Wednesday, September 25, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., venue TBA. (Watch the Council website for more information.) Next regular meeting is Thursday, September 5. Co-chairs: Steve Van Wart and Mitchell Zack
Land Use Task Force . . . . Wednesday, August 14, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . Archer Norris, 2033 N. Main Street, 8th floor (parking entrance on Pringle), Walnut Creek. Discussed the task force's policy paper and brainstormed future meeting topics. Next meeting is Wednesday, September 11. Co-chairs: Mike McGill and Ed Shaffer
Social Responsibility Task Force . . . Thursday, August 22, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Avenue, Room 307, Walnut Creek. Discussion about Contra Costa/Tri-Valley Philanthropy Awards program and the task force's role in the Council's expanded advocacy and membership outreach; brainstorming about the task force's purpose, goals and activities. Next meeting is Thursday, September 26. Co-chair: Judith Parker
Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force . . . Tuesday, August 27, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . De La Housaye & Associates, 1655 N. Main Street, Suite 260, Walnut Creek . . . Discussed tax and other small-business issues. Co-chairs: Angela De La Housaye and Jenny Kohler
Economic Development Task Force . . . Wednesday, August 28, 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Avenue, Room 200, Walnut Creek. Alex Greenwood, Brentwood's award-winning economic development manager, discussed economic development in Contra Costa's fastest growing community. Co-chairs: Mike Conlon and Gary Craft
Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force . . . Friday, September 6, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Archer Norris, 2033 N. Main Street, Suite 800, Walnut Creek. At the July meeting, Jim Smith, community outreach manager, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, presented the district's Draft Public Participation Plan, a guide to its efforts in engaging with stakeholders. Co-chairs: Peter McGaw and George Smith
Water Task Force . . . Tuesday, September 17, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. . . . John F. Kennedy University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Room S-304, Pleasant Hill. The July meeting featured a forum on a statewide water solution, with perspectives from the Contra Costa Water District, represented by Marguerite Patil; East Bay Municipal Utility District, by Doug Wallace; and Zone 7, by Kurt Arends. Co-chairs: Ann Spaulding and Bob Whitley; Vice-chair: Gary Darling
Transportation Task Force . . . Tuesday, October 1, 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. . . . Dublin Public Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. Regional Transportation Issues discussion with Art Dao, executive director, Alameda County Transportation Commission, and Randy Iwasaki, executive director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority. (Watch the Council website for more information.) The task force has also announced a special program with Ted Hall, program manager to the Bay Area Toll Authority, on Tuesday, September 17, 8 to 9:30 a.m., at the offices of Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, 1111 Broadway, 19th floor, Oakland. RSVP to rsvp@wendel.com (see article, this issue). The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, November 5, from 7 to 8 a.m., at the PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road, Walnut Creek to discuss the task force's regional priorities and membership. Co-chairs: Roger Hughes and Kris Johnson |
MEMBER NEWS
| | Mark Hughes steps off Social Responsibility Task Force
The Council's Social Responsibility Task Force Co-Chair Mark Hughes is stepping out of that role after seven years, but he will chair and emcee the Contra Costa/Tri-Valley Philanthropy Awards program and breakfast, planned for November 7. The task force is seeking a candidate to share leadership of the task force with Co-Chair Judith Parker. |
| NEWS ABOUT OUR MEMBERS | | Mark Evans heads up Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery
Mark Evans is the new general manager at the Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery, succeeding Rand Swenson, who retired.
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| MEMBER PROFILE | |
 | | April Treece prepares the family stallion
for grooming
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April Treece of the STEM Workforce Initiative, a longtime East Bay resident
Name: April P. Treece
Residence: Clayton
Education: BA, Communications, Antioch University
Council and Partnership roles: Council Board member and former co-chair and member of the Council's Workforce/Education Task Force. Director since 2001 of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership's East Bay STEM Workforce Initiative, which partners with top practitioners in regional industry sectors to prepare middle and high school youth for sustainable careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (see STEM article, this issue).
What brought you to the Bay Area and what keeps you here? I was raised on a small dairy farm in northern California, and my family moved to Concord in 1964. In addition to communities in Contra Costa County, I have lived in San Francisco, Alameda and Oakland. When my husband and I decided to have children, we knew we wanted to return to the suburbs and so we bought a little house in the little town of Clayton (in 1988, there were about 4,000 residents!). We've been here ever since.
What is your favorite thing to do when you're not working? For 16 years, my daughter, my husband and I have spent our spare time (and resources) on horses. We have three now (a mare, a gelding and a stallion), and I spend my spare time helping the family take care of them. I'm scared to death of riding, but I love to feed, water and brush the horses, with my feet firmly set on the ground!
What was your best experience enjoying this hobby? When my daughter was young, she loved to take our horses to shows, and she won a few awards. Seeing her blossom with her horses was one of my best experiences with this hobby. The other most exciting experience was when our baby stallion, Khool N Khlassic, was born. He's a beauty (and a brat!). Now that my daughter is grown, the horses are our extended family and not just a hobby.
What have you learned from working with your horses? The work that I do with the STEM Initiative is very demanding and rewarding, but it can be overwhelming at times. Being able to transition from a hectic career to the simple joys of cleaning and feeding our animals, and listening to the horses chew hay, helps me refocus on what's really important in my life.
One more thing about you that might be surprising? Most people don't know that I have met two presidents--Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the '80s. When I was working for AT&T, the education-outreach programs I developed in the Tri-Valley area won national attention, and I was honored for that work at White House ceremonies in 1987. It was an experience I will never forget.
Member Profile is a new feature of this newsletter. Send your nominations for companies and people to feature who stand out from the crowd and contribute to the Council or the community in an exemplary or innovative way. -Ed |
| NEW MEMBERS | | |
Please welcome our new members!
East Bay Community FoundationSarah Lehman, Managing Director of Development & Marketing De Domenico Building 200 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza Oakland, CA 94612 510.208.0825 A leading resource for mobilizing financial resources and community leadership to transform the lives of people in the East Bay with pressing needs. The Taylor Family FoundationElaine Taylor, President 5555 Arroyo Road Livermore, CA 94550 925.455.5118 ph 925.455.5008 fax Working to preserve the wellness and enhance the quality of life for children in Northern California living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities and youth at-risk through unique therapeutic experiences and support.
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ABOUT THE EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The East Bay Leadership Council (formerly the Contra Costa Council) is a public policy advocacy organization that promotes the economic vitality and quality of life of the Greater East Bay region. The Council engages on issues of critical importance to the business community and residents, balancing the needs of a diverse region through policy efforts that provide for local and regional economic development while retaining our quality of life.
Through its task forces, the Council develops and supports policy positions to further its mission and sponsors educational forums for its members and the community.
For more information, please visit www.eastbayleadershipcouncil.com.
To comment on items in this newsletter, please contact Tom Terrill at the East Bay Leadership Council.
This issue was edited for the East Bay Leadership Council by Molly A. Walker of Walker Communications.
© 2013 East Bay Leadership Council
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